"Tell That Jehovah Is Upright"

Older servants of God joyfully discharge  their responsibility "to tell that Jehovah is upright."  If you are an elderly Christian, your words and deeds can show others that  'Jehovah is your Rock, in whom there is no unrighteousness.' (Psalm 92:15)  The palm tree bears silent witness to its Creator's superlative qualities.  But Jehovah has given you the privilege of testifying about him to those now embracing true worship.  (Deuteronomy 32:7; Psalm 71:17, 18; Joel 1:2, 3) Why is that important? 

When the Israelite leader Joshua was "old and advanced in days," he "proceeded to call all Israel, its older men and its heads and its judges and its officers, " and to remind them of God's upright dealings.  He said: "Not one word out of all the good words that Jehovah your God has spoken to  you has failed. They have all come true for you."  (Joshua 23:1, 2, 14) For a time, these words strengthened the people's resolve to remain  faithful. After  Joshua's death, however, "another generation began to rise . . . that did not know Jehovah or the work that he had done for Israel. And the the sons of Israel fell to doing what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah and serving the Baals." - Judges 2:8-11.

 The integrity of the present-day Christian congregation does not depend upon the oral testimony of older servants of God.  Yet, our faith in Jehovah and his promises  is reinforced when we hear first  hand accounts of the "great work" that he has performed for his people in these last days.  (Judges 2:7;  2 Peter 1:16-19) If you have been associated with Jehovah's organization for many years, you may recall the time when there were very few Kingdom proclaimers in your region or country or when the preaching work faced stiff opposition.  Over time, you have seen Jehovah remove certain obstacles and 'speed up' Kingdom growth.  (Isaiah 54:17; 60:22) You have noted the clarification of Bible truths and have witnessed the progressive refinement of the visible part of God's organization.  (Proverbs  4:18; Isaiah 60:17)  Do you seek  to build others  up  by sharing with them your experience relating to Jehovah's upright dealings?  What a positive and strengthening effect this can have on the Christian brotherhood!

What about the occasions when you have experienced Jehovah's loving care and guidance in your personal life? (Psalm 37:25; Matthew 6:33; 1 Peter 5:7) An elderly sister named Martha  used to encourage others by saying: "No matter what happens, never abandon Jehovah. He will sustain you."  this advice had a profound effect on Tolmina one of Martha's Bible students who was baptized in the early 1960's.  "When my husband died," recalls Tolmina, "I felt very discouraged, but those words made me determined not to miss a single meeting. And Jehovah really did strengthen me to continue." Tolmina has given the same advice to many of her own Bible students over the years.  Indeed, by offering encouragement and recounting Jehovah's upright dealings, you can do much to build up the faith of fellow believers. 

Next time: Jehovah Treasures Faithful Older Ones

From the Watchtower magazine, 2004