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00:00:01 Now, let us consider the question, 00:00:04 How does Jehovah care 00:00:06 for those who are humble? 00:00:09 Now, humility is a quality 00:00:11 that is part of our figurative heart. 00:00:13 And just like other qualities of the heart 00:00:16 —like kindness, mildness, patience— 00:00:20 humility is a quality that we cannot see. 00:00:26 Even so, have you ever said 00:00:28 about a brother or sister in your congregation or here at Bethel 00:00:33 that that brother or that sister is so humble? 00:00:38 Now, what made you say that? 00:00:42 Did you see a little cloud filled with humility 00:00:45 hovering above the brother or sister? 00:00:47 No, but you must have seen something that made you conclude 00:00:51 that a brother or sister is humble. 00:00:53 So, what was that something? 00:00:56 Now, to answer, think of this comparison: 00:01:00 Imagine you walk into a store 00:01:03 and you see a display of boxes with chocolate. 00:01:08 The boxes look nice, 00:01:09 but you wonder what is the quality of the chocolates. 00:01:13 Then a store clerk gives you 00:01:16 a chocolate as a sample. 00:01:19 You taste it. 00:01:20 Mm, that’s good! 00:01:22 Now you know what is in the box. 00:01:25 So, what is the lesson of this little story? 00:01:29 Well, just like tasting a sample chocolate 00:01:34 reveals the quality of the chocolate in the box, 00:01:38 so seeing an act of humility 00:01:42 reveals the depth of humility 00:01:45 in someone’s heart. 00:01:47 After all, if we don’t prove 00:01:50 by words or by actions our humility, 00:01:54 no one will know that we have it. 00:01:57 So when do we have opportunities 00:02:01 to give out samples, so to speak, 00:02:04 of our humility? 00:02:07 Now, the Watchtower article that is the source of today’s comments 00:02:11 mentions three situations 00:02:13 that may test the depth and genuineness of our humility. 00:02:18 The three situations are these: 00:02:21 when we receive counsel, 00:02:23 when others receive privileges of service, 00:02:27 or when we face new circumstances. 00:02:32 Now, today’s comments focus 00:02:35 on the third situation. 00:02:38 They focus on the changes of assignments that have been received 00:02:41 by a good number of traveling overseers and their wives, 00:02:45 Bethelites, brothers and sisters in other forms of full-time service, 00:02:50 as well as by coordinators of the bodies of elders. 00:02:55 Now, why can we say that these brothers and sisters 00:02:59 offered a beautiful sample of their humility 00:03:03 by accepting their changes of assignment? 00:03:08 To answer, note this quote from the Watchtower comments: 00:03:12 “Such adjustments were not easy 00:03:15 “for these brothers and sisters to make. 00:03:18 “Obviously, they felt attached to their former assignment, 00:03:21 “in many cases one that they had cherished for years. 00:03:26 “Some went through a ‘grieving’ process 00:03:30 as they adjusted to their new circumstances.” 00:03:35 “A ‘grieving’ process” 00:03:38 —The Watchtower does not often use that expression. 00:03:41 But in the case of those who were asked 00:03:44 to give up an assignment that they dearly loved, 00:03:47 it is a proper expression to use. 00:03:51 Though facing new circumstances was difficult, 00:03:54 these brothers and sisters 00:03:56 who used to serve at Bethel or in the traveling work 00:03:59 accepted the change with humility. 00:04:04 Now, how did Jehovah help them? 00:04:07 Well, we find an answer at Isaiah 57:15, 00:04:12 which is the text for today. 00:04:14 Now, in the beginning of the verse, Isaiah is speaking. 00:04:18 He says about Jehovah: 00:04:21 “For this is what the High and Lofty One says, 00:04:25 who lives forever and whose name is [Jehovah].” 00:04:30 Now, then Jehovah begins to speak. 00:04:34 He confirms what Isaiah said but adds a surprising thought to it. 00:04:38 Jehovah says: “I reside 00:04:42 “in the high and holy place, 00:04:45 “but also with those crushed 00:04:48 and lowly in spirit.” 00:04:51 Now, let’s pause here for a moment. 00:04:54 One Bible reference work says that the verb “reside,” or “dwell,” 00:04:58 mentioned in the beginning of the sentence 00:05:01 is implied in the second part of the sentence. 00:05:04 So we could read the sentence as follows: 00:05:08 ‘I reside in the high and holy place, 00:05:12 ‘but I also reside 00:05:14 with those crushed and lowly in spirit.’ 00:05:18 Now, think about this statement made by Jehovah. 00:05:21 Is it not amazing and heartwarming? 00:05:25 Note the combination of qualities that he expresses. 00:05:29 He is “high” and “holy” 00:05:32 but also nearby and humble. 00:05:35 He is mighty and powerful 00:05:37 but also attentive and tender 00:05:40 in his feelings with lowly ones. 00:05:42 Now, also note this: 00:05:44 Jehovah did not say, ‘I see those who are lowly.’ 00:05:50 He did not say, ‘I hear those who are lowly.’ 00:05:54 But he said: ‘I reside with those who are lowly.’ 00:06:00 Now, to understand this verse better, let us consider a few questions. 00:06:04 First, what is the meaning of “reside”? 00:06:09 Well, one Bible dictionary defines the Hebrew word translated “reside” 00:06:13 as “settle down.” 00:06:17 Now, what comes to your mind 00:06:19 when you hear the expression “settle down”? 00:06:23 Does the word make you think of a visitor who rushes in and leaves quickly? 00:06:27 No. 00:06:28 Instead, it makes us think of a visitor 00:06:31 who settles in an easy chair, 00:06:34 leans back, and takes his time to stay with us. 00:06:39 In Jehovah’s case, he resides, or settles down for a visit, with us 00:06:43 by means of his holy spirit. 00:06:47 Another question: 00:06:49 What does Jehovah do when he resides with us? 00:06:52 Now, note the last part of the verse. 00:06:55 There you see another word that is mentioned two times. 00:06:58 We read: 00:07:00 “To revive the spirit of the lowly 00:07:03 “and to revive the heart 00:07:06 of those being crushed.” 00:07:10 Now, “to revive” means 00:07:12 to raise from discouragement and depression. 00:07:16 Thus, in this precious scripture, 00:07:18 Jehovah promises that he will take his time 00:07:21 to be with his humble servants 00:07:24 who are discouraged or even crushed. 00:07:29 And why does Jehovah reside with us when we are discouraged? 00:07:33 To help us to regain the inner peace and the inner strength that we need 00:07:38 to deal with challenging circumstances 00:07:41 and to continue serving Jehovah with joy. 00:07:45 Now, that is the way 00:07:47 in which Jehovah cares for all his humble servants, 00:07:50 and that is also the way in which Jehovah helped 00:07:54 our brothers and sisters 00:07:56 who humbly accepted a change of assignment. 00:07:59 Jehovah gently helped them 00:08:02 to let their feelings of sadness fade away 00:08:05 and to embrace the joys that were waiting in their new assignment. 00:08:11 Now, one couple who received a new assignment 00:08:14 related how an illustration 00:08:16 helped them to keep in mind what had changed 00:08:19 and what had not changed. 00:08:22 The couple said: 00:08:25 “We think of a parent and children. 00:08:28 “A parent may decide to move a child 00:08:30 “from one bedroom to another room in the house, 00:08:33 “but the child still lives in the same house 00:08:35 and receives the same love and care from the parent.” 00:08:39 And then the couple added: 00:08:42 “Likewise, Jehovah may decide to move his servants 00:08:46 “from one form of full-time service to another one, 00:08:49 “but they still live in the same house, so to speak, 00:08:53 and receive the same love and protection from Jehovah.” 00:08:58 Indeed, as that couple observed, 00:09:01 our assignments may change, 00:09:04 but the love that we receive from Jehovah 00:09:07 does not change. 00:09:09 In fact, when we show humility, 00:09:12 Jehovah’s warm feelings toward us 00:09:16 are bound to increase. 00:09:20 So, what did we consider? 00:09:23 Jehovah cares for all his servants who are humble. 00:09:28 When we observe that we are overwhelmed with sadness, 00:09:32 Jehovah will reside with us in order to revive us. 00:09:38 Our brothers and sisters who humbly accepted a change of assignment 00:09:42 experience how Jehovah helped them 00:09:44 to overcome their initial feelings of disappointment.
00:00:01 Now, let us consider the question, 00:00:04 How does Jehovah care 00:00:06 for those who are humble? 00:00:09 Now, humility is a quality 00:00:11 that is part of our figurative heart. 00:00:13 And just like other qualities of the heart 00:00:16 —like kindness, mildness, patience— 00:00:20 humility is a quality that we cannot see. 00:00:26 Even so, have you ever said 00:00:28 about a brother or sister in your congregation or here at Bethel 00:00:33 that that brother or that sister is so humble? 00:00:38 Now, what made you say that? 00:00:42 Did you see a little cloud filled with humility 00:00:45 hovering above the brother or sister? 00:00:47 No, but you must have seen something that made you conclude 00:00:51 that a brother or sister is humble. 00:00:53 So, what was that something? 00:00:56 Now, to answer, think of this comparison: 00:01:00 Imagine you walk into a store 00:01:03 and you see a display of boxes with chocolate. 00:01:08 The boxes look nice, 00:01:09 but you wonder what is the quality of the chocolates. 00:01:13 Then a store clerk gives you 00:01:16 a chocolate as a sample. 00:01:19 You taste it. 00:01:20 Mm, that’s good! 00:01:22 Now you know what is in the box. 00:01:25 So, what is the lesson of this little story? 00:01:29 Well, just like tasting a sample chocolate 00:01:34 reveals the quality of the chocolate in the box, 00:01:38 so seeing an act of humility 00:01:42 reveals the depth of humility 00:01:45 in someone’s heart. 00:01:47 After all, if we don’t prove 00:01:50 by words or by actions our humility, 00:01:54 no one will know that we have it. 00:01:57 So when do we have opportunities 00:02:01 to give out samples, so to speak, 00:02:04 of our humility? 00:02:07 Now, the Watchtower article that is the source of today’s comments 00:02:11 mentions three situations 00:02:13 that may test the depth and genuineness of our humility. 00:02:18 The three situations are these: 00:02:21 when we receive counsel, 00:02:23 when others receive privileges of service, 00:02:27 or when we face new circumstances. 00:02:32 Now, today’s comments focus 00:02:35 on the third situation. 00:02:38 They focus on the changes of assignments that have been received 00:02:41 by a good number of traveling overseers and their wives, 00:02:45 Bethelites, brothers and sisters in other forms of full-time service, 00:02:50 as well as by coordinators of the bodies of elders. 00:02:55 Now, why can we say that these brothers and sisters 00:02:59 offered a beautiful sample of their humility 00:03:03 by accepting their changes of assignment? 00:03:08 To answer, note this quote from the Watchtower comments: 00:03:12 “Such adjustments were not easy 00:03:15 “for these brothers and sisters to make. 00:03:18 “Obviously, they felt attached to their former assignment, 00:03:21 “in many cases one that they had cherished for years. 00:03:26 “Some went through a ‘grieving’ process 00:03:30 as they adjusted to their new circumstances.” 00:03:35 “A ‘grieving’ process” 00:03:38 —The Watchtower does not often use that expression. 00:03:41 But in the case of those who were asked 00:03:44 to give up an assignment that they dearly loved, 00:03:47 it is a proper expression to use. 00:03:51 Though facing new circumstances was difficult, 00:03:54 these brothers and sisters 00:03:56 who used to serve at Bethel or in the traveling work 00:03:59 accepted the change with humility. 00:04:04 Now, how did Jehovah help them? 00:04:07 Well, we find an answer at Isaiah 57:15, 00:04:12 which is the text for today. 00:04:14 Now, in the beginning of the verse, Isaiah is speaking. 00:04:18 He says about Jehovah: 00:04:21 “For this is what the High and Lofty One says, 00:04:25 who lives forever and whose name is [Jehovah].” 00:04:30 Now, then Jehovah begins to speak. 00:04:34 He confirms what Isaiah said but adds a surprising thought to it. 00:04:38 Jehovah says: “I reside 00:04:42 “in the high and holy place, 00:04:45 “but also with those crushed 00:04:48 and lowly in spirit.” 00:04:51 Now, let’s pause here for a moment. 00:04:54 One Bible reference work says that the verb “reside,” or “dwell,” 00:04:58 mentioned in the beginning of the sentence 00:05:01 is implied in the second part of the sentence. 00:05:04 So we could read the sentence as follows: 00:05:08 ‘I reside in the high and holy place, 00:05:12 ‘but I also reside 00:05:14 with those crushed and lowly in spirit.’ 00:05:18 Now, think about this statement made by Jehovah. 00:05:21 Is it not amazing and heartwarming? 00:05:25 Note the combination of qualities that he expresses. 00:05:29 He is “high” and “holy” 00:05:32 but also nearby and humble. 00:05:35 He is mighty and powerful 00:05:37 but also attentive and tender 00:05:40 in his feelings with lowly ones. 00:05:42 Now, also note this: 00:05:44 Jehovah did not say, ‘I see those who are lowly.’ 00:05:50 He did not say, ‘I hear those who are lowly.’ 00:05:54 But he said: ‘I reside with those who are lowly.’ 00:06:00 Now, to understand this verse better, let us consider a few questions. 00:06:04 First, what is the meaning of “reside”? 00:06:09 Well, one Bible dictionary defines the Hebrew word translated “reside” 00:06:13 as “settle down.” 00:06:17 Now, what comes to your mind 00:06:19 when you hear the expression “settle down”? 00:06:23 Does the word make you think of a visitor who rushes in and leaves quickly? 00:06:27 No. 00:06:28 Instead, it makes us think of a visitor 00:06:31 who settles in an easy chair, 00:06:34 leans back, and takes his time to stay with us. 00:06:39 In Jehovah’s case, he resides, or settles down for a visit, with us 00:06:43 by means of his holy spirit. 00:06:47 Another question: 00:06:49 What does Jehovah do when he resides with us? 00:06:52 Now, note the last part of the verse. 00:06:55 There you see another word that is mentioned two times. 00:06:58 We read: 00:07:00 “To revive the spirit of the lowly 00:07:03 “and to revive the heart 00:07:06 of those being crushed.” 00:07:10 Now, “to revive” means 00:07:12 to raise from discouragement and depression. 00:07:16 Thus, in this precious scripture, 00:07:18 Jehovah promises that he will take his time 00:07:21 to be with his humble servants 00:07:24 who are discouraged or even crushed. 00:07:29 And why does Jehovah reside with us when we are discouraged? 00:07:33 To help us to regain the inner peace and the inner strength that we need 00:07:38 to deal with challenging circumstances 00:07:41 and to continue serving Jehovah with joy. 00:07:45 Now, that is the way 00:07:47 in which Jehovah cares for all his humble servants, 00:07:50 and that is also the way in which Jehovah helped 00:07:54 our brothers and sisters 00:07:56 who humbly accepted a change of assignment. 00:07:59 Jehovah gently helped them 00:08:02 to let their feelings of sadness fade away 00:08:05 and to embrace the joys that were waiting in their new assignment. 00:08:11 Now, one couple who received a new assignment 00:08:14 related how an illustration 00:08:16 helped them to keep in mind what had changed 00:08:19 and what had not changed. 00:08:22 The couple said: 00:08:25 “We think of a parent and children. 00:08:28 “A parent may decide to move a child 00:08:30 “from one bedroom to another room in the house, 00:08:33 “but the child still lives in the same house 00:08:35 and receives the same love and care from the parent.” 00:08:39 And then the couple added: 00:08:42 “Likewise, Jehovah may decide to move his servants 00:08:46 “from one form of full-time service to another one, 00:08:49 “but they still live in the same house, so to speak, 00:08:53 and receive the same love and protection from Jehovah.” 00:08:58 Indeed, as that couple observed, 00:09:01 our assignments may change, 00:09:04 but the love that we receive from Jehovah 00:09:07 does not change. 00:09:09 In fact, when we show humility, 00:09:12 Jehovah’s warm feelings toward us 00:09:16 are bound to increase. 00:09:20 So, what did we consider? 00:09:23 Jehovah cares for all his servants who are humble. 00:09:28 When we observe that we are overwhelmed with sadness, 00:09:32 Jehovah will reside with us in order to revive us. 00:09:38 Our brothers and sisters who humbly accepted a change of assignment 00:09:42 experience how Jehovah helped them 00:09:44 to overcome their initial feelings of disappointment.
