The Spiritual Security of God's People

Jehovah goes on to foretell security for his faithful people:  "O woman afflicted, tempest-tossed, uncomforted, here I am laying with hard mortar your stones, and I will lay your foundation with sapphires. And I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of fiery glowing stones, and all your boundaries of delightsome stones.  And all your sons  will be persons taught by Jehovah, and the peace of your sons will be abundant.  You will prove to be firmly established in righteousness itself.  You will be far away from oppression-for you will fear none-and from anything terrifying, for it will  not come near you.  If anyone should at all  make an attack, it will not be at my orders.  Whoever is making an attack upon you will fall even on account of you." - Isaiah 54:11-15.

Of course, Jehovah's "woman" in the spirit realm has never been directly afflicted or tempest-tossed.  But she suffered when her anointed "offspring" on earth suffered, especially when they were in spiritual captivity during the  1918-1919 period.  Conversely, when the heavenly "woman" is exalted, this reflects a similar state prevailing among her offspring.  Consider, then, the glowing description of "Jerusalem above."  The precious stones on the gates,  the costly "hard mortar," the foundations, and even the boundaries suggest, as one reference work notes, "beauty, magnificence, purity, strength, and solidity." What would led anointed Christians to such a secure and blessed condition? 

Verse 13 of Isaiah chapter 54 provides the key-all will be "taught by Jehovah."  Jesus himself applied the words of this verse to his anointed followers.  (John 6:45)  The prophet Daniel foretold that during this "time of the end, "  the anointed would be blessed with an abundance of true knowledge and spiritual insight.  (Daniel 12:3, 4)  Such insight has enabled them to spearhead the greatest educational campaign in history, spreading divine teaching in all the earth.  (Matthew  24:14)  At the same time, such insight has helped them to see the difference between true religion and false .  Isaiah 54:12 mentions "boundaries of delightsome stones."  Since 1919, Jehovah has given the anointed an ever clearer understanding of the boundaries-the lines of spiritual demarcation-setting them apart  from false religion and ungodly elements of the world.  (Ezekiel 44:23; John 17:14; James 1:27)  They are thus set apart as God's own people. - 1 Peter 2:9. 

Thus, each of us does well to ask himself, 'Am I being taught by Jehovah?'  We do not receive such teaching automatically. We must put forth effort. If we read God's Word regularly and meditate upon it and if we take  in instruction by reading the Bible-based literature published by "the faithful and discreet slave" and by preparing for and attending Christian meetings, we will indeed be taught by Jehovah.  (Matthew 24:45-47)  If we endeavor to apply what we learn and remain spiritually awake and watchful, divine teaching will set us apart as different from those in this godless world.  (1 Peter 5:8,9)  Better still, it will help us "draw closer to God." -James 1:22-25; 4:8.

Next time: Conclusion of The Spiritual Security of God's People

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001