The content displayed below is for educational and archival purposes only.Unless stated otherwise, content is © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
You may be able to find the original on wol.jw.org
Video above © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
00:00:01 Isaiah was God’s prophet 00:00:03 for some 46 turbulent years. 00:00:05 It’s amazing what he saw. 00:00:07 The spiritual condition 00:00:08 of that nation was deplorable, 00:00:10 but Isaiah never gave up 00:00:13 in wanting to help his people. 00:00:15 It must have broken his heart to see the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel 00:00:19 destroyed by the Assyrians in 740 B.C.E. 00:00:23 But Isaiah said early in his career 00:00:25 —he said: 00:00:27 “Here I am! Send me!” 00:00:30 And he never turned his back on that commission. 00:00:32 Did Isaiah’s words fall on deaf ears 00:00:35 when he wanted to help ones to walk in Jehovah’s way? 00:00:38 ‘This is the way.’ 00:00:39 Well, obviously not. 00:00:40 There were some who responded, 00:00:42 though he might have thought that his best years were behind him. 00:00:45 What about Hezekiah? 00:00:47 Hezekiah took those words seriously, 00:00:49 began to put his heart into serving Jehovah God, 00:00:51 and had a great influence on the nation. 00:00:53 That was Hezekiah. 00:00:55 And it must have made Isaiah’s heart rejoice 00:00:58 that his words were taken to heart 00:01:01 by some individuals like Hezekiah. 00:01:04 But there are others. 00:01:05 Let’s open our Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 34 00:01:10 —2 Chronicles chapter 34— 00:01:13 and note others who really put their heart 00:01:16 into serving Jehovah God to say: “This is the way. Walk in it.” 00:01:19 Those words of Isaiah would resonate in the ears of some. 00:01:23 For example in chapter 34, 00:01:26 Josiah was eight years old when he became king. 00:01:31 He reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem. 00:01:34 Just a young boy Josiah was. 00:01:36 The year was 659 B.C.E. 00:01:38 And here in verse 2, it says: 00:01:40 ‘He did what was right in Jehovah’s eyes. 00:01:43 ‘He walked in the ways of David. 00:01:45 He didn’t deviate to the right or to the left.’ 00:01:47 Where did Josiah get this zeal 00:01:50 to want to serve Jehovah even at a young age? 00:01:53 It wouldn’t have been from his father. 00:01:55 No. His father, Amon, was wicked. 00:01:58 But perhaps his grandfather, Manasseh? 00:02:01 Manasseh died when Josiah was six years old. 00:02:05 So you can imagine now this repentant Manasseh 00:02:08 taking that little grandboy, putting him on his knee, 00:02:11 and helping him to understand about Jehovah God. 00:02:14 ‘Don’t make the mistakes that I’ve made.’ 00:02:17 He must have loved his grandpa 00:02:20 —and at six years old. 00:02:22 Now he’s eight years old, 00:02:24 and he starts to serve Jehovah 00:02:26 with zeal appropriate for that age. 00:02:29 Now, it’s interesting 00:02:31 that when Josiah was eight years old in 659 B.C.E., 00:02:34 Nebuchadnezzar was about five years old. 00:02:38 So Josiah becomes this king full of compassion; he loved people. 00:02:42 Nebuchadnezzar becomes a king of cruelty 00:02:45 and actually does damage to the nation of Israel and, of course, 00:02:50 Josiah’s son Zedekiah, who he ends up blinding. 00:02:54 Josiah —so different from others. 00:02:57 Well, let’s look in verse 3. 00:03:00 In the eighth year of his reign (that is Josiah), 00:03:04 he’s now 15 years old; he’s still a boy. 00:03:06 He starts to search for the true God. 00:03:08 And now in the 12th year of his reign, 00:03:11 he’s even cleansing Judah. 00:03:13 He has a campaign against idolatry. 00:03:16 He’s 19 years old, 00:03:18 and he sweeps through with zeal —at 19 years old. 00:03:22 ‘This is the way. Walk in it.’ 00:03:24 He’s going back to that theme “This is the way.” 00:03:28 How happy and grateful Josiah must have been 00:03:32 when someone else comes to Jerusalem by the name of Jeremiah. 00:03:36 Jeremiah comes in about 648-647 B.C.E., 00:03:40 and they’re about the same age. 00:03:42 Josiah is 19; Jeremiah is in his early 20’s. 00:03:45 What a team! 00:03:47 They become friends; they love each other. 00:03:49 And what a duo as they continue to help God’s people 00:03:53 to walk in the way! 00:03:55 Like a stereo system —both of them. 00:03:58 Look in verse 31, 00:04:03 and just picture what’s happening here in Jerusalem 00:04:06 with Josiah and with Jeremiah. 00:04:08 Verse 31 —there’s Josiah helping ones 00:04:12 to keep God’s commandments, reading the Law that he found 00:04:16 from the book of the Law in their ears 00:04:19 —reading it, helping them to walk in the way. 00:04:22 Verse 31 says 00:04:26 that Josiah ‘would follow Jehovah, 00:04:28 ‘keep his commandments, his reminders, 00:04:30 ‘and his regulations with all his heart, 00:04:33 with all his soul, carry out those words.’ 00:04:37 You can just sense that Josiah’s feelings 00:04:40 were just bleeding through these pages 00:04:42 —his love for Jehovah God 00:04:45 and wanting ones to walk in the way of Jehovah. 00:04:49 So there you have Josiah; you have Jeremiah. 00:04:52 It’s wonderful to see. 00:04:54 Now, as the years roll on, 00:04:57 would Josiah take note of a young Judean boy 00:05:02 in the royal court by the name of Daniel? 00:05:05 Daniel would have been young, 00:05:07 but perhaps he put his eye on Daniel and said, 00:05:09 ‘This boy —he has a bright future in Jehovah’s service.’ 00:05:13 We don’t know. 00:05:15 And Josiah wouldn’t live to see Daniel’s accomplishments in due time. 00:05:19 But it’s still interesting. 00:05:21 ‘This is the way. Walk in it.’ 00:05:24 Individuals responded to that from Isaiah. 00:05:27 It did not fall on deaf ears. 00:05:29 How do we know? 00:05:31 Well, let’s go a little bit further. 00:05:33 Now the year is 617 B.C.E., 00:05:37 and you have Daniel, Hananiah, 00:05:41 Mishael, Azariah, Ezekiel 00:05:44 —all individuals who responded to Jehovah’s Word. 00:05:48 And when you think about 00:05:50 how they had to take the words of Isaiah 00:05:53 and take the words of Jeremiah —these boys— 00:05:56 and really apply it to their lives 00:05:58 and under their circumstances, we’re very proud of them. 00:06:02 For example, now Josiah is dead, 00:06:04 and his sons and grandson begin to reign. 00:06:07 You have wicked kings. 00:06:10 And from the boyhood of Daniel to his teens, 00:06:14 he witnessed their conduct —bad conduct at the nation’s highest levels. 00:06:19 Jehoahaz: 23 years old, wicked; 00:06:22 Jehoiakim: 25 years old, wicked; 00:06:25 Jehoiachin: 18 years old, wicked; 00:06:27 and Zedekiah: 21 years old, wicked —bad kings. 00:06:31 And these boys watching this? 00:06:33 Well, those are their names: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah; 00:06:38 but they have nicknames: 00:06:40 Dumb, Dumber, Dumbest, and Stupid. 00:06:43 And yet Daniel would not be influenced 00:06:47 by their bad conduct. 00:06:49 It’s amazing to imagine what these boys were able to do 00:06:52 and how their faith remained intact. 00:06:54 They walked in Jehovah’s ways. 00:06:56 They resolved in their heart, especially Daniel, 00:06:59 to be loyal to Jehovah God. 00:07:02 To what extent? 00:07:04 Ezekiel 14:14 00:07:07 —in Ezekiel 14:14 00:07:11 are these amazing words 00:07:13 where Ezekiel, 00:07:15 five years after Daniel comes to Babylon, 00:07:19 writes these words. 00:07:21 So Daniel is now in his early 20’s; 00:07:24 Ezekiel is about 30 years old. 00:07:26 Like Daniel’s older brother, 00:07:28 you can imagine how proud Ezekiel would have been 00:07:30 to write these words about Daniel —no jealousy. 00:07:33 ‘I love that boy. He’s like my little brother.’ 00:07:36 And he says: ‘If Noah and Daniel and Job were here, 00:07:41 ‘you see, they would save themselves because of their righteous conduct.’ 00:07:46 Daniel was amazing 00:07:48 —to be sandwiched between Job and Noah 00:07:51 at such a young age. 00:07:53 And that’s the type of man we’re talking about. 00:07:55 Why do we bring it up? 00:07:57 We bring it up 00:07:59 because we have many Daniel-like brothers and sisters 00:08:04 right in our Bethel family here. 00:08:06 Young brothers and sisters 00:08:08 who have determined in their hearts 00:08:10 to prove the Devil a liar, 00:08:12 to take advantage of their youth, 00:08:14 to show Jehovah how loyal they want to be 00:08:17 —the depth of their devotion. 00:08:19 And we want to commend these young brothers and sisters 00:08:22 —Daniel-like ones. 00:08:24 We cannot legislate 00:08:26 love of God for you; 00:08:30 we cannot legislate 00:08:32 how you use your electronic devices; 00:08:35 we cannot legislate 00:08:36 what you watch on television and movies. 00:08:39 We cannot do that. 00:08:41 We cannot tell you to put a firewall up for your computer. 00:08:44 You can get around all that. You’re smart. 00:08:47 Your “firewall” is your love for Jehovah God 00:08:50 —your depth of devotion for him. 00:08:52 And that’s what we’re saying: “Thank you for using 00:08:55 “your free will like Daniel to honor Jehovah God. 00:08:59 Keep it up.” 00:09:01 And what about our older ones? 00:09:03 Daniel continued to serve Jehovah up until about 100 years old. 00:09:07 He never gave up. 00:09:09 What helped him? 00:09:11 His prayers to Jehovah God. 00:09:14 Prayer was the bedrock of his faith. 00:09:16 So older Daniel-like members of our family 00:09:20 that have served Jehovah for decades, 00:09:23 your loyalty is so deeply appreciated. 00:09:26 And it’s your prayers that have caused you 00:09:28 —day in and day out, week in and week out, 00:09:30 month in and month out —to continue to serve Jehovah. 00:09:34 And just as Daniel and Isaiah 00:09:37 and Jeremiah and Josiah 00:09:39 had a positive impact on the people of their day, 00:09:42 let me reassure you 00:09:44 —you older brothers and sisters, you mature ones— 00:09:48 your loyalty and determination to walk in Jehovah’s way for decades 00:09:52 has deeply influenced our Bethel family. 00:09:55 Your determination never to betray your God 00:09:58 has touched us personally, 00:10:00 and for this we say, “Thank you.”
00:00:01 Isaiah was God’s prophet 00:00:03 for some 46 turbulent years. 00:00:05 It’s amazing what he saw. 00:00:07 The spiritual condition 00:00:08 of that nation was deplorable, 00:00:10 but Isaiah never gave up 00:00:13 in wanting to help his people. 00:00:15 It must have broken his heart to see the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel 00:00:19 destroyed by the Assyrians in 740 B.C.E. 00:00:23 But Isaiah said early in his career 00:00:25 —he said: 00:00:27 “Here I am! Send me!” 00:00:30 And he never turned his back on that commission. 00:00:32 Did Isaiah’s words fall on deaf ears 00:00:35 when he wanted to help ones to walk in Jehovah’s way? 00:00:38 ‘This is the way.’ 00:00:39 Well, obviously not. 00:00:40 There were some who responded, 00:00:42 though he might have thought that his best years were behind him. 00:00:45 What about Hezekiah? 00:00:47 Hezekiah took those words seriously, 00:00:49 began to put his heart into serving Jehovah God, 00:00:51 and had a great influence on the nation. 00:00:53 That was Hezekiah. 00:00:55 And it must have made Isaiah’s heart rejoice 00:00:58 that his words were taken to heart 00:01:01 by some individuals like Hezekiah. 00:01:04 But there are others. 00:01:05 Let’s open our Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 34 00:01:10 —2 Chronicles chapter 34— 00:01:13 and note others who really put their heart 00:01:16 into serving Jehovah God to say: “This is the way. Walk in it.” 00:01:19 Those words of Isaiah would resonate in the ears of some. 00:01:23 For example in chapter 34, 00:01:26 Josiah was eight years old when he became king. 00:01:31 He reigned for 31 years in Jerusalem. 00:01:34 Just a young boy Josiah was. 00:01:36 The year was 659 B.C.E. 00:01:38 And here in verse 2, it says: 00:01:40 ‘He did what was right in Jehovah’s eyes. 00:01:43 ‘He walked in the ways of David. 00:01:45 He didn’t deviate to the right or to the left.’ 00:01:47 Where did Josiah get this zeal 00:01:50 to want to serve Jehovah even at a young age? 00:01:53 It wouldn’t have been from his father. 00:01:55 No. His father, Amon, was wicked. 00:01:58 But perhaps his grandfather, Manasseh? 00:02:01 Manasseh died when Josiah was six years old. 00:02:05 So you can imagine now this repentant Manasseh 00:02:08 taking that little grandboy, putting him on his knee, 00:02:11 and helping him to understand about Jehovah God. 00:02:14 ‘Don’t make the mistakes that I’ve made.’ 00:02:17 He must have loved his grandpa 00:02:20 —and at six years old. 00:02:22 Now he’s eight years old, 00:02:24 and he starts to serve Jehovah 00:02:26 with zeal appropriate for that age. 00:02:29 Now, it’s interesting 00:02:31 that when Josiah was eight years old in 659 B.C.E., 00:02:34 Nebuchadnezzar was about five years old. 00:02:38 So Josiah becomes this king full of compassion; he loved people. 00:02:42 Nebuchadnezzar becomes a king of cruelty 00:02:45 and actually does damage to the nation of Israel and, of course, 00:02:50 Josiah’s son Zedekiah, who he ends up blinding. 00:02:54 Josiah —so different from others. 00:02:57 Well, let’s look in verse 3. 00:03:00 In the eighth year of his reign (that is Josiah), 00:03:04 he’s now 15 years old; he’s still a boy. 00:03:06 He starts to search for the true God. 00:03:08 And now in the 12th year of his reign, 00:03:11 he’s even cleansing Judah. 00:03:13 He has a campaign against idolatry. 00:03:16 He’s 19 years old, 00:03:18 and he sweeps through with zeal —at 19 years old. 00:03:22 ‘This is the way. Walk in it.’ 00:03:24 He’s going back to that theme “This is the way.” 00:03:28 How happy and grateful Josiah must have been 00:03:32 when someone else comes to Jerusalem by the name of Jeremiah. 00:03:36 Jeremiah comes in about 648-647 B.C.E., 00:03:40 and they’re about the same age. 00:03:42 Josiah is 19; Jeremiah is in his early 20’s. 00:03:45 What a team! 00:03:47 They become friends; they love each other. 00:03:49 And what a duo as they continue to help God’s people 00:03:53 to walk in the way! 00:03:55 Like a stereo system —both of them. 00:03:58 Look in verse 31, 00:04:03 and just picture what’s happening here in Jerusalem 00:04:06 with Josiah and with Jeremiah. 00:04:08 Verse 31 —there’s Josiah helping ones 00:04:12 to keep God’s commandments, reading the Law that he found 00:04:16 from the book of the Law in their ears 00:04:19 —reading it, helping them to walk in the way. 00:04:22 Verse 31 says 00:04:26 that Josiah ‘would follow Jehovah, 00:04:28 ‘keep his commandments, his reminders, 00:04:30 ‘and his regulations with all his heart, 00:04:33 with all his soul, carry out those words.’ 00:04:37 You can just sense that Josiah’s feelings 00:04:40 were just bleeding through these pages 00:04:42 —his love for Jehovah God 00:04:45 and wanting ones to walk in the way of Jehovah. 00:04:49 So there you have Josiah; you have Jeremiah. 00:04:52 It’s wonderful to see. 00:04:54 Now, as the years roll on, 00:04:57 would Josiah take note of a young Judean boy 00:05:02 in the royal court by the name of Daniel? 00:05:05 Daniel would have been young, 00:05:07 but perhaps he put his eye on Daniel and said, 00:05:09 ‘This boy —he has a bright future in Jehovah’s service.’ 00:05:13 We don’t know. 00:05:15 And Josiah wouldn’t live to see Daniel’s accomplishments in due time. 00:05:19 But it’s still interesting. 00:05:21 ‘This is the way. Walk in it.’ 00:05:24 Individuals responded to that from Isaiah. 00:05:27 It did not fall on deaf ears. 00:05:29 How do we know? 00:05:31 Well, let’s go a little bit further. 00:05:33 Now the year is 617 B.C.E., 00:05:37 and you have Daniel, Hananiah, 00:05:41 Mishael, Azariah, Ezekiel 00:05:44 —all individuals who responded to Jehovah’s Word. 00:05:48 And when you think about 00:05:50 how they had to take the words of Isaiah 00:05:53 and take the words of Jeremiah —these boys— 00:05:56 and really apply it to their lives 00:05:58 and under their circumstances, we’re very proud of them. 00:06:02 For example, now Josiah is dead, 00:06:04 and his sons and grandson begin to reign. 00:06:07 You have wicked kings. 00:06:10 And from the boyhood of Daniel to his teens, 00:06:14 he witnessed their conduct —bad conduct at the nation’s highest levels. 00:06:19 Jehoahaz: 23 years old, wicked; 00:06:22 Jehoiakim: 25 years old, wicked; 00:06:25 Jehoiachin: 18 years old, wicked; 00:06:27 and Zedekiah: 21 years old, wicked —bad kings. 00:06:31 And these boys watching this? 00:06:33 Well, those are their names: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah; 00:06:38 but they have nicknames: 00:06:40 Dumb, Dumber, Dumbest, and Stupid. 00:06:43 And yet Daniel would not be influenced 00:06:47 by their bad conduct. 00:06:49 It’s amazing to imagine what these boys were able to do 00:06:52 and how their faith remained intact. 00:06:54 They walked in Jehovah’s ways. 00:06:56 They resolved in their heart, especially Daniel, 00:06:59 to be loyal to Jehovah God. 00:07:02 To what extent? 00:07:04 Ezekiel 14:14 00:07:07 —in Ezekiel 14:14 00:07:11 are these amazing words 00:07:13 where Ezekiel, 00:07:15 five years after Daniel comes to Babylon, 00:07:19 writes these words. 00:07:21 So Daniel is now in his early 20’s; 00:07:24 Ezekiel is about 30 years old. 00:07:26 Like Daniel’s older brother, 00:07:28 you can imagine how proud Ezekiel would have been 00:07:30 to write these words about Daniel —no jealousy. 00:07:33 ‘I love that boy. He’s like my little brother.’ 00:07:36 And he says: ‘If Noah and Daniel and Job were here, 00:07:41 ‘you see, they would save themselves because of their righteous conduct.’ 00:07:46 Daniel was amazing 00:07:48 —to be sandwiched between Job and Noah 00:07:51 at such a young age. 00:07:53 And that’s the type of man we’re talking about. 00:07:55 Why do we bring it up? 00:07:57 We bring it up 00:07:59 because we have many Daniel-like brothers and sisters 00:08:04 right in our Bethel family here. 00:08:06 Young brothers and sisters 00:08:08 who have determined in their hearts 00:08:10 to prove the Devil a liar, 00:08:12 to take advantage of their youth, 00:08:14 to show Jehovah how loyal they want to be 00:08:17 —the depth of their devotion. 00:08:19 And we want to commend these young brothers and sisters 00:08:22 —Daniel-like ones. 00:08:24 We cannot legislate 00:08:26 love of God for you; 00:08:30 we cannot legislate 00:08:32 how you use your electronic devices; 00:08:35 we cannot legislate 00:08:36 what you watch on television and movies. 00:08:39 We cannot do that. 00:08:41 We cannot tell you to put a firewall up for your computer. 00:08:44 You can get around all that. You’re smart. 00:08:47 Your “firewall” is your love for Jehovah God 00:08:50 —your depth of devotion for him. 00:08:52 And that’s what we’re saying: “Thank you for using 00:08:55 “your free will like Daniel to honor Jehovah God. 00:08:59 Keep it up.” 00:09:01 And what about our older ones? 00:09:03 Daniel continued to serve Jehovah up until about 100 years old. 00:09:07 He never gave up. 00:09:09 What helped him? 00:09:11 His prayers to Jehovah God. 00:09:14 Prayer was the bedrock of his faith. 00:09:16 So older Daniel-like members of our family 00:09:20 that have served Jehovah for decades, 00:09:23 your loyalty is so deeply appreciated. 00:09:26 And it’s your prayers that have caused you 00:09:28 —day in and day out, week in and week out, 00:09:30 month in and month out —to continue to serve Jehovah. 00:09:34 And just as Daniel and Isaiah 00:09:37 and Jeremiah and Josiah 00:09:39 had a positive impact on the people of their day, 00:09:42 let me reassure you 00:09:44 —you older brothers and sisters, you mature ones— 00:09:48 your loyalty and determination to walk in Jehovah’s way for decades 00:09:52 has deeply influenced our Bethel family. 00:09:55 Your determination never to betray your God 00:09:58 has touched us personally, 00:10:00 and for this we say, “Thank you.”
