Blessings for Those Returning to Jehovah

Jehovah promises his people:  "Just as the pouring rain descends, and the snow, from the heavens and does not return to that place, unless it actually saturates the earth and makes it produce and sprout, and seed is actually given to the sower and bread to the eater, so my word that goes forth from my mouth will prove to be.  It will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that  in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10, 11)  Everything Jehovah says is certain to be fulfilled. Just as the rain and the snow falling from the skies accomplish their purpose of saturating the earth and bringing forth fruit, so Jehovah's word that goes forth from his mouth is certainly reliable. What he promises, he will fulfill-with absolute certainty. -Numbers 23:19.

Hence, if the Jews heed the words prophetically uttered for them through Isaiah, they will without fail receive the salvation Jehovah has promised.  As a result, they will experience great joy.  Jehovah states:  "With rejoicing you people will go forth, and with peace you will be brought in.  The mountains and the hills themselves will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands.  Instead of the thicket of thorns the juniper tree will come up.  Instead of the stinging nettle the myrtle tree will come up. And it must become for Jehovah something famous,, a sign to time indefinite tha twill not be cut off." -Isaiah 55:12, 13.

In 537 B.C.E., the Jewish exiles do indeed go forth out of Babylon with rejoicing.  (Psalm 126:1, 2)  When they arrive in Jerusalem, they find a land choked  with thickets of thorns and stinging nettles-remember the land has lain desolate for decades.  But God's repatriated people can now help to bring about a lovely transformation!  Towering trees, such as the juniper and the myrtle, replace thorns and nettles.  Jehovah's blessing becomes readily evident as his people serve him "with a joyful outcry."  It is as if the land itself were rejoicing. 

In 1919 the remnant of anointed Christians were liberated from their spiritual captivity.  (Isaiah 66:8) Together with the great crowd of other sheep, they are now serving God with a rejoicing in a spiritual paradise.  Free of any taint of Babylonish influence, they enjoy a favored condition, which has become for Jehovah "something famous."  Their spiritual prosperity glorifies  his name and exalts him as the God of true prophecy.  What Jehovah has accomplished  for them demonstrates his Godship and is evidence of his faithfulness to his word and his mercy toward repentant ones.  May all who continue to "buy wine and milk even without money and without price" rejoice in serving him forever!

Next time: Foreigners Gathered to God's House of Prayer

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