Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order

“Look! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the dew of Hermon that is descending upon the mountains of Zion.”​—Psalm 133:1, 3.

1. How does Jehovah’s Word describe his earthly household of dedicated servants?

WHAT a fine description this is of the household of those who, though widely spread around the earth, have dedicated their lives to their common Parent, Jehovah God! And He surely presides over this global household in a grand manner. Lovingly he provides for all our needs.​—Psalm 145:16.

2. What does submitting to theocratic order mean?

² Yet, firmly Jehovah insists on peace and unity on the part of all his devoted children. (1 Corinthians 1:10) And these good results come by God’s servants loyally submitting to theocratic order. What does that mean? Since God’s rulership is called a theocracy (God rule), submitting to theocratic order means being obedient to the laws, rules and principles issuing from God.​—Isaiah 33:22.

3. How did Jesus express his feelings about submitting to God’s rule?

³ The finest example of loyally submitting to theocratic order is that of Jesus Christ. In heaven he was “the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) “Jehovah himself produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago. From time indefinite I was installed, from the start, from times earlier than the earth. . . . I came to be beside [God] as a master worker, and I came to be the one he was specially fond of day by day, I being glad before him all the time.” (Proverbs 8:22, 23, 30) His delight in submitting to God’s rule was evident when he was on earth, for Jesus explained: “I have come down from heaven to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38) As part of doing God’s will, he was very careful to teach God’s thoughts, not his own. “What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me,” Jesus said. (John 7:16) What a fine attitude for all of God’s servants to imitate!

4. Describe the theocratic arrangement in our day.

⁴ Because of his loyal submission to theocratic rule, even to the death, Jesus was rewarded with immortal heavenly life. Additionally, he was given “all authority . . . in heaven and on the earth.” (Matthew 28:18) In turn, he entrusted “all his belongings” on earth (earthly interests of his Kingdom) to faithful anointed Christians. These ones Jesus called a “faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Their reward is someday to share heavenly rule with Christ as “priests” and “kings” in his kingdom. (Revelation 14:1, 4; 20:6) Today, a remnant of this ‘faithful slave’ is still alive on earth. Their duties include receiving and passing on to all of Jehovah’s earthly servants spiritual food at the proper time. They occupy a position similar to that of Paul and his colaborers when that apostle said of the wonderful truths God gives to his people: “It is to us God has revealed them through his spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10) They also take the lead in the Kingdom preaching service that must be accomplished “in all the inhabited earth” before the end of this doomed system of things.​—Matthew 24:14.

Results of Wrong Course

5, 6. (a) What consequences came to Eve and Adam for wanting independence from Jehovah? (b) How does Jehovah deal with ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’?

⁵ How vital it is for everyone in God’s family to submit loyally to the teachings and arrangements of the Great Theocrat, Jehovah, and his King-Son, Christ Jesus, as transmitted through the ‘faithful slave’ on earth! Since theocratic order begins with Jehovah himself and extends downward, never would we want to imitate Satan the Devil by becoming independent of theocratic rule. Recall the sorry results that came to Eve when she listened to Satan’s deceptive urging for her not to submit to theocratic order. In effect, he said to her: ‘Be independent of God. Do your own thinking. Decide for yourself what is right and wrong. Then you’ll be like God. You positively will not die.’ (Genesis 3:1-5) That may have sounded appealing, but it was a lie. (John 8:44) When her husband joined her in abandoning submission to theocratic order, they were expelled from the garden of Eden and from God’s family of loyal ones. In time, just as Jehovah had warned, the death sentence was executed on both of them.​—Genesis 2:17.

⁶ Likewise today, any among Jehovah’s people who indulge in independent and contrary teaching imitate, not God, but Satan the Devil. However, Jehovah sees what is happening among his family and takes account. (Proverbs 15:3) He will not tolerate wolflike persons who would devour his sheeplike ones, but at the proper time he takes decisive action. (Matthew 7:15-23) Like a loving father, he protects the spiritual well-being of his family.​—Ezekiel 34:11-16.

7. (a) What did Aaron and Miriam fail to take to heart? (b) With what consequences?

⁷ Other Bible examples also highlight the danger of not loyally submitting to theocratic order. For example, Miriam and Aaron presumed on their family relationship with Moses and challenged his position in the congregation of ancient Israel. (Numbers 12:1, 2) They failed to take to heart the fact that Jehovah himself had assigned to Moses special authority, attested to by miraculous events. Jehovah reminded them: “My servant Moses . . . is being entrusted with all my house. Mouth to mouth I speak to him. . . . Why, then, did you not fear to speak against my servant, against Moses?” Then “Jehovah’s anger got to be hot against them.” Aaron was severely rebuked, and, for her part, Miriam was struck with leprosy and expelled from the camp of Israel for seven days.​—Numbers 12:7-15.

8. What does the case of King Saul illustrate?

⁸ Then there was King Saul of ancient Israel who refused to wait on Jehovah. Instead, he presumptuously offered up sacrifices even though he was not a priest. His feeble excuse was that he was in danger of losing his army through desertions. Yet, whose army was it? Saul’s or Jehovah’s? The prophet Samuel told him: “You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Jehovah your God . . . And now your kingdom will not last.” (1 Samuel 13:13, 14) The kingship was taken from Saul and given to ‘a man agreeable to Jehovah’s heart.’ Thus, Saul paid a heavy price for his lack of submission and also for his lack of genuine repentance when the matter was called to his attention. This illustrates that Jehovah does take note of presumptuous, independent, nontheocratic activity among his people.​—Proverbs 11:2.

9. Why was King Uzziah made an outcast?

⁹ The case of King Uzziah of Judah is similar. Although he was king over Jehovah’s people, he was not authorized to serve in any priestly capacity. Yet he insisted on exercising the function of a priest. The priests protested vigorously and declared: “It is not your business, O Uzziah, to burn incense to Jehovah, but it is the business of the priests the sons of Aaron, the ones sanctified, to burn incense. Go out from the sanctuary; for you have acted unfaithfully.” Then, showing his lack of repentance, Uzziah raged against the priests, adding to his sin of presumptuousness. “During his rage against the priests, leprosy itself flashed up in his forehead . . . because Jehovah had smitten him.” He continued to be a leper to his dying day, an outcast, “severed from the house of Jehovah.”​—2 Chronicles 26:16-21.

10. How did Paul describe those who challenged his appointment by Jesus?

¹⁰ The apostle Paul spoke of certain ones who challenged the special appointment he had from the Head of the Christian congregation, Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:12) But Paul said that such men were “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13, 14) Those men had their own selfish purposes to advance. Paul had warned of this kind of person, stating: “From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore keep awake.” (Acts 20:30, 31) Paul pleaded with the brothers, including those would-be apostles, not to allow strife and disorder to mar the unity and fruitfulness of the Christian congregation. If any failed to heed the spirit-inspired counsel, then they were headed for certain disaster.​—Galatians 1:7-9.

11. How does Jehovah protect the harmony of his earthly household?

¹¹ The inspired Bible writer John declared: “Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. . . . If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.” (2 John 9-11) Yes, Jehovah will protect the good spirit and harmony of his household.

Being on Guard Today

12. To what is Jehovah gathering all those who love him?

¹² In this “final part of the days” Jehovah is gathering all those who love him into one unified, harmonious organization. People of all nations are heeding the call, “Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” (Isaiah 2:2, 3) Note that Jehovah instructs people in his ways so that they can walk in his paths, not their own ways and their own paths.​—Jeremiah 10:23, 24.

13. (a) Why must we be especially on guard now? (b) What do we need to offset Satan’s designs?

¹³ However, Satan now has “great anger.” He knows that he has only “a short period of time” left before he is put out of action. So he “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (Revelation 12:12; 1 Peter 5:8) Therefore, we need to be on guard against any efforts of the god of this world, Satan the Devil, to introduce contention and division among the members of Jehovah’s family. “So keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked. On this account cease becoming unreasonable, but go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) By taking advantage of Jehovah’s provisions for our spiritual welfare, we will be built up, refined, properly armed. In this way we will be able to offset Satan’s wicked schemes and defeat his purpose.​—Ephesians 6:10-13.

14. Why is there great danger in thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to?

¹⁴ A mental attitude that must be guarded against is thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. (Romans 12:3) That could lead a Christian into believing that he has a special mission from God apart from the channel through which Jehovah dispenses his truths and directs his household. It would, in effect, place him in a supposed special relationship with Jehovah not enjoyed by any other brother or sister in the household. But that sort of isolation can lead only to folly: “One isolating himself will seek his own selfish longing; against all practical wisdom he will break forth.”​—Proverbs 18:1.

Waiting on Jehovah

15. (a) Is it proper to make suggestions to Jehovah’s “slave” class? (b) Illustrate the application of theocratic submission in the first century.

¹⁵ At times, some bring to the attention of the “slave” class various doctrinal or organizational matters that they feel ought to be revised. Certainly, suggestions for improvement are proper, as are inquiries for clarification. An example of this was when Paul, Barnabas and others were sent “to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem” regarding circumcision. When those elders at Jerusalem decided the matter, under the direction of holy spirit, they then sent brothers to various cities to “deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem.” Loyal submission to those decrees brought Jehovah’s blessing. Thus, “the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day.”​—Acts 15:1–16:5.

16. (a) What is the proper spirit to show after offering suggestions? (b) How does Paul counsel handling those who show the wrong spirit?

¹⁶ The proper spirit after offering suggestions is to be content to leave the matter to the prayerful consideration of the mature brothers directing the work in Jehovah’s organization. But if those making the suggestions are not content with that and continue to dispute the subject in the congregations with a view to getting others to support them, what then? That would create divisions, and could subvert the faith of some. So Paul counsels: “Keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.” Paul also counseled Titus to “reprove those who contradict,” adding: “It is necessary to shut the mouths of these, as these very men keep on subverting entire households by teaching things they ought not . . . For this very cause keep on reproving them with severity.”​—Romans 16:17, 18; Titus 1:9-13.

17. How can we today imitate David’s fine attitude?

¹⁷ God’s Word states: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1) So how much better to keep busy in the primary work of proclaiming God’s wonderful kingdom, speaking upbuilding things, strengthening the faith of others and ourselves, while patiently waiting for Jehovah to work out his will through his appointed channel! (Romans 14:19; Philippians 4:8, 9) Imitate David when he said: “For on you, O Jehovah, I waited; you yourself proceeded to answer, O Jehovah my God.” (Psalm 38:15) Always keep in mind the important consideration as stated by Paul, namely, “that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) Because this principle is being applied in Jehovah’s family throughout the world, we see marvelous results. Indeed, “how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity”!​—Psalm 133:1.

“Each One in His Place”

“All the while they kept standing each one in his place all around the camp.”​—Judges 7:21.

1, 2. Contrast God’s works with man’s works.

WHAT comes to your mind when you contrast the harmony of God’s handiwork with the disorder in human society? Do you not agree with the inspired Bible writer who said: “For God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace”? (1 Corinthians 14:33) Those words of the apostle Paul show that God could not be responsible for the world’s confused state of affairs. Jehovah knows how to arrange matters so that everything governed by his laws has its place. His creations around us testify to this fact. Man’s expanding knowledge of the universe bears witness over and over again to the prevailing order and control exhibited there. Wherever he points his telescopes, man notes that every star and planet is in its place, moving orderly in its orbit.

² What a different scene it is when we turn our attention to the affairs of wayward men on earth! There is so much confusion, disorder and murderous rivalry! Humankind is politically, religiously, socially and racially divided, and overwhelmed by unsolvable problems. Crime has become so rampant that it is impossible to discover and bring to justice every lawbreaker. Even soldiers in national armies who are supposed to serve under strict discipline frequently break the rules.

3. What are Christians likened to, but what is their fight?

³ It is little wonder then that, just as Jehovah concerns himself with the physical universe, he is concerned also with peace and order among his representatives on earth. As his servants, individual Christians are likened to disciplined soldiers in an army. The apostle Paul wrote that each should be like “a loyal soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3, Today’s English Version) Each one of us should want to “go on waging the fine warfare.” (1 Timothy 1:18) But our fight, it must always be remembered, is not a physical one. It is spiritual. It is against the invisible “world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.”​—Ephesians 6:12.

4. Why will Satan’s assaults against God’s servants not be successful?

⁴ However, the forces under “the god of this system of things” want to intimidate God’s servants so that they will lose courage and flee before the enemy. (2 Corinthians 4:4) But this strategy of opposers will fail miserably because it is Jehovah who is directing matters and it is he who is ‘teaching our hands for warfare.’ (Psalm 18:34) We are encouraged by the assurance that “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15) Through his mighty Field Marshal, Christ Jesus, Jehovah will direct the fight to its victorious finish. Hence, he assures his loyal ones that they will never be put to shame. Never will they need to retreat before the onslaughts of opposers.​—Psalm 18:25.

5. Why did Jehovah instruct Gideon contrary to human ideas on war strategy?

⁵ By means of the thrilling, inspired account of a battle fought in the days of the judges in Israel, centuries before our Common Era, Jehovah calls our attention to some principles of warfare that the ‘soldiers of Christ’ do well to heed. It was in Judge Gideon’s time, when a host of demon worshipers “as numerous as the locusts” invaded the land of Israel. (Judges 6:5) Jehovah instructed Gideon as to how the army of Israel should meet this seemingly overwhelming threat. Contrary to all human ideas on war strategy, Gideon was directed to reduce his army from 32,000 to 10,000, and then from 10,000 to only 300. By these few, Jehovah promised, “I shall save you people.”​—Judges 7:2-7.

6. Describe the attack of Gideon and the 300 on the Midianite camp.

⁶ The 300 were equipped with horns and large empty jars, with torches inside the jars. In the dead of night Gideon deployed them around the camp of Midian and their allies. They were instructed to listen for the signal to be given by Gideon, and then to go into action. Loyal obedience and strict compliance with the battle orders of Gideon were vital. When all were in place, Gideon gave the signal. At that, the 300 “blew the horns and shattered the large jars [covering their torches] and took fresh hold on the torches with their left hand and with their right hand on the horns to blow them, and they began calling out: ‘Jehovah’s sword and Gideon’s!’ All the while they kept standing each one in his place all around the camp, and the whole camp got on the run and broke out into shouting and went fleeing.” The enemy was crushed.​—Judges 7:19-22.

7. What questions arise regarding this Bible event?

⁷ Some pertinent questions arise here. For example, would Jehovah have granted such a tremendous triumph if the 300 had treated lightly his battle orders? What if they had failed to wait for Gideon’s signal? Had they neglected any of the battle equipment with which Gideon had provided them, what then? Would they have been successful if each one had decided for himself that there were other vantage points at the edge of the enemy camp that were preferable to those assigned? In all of this, there are vital principles by which we should be guided today, since ‘these things were befalling them for us to note the example and benefit ourselves.’​—1 Corinthians 10:11.

8. To whom must we look for victory in our warfare?

⁸ In our Christian warfare we must acknowledge Jehovah in all our ways. We must look to and trust in him as the Giver of victory. On the other hand, clever human strategy, the deepest thinking of mere men, cannot guarantee success. “Not by a military force, nor by power, but by my spirit,” Jehovah says. (Zechariah 4:6) So in conducting our day-to-day fight in support of truth and righteousness, we Christians will avoid worldly ideas and methods that are in opposition to the principles God provides to guide his people. A leaning toward the counsel of worldlings bespeaks a weakening of faith in our God’s ability to come to our aid in times of need. Our conviction should be as strong as that of Bible writer James (1:5): “So, if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him.”

“Learn from Watching Me”

9, 10. (a) Who is our Commander and Leader today? (b) How can we ‘watch’ him, since he is invisible?

⁹ Christ Jesus, the Greater Gideon, now is in full command of his visible and invisible forces. Through him Jehovah progressively reveals his purposes and his timing of events for his people. How thrilling it is to realize that Christ Jesus is actively engaged in directing his “soldiers” on earth, thus ensuring them a share in ultimate victory! True to his promise, he is with them “all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”​—Matthew 28:20.

¹⁰ Since Christ Jesus is now the enthroned Leader and Commander of all fighters for truth and righteousness, we can unitedly ‘learn from watching him’ as the 300 learned from watching Gideon. (Judges 7:17) But how can we today ‘watch’ Christ, since he is invisible? We ‘watch’ him in the sense that we discern his signals as given through his visible “slave” appointee over all the earthly interests of his kingdom. (Matthew 24:45-47) Through this spirit-appointed channel his direction and strategy are communicated to all who are his “soldiers.” These latter cannot afford to move ahead on their own or become impatient because their view of things is not coming to pass. The timing of matters is provided by our invisible Commander. His view is the important consideration, not our own personal views.

Divinely Provided Equipment

11. What type of equipment do God’s servants use today?

¹¹ The Greater Gideon knows what equipment his soldiers on earth require. It is not literal arms and armor that we need, for we are not fighting against fellow humans. Ours is a spiritual warfare. So our weapons are “powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things . . . overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God . . . bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5) Regardless of the opposition that may come upon them, faithful Christian warriors must become skilled at using the divinely provided equipment so as to be able to do as the apostle Paul did, namely, ‘be telling people all the counsel of God.’​—Acts 20:27.

12. (a) Why was Gideon’s small band so effective? (b) Why are Jehovah’s servants so effective today?

¹² Gideon’s soldiers had to act as one man and use their equipment in order to achieve the desired result. The crashing of 300 earthenware jars, the holding aloft of 300 torches, the alarm sounded by 300 horn blasts, and the shouts from 300 voices borne in upon them from all sides on the still night air surely had a devastating effect on the Midianites! Similarly, is it not true that even now the united proclamation of God’s kingdom and his vengeance causes the enemy to exaggerate the scope and danger of the proclaimed message to them? Why is this so? Because the entire organization of Jehovah’s people gladly conform to the timing of their specific messages to the world as directed by the Greater Gideon through his appointed “slave.” On the other hand, if each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses did as he pleased about when and how to declare God’s message, how could the worldwide witness ever be given? Surely it is clear that Jehovah’s will is that we “have among [ourselves] the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus [the Greater Gideon] had, that with one accord [we] may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”​—Romans 15:5, 6.

13, 14. What is it that gives force to the message of Jehovah’s servants today?

¹³ The unifying force is Jehovah’s spirit and his Word, the Bible. Happily, we are not going out each one teaching his own impression of the Bible’s message. Jehovah has provided a goodly quantity of aids to Bible understanding in the form of publications, so that our thinking and our teaching may be harmonious. We thus avoid the deadly lack of unity and the multitudinous conflicting doctrines of Christendom and heathendom. Nor do we pussyfoot and tone down the message of God to the nations, a message of great hope, true, but also one of vengeance and retribution. We are well aware that the trumpet sound must be loud and clear.​—1 Corinthians 14:8.

¹⁴ How appropriate, then, for all of us to appreciate the value of the equipment Jehovah provides for our Christian warfare! Also, he instructs us well in its use, so that a most effective witness may be given to individuals and to nations. It is not the voice of a lone person crying out in the wilderness, but is the loud, penetrating warning that is sounded throughout the world. Thus, ‘Jehovah is certainly giving forth his mighty voice before his military force.’​—Joel 2:9, 11.

“Each One in His Place”

15. What actions would have been unthinkable for one of Gideon’s men?

¹⁵ With Gideon’s three hundred, it was unthinkable for one of them, after he had been assigned his post, to balk and wish to change his post with someone else, or even to choose his own vantage point. That would be putting his own judgment ahead of the one Jehovah was using to direct the attack, Gideon. It would display a lack of humility and a lack of waiting upon Jehovah’s time and determination to make a change. How could such an attitude harmonize with a sincere participation in the shout: “Jehovah’s sword and Gideon’s!”?

16. How will humility help us in discharging our obligations?

¹⁶ In Jehovah’s arrangement of things today each one of us must have foremost in mind Jehovah’s purpose and the overall interests of his kingdom. We must discharge our assigned duty faithfully, whatever place in the organization is involved. (1 Corinthians 4:2) Also, we must display humility, which does not countenance self-promotion. The principle taught by Christ Jesus applies in all situations: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) And James urges: “Humble yourselves [not merely in the eyes of men but] in the eyes of Jehovah, and he will exalt you.”​—James 4:10.

17. Does Jehovah take a personal interest in each one of us?

¹⁷ Hence, we can see the full significance of the words at Judges 7:21, “each one in his place.” As we serve in Jehovah’s organization let us be content to serve wherever he assigns us, and do the job as faithfully as we can. Let us be convinced that the One who takes note of the fall of a small sparrow has much more interest in us as we loyally work at whatever we are assigned to do. (Matthew 10:29-31) He knows what training we need, and what job we are fitted for, and so he deals with us accordingly. We may be sure that we are not being overlooked.​—1 Peter 5:10.

18. Why do we have such great confidence in Jehovah today?

¹⁸ Today, all of God’s servants are under the command of the Greater Gideon, Christ Jesus. Unitedly we want to serve for the vindication of Jehovah’s name, humbly remaining subject to his battle rules, “each one in his place.” We are confident that the overall strategy of Jehovah will ensure ultimate victory. And we are confident also that Jehovah sees our loyal obedience and will reward us with the “real life” in his new order, for his Word states: “Become steadfast, unmovable, always having plenty to do in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord.”​—1 Timothy 6:19; 1 Corinthians 15:58.