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00:00:01 Have you ever had to sue for peace? 00:00:05 While you’re thinking of that question, 00:00:07 would you please turn with me to Luke chapter 14? 00:00:12 I’d like to put you and me 00:00:14 in the middle of one of Jesus’ illustrations. 00:00:17 Jesus has been talking about what it costs 00:00:20 to become one of his disciples. 00:00:23 And then in verse 31, he says: 00:00:26 “Or what king 00:00:29 “[this is where we come in, what king] 00:00:32 “marching out against another king in war 00:00:34 “does not first sit down and take counsel whether he is able with 10,000 troops 00:00:39 “to stand up to the one who comes against him with 20,000? 00:00:44 “If, in fact, he cannot do so, 00:00:46 “then while that one is yet far away, 00:00:50 he sends out a body of ambassadors and sues for peace.” 00:00:56 How do you think that conversation goes? 00:01:00 “I want peace, and these are my terms.” 00:01:04 Hardly! 00:01:07 It’s more like: “I don’t want to be your enemy. 00:01:10 Please tell me what to do so that I can have peace with you.” 00:01:16 Now, with that in mind, Jesus gives the application, verse 33: 00:01:21 “In the same way, you may be sure that not one of you 00:01:25 “who does not say good-bye to all his belongings 00:01:29 can be my disciple.” 00:01:32 That is you and me. 00:01:34 We got to the point where we realized 00:01:37 we did not want to be an enemy of Jehovah. 00:01:39 And so we were willing to sacrifice everything 00:01:43 —belongings, career, status, everything— 00:01:47 for the privilege of being at peace with Jehovah 00:01:50 and being a disciple of his Son. 00:01:53 Now for you students of class 150, 00:01:56 your pursuit of peace with Jehovah 00:01:59 has led you into the special full-time service. 00:02:02 And what a beautiful record every one of you has set! 00:02:07 You remind me in many ways 00:02:10 of a group in the Bible 00:02:12 that literally sued for peace. 00:02:15 Their story is told in the book of Joshua chapter 9. 00:02:19 That’s right; we’re talking about the Gibeonites. 00:02:23 Do you have Joshua chapter 9? 00:02:26 Now, they had heard of all the things that Jehovah had done 00:02:30 for his people, Israel, and to his enemies. 00:02:34 They did not want to be Jehovah’s enemy. 00:02:36 And so they did exactly what the king in Jesus’ illustration did. 00:02:41 They sent a body of ambassadors. 00:02:44 So Joshua chapter 9 00:02:47 —and this is the opening overture 00:02:51 in verse 6: 00:02:54 “We have come from a distant land. 00:02:57 Now make a covenant with us.” 00:03:01 When they didn’t get a very warm initial reception, they persisted. 00:03:06 Verse 8: “We are your servants.” 00:03:09 In other words, “Set the terms; we want peace.” 00:03:14 They were willing to sacrifice everything 00:03:18 in order to enjoy peace with Israel and with Israel’s God. 00:03:23 Now, Joshua and the chieftains didn’t see it exactly the same way, 00:03:27 particularly when they found out 00:03:29 that they were not from a distant land as they had claimed. 00:03:32 Nobody likes to be fooled. 00:03:34 So the tone got a little sterner. 00:03:37 So turn and look at verse 23. 00:03:41 This is what they said: “From now on you are cursed, 00:03:44 “and you will always occupy a slave’s position 00:03:47 as gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 00:03:53 What will the Gibeonites say to that? 00:03:56 Verse 25: “We are at your mercy. 00:04:00 Do to us whatever you think is good and right.” 00:04:06 And just so, the terms of peace were set. 00:04:10 Verse 27: “That day Joshua made them 00:04:14 “gatherers of wood and drawers of water 00:04:16 “for the assembly and for Jehovah’s altar 00:04:19 “at the place that He should choose, 00:04:21 and they remain so to this day.” 00:04:25 So now a few questions, a few lessons. 00:04:28 What do you think of the Gibeonites’ assignment? 00:04:33 It was presented to them as a punishment. 00:04:35 But just think, 00:04:37 they weren’t being sold off as household slaves. 00:04:41 Their humble service would directly contribute 00:04:44 to pure worship and support Jehovah’s people. 00:04:50 That’s a privilege, isn’t it? 00:04:52 That’s the kind of service we reach out for as a privilege. 00:04:59 Now, the kind of service— 00:05:01 Was it because they were lowly people, 00:05:04 no skills to do anything else, that they were given this kind of job? 00:05:09 Well, look at chapter 10 00:05:12 and verse 2 00:05:16 and see the kind of people the Gibeonites were: 00:05:18 “Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities. 00:05:22 “It was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors 00:05:29 [capable, skilled people].” 00:05:31 However, 00:05:34 clearly the Gibeonites realized 00:05:36 that if their army was no match for Israel, 00:05:40 then Jehovah didn’t need them 00:05:42 to bolster his army in order to complete the conquest. 00:05:45 It was better for them 00:05:48 to ask Jehovah what he wanted them to do and to do that. 00:05:52 So the sacrifice was definitely worth it. 00:05:57 Does that mean, though, that their skills were irrelevant, 00:06:02 never even considered? 00:06:05 Well, no. 00:06:06 For example, a few hundred years later, 00:06:09 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite 00:06:11 is listed among David’s 30 mighty men. 00:06:15 Different needs call for different skills. 00:06:18 What did Ishmaiah do with his skill? 00:06:22 Well, he humbly defended pure worship and Jehovah’s people. 00:06:27 So the details of the assignment were different, 00:06:30 but the focus was about the same. 00:06:36 Another question: Was this just 00:06:39 a short-term starter assignment? 00:06:41 “Yes, we will do this for now, but once the campaign is over, 00:06:45 we’ll be able to resume our regular place in society.” 00:06:51 Go back to verse 27 of chapter 9. 00:06:55 Remember what Joshua said at this point 00:06:58 when he gave them their assignment? 00:06:59 “They remain so to this day.” 00:07:03 Not only to the day that Joshua wrote these words 00:07:08 but about 900 years later 00:07:11 among the exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem 00:07:16 to restore pure worship there were temple servants, 00:07:20 and likely 00:07:22 this included descendants of the Gibeonites. 00:07:25 Just think, these temple servants 00:07:29 once again were willing to leave behind the life that they’d built up 00:07:33 to make the trek in behalf of pure worship 00:07:37 and take up their duties. 00:07:39 They must have really cherished their assignment 00:07:42 in order to stick to it that way. 00:07:47 So as we’ve talked about them, 00:07:49 have you been noting some personal lessons? 00:07:52 These are the four that come to my mind. 00:07:55 Number one, as with the king 00:07:58 in Jesus’ illustration and the Gibeonites, 00:08:02 peace with Jehovah is such a treasure. 00:08:05 We’re willing to sacrifice anything to enjoy it. 00:08:10 Number two, Jehovah’s terms for us 00:08:14 include humble service 00:08:16 on behalf of pure worship and in support of his people, 00:08:21 and that kind of humble service 00:08:23 we view as the greatest privilege. 00:08:26 Number three, different needs call for different skills, 00:08:31 and that may lead to a change of assignment 00:08:35 for you or for someone else. 00:08:38 Either way, we don’t compete and we don’t compare. 00:08:42 The details of the assignment may be different, 00:08:44 but the focus, or goal, is always the same. 00:08:48 And the fourth one, 00:08:51 we cherish our assignments. 00:08:53 We’re going to stay in them as long as Jehovah allows. 00:08:58 In short, we cherish our assignments; 00:09:02 we love our God. 00:09:04 Peace with Jehovah is a treasure that we will never let go.
00:00:01 Have you ever had to sue for peace? 00:00:05 While you’re thinking of that question, 00:00:07 would you please turn with me to Luke chapter 14? 00:00:12 I’d like to put you and me 00:00:14 in the middle of one of Jesus’ illustrations. 00:00:17 Jesus has been talking about what it costs 00:00:20 to become one of his disciples. 00:00:23 And then in verse 31, he says: 00:00:26 “Or what king 00:00:29 “[this is where we come in, what king] 00:00:32 “marching out against another king in war 00:00:34 “does not first sit down and take counsel whether he is able with 10,000 troops 00:00:39 “to stand up to the one who comes against him with 20,000? 00:00:44 “If, in fact, he cannot do so, 00:00:46 “then while that one is yet far away, 00:00:50 he sends out a body of ambassadors and sues for peace.” 00:00:56 How do you think that conversation goes? 00:01:00 “I want peace, and these are my terms.” 00:01:04 Hardly! 00:01:07 It’s more like: “I don’t want to be your enemy. 00:01:10 Please tell me what to do so that I can have peace with you.” 00:01:16 Now, with that in mind, Jesus gives the application, verse 33: 00:01:21 “In the same way, you may be sure that not one of you 00:01:25 “who does not say good-bye to all his belongings 00:01:29 can be my disciple.” 00:01:32 That is you and me. 00:01:34 We got to the point where we realized 00:01:37 we did not want to be an enemy of Jehovah. 00:01:39 And so we were willing to sacrifice everything 00:01:43 —belongings, career, status, everything— 00:01:47 for the privilege of being at peace with Jehovah 00:01:50 and being a disciple of his Son. 00:01:53 Now for you students of class 150, 00:01:56 your pursuit of peace with Jehovah 00:01:59 has led you into the special full-time service. 00:02:02 And what a beautiful record every one of you has set! 00:02:07 You remind me in many ways 00:02:10 of a group in the Bible 00:02:12 that literally sued for peace. 00:02:15 Their story is told in the book of Joshua chapter 9. 00:02:19 That’s right; we’re talking about the Gibeonites. 00:02:23 Do you have Joshua chapter 9? 00:02:26 Now, they had heard of all the things that Jehovah had done 00:02:30 for his people, Israel, and to his enemies. 00:02:34 They did not want to be Jehovah’s enemy. 00:02:36 And so they did exactly what the king in Jesus’ illustration did. 00:02:41 They sent a body of ambassadors. 00:02:44 So Joshua chapter 9 00:02:47 —and this is the opening overture 00:02:51 in verse 6: 00:02:54 “We have come from a distant land. 00:02:57 Now make a covenant with us.” 00:03:01 When they didn’t get a very warm initial reception, they persisted. 00:03:06 Verse 8: “We are your servants.” 00:03:09 In other words, “Set the terms; we want peace.” 00:03:14 They were willing to sacrifice everything 00:03:18 in order to enjoy peace with Israel and with Israel’s God. 00:03:23 Now, Joshua and the chieftains didn’t see it exactly the same way, 00:03:27 particularly when they found out 00:03:29 that they were not from a distant land as they had claimed. 00:03:32 Nobody likes to be fooled. 00:03:34 So the tone got a little sterner. 00:03:37 So turn and look at verse 23. 00:03:41 This is what they said: “From now on you are cursed, 00:03:44 “and you will always occupy a slave’s position 00:03:47 as gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 00:03:53 What will the Gibeonites say to that? 00:03:56 Verse 25: “We are at your mercy. 00:04:00 Do to us whatever you think is good and right.” 00:04:06 And just so, the terms of peace were set. 00:04:10 Verse 27: “That day Joshua made them 00:04:14 “gatherers of wood and drawers of water 00:04:16 “for the assembly and for Jehovah’s altar 00:04:19 “at the place that He should choose, 00:04:21 and they remain so to this day.” 00:04:25 So now a few questions, a few lessons. 00:04:28 What do you think of the Gibeonites’ assignment? 00:04:33 It was presented to them as a punishment. 00:04:35 But just think, 00:04:37 they weren’t being sold off as household slaves. 00:04:41 Their humble service would directly contribute 00:04:44 to pure worship and support Jehovah’s people. 00:04:50 That’s a privilege, isn’t it? 00:04:52 That’s the kind of service we reach out for as a privilege. 00:04:59 Now, the kind of service— 00:05:01 Was it because they were lowly people, 00:05:04 no skills to do anything else, that they were given this kind of job? 00:05:09 Well, look at chapter 10 00:05:12 and verse 2 00:05:16 and see the kind of people the Gibeonites were: 00:05:18 “Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities. 00:05:22 “It was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors 00:05:29 [capable, skilled people].” 00:05:31 However, 00:05:34 clearly the Gibeonites realized 00:05:36 that if their army was no match for Israel, 00:05:40 then Jehovah didn’t need them 00:05:42 to bolster his army in order to complete the conquest. 00:05:45 It was better for them 00:05:48 to ask Jehovah what he wanted them to do and to do that. 00:05:52 So the sacrifice was definitely worth it. 00:05:57 Does that mean, though, that their skills were irrelevant, 00:06:02 never even considered? 00:06:05 Well, no. 00:06:06 For example, a few hundred years later, 00:06:09 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite 00:06:11 is listed among David’s 30 mighty men. 00:06:15 Different needs call for different skills. 00:06:18 What did Ishmaiah do with his skill? 00:06:22 Well, he humbly defended pure worship and Jehovah’s people. 00:06:27 So the details of the assignment were different, 00:06:30 but the focus was about the same. 00:06:36 Another question: Was this just 00:06:39 a short-term starter assignment? 00:06:41 “Yes, we will do this for now, but once the campaign is over, 00:06:45 we’ll be able to resume our regular place in society.” 00:06:51 Go back to verse 27 of chapter 9. 00:06:55 Remember what Joshua said at this point 00:06:58 when he gave them their assignment? 00:06:59 “They remain so to this day.” 00:07:03 Not only to the day that Joshua wrote these words 00:07:08 but about 900 years later 00:07:11 among the exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem 00:07:16 to restore pure worship there were temple servants, 00:07:20 and likely 00:07:22 this included descendants of the Gibeonites. 00:07:25 Just think, these temple servants 00:07:29 once again were willing to leave behind the life that they’d built up 00:07:33 to make the trek in behalf of pure worship 00:07:37 and take up their duties. 00:07:39 They must have really cherished their assignment 00:07:42 in order to stick to it that way. 00:07:47 So as we’ve talked about them, 00:07:49 have you been noting some personal lessons? 00:07:52 These are the four that come to my mind. 00:07:55 Number one, as with the king 00:07:58 in Jesus’ illustration and the Gibeonites, 00:08:02 peace with Jehovah is such a treasure. 00:08:05 We’re willing to sacrifice anything to enjoy it. 00:08:10 Number two, Jehovah’s terms for us 00:08:14 include humble service 00:08:16 on behalf of pure worship and in support of his people, 00:08:21 and that kind of humble service 00:08:23 we view as the greatest privilege. 00:08:26 Number three, different needs call for different skills, 00:08:31 and that may lead to a change of assignment 00:08:35 for you or for someone else. 00:08:38 Either way, we don’t compete and we don’t compare. 00:08:42 The details of the assignment may be different, 00:08:44 but the focus, or goal, is always the same. 00:08:48 And the fourth one, 00:08:51 we cherish our assignments. 00:08:53 We’re going to stay in them as long as Jehovah allows. 00:08:58 In short, we cherish our assignments; 00:09:02 we love our God. 00:09:04 Peace with Jehovah is a treasure that we will never let go.
