Work to Enhance the Spiritual Paradise

"I will glorify the place for my feet." -ISAIAH 60:13.

JEHOVAH GOD has appropriately proclaimed:  "The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool." (Isaiah 66:1)  Regarding his "footstool," he also stated:  I will glorify the place for my feet." (Isaiah 60:13) How does he do that?  And what meaning does this have for us, since we live on God's footstool"? 

Besides referring to the earth, the term "footstool"  is also employed figuratively in the Hebrew Scriptures to describe the ancient temple used by the Israelites.  (1 Chronicles  28:2; Psalm 132:7) Located on the earth, the temple served as the center of true worship. For that reason, it was truly beautiful in Jehovah's eyes and its very existence glorified the place for Jehovah's feet.

Today the center of true worship is no longer a literal temple on earth.  There is, however, a spiritual temple, which glorifies Jehovah far more than building.  This is an arrangement that makes reconciliation with God possible by means of the priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It came into existence in 29 C.E. at Jesus' baptism when Jesus was anointed as High Priest of Jehovah's great spiritual temple. -Hebrews 9:11, 12. 

In appreciation of the spiritual temple arrangement, we praise Jehovah by making known his name and we exalt him for his merciful provision of the ransom. How thrilling to know that over eight million  true Christians are today actively  glorifying Jehovah!  Unlike some religious people who mistakenly think that they will praise God once they have left the earth and gone to heaven, all of Jehovah's Witnesses realize the need to praise him here and now on the earth.

We thereby follow the example of the faithful servants of Jehovah described at Psalm 99:1-3, 5. (Read) As that psalm indicates, Moses, Aaron, and Samuel offered their full support to the arrangement for true worship in their day. (Psalm 99:6, 7) Today, before moving on to serve as priests with Jesus in heaven, the remaining ones of his anointed brothers faithfully serve in the earthly courtyard of the spiritual temple.  Millions of "other sheep" loyally support them.  (John 10:16) Although having different hopes, both groups unitedly  worship Jehovah here at God's footstool. As individuals, however, we do well to ask ourselves, 'Am I giving full support to Jehovah's arrangement for pure worship?' 

Next time: Work to Enhance the Spiritual Paradise - IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO SERVE AT GOD'S  SPIRITUAL TEMPLE 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015