Shame and Humiliation, Then Rejoicing

Since 1914 when Jehovah's year of goodwill began, the royal priesthood has met with nothing but opposition from Christendom's clergy.  (Revelation 12:17) Nevertheless, all efforts to stop the preaching of the good news have ultimately failed.  Isaiah's prophecy foretold this, saying:  "Instead of your shame there will be a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will cry out joyfully over their share.  Therefore in their land they will take possession of even a double portion.  Rejoicing to time indefinite is what will come to be theirs." -Isaiah 61:7.

During World War I, the anointed remnant suffered shame and humiliation at the hands of  nationalistic Christendom.  Members of the clergy were among those who falsely accused eight faithful brothers from the headquarters in Brooklyn of sedition.  These brothers  were unjustly imprisoned for nine months.  Finally, in the spring of 1919, they were freed, and later all charges against them were dropped.  Thus the scheme to stop the preaching work backfired.  Instead of allowing his worshipers to suffer lasting shame, Jehovah liberated them and restored them to their spiritual estate, "their land."  There they received a double portion of blessings.  Having Jehovah's blessing more than made up for all that they had suffered. Truly they had reason to cry out joyfully!

What Jehovah says next provides another reason for Christians today to rejoice:  "I, Jehovah, am loving justice, hating robbery along with unrighteousness. And  I will give their wages in trueness, and an indefinitely lasting covenant I shall conclude with toward them." (Isaiah 61:8)  Through their study of the Bible, the anointed remnant learned to  love justice and hate wickedness.  (Proverbs 6:12-19; 11:20)  They learned to "beat their swords into plowshares,'  remaining neutral  in mankind's wars and political upheavals.  (Isaiah 2:4)  They also left behind God-dishonoring practices, such as slander, adultery, theft, and drunkenness.

Because anointed Christians share their Creator's love of justice, Jehovah has given them "their wages in trueness."  One such 'wage' is an indefinitely lasting covenant -the new covenant-which Jesus announced to his followers on the night before his death.  It is on the basis of this covenant that they became a spiritual nation, God's special people.  (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20)  Under it, Jehovah will apply all the benefits of Jesus' ransom sacrifice, including the forgiveness of sins for both anointed and all other faithful ones of mankind.

Next time: Exulting in the Blessings of Jehovah

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