Weekly Main Topic & Bible Theme⁠

📌 NEXT WEEK NOVEMBER 9-15, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Zedekiah’s Example Warns Us

In this week’s Treasures, we will look at the final king of Judah, Zedekiah, and the serious choices he made when he was under pressure. His example shows us why we must not allow fear of people to weaken our obedience and why Jehovah takes the promises we make to him very seriously.

Have you ever known the right thing to do, but felt nervous about how other people would react if you did it? Perhaps you knew what your conscience was telling you, but you worried about losing someone’s approval, being criticized, or making life more difficult for yourself. In moments like that, the real test is not whether we know what is right. The test is whether we will stand up for what is right even when doing so is difficult.

The life of Zedekiah gives us a serious warning about this. He was the last earthly king of Judah, and during a very difficult period, he had opportunities to listen to Jehovah’s direction. He even consulted Jehovah’s prophet Jeremiah. But Zedekiah repeatedly allowed fear of people to affect his decisions. He knew what Jehovah wanted, yet he did not have the courage to act on it.

His example also reminds us that our promises to Jehovah are serious. Zedekiah made an oath in Jehovah’s name, but later broke it. And when we look at the consequences, we can see why we should never allow fear, pressure, or temporary difficulties to cause us to turn away from what we have promised Jehovah.

Let us first consider how Zedekiah failed to stand up for what was right.

During the final Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, Zedekiah was under enormous pressure. The situation was getting worse, and he needed guidance. So he sought Jehovah’s direction through Jeremiah. Jehovah’s message was clear: Zedekiah needed to surrender to the Babylonians. If he did so, Jerusalem would not be completely destroyed, and he himself would live.

But Zedekiah did not like the message.

Instead of acting on Jehovah’s direction, he imprisoned Jeremiah. Yet even after doing that, Zedekiah continued to consult him. What does that tell us? Zedekiah knew where the right guidance was coming from, but knowing what Jehovah wanted was not enough. He needed to act on it.

There was another problem. Zedekiah was very concerned about what his princes would think and do. He was willing to listen to Jeremiah, but he did so secretly because he was afraid of upsetting the princes. When they demanded that Jeremiah be put to death, Zedekiah weakly gave in. He told them, “He is in your hands,” saying that he could not prevail against them.

Think about that. He was the king. He had authority. Yet his fear of other people was stronger than his determination to do what was right.

Later, Zedekiah secretly consulted Jeremiah again. This time, he admitted that he was afraid of what would happen if he obeyed Jehovah. He feared that the people would mistreat him. So Zedekiah understood the danger of disobeying Jehovah, but he was still controlled by fear.

The Bible summarizes his attitude in a very strong way. Zedekiah “did not humble himself” and “kept stiffening his neck and hardening his heart so as not to return to Jehovah.” His problem was not that he lacked information. Jehovah had given him clear direction. His problem was that he would not humble himself and follow it.

We can see why Zedekiah’s example is such a useful warning. Sometimes the right thing is very clear to us, but doing it may mean facing pressure from other people. Perhaps people around us have different standards. Perhaps they may not understand why we refuse to participate in something. Perhaps standing firm could make us feel left out or could bring criticism.

At such times, we need to remember that Jehovah’s approval matters more than the approval of people.

Zedekiah’s weakness also affected other decisions he made. One of the most serious involved an oath.

Zedekiah had sworn an oath in Jehovah’s name that he would remain a loyal vassal to the king of Babylon. This was not a casual promise. He had used Jehovah’s name when making that oath. So Zedekiah owed it to Jehovah to keep his word.

But later, he broke that oath. Instead of remaining loyal to Babylon, he turned to Egypt in an attempt to free himself from Babylon’s control. It was a fruitless attempt, and Jehovah viewed Zedekiah’s broken oath very seriously.

Jehovah said through Ezekiel: “As surely as I am alive,” Zedekiah would die in Babylon, in the place where the king who had made him king lived. Why? Because Zedekiah had despised the oath he made and broken the covenant.

This teaches us something important about promises. Jehovah listens when we make promises, and he takes our vows seriously. A promise made in his name is not something we can simply change when circumstances become uncomfortable.

Of course, Zedekiah’s oath was different from the promises most of us have made. But the principle is still important. As servants of Jehovah, we have made a very serious promise to him. At our dedication, we promised to serve Jehovah unconditionally.

That dedication is not just a statement we made at one particular moment. It affects the way we live every day.

This is where Zedekiah’s example becomes especially useful for us. We can ask ourselves: How can I make sure that I do not become like Zedekiah?

One way is by taking our dedication vow seriously in everyday situations. We do not have to wait for a huge test before showing Jehovah that we are loyal. Our faithfulness is demonstrated in many small decisions that we make every day.

For example, think about what can happen at work or at school. Someone may flirt with us or show romantic interest even though we are married or otherwise know that the attention is inappropriate. In that moment, we have a choice. We could enjoy the attention and slowly allow our boundaries to weaken, or we could remember our dedication and reject the advance.

What we choose shows whether our promise to Jehovah is something we truly value.

It may not feel like a dramatic test. Nobody may be forcing us to do anything. But these are exactly the kinds of situations in which we show what is in our heart. Will we choose Jehovah’s way when doing so means saying no to something that may feel attractive or flattering?

We can also face tests at home. Perhaps we live in a divided household where others do not share our worship. We may be the only one trying to maintain Christian standards. That can be difficult. It may be tempting to lower our standards because nobody else around us is making the same effort.

But our dedication did not come with conditions. We promised to serve Jehovah, not only when everyone around us supported us, but unconditionally.

So when our circumstances are difficult, we can pray for Jehovah’s help to maintain the Christian personality. We can continue doing what we know is right even when we are the only one in our household doing so.

There is also our personal routine of worship. Do we make time to read the Bible regularly? Do we approach Jehovah in prayer and thank him for bringing us under his rulership and for showing us love? Do we continue sharing in worship even when we are tired or our circumstances make it difficult?

These things may seem ordinary, but they are part of keeping our promise to Jehovah.

Zedekiah shows us what can happen when a person allows circumstances and people to become more important than obedience. At first, he simply struggled with fear. He feared his princes. He feared how people would treat him. But instead of letting his fear push him closer to Jehovah, he allowed it to weaken his obedience.

Then he made another wrong choice by breaking his oath. One compromise led to another, until he suffered the consequences of his actions.

That gives us a valuable warning: we should not wait until a serious crisis to decide whether we will be loyal to Jehovah. We need to strengthen our determination now.

When we regularly pray, study God’s Word, attend meetings, share in the ministry, and make choices that agree with Jehovah’s standards, we are building a pattern of faithfulness. Then, when a more serious test comes, we will already be accustomed to putting Jehovah first.

It is also encouraging to remember that Jehovah does not ask us to face pressure without help. We can approach him in prayer. When we know that a particular situation could test us, we can ask Jehovah in advance to help us remain firm. We can think about Bible principles before we are under pressure rather than waiting until we are already in the situation.

That is very different from Zedekiah’s approach. He sought Jeremiah’s advice, but he did not act on it. We want to do more than simply know Jehovah’s standards. We want to allow what we learn to guide our decisions.

There is another beautiful reason why keeping our dedication promise is important. Our faithfulness is not simply about avoiding punishment. It is about our relationship with Jehovah. We promised to serve him because we love him. Our worship is therefore not a mere formality or something we do only because we made a promise years ago.

Our worship is a way of life.

Every day gives us opportunities to show Jehovah that our dedication is real. When we reject something that could damage our friendship with him, we are showing our love. When we pray even though we are tired, we are showing that our relationship with him matters. When we continue reading his Word and applying it, we are showing that we trust his guidance.

And when we stand up for what is right even though other people may not approve, we are doing the opposite of what Zedekiah did.

Zedekiah allowed fear of people to control his decisions. We want to develop the courage to put Jehovah first. He broke an oath when circumstances became difficult. We want to remember that Jehovah takes our promises seriously. He suffered the consequences of his choices. We want to learn from his example now, while we have the opportunity to make good choices.

So perhaps we can keep Zedekiah in mind the next time we face pressure. Maybe nobody is directly telling us to disobey Jehovah. Instead, there may simply be a desire to avoid embarrassment, criticism, rejection, or inconvenience. We might think, “If I just go along with this, it will be easier.”

That is the moment to remember Zedekiah.

He also wanted things to be easier. He wanted to avoid trouble with the princes. He wanted to escape Babylon’s control. But trying to make his circumstances easier did not solve his problems. It only led him further away from Jehovah’s direction.

Doing what is right may not always make our situation easier immediately, but it protects our relationship with Jehovah.

And there is something reassuring about that. When we keep our promise to Jehovah, we never lose by being faithful. We may sometimes have to say no to something we would like. We may have to endure criticism. We may have to stand alone in a situation. But faithfulness leads to a secure future.

The Bible encourages us to keep praising Jehovah “day after day.” That means our dedication is something we live out continually. Not just when we feel strong. Not just when circumstances are favorable. Not just when other people support us.

Day after day.

So let us learn from Zedekiah’s warning example. When Jehovah gives us direction, let us not be like Zedekiah, who knew the right thing but failed to act because of fear. Instead, let us develop the courage to stand up for what is right.

When we make a promise to Jehovah, let us remember that he takes our words seriously. And when we face tests, large or small, let our choices show that our dedication to him is genuine.

Conclusion

Zedekiah had opportunities to do what was right. Jehovah gave him clear direction through Jeremiah. He even came back to Jeremiah for guidance more than once. But fear of people kept him from acting on what he knew was right. Then he broke an oath made in Jehovah’s name and eventually suffered the consequences.

We do not want to repeat that pattern.

Instead, whenever we face pressure, let us ask ourselves: “Whose approval matters most to me?” When we have promised Jehovah something, let us ask: “Am I showing by my daily choices that I mean what I promised?”

Our dedication to Jehovah is one of the most precious things we have. We do not want it to become merely words we once spoke. We want our whole way of life to show that we belong to Jehovah and that we intend to remain loyal to him.

Zedekiah’s example is a warning, but it is also a gift. It helps us see the danger of fear, compromise, and broken promises before we make the same mistakes. So when pressure comes, may we have the courage Zedekiah lacked. May we stand firmly for what is right, keep our promises to Jehovah, and continue serving him faithfully day after day.

Zedekiah’s example reminds us that knowing what is right is not enough—we must be willing to act on it. By standing firm under pressure and keeping our dedication promise to Jehovah day after day, we show that our loyalty to him is genuine.

📌 NEXT WEEK NOVEMBER 2-8, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Helping Others Find Jehovah’s Mercy

In this week’s Treasures, we will see how Jehovah’s dealings with Babylon and with repentant Israelites reveal both his justice and his mercy. We’ll also consider why warning people about false religion is an important way we can help them benefit from Jehovah’s mercy while there is still time.

Have you ever thought about what makes Jehovah’s mercy so different from the way humans sometimes show mercy? When someone has done something seriously wrong, people may feel that the person deserves to suffer the consequences forever. But Jehovah looks at the heart and at whether a person is willing to change. His mercy is never weak or misplaced. At the same time, Jehovah does not ignore wickedness. He is a righteous Judge, and he knows when people have become completely opposed to what is right.

The way Jehovah dealt with Babylon shows both sides of his justice. Babylon had become extremely proud and presumptuous. She did not simply make mistakes or occasionally act badly. She had developed an arrogant attitude toward Jehovah and his people. So Jehovah made clear that he would hold her accountable. Yet, at the same time, Jehovah showed mercy to repentant Israelites. That contrast teaches us something important. Jehovah is willing to forgive those who sincerely turn back to him, and we want to help others benefit from that mercy while there is still time.

Let us first consider why Jehovah rightly condemned Babylon.

Babylon had a long history of acting with presumptuousness against God. Jeremiah recorded Jehovah’s words to Babylon: “Look! I am against you, O Presumptuousness.” Jehovah also said that presumptuousness would stumble and fall. So Jehovah was not simply describing Babylon as a powerful nation. He was exposing the attitude behind its actions. Babylon had become proud, arrogant, and openly opposed to Jehovah.

This was especially serious because Babylon had been used to carry out judgment against other nations, including Jerusalem. But Babylon did not recognize that Jehovah was ultimately responsible for what happened. Instead, she became proud of her power and treated others harshly. Her attitude showed that she felt above everyone else, even above God.

Jehovah therefore had every reason to condemn Babylon. Her pride and wickedness had reached a point where judgment was certain. Jeremiah 50:14, 29, and 31 describe Babylon’s punishment and repeatedly draw attention to her arrogance. Jehovah would not allow such an attitude to continue forever.

There is also a larger lesson here because ancient Babylon became a picture of something much greater. The Bible identifies false religion collectively as “Babylon the Great.” Like ancient Babylon, symbolic Babylon the Great has shown great presumptuousness toward God. She has misled people and has been responsible for much bloodshed. Revelation describes her as making the inhabitants of the earth drunk with “the wine of her fornication,” and it says that she is responsible for the blood of prophets, holy ones, and others who have been slaughtered on the earth.

So Jehovah’s coming judgment on false religion is not something arbitrary. He sees the harm that false religion has caused, and he will bring it to an end. Revelation 17 and 18 show that Babylon the Great will suffer destruction. This agrees with Jehovah’s earlier promise recorded at Isaiah 13:11, where he said that he would cause the pride of the presumptuous ones to cease.

That gives us a clear picture of Jehovah’s justice. He does not overlook serious wrongdoing simply because someone is powerful or influential. Babylon could not continue in her proud course forever. Jehovah would make sure that presumptuousness would finally come to an end.

But now there is another side of the picture that is especially encouraging. While Jehovah rightly condemned Babylon, he completely forgave repentant Israelites.

Jeremiah 50:20 highlights this beautiful truth. Read Jeremiah 50:20.

That verse shows how complete Jehovah’s forgiveness can be. The Israelites had made serious mistakes, and Jehovah allowed them to experience the consequences of their unfaithfulness. They were taken into captivity in Babylon. But Jehovah did not abandon them forever. He had promised that after seventy years, they would be restored to their homeland.

Think about what that meant for those Jews living in Babylon. They were surrounded by false worship. Babylon was full of religious practices that had nothing to do with pure worship of Jehovah. Yet Jehovah gave his people a way to remain clean from that false worship and eventually return to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah had told them that after the seventy years, they would be restored. And that is what happened. In 539 B.C.E., the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon. Soon afterward, Persian King Cyrus II issued a decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem. Thousands took advantage of that opportunity and returned.

In that sense, they had to flee from Babylon. Jeremiah had given them instructions to get away from the false worship surrounding them. Their return to Jerusalem was not merely a change of location. It represented their determination to restore and support pure worship.

Not every Jew was able to make the journey. Some, including the aged prophet Daniel, remained in Babylon. But they could still have Jehovah’s blessing. How? By wholeheartedly supporting pure worship centered in Jerusalem and by keeping themselves separate from Babylonian false worship.

That is important because it shows that Jehovah’s mercy did not mean that his people could simply ignore what was wrong. They needed to act on what they knew. Those who returned had to leave Babylon behind. Those who remained had to stay separate from its false worship. Jehovah blessed those who responded to his direction.

This brings us to our responsibility today.

Billions of people are involved in different forms of false religion. According to the Bible, many of these religions can be traced back to ancient Babylon, and collectively they are called Babylon the Great. Many people involved in false religion sincerely believe that they are worshipping God in an acceptable way. They may not understand what the Bible says about false religion or know what Jehovah will soon do.

So what can we do?

We can help others benefit from Jehovah’s mercy by warning them about what is coming and helping them learn the truth from the Bible.

The warning is not given because we want people to be afraid. It is given because Jehovah wants people to have the opportunity to respond before it is too late. The example of the Jews in Babylon helps us understand this. They were told to get away from Babylonian false worship so that they would be ready to return and restore pure worship.

The same basic principle applies today. True Christians have an obligation to warn people about Babylon the Great. One way we do that is by sharing the Bible and Bible-based literature that helps people understand Jehovah’s thinking. When someone shows interest in the Bible’s message, arrangements can be made to help that person through a Bible study.

That is where Jehovah’s mercy becomes very personal.

Imagine someone who has spent many years involved in a religion that Jehovah does not approve of. Perhaps that person has never been shown clearly what the Bible says about false religion. If someone kindly shares the Bible’s message with that person, he or she is being given an opportunity to learn the truth and make a change.

We do not know how that person will respond. Some may listen immediately. Others may not be interested. Some may even reject the message. But our responsibility is not to decide who will respond. Our responsibility is to give people the opportunity to hear.

There is another reason why our warning work is so important. The destruction of Babylon the Great will be a world-changing event. The material we have considered explains that it may be Jehovah’s will to save people who change their heart when they see the destruction of Babylon the Great. That means that what we tell people now may stay in their mind and heart later.

They may remember a conversation. They may remember a Bible verse. They may remember that someone lovingly warned them about false religion. When they see events unfold, those things may help them recognize that the warning was true and motivate them to turn to Jehovah.

We can see that this is possible from the example of the jailer in Philippi. When a great earthquake occurred and the prison doors opened, the jailer was deeply affected. He asked Paul and Silas what he needed to do to be saved. He then listened to the message and changed his course.

Of course, that does not mean everyone who sees a dramatic event will automatically respond. But the account shows us that circumstances can cause someone to think seriously about spiritual matters and change their heart. Someone who does not respond today may remember what he learned later.

That should affect the way we view our ministry. We are not simply giving people information. We are helping them see an opportunity to benefit from Jehovah’s mercy.

Think again about the Jews in Babylon. Jehovah wanted them to leave Babylonian false worship behind. He gave them time and direction so that they could return to pure worship. Those who acted on that opportunity were able to experience Jehovah’s blessing.

Today, Jehovah is likewise giving people an opportunity to leave false religion and turn to pure worship. And we have the privilege of helping them recognize that opportunity.

This also helps us understand why we should not become discouraged when someone does not respond quickly. We might share a Bible verse with someone and see little reaction. We might invite someone to learn more and receive no immediate interest. We might speak to someone repeatedly without seeing any change. But we cannot see what is happening in a person’s heart, and we do not know what effect our words may have later.

Perhaps something we said will come back to that person’s mind at exactly the right time. Perhaps a Bible truth that seemed unimportant to them today will become meaningful later. Perhaps they will remember that someone cared enough to warn them.

So we keep declaring the good news and helping people understand what the Bible says about false religion. We do so with urgency, but also with mercy. We want people to survive, not simply to know that judgment is coming.

That is why our message should always reflect Jehovah’s own attitude. Jehovah is firm when he judges wrongdoing, but he is merciful toward those who genuinely change. We should imitate that balance. We should never look at people who are involved in false religion as if they are beyond hope. Instead, we should see them as people who may still respond to the truth.

There is a beautiful thought behind the theme we are considering: help others benefit from Jehovah’s mercy. We cannot make someone accept the truth, and we cannot decide who will ultimately respond. But we can make sure that people have the opportunity to hear.

When we share the Bible with someone, we may be giving that person an opportunity to leave something that Jehovah will soon destroy. When we help an interested person study the Bible, we may be helping them begin a completely different relationship with Jehovah. And when we patiently continue declaring the good news, we may be planting thoughts that will remain with someone even if that person does not respond right away.

So, as we continue preaching, let us keep Jehovah’s mercy in mind. Ancient Babylon’s pride could not protect her from Jehovah’s judgment. But repentant Israelites were not beyond Jehovah’s forgiveness. That same combination of justice and mercy is seen in the way Jehovah deals with people today.

We have the privilege of helping others recognize that Jehovah is not looking for reasons to destroy people. He is giving them an opportunity to hear, learn, change, and choose pure worship. The warning about Babylon the Great is therefore also an expression of mercy. It gives people time to act.

And perhaps one day, someone we spoke to will remember the warning we gave. Maybe they will remember a Bible verse we shared or a conversation we had. When they understand what is happening, they may realize that Jehovah was giving them an opportunity to escape false worship and come to him.

That makes our work deeply meaningful. We are helping people see the door that Jehovah’s mercy has opened while there is still time to walk through it.

Conclusion

Jehovah’s dealings with Babylon and with repentant Israelites teach us something we should never forget. Jehovah is a righteous Judge, so he will not allow wickedness and presumptuousness to continue forever. But he is also a merciful God who completely forgives those who sincerely turn to him.

We have the privilege of reflecting that mercy by warning people about Babylon the Great and helping sincere ones learn what the Bible really teaches. Some may respond quickly, while others may take time. We may not see the result immediately, but our responsibility is to keep giving people the opportunity.

So as we continue declaring the good news, let us remember what is behind our warning work. We are not simply telling people what will happen to false religion. We are helping them discover Jehovah’s mercy and giving them an opportunity to benefit from it.

May we therefore keep sharing the Bible’s message with patience, kindness, and urgency. Because when we help even one person turn away from false worship and come to Jehovah, we are helping that person benefit from the greatest mercy of all.

This week’s Treasures reminds us that Jehovah never ignores wrongdoing, but he is always willing to show mercy to those who sincerely turn to him. By continuing to share the Bible’s message and warn people about false religion, we give them an opportunity to respond and benefit from Jehovah’s mercy.

📌 NEXT WEEK OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Jehovah Judges With Mercy

In this week’s Treasures, we’ll look at Jehovah’s dealings with Moab and see how his perfect justice is balanced with his mercy. We’ll consider why Moab came under Jehovah’s judgment, yet why Jehovah did not take pleasure in its destruction and later showed mercy to some Moabites. We’ll also see what Jehovah’s mercy should motivate us to do right now, especially as we continue helping others hear his warning.

Have you ever watched someone receive the consequences of something they had done and thought, “That is only fair”? At the same time, we may feel differently when someone who has done wrong shows genuine regret and receives mercy. Those two things—justice and mercy—may sometimes seem difficult to hold together. But Jehovah never has that problem. He is always a righteous Judge, and at the same time, he is a merciful God. His dealings with the Moabites give us a beautiful opportunity to see both qualities clearly and to understand why Jehovah’s mercy should move us to action today.

In Jeremiah’s day, Moab had a long history of hostility toward Jehovah’s people. When Jehovah allowed the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar to bring judgment against Judah, the Moabites saw what was happening. But instead of recognizing that Jehovah was judging his own people for their unfaithfulness, they apparently looked at Judah as simply another nation that had been defeated. They said: “Look! The house of Judah is like all the other nations.” That statement revealed a serious problem in their thinking. They failed to recognize that what was happening to Judah was actually an expression of Jehovah’s judgment. They did not understand that Jehovah was dealing with his own people according to his righteous standards.

Jeremiah had foretold that Jehovah would hold Moab accountable for this attitude. The prophecy described a time when Jehovah would bring judgment against Moab by means of the Babylonians. Numerous Moabite cities would be reduced to desolation. The judgment would be extensive, and Moab would experience the consequences of its actions. Jeremiah 48:42 says that Moab would be destroyed as a people because it had magnified itself against Jehovah. This was not simply a political conflict between neighboring nations. Jehovah was the one calling Moab to account, and he used Babylon to carry out that judgment.

Why is that important for us to understand? Because Jehovah’s judgments are never arbitrary. He does not punish people simply because he is angry with them or because he takes pleasure in seeing them suffer. When Jehovah brings judgment, there is always a righteous basis for it. He sees what people do, he knows what is in their heart, and he understands the circumstances involved. Moab had failed to recognize his hand in what happened to Judah, and its attitude toward Jehovah and his people brought serious consequences.

Yet there is something especially touching about the way Jehovah’s judgment against Moab was described. Jehovah did not take pleasure in destroying Moab. Jeremiah expressed the grief associated with Moab’s downfall. The prophecy speaks of Jehovah’s heart mourning over Moab and of his sorrow over what would happen to the nation. So although Jehovah was going to execute righteous judgment, he was not doing so because he enjoyed destruction. That tells us something important about the personality of our God. Justice does not make Jehovah harsh or without feeling. He can carry out what is right while still showing compassion.

This balance becomes even clearer when we consider what happened afterward. Jeremiah 48:47 contains a remarkable promise concerning Moab. Jehovah said that in the final part of the days, he would gather back the captives of Moab. The material explains that this prophecy was likely fulfilled later when Cyrus, the conqueror of Babylon, permitted Moabite exiles to return to their homeland. So even after announcing severe judgment against Moab, Jehovah made provision for some Moabites to experience mercy.

Think about what that teaches us about Jehovah. He is not looking for reasons to destroy people. His justice is perfect, but his mercy is real. The fact that some Moabites could receive mercy after such a severe judgment reminds us that Jehovah is capable of seeing beyond the judgment itself. He knows individuals, he sees their circumstances, and he can show mercy in harmony with his righteous standards.

We therefore never want to think of Jehovah’s judgments as though he were eager to punish people. His actions are always guided by what is right. When he disciplines or judges, he does so for a reason. And when he shows mercy, that mercy is never a weakness or a compromise of justice. His justice and mercy work together perfectly. That is one of the reasons we can have complete confidence in him as Judge.

There is also a warning in what happened to Moab. When the Moabites saw Judah suffering under Jehovah’s judgment, they drew the wrong conclusion. They looked at the circumstances but failed to recognize what Jehovah was doing. That should remind us that simply seeing events unfold is not enough. We need to understand matters from Jehovah’s viewpoint. The Moabites apparently thought Judah’s situation proved that Judah was no different from the other nations. In reality, Jehovah was disciplining his own people while also holding the surrounding nations accountable for their conduct.

This helps us appreciate how seriously Jehovah views the way people respond to his dealings. The Moabites had an opportunity to recognize Jehovah’s hand, but their attitude showed that they did not. As a result, they themselves came to know Jehovah through the execution of judgment against them. The prophecy had warned that they would experience disaster and thereby come to know Jehovah. What a sobering thought. It is far better to come to know Jehovah now, willingly, and respond to his direction, rather than wait until his judgments make his authority unmistakable.

That thought brings us to Jehovah’s mercy and what it should motivate us to do today. We live at a time when Jehovah has again provided a warning about coming judgment. The material points to the future destruction of Babylon the Great and explains that it may be Jehovah’s will to save people who have a change of heart when they see that destruction. If that is the case, then our responsibility to keep sounding the warning is especially urgent. The message we share now may give people something to remember later.

Think about what that means. Someone may hear a Bible-based warning today and not respond. Perhaps he does not take it seriously. Maybe he feels that there is plenty of time. He might not be interested in changing his life or learning about pure worship. From our point of view, it could be easy to conclude that our efforts are having no effect. But Jehovah sees the heart, and we do not know what may happen later. Something we say today could remain in that person’s memory and eventually move him to change his heart.

Ezekiel 33:33 gives us a helpful perspective. Jehovah explained that when his words came true, people would know that a prophet had been among them. That means the warning given beforehand can have lasting value, even if people do not immediately respond to it. They may remember what they heard when events make the seriousness of that warning clear. So we should not measure the value of our preaching only by the immediate response we receive.

There is an example in the first century that illustrates this beautifully. The apostle Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi when a great earthquake occurred. The jailer was suddenly confronted with circumstances that changed his entire outlook. He asked what he needed to do to be saved, and he and his household accepted the message and were baptized. The jailer’s response did not happen in the ordinary circumstances of his life. Something dramatic occurred that caused him to reconsider what he had heard and to respond.

We should not assume that everyone will respond in exactly the same way, nor should we expect people to wait for some dramatic event before changing. But that account helps us appreciate the possibility that a person who does not respond now may later have a change of heart. Perhaps a warning that seemed unimportant today will become very meaningful to that person later. That is why our preaching work is so valuable. We are giving people information that may help them make a different choice before it is too late.

This also gives us a deeper appreciation for Jehovah’s mercy. Jehovah could simply allow people to continue without warning them about what is coming. Instead, he gives them an opportunity to hear. He allows us to participate in making that warning known. What a privilege that is. We are not the ones deciding who deserves mercy. We are not the ones judging people’s hearts. Our responsibility is to faithfully make known what Jehovah has said and help people understand what he is offering them.

That can affect the way we view people who currently do not respond. Perhaps someone has repeatedly rejected our message. Maybe a relative has shown no interest. Perhaps a person at the door has been dismissive or even rude. It can be tempting to think that such a person will never change. But Jehovah knows what is in the heart, and circumstances can change. A person who seems completely uninterested today could eventually respond to the truth. So we continue to show patience and keep sharing the warning.

At the same time, Jehovah’s mercy should move us to examine our own response to his direction. We do not want to be like Moab, seeing Jehovah’s actions but failing to recognize what they mean. We have the opportunity to know Jehovah now and to respond willingly to his guidance. His mercy gives us time to make adjustments, strengthen our relationship with him, and help others do the same.

There is something else we can learn from Jehovah’s dealings with Moab. His mercy never means that he overlooks wrongdoing. Jehovah did hold Moab accountable. He did not ignore its attitude or its treatment of Judah. But neither did he view the Moabites as people who could never change. His willingness to show mercy demonstrates that judgment and mercy are not opposites in Jehovah. Both qualities come from his perfect righteousness and his loving concern for people.

That gives us confidence in Jehovah. When we see injustice in the world, we may wonder why wrongdoers seem to escape consequences. When we see people suffer, we may struggle to understand why Jehovah allows certain things to happen for a time. The account of Moab reminds us that Jehovah sees the whole picture. He knows when judgment is appropriate, and he knows when mercy can be extended. We do not need to take justice into our own hands or decide people’s final standing. We can leave judgment with Jehovah, knowing that he always does what is right.

And because Jehovah is merciful, we want to imitate that quality in our dealings with others. When someone responds poorly to our preaching, we can avoid quickly writing that person off. When someone makes changes but still struggles with certain weaknesses, we can be patient. When someone who has done wrong shows genuine repentance, we can remember how Jehovah views mercy. His example teaches us that righteousness does not require us to become hard or unforgiving.

Most importantly, Jehovah’s mercy should motivate us to keep making the warning known. There are people around us who may not respond today. But they may remember what they hear. They may one day reflect on a conversation, a scripture, or a warning that we shared with them. We do not know how Jehovah may use the information we give people to reach their heart at a later time. That is why we keep going, even when the response is limited.

So what should we take away from Jehovah’s dealings with Moab? First, Jehovah is a righteous Judge. His judgments are never unfair, impulsive, or without a basis. The Moabites had to learn that Jehovah was not simply another distant deity and that what happened to Judah was not merely an ordinary political event. Jehovah was dealing with his people and holding the surrounding nations accountable.

Second, Jehovah is a merciful Judge. Even when judgment was pronounced against Moab, Jehovah did not take pleasure in its destruction, and he later allowed some Moabite exiles to return. His mercy shows us that he is not eager to see people destroyed. He wants people to respond to him and benefit from his mercy.

And third, his mercy gives us a responsibility. We have an opportunity now to respond to Jehovah and to help others hear the warning. Some may not respond immediately. Some may even seem completely uninterested. But we cannot know what may happen in their heart later. The message we share today could become something they remember at a critical moment.

That makes the question for meditation especially meaningful: What does Jehovah’s mercy motivate us to do right now? It should move us to take his warning seriously ourselves and to keep helping others hear it. We do not know exactly how each person will respond, and we cannot control what someone chooses to do. But we can make sure that we are faithful in giving people the opportunity to hear.

Jehovah is both righteous and merciful. His righteousness assures us that he will always do what is right. His mercy assures us that he is willing to give people an opportunity to respond. As we see the day of his judgment approaching, may those two qualities move us—not to fearlessly speculate about who will be judged, but to appreciate Jehovah’s patience, respond to his direction, and continue making his warning known with urgency and compassion.

Conclusion

The account involving Moab leaves us with a balanced view of Jehovah. He did not overlook Moab’s wrong attitude or its treatment of Judah, so his righteous judgment came. Yet he did not take pleasure in destruction, and he later showed mercy to some Moabites. That tells us something beautiful about our God: his justice is always right, and his mercy is always meaningful.

We have the opportunity to benefit from that mercy now. Rather than waiting until circumstances force people to recognize Jehovah’s authority, we want to respond willingly today. And we want to help others have that same opportunity. A person may not respond to our warning now, but what he hears could remain in his heart and matter later. So may Jehovah’s mercy motivate us to keep speaking, keep warning, and keep helping people come to know him while there is still time.

In this week’s Treasures From God’s Word, we’ll look at Jehovah’s dealings with Moab and see how his perfect justice is balanced with his mercy. We’ll consider why Moab came under Jehovah’s judgment, yet why Jehovah did not take pleasure in its destruction and later showed mercy to some Moabites. We’ll also see what Jehovah’s mercy should motivate us to do right now, especially as we continue helping others hear his warning.

📌 NEXT WEEK OCTOBER 19-25, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Hope Helps Us Stay Content

In this week’s Treasures From God’s Word, we will see how Baruch temporarily lost his focus and became discontent with his circumstances. We will consider the dangers of allowing discontentment to affect our joy and our decisions, and then see how Jehovah helped Baruch refocus by giving him hope. Most importantly, we will see how keeping our hope clear and strong can help us remain content even when our present circumstances are difficult.

Have you ever looked at your circumstances and thought, “I wish things were different”? Perhaps you have worked hard, served faithfully, or done your best, yet something you hoped for has not happened. When that continues for some time, it can become easy to focus on what we want rather than on what Jehovah has already given us. Something similar happened to Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary. He was faithfully supporting Jeremiah in a very difficult assignment, but at one point, Baruch began to lose his focus. His experience teaches us an important lesson about contentment—and especially about how hope can help us regain the right perspective.

Baruch had a difficult assignment. He supported the prophet Jeremiah as Jeremiah delivered a strong message to a nation that was not grateful for Jehovah’s direction. That could not have been easy. Yet at some point, Baruch apparently became too focused on himself and what he wanted. Instead of concentrating on what Jehovah wanted him to do, his own circumstances and desires began to occupy too much of his thinking. Jehovah noticed this and, through Jeremiah, lovingly corrected him. He told Baruch: “You are seeking great things for yourself. Stop seeking such things.” Jehovah was helping Baruch to see that he needed to be content with his present circumstances.

That counsel was direct, but it was also kind. Jehovah was not telling Baruch that his concerns did not matter. Rather, he was helping him regain the right focus. Baruch had become preoccupied with what he wanted instead of appreciating what Jehovah had already given him and the privilege he already had to serve. Once Baruch accepted the correction, he did not allow his disappointment to take him away from Jehovah’s service. He adjusted his thinking and continued to enjoy Jehovah’s approval. That is an important part of the account because it shows that even when a faithful servant temporarily loses his perspective, he can respond to Jehovah’s correction and get back on the right path.

We can understand how this might happen to us. A Christian may have abilities, experience, or a strong desire to serve Jehovah. He may work hard and willingly take on responsibilities. So when another person receives a privilege of service that he had hoped to receive, he might naturally feel disappointed. There is nothing wrong with feeling disappointed. The danger comes when we allow that disappointment to occupy our thoughts and begin to feel that we deserved the privilege more than someone else. At that point, we would benefit from remembering what Paul said about the things we have received.

Paul explained that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, and he reminded Christians that the abilities and privileges they have come from Jehovah. Every talent we possess and every privilege we receive is an expression of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. We do not earn these things in the sense of having a right to demand them. So if another person receives a privilege that we wanted, we can remind ourselves that Jehovah has already given us many opportunities to serve him. Like Baruch, we can adjust our thinking and continue finding joy in what Jehovah has entrusted to us.

This is why cultivating contentment is so important. Discontentment does not usually remain in just one area of our life. If we keep feeding it, it can begin to affect our joy, our thinking, and eventually our decisions. A person who is never satisfied with what he has may start working extremely long hours simply to obtain material things that are not really necessary. His desire for more can become so strong that he begins to justify choices that he would normally recognize as wrong. Sadly, some Christians have even stolen money or other things they wanted. They may have told themselves, “I deserve it,” “I have waited long enough,” or “I will pay the money back later.” But those explanations do not change Jehovah’s view of stealing. It displeases and dishonors him.

Think about what has happened in that situation. The problem did not begin with stealing. It began with discontentment. The person was no longer satisfied with what he had, and eventually his desire for something more became stronger than his desire to please Jehovah. That shows us why we should not ignore feelings of discontent when they begin to grow. We do not want to allow our desires to become so important that we start justifying actions Jehovah does not approve of. Contentment can protect us because it helps us appreciate what Jehovah has already provided instead of constantly focusing on what we think we are missing.

The same danger can arise when we are disappointed about privileges of service. Imagine someone who has sincerely wanted to receive a particular assignment. He has worked hard, gained experience, and waited patiently, but someone else receives the privilege. If he allows disappointment to grow, he may begin thinking, “Why not me?” Eventually, he may stop putting forth the same effort in Jehovah’s service. In some cases, a person has become so disappointed over not receiving a privilege that he has even stopped serving Jehovah altogether. That is a tragic result from something that may have started as simple disappointment. Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to give up in doing what is fine. So if we notice that we are losing our joy because we did not receive something we wanted, we need to examine our thinking and work on contentment.

But how can we do that when our circumstances really are difficult? This is where our hope becomes so important. Jehovah did not simply tell Baruch what he should stop doing. He also gave him a reason to look beyond his immediate circumstances. Jehovah assured Baruch that he would preserve his life. That promise helped Baruch regain his perspective. He could continue serving Jehovah without allowing his present circumstances to become the most important thing in his life. In a similar way, our hope can help us remain content even when our present situation is far from what we would like it to be.

We especially need that hope today. We are living in the last days, and as the Bible says, there are problems that are hard to deal with. None of us is completely free from difficulties. Some are struggling to provide the material necessities for their families. Others may be dealing with chronic pain, depression, or another debilitating health condition. Some are carrying the pain of injustice or loss. And there may be other situations that make us wonder how long we will have to endure them. Jehovah does not promise that faithful Christians will never experience such difficulties. But he does give us guidance, strength, and support to endure them.

He also gives us something more—a sure hope for the future. Consider someone who is struggling financially. It can be exhausting to worry about money, bills, debt, and the needs of the family. But does that mean this person will always have to struggle just to get by? No. Jehovah has promised a future in which his servants will have what they need and much more. The problems associated with poverty and economic inequality will not continue forever. Knowing that can change the way we view our present circumstances. We may still need to work hard and make wise decisions today, but we do not have to feel that our present financial situation is our permanent reality.

The same is true for those who struggle with serious health problems. Chronic pain or another debilitating condition can make each day difficult. At times, a person may wonder, “Is this simply my life now?” Jehovah’s promise gives a very different answer. Sickness and death will be gone. Revelation 21:3, 4 describes the time when pain and suffering will no longer be part of human life. So even when our health problems are very real today, they are not our permanent future. Jehovah has promised something much better.

That hope can help us avoid becoming consumed by anger or bitterness. We may be facing an injustice, experiencing a loss, dealing with sickness, or struggling with some other trial. We cannot always change those circumstances immediately. But we can remind ourselves that whatever we are facing now is temporary. The material compares our present tribulation with what Jehovah has promised to give us permanently. When we keep that comparison in mind, our present problems can take their proper place. They may be painful, but they are not the whole story of our life.

Still, hope needs to be kept clear in our mind. Think about someone who needs eyeglasses to see distant objects clearly. Without them, the things in the distance may look blurred. In a similar way, when we are consumed by present worries, the future Jehovah has promised can begin to seem distant. So we need to take steps to strengthen our hope and make the future more real in our mind. That requires deliberate effort. We cannot simply assume that our hope will always remain equally strong without giving attention to it.

For example, when financial worries are taking up much of our thinking, we can picture what life will be like when money, debt, and economic inequality are gone. We can think about the freedom that will come from living in the conditions Jehovah has promised. That does not mean ignoring today’s responsibilities. It means refusing to let today’s financial worries become so large that they hide the future Jehovah has placed before us. Our circumstances today may be difficult, but they will not always be that way.

The same approach can help when we are disappointed about privileges of service. Maybe we have wanted a particular assignment for a long time, but it has not come. We might wonder why Jehovah has allowed someone else to receive it. Instead of allowing that question to dominate our thinking, we can look further ahead. How important will that particular privilege seem after we have reached perfection and have served Jehovah faithfully for thousands of years? Our present concerns about who received a certain assignment can seem very small when compared with the future Jehovah has promised. Keeping that future in view can help us continue serving with joy instead of allowing disappointment to take root.

At first, it may not be easy to shift our thoughts from the present to the future. When a problem is directly in front of us, it can feel much more real than a promise we are still waiting to see fulfilled. But the more we meditate on what Jehovah has promised, the more natural it can become to look ahead. Our hope becomes clearer, and that clearer hope helps us endure what we are facing now. It also helps us remain content because we know that Jehovah has not forgotten us and that our present circumstances are not permanent.

That brings us back to Baruch. He was not a bad servant of Jehovah. He was someone who temporarily lost his focus. His difficult circumstances and his own desires began to occupy too much of his attention. Jehovah lovingly corrected him, and Baruch accepted that correction. He stopped seeking great things for himself and continued faithfully in his assignment. His experience reminds us that contentment does not mean that we will never wish for our circumstances to be different. It means that we do not allow those desires to take control of our thinking or weaken our determination to serve Jehovah.

So if we find ourselves feeling discontent, we can stop and ask what has captured our attention. Are we focusing too much on what someone else has received? Are we constantly thinking about what we wish we could afford? Are we allowing a health problem, an injustice, or a disappointment to make us feel that our present circumstances will never change? If so, Baruch’s example can help us. We can accept Jehovah’s counsel, appreciate what he has already given us, and then deliberately strengthen our hope.

Our hope is not just something for the future. It can help us live differently today. It can keep disappointment from becoming bitterness, protect us from making unwise decisions, and help us continue serving Jehovah with joy. When we picture the future he has promised, our present problems become temporary circumstances rather than permanent ones. And when we remember that Jehovah’s promises are certain, we have good reason to remain content even when life does not turn out exactly as we hoped.

Baruch learned that he did not need to seek great things for himself in order to have a satisfying life. What mattered was continuing to serve Jehovah faithfully and trusting in the future Jehovah had promised. We can have that same outlook. We may not receive every privilege we hoped for. We may not have all the material things we would like. We may face health problems, loss, injustice, or other trials. But none of these things can take away the future Jehovah has promised us.

So when our circumstances make us wish that things were different, let us not allow that feeling to steal our joy. Instead, let us look beyond what we see today. Let us strengthen our hope until the future Jehovah has promised becomes clearer in our mind. Then, like Baruch, we can accept Jehovah’s loving correction, remain content with our circumstances, and continue serving him faithfully. Our present situation may change, but Jehovah’s promise of a better future will not. And keeping that hope clearly in view can give us the contentment we need today.

This week’s Treasures reminds us that contentment does not mean that we will never wish for our circumstances to change. Rather, it means keeping the right perspective and not allowing disappointment to take away our joy or affect our service to Jehovah. Like Baruch, we can adjust our thinking, appreciate what Jehovah has given us, and keep our hope strong. When we regularly look ahead to the future Jehovah has promised, we can remain content today, knowing that our present difficulties are temporary.

📌 NEXT WEEK OCTOBER 12-18, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: They Asked, but Refused to Listen

In this week’s Treasures, we will focus on Johanan and the people who asked Jeremiah for Jehovah’s guidance but then refused to follow it. We’ll consider what Jehovah told them, why they rejected his direction, and what their example teaches us about accepting Bible-based counsel, even when it is not what we want to hear.

Have you ever asked someone for advice because you genuinely wanted to know what you should do, only to realize afterward that the answer was not what you were hoping to hear? That can be difficult. It is one thing to ask for advice when we already know the answer will agree with what we want to do. It is another thing to ask for guidance and then be willing to change our plans when the answer points in a different direction.

Something similar happened to a group of people in Judah during a very difficult time. They came to Jeremiah and asked him to pray to Jehovah for them. They wanted Jehovah to tell them what to do. At first, that sounds like exactly the right thing to do. They recognized that they needed Jehovah’s guidance. But when the answer came, they did not like it. And instead of following it, they did the very thing Jehovah had told them not to do.

Their experience teaches us an important lesson about seeking Bible-based counsel. It is not enough to ask Jehovah for guidance. We also need to be willing to listen and act on the answer, even when it is different from what we had hoped to hear.

They asked Jeremiah for Jehovah’s guidance

To understand why Johanan and the others asked Jeremiah for direction, we need to consider what had happened in Judah.

Johanan was one of the chiefs of the military forces who remained in Judah after the people had been taken into exile by the Babylonians in 607 B.C.E. He had supported Gedaliah, whom the Babylonians had appointed as governor over the Jews who remained in the land. When Johanan learned that Ishmael was planning to assassinate Gedaliah, he warned him and even offered to deal with Ishmael secretly. Gedaliah refused to believe the warning, and Ishmael eventually killed him.

After Gedaliah’s assassination, Johanan took action. He led the military forces against Ishmael and recovered the people whom Ishmael had taken captive. But Ishmael himself escaped to Ammon.

Now the situation had become very uncertain. Gedaliah was dead, the political situation was unstable, and Johanan and the others were afraid of what the Babylonians might do when they learned that their appointed governor had been killed. They feared that Babylon might blame them for what had happened and punish the remaining Jews.

So Johanan and the people came to Jeremiah.

They asked the prophet to pray to Jehovah on their behalf. They wanted Jehovah to tell them what they should do and where they should go. In other words, they were asking for divine direction at a time when they felt they needed it badly.

There is something good about that. When we are faced with a difficult decision, we too need Jehovah’s guidance. We do not want to rely only on our own thinking. We can turn to his Word and seek Bible-based counsel.

But Johanan and the others provide a warning because asking for Jehovah’s direction is only the beginning. The important question is what we do after we receive it.

Imagine how they may have felt while waiting for Jeremiah to return with Jehovah’s answer. Perhaps they had already been thinking about Egypt. Egypt may have seemed like a place where they could escape the Babylonians and feel safe. They may have reasoned that if they went there, they would avoid the danger they expected in Judah.

But they had asked Jehovah for guidance. So now they needed to be ready to accept whatever Jehovah said.

And Jehovah’s answer was very clear.

Jehovah gave them a clear answer

Through Jeremiah, Jehovah told them to remain in the land of Judah. He assured them that if they stayed, he would build them up and not tear them down. Jehovah knew their fears, but he also knew what was best for them.

At the same time, Jehovah gave them a serious warning. He told them not to go to Egypt. If they chose to leave Judah and go there because they thought they would be safe, the very things they were trying to escape would overtake them.

There was no confusion in Jehovah’s direction. They had asked, and Jehovah answered.

Now came the real test.

Would they accept Jehovah’s guidance, even though it was not what they wanted to hear?

This is where the account becomes especially valuable for us. Sometimes Bible-based counsel is exactly what we hoped to hear. It confirms what we were already thinking, and following it may not be too difficult. But what happens when the counsel challenges our plans? What if it tells us to wait when we want to act? What if it tells us to change something we have become comfortable with? What if it requires us to give up an idea that we really wanted to pursue?

That is when our attitude toward counsel becomes clear.

Johanan and the people had asked Jehovah to guide them, but it appears that they had already made up their minds about what they wanted to do. Their request for guidance did not help them because they were not truly prepared to accept the answer.

We need to guard against that attitude ourselves.

When we pray for Jehovah’s guidance, we should not approach him as if we are asking him to approve a decision we have already made. We want to be willing to let his Word shape our thinking.

That can require humility.

We may feel that we understand our situation better than anyone else. We may have thought carefully about all the possible choices. We may have strong reasons for wanting a particular outcome. But Jehovah sees things from a much greater perspective than we do. His guidance is always worth listening to.

Johanan and the others had an opportunity to show that they trusted Jehovah. They could have said, in effect, “This is not what we expected, but Jehovah has spoken. We will stay.”

Instead, they rejected the direction.

They chose their own plan

After hearing Jehovah’s answer, Johanan and the people did not stay in Judah. They rejected Jehovah’s direction and went to Egypt. They even took Jeremiah with them.

Think about how serious that was. They had specifically asked Jeremiah to seek Jehovah’s guidance for them. Jehovah had answered them clearly. Yet they decided that their own plan was better.

Perhaps Egypt still seemed like the safest option to them. Perhaps they were more afraid of the Babylonians than they were confident in Jehovah’s promise. Whatever their reasoning may have been, the important point is that they did not follow the direction they had asked Jehovah to provide.

Their experience shows us that there is a difference between wanting guidance and wanting to be guided.

We might say that we want Bible-based counsel. But are we willing to act on it when it requires a change in our thinking?

That is a good question for each of us because counsel is not always easy to hear. At times, Jehovah’s Word may expose something in our thinking that needs to change. We may receive advice from the Scriptures or from mature Christians based on Bible principles, and our first reaction might be, “I don’t think that applies to me.”

We should be careful at that moment.

Instead of immediately defending our position, we can stop and ask, “What is Jehovah trying to help me see?”

That does not mean that every piece of advice from another person is automatically Jehovah’s command. But when counsel is clearly based on Bible principles, we have good reason to take it seriously. We can examine the Scriptures, pray about the matter, and honestly consider whether an adjustment is needed.

Johanan and the others did not do that. They had already decided where they wanted to go, and Jehovah’s answer did not change their minds.

Their experience reminds us that we should not ask for counsel simply to hear someone agree with us.

If we have already decided what we are going to do, we might be tempted to keep asking different people until we find someone who gives us the answer we want. But that is not really seeking guidance. It is seeking approval.

There is a big difference.

When we genuinely want Jehovah’s direction, our attitude should be: “Jehovah, show me what is right, and help me to have the humility to follow it.”

That kind of prayer requires an open heart.

What can we learn from their mistake?

One lesson is that fear can affect the way we respond to counsel.

Johanan and the others were afraid of what the Babylonians might do. Their fear was real. They had good reason to be concerned about the dangerous situation around them. But their fear seems to have influenced their decision more than their trust in Jehovah did.

We can face something similar. When we are under pressure, we may strongly want a quick way out. We may see one choice as the easiest or safest path. Then, if Bible-based counsel tells us to do something different, we might struggle to accept it.

For example, we may be facing a difficult family situation, a work problem, financial pressure, or another personal challenge. We may already have a plan that seems to offer the quickest solution. But if Bible principles point us in another direction, we may need to slow down and examine our thinking.

Jehovah’s guidance may not always remove the difficulty immediately. But it will help us make choices that protect our friendship with him.

That is something Johanan and the others failed to appreciate. They were focused on escaping the danger they could see. Jehovah was giving them direction that required them to trust him.

So when counsel is not what we wanted to hear, perhaps we can ask ourselves: “Am I rejecting this because it is truly unscriptural, or simply because it does not fit what I wanted to do?”

That question can help us be honest with ourselves.

Sometimes the counsel we receive may initially make us uncomfortable. We might even feel disappointed. But an initial emotional reaction does not have to determine our final decision. We can give ourselves time to think, pray, and look carefully at the Bible principles involved.

A humble person does not think, “I must prove that my original idea was right.” Instead, he or she is willing to say, “If I need to make a change, I want to make it.”

That is a beautiful quality because it shows trust in Jehovah.

Listen when Jehovah gives direction

Jehovah did not give Johanan and the people direction because he wanted to make their lives difficult. He knew their situation. He knew what they feared. And he knew what would happen if they followed the wrong path.

His direction was an expression of his care.

The same is true of Bible-based counsel today. When Jehovah’s Word tells us to make an adjustment, it is not because Jehovah wants to take something good away from us. His guidance protects our friendship with him and helps us avoid unnecessary pain.

That is why we should appreciate counsel, even when it requires us to change.

Sometimes the counsel may come from a Bible account that shows us what not to do. Sometimes it may come from a scripture that corrects our thinking. At other times, a mature brother or sister may kindly point out a Bible principle that we had overlooked.

How do we respond?

Our first reaction might be to explain why the advice will not work for us. But perhaps a better approach is to listen carefully. We can ask questions if we do not understand. We can check the Bible principle for ourselves. And then, if we see that an adjustment is needed, we can make it.

That is what it means to truly listen.

The question for our meditation is very direct: “When I receive Bible-based counsel, do I apply it—even if it’s not what I want to hear?”

That question is not asking whether we enjoy every piece of counsel we receive. It is asking whether we are willing to act on Bible-based direction when it challenges us.

We can each think about our own situation. Is there a Bible principle that I have been putting off applying? Is there advice that I know is good but have been trying to find reasons not to follow? Have I ever asked for guidance while secretly hoping the answer would support what I had already decided?

These are not questions meant to make us feel bad. They give us an opportunity to examine our heart.

Because the goal is not simply to avoid making the same mistake Johanan made. The goal is to become the kind of person who truly wants Jehovah’s guidance.

Let Jehovah’s answer shape our decision

Johanan and the people faced a choice. They could trust Jehovah’s direction and remain in Judah, or they could trust their own reasoning and go to Egypt. They had asked Jehovah for an answer, and they received one. But when the answer did not agree with what they wanted, they chose their own path.

What a valuable warning that is for us.

We may never face exactly the same situation, but we can face the same test of heart. When Jehovah’s Word agrees with what we want, following it may feel easy. But when it asks us to change our plans, our habits, or our way of thinking, we have to decide whom we will trust.

Will we trust our own view of the situation, or will we trust Jehovah?

Jehovah sees what we cannot see. He knows where a path will lead long before we do. So when his Word gives us clear direction, we have every reason to listen.

And when counsel is difficult to accept, we do not need to react quickly. We can pray. We can think. We can examine the Scriptures. We can allow Jehovah’s thinking to shape our own.

That is true humility.

The next time we ask Jehovah for guidance, perhaps we can make our prayer a little more specific in our heart: “Jehovah, please show me what I need to know, and help me to accept your answer even if it is different from what I want.”

That attitude can protect us from making a serious mistake.

Johanan and the people asked for guidance, but they were not ready to follow it. Let us be different. Let us not merely ask Jehovah to show us the way. Let us be willing to walk in the way he shows us.

Because sometimes the answer we receive may not be the answer we hoped for. It may challenge our plans or require us to make a change. But if that direction comes from Jehovah through his Word, we can trust it.

In the end, the real test is not whether we are willing to listen when Jehovah says what we want to hear. The real test is what we do when his answer is different.

So when Bible-based counsel reaches our ears, let us not ask only, “Do I like this advice?” Instead, let us ask, “What is Jehovah helping me to see, and what can I change?”

If we develop that attitude, our prayers for guidance will be genuine. We will not be asking Jehovah merely to approve our plans. We will be showing him that we truly want his direction.

And when we do that, we can have the peace of knowing that our decisions are being shaped—not by fear, pressure, or what we personally want—but by the wisdom of the One who sees the whole picture.

This week’s account reminds us that asking Jehovah for guidance also means being willing to listen to his answer. Johanan and the others had asked for direction, but they did not accept it when the answer differed from what they wanted. May we always be ready to listen to Bible-based counsel and put it into practice, knowing that Jehovah’s guidance is for our good.

📌 NEXT WEEK OCTOBER 5-11, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Understanding Jehovah’s Protection in the Right Way

In this week’s Treasures From God’s Word, we’ll consider what Jehovah’sy protection really means. We may sometimes expect Jehovah to protect us by preventing a painful situation from happening, but the Bible shows that his protection does not always mean that we will be spared from trials, sickness, or even death. By looking at what happened to Jeremiah and Gedaliah, we’ll gain a balanced view of Jehovah’s protection and see how he continues to protect and care for us today.

When we hear the words “Jehovah will protect his servants,” what comes to our mind? We may naturally think of being kept safe from danger. And the Bible certainly gives us examples where Jehovah protected his servants from situations that could have cost them their lives. But does Jehovah promise that nothing bad will ever happen to those who serve him? Does his protection mean that we will always escape sickness, serious problems, or even death?

The experiences of Jeremiah and Gedaliah help us understand this clearly. Both men were servants of Jehovah, and both lived during a very dangerous period in Judah’s history. Yet their experiences were very different. Jehovah preserved Jeremiah’s life, while Gedaliah, although he was a God-fearing man, was killed. Why did Jehovah protect one but not the other? And what does that teach us about Jehovah’s protection today?

Understanding this can help us avoid expecting something from Jehovah that he has never promised. At the same time, it can strengthen our confidence that Jehovah truly does care for and protect his loyal servants.

Jehovah really can protect his servants

Consider what happened to Jeremiah. His life had already been in great danger. The princes of Judah had falsely accused him and had him thrown into a muddy cistern. He was sinking in the mud and would have died there if Ebed-melech had not spoken up for him and helped rescue him.

But even after Jeremiah was brought out of the cistern and was standing on solid ground again, the danger had not ended.

Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians, and conditions inside the city had become desperate. There was so little food that people were even resorting to cannibalism. Ebed-melech had earlier warned the king that Jeremiah would die in the cistern because there was no bread left in the city. So being rescued from the cistern did not mean that Jeremiah was now completely safe.

Yet Jehovah continued to watch over him.

After Jerusalem fell, Jeremiah’s situation could easily have ended in death. Human enemies could have killed him, and the lack of food could also have taken his life. But Jehovah intervened again. Jeremiah survived the destruction of Jerusalem and was eventually released.

This was not simply luck. Jeremiah had received Jehovah’s assurance many years earlier: “I am with you to deliver you.” Jeremiah had not forgotten those words. And Jehovah did not forget his promise.

What a comforting thought. Jehovah had told Jeremiah that He would be with him, and when the time came, Jehovah acted in harmony with that promise.

The same was true of Ebed-melech. He had risked his own safety by speaking up for Jeremiah. Jehovah knew what he had done and later assured him that he would not perish during the Babylonian siege.

So in this situation, Jehovah used his power to preserve the lives of two loyal men. Neither their enemies nor the terrible conditions in Jerusalem were able to bring about their death.

This helps us see that Jehovah’s protection is real. When Jehovah promises to protect someone, he is fully capable of doing so. Nothing is beyond his power. Human enemies cannot prevent Jehovah from carrying out his purpose.

But this is where we need to have the proper perspective. If we stop with Jeremiah’s experience, we might conclude that Jehovah will always step in and save his servants from death. But the Bible gives us another example that helps us understand the matter more clearly.

Jehovah does not protect everyone in the same way

After Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 B.C.E., Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as governor over the Jews who remained in the land of Judah. Gedaliah established himself at Mizpah, and Jeremiah also lived there.

Gedaliah was a God-fearing man. He wanted things to go well for the people who were left in the land. He assured the Judean military chiefs who had escaped that they could live safely if they continued serving the king of Babylon. He also encouraged the people to gather the produce of the land, including wine, oil, and summer fruits.

People who had been scattered to places such as Moab, Ammon, and Edom continued coming back to Gedaliah. It seemed that things could become stable again.

But there was a serious danger that Gedaliah did not recognize.

Baalis, the king of Ammon, became involved in a plan to have Gedaliah assassinated. Ishmael agreed to carry out the plan.

Johanan and other military chiefs learned about the plot and warned Gedaliah. They tried to help him understand that Ishmael intended to kill him. Johanan even approached Gedaliah privately and offered to deal with Ishmael himself.

But Gedaliah did not believe the warning. He thought that false information was being spread about Ishmael. Because of that, he took no precautions.

Later, Ishmael came to Mizpah with ten other men. Gedaliah welcomed them and ate with them. While they were eating, Ishmael and the men with him attacked Gedaliah and killed him. Other Jews and Chaldeans who were with him were also killed.

Think about that for a moment. Gedaliah was a God-fearing man. He was trying to help the Jews who remained in the land. Yet Jehovah did not miraculously preserve his life.

Why is this account important? Because it protects us from having an incorrect idea about divine protection.

We cannot conclude that if someone is faithful to Jehovah, Jehovah will always prevent that person from being killed, becoming seriously sick, experiencing poverty, suffering because of war, or facing some other painful trial. Gedaliah’s experience shows that Jehovah does not protect all his servants in exactly the same way.

That may raise a question in our mind: If Jehovah can protect his servants, why does he sometimes allow faithful people to suffer or die?

The answer becomes clearer when we remember what Jehovah has actually promised.

Jehovah has never promised a problem-free life

Jehovah’s promise of protection does not mean that he is obligated to perform a miracle every time one of his servants faces a serious problem. He has never promised us a life free from trouble in this present system.

In fact, many faithful servants of Jehovah have experienced very serious difficulties. Some have faced poverty. Others have suffered because of war. Some have become sick. And faithful servants have also died.

Jesus himself clearly warned his disciples that some of them might even be put to death because of their faith. At the same time, he emphasized the need to endure to the end.

So faithfulness does not mean that we will never experience pain. It means that we remain loyal to Jehovah even when life becomes very difficult.

This is important because we could otherwise begin to think that something must be wrong with our faith if Jehovah does not remove a particular problem. We might wonder, “Why is Jehovah not protecting me?” But Gedaliah’s example reminds us that Jehovah’s protection cannot be measured simply by whether a person escapes a trial.

Jehovah did not preserve Gedaliah’s life, but that did not mean Gedaliah was unimportant to Jehovah or that Jehovah had stopped caring about his servants.

There is another reason Jehovah does not simply use his power to prevent every bad thing from happening to his servants. If Jehovah miraculously delivered every faithful servant from every danger, Satan could challenge the sincerity of their devotion to Jehovah. Satan made that very accusation in the case of Job. He claimed that Job served Jehovah because Jehovah had protected and blessed him.

So the issue involves more than our personal comfort or safety. Our faithfulness to Jehovah is precious. We want to show that we serve him because we love him, not simply because we expect him to keep every problem away from us.

That gives us a balanced view of protection.

We should never think, “If I am faithful, nothing bad can happen to me.” That is not what Jehovah has promised. At the same time, we should never think, “If something bad happens to me, Jehovah has abandoned me.” That is not true either.

Jehovah can protect us in ways that we may clearly see, as he did with Jeremiah. But there are also times when he allows us to face a trial and gives us what we need to endure it faithfully.

Jehovah’s protection is not always what we expect

The experiences of Jeremiah and Gedaliah make an interesting contrast.

Jeremiah faced death in the cistern. Jehovah allowed Ebed-melech to rescue him. Then, when Jerusalem was under siege, Jehovah preserved Jeremiah again. Jeremiah survived when many others did not.

Gedaliah, however, was warned about a plot against his life but did not believe the warning. He was killed, and Jehovah did not miraculously stop the attack.

If we looked only at the outward result, we might say that Jeremiah was protected while Gedaliah was not. But that would be too simple. Both men lived at a time when Jehovah’s people were experiencing the consequences of Judah’s unfaithfulness. Both faced danger. And both needed to trust Jehovah.

The important point is that Jehovah remains in control of matters even when he allows events to take a course that we may not understand.

We may pray about a serious problem and hope that Jehovah will remove it. We may ask him to protect us or someone we love. We can certainly do that. But we also need to leave the outcome in Jehovah’s hands.

He knows what is best. He sees the whole picture in a way that we cannot.

That can be difficult when the problem involves sickness, danger, or the possibility of death. We naturally want to be safe. We want those we love to be safe. But our confidence in Jehovah cannot depend on always getting the outcome we want.

Our confidence comes from knowing Jehovah himself.

Jeremiah could continue trusting Jehovah because Jehovah had already shown him that He was with him. Ebed-melech could have confidence because Jehovah knew what he had done and promised to protect him. And even when faithful servants face trials that Jehovah does not remove, they can still be certain that Jehovah sees them and cares about their faithfulness.

So when we pray for protection, we do not need to feel that Jehovah has failed us if a trial continues. Instead, we can ask him for the strength and wisdom we need to face it faithfully.

This brings us to the question for meditation: How does Jehovah protect us as individuals today?

One way is by giving us his wisdom and guidance. Proverbs encourages us to acquire wisdom and understanding and not to let them go. Jehovah does not leave us without direction as we face the dangers and pressures of life.

He also gives us help through the spiritual arrangement he has provided. His Word teaches us how to make wise decisions, and we can receive encouragement from fellow Christians. We are not left to face the challenges of life completely on our own.

But even with that help, problems will still come. Sickness may come. Unexpected events may happen. People may treat us unfairly. We may experience loss. And we cannot know exactly what will happen to us in the future.

That is why we need the proper perspective.

Jehovah’s protection is not a promise that we will never suffer. It is not a guarantee that we will never become sick or that we will never die. Rather, Jehovah gives us what we need to remain faithful to him through whatever he allows to happen.

And if Jehovah chooses to intervene and rescue us from a particular danger, we can be deeply thankful. Jeremiah’s experience shows that Jehovah certainly can do that. But if he does not remove a trial, we should not conclude that he has forgotten us.

Keep trusting Jehovah’s protection

There is something very reassuring about these accounts. We do not have to understand every reason behind what Jehovah allows.

Jeremiah did not need to know exactly how Jehovah would deliver him. Ebed-melech did not need to know exactly how Jehovah would protect him during the siege. They simply needed to trust Jehovah’s promise.

Gedaliah’s experience reminds us that being faithful does not mean that we are guaranteed a certain outcome. And the examples of Jeremiah and Ebed-melech remind us that Jehovah can act to preserve his servants when that fits with his purpose.

So what should we take with us?

When we face danger, we can pray to Jehovah and ask for his help. When we face sickness or another serious problem, we can turn to him rather than becoming overwhelmed by fear. When we do not know what will happen, we can continue to trust him. And when a trial does not go away, we should not assume that Jehovah has stopped protecting us.

Our view of Jehovah’s protection should be bigger than simply being kept out of danger.

True protection includes having Jehovah’s guidance so that we can make wise choices. It includes receiving the strength to endure. It includes the reassurance that Jehovah sees our faithfulness. And above all, it means remaining close to him so that whatever happens, we do not lose our relationship with him.

That is something no human enemy can take away from us unless we ourselves give it up.

Jeremiah’s life shows us that Jehovah can preserve his servants even when their situation seems hopeless. Gedaliah’s death reminds us that Jehovah does not promise to prevent every faithful servant from suffering or dying. These two accounts together give us the balanced view we need.

So, when we pray for Jehovah’s protection, let us not think only about asking him to make every danger disappear. Let us also ask for wisdom, courage, endurance, and the strength to remain faithful.

Because the greatest protection is not simply being kept from every painful experience. It is having Jehovah with us through whatever comes.

Jeremiah remembered Jehovah’s assurance: “I am with you to deliver you.” Those words did not mean that Jeremiah would never face danger. He certainly did. But Jehovah was with him through those dangers, and when Jehovah chose to deliver him, no enemy and no desperate condition could prevent it.

We can have that same confidence today. We may not know whether Jehovah will remove a particular trial, change our circumstances, or allow us to face the difficulty for a time. But we do know the kind of God we serve. He sees us. He knows what we are facing. He values our faithfulness. And he will never stop being the loving God who cares for his servants.

So let us keep trusting Jehovah—not because we expect a life without problems, but because we know that whatever happens, Jehovah can give us what we need to remain faithful to him. That is the proper way to understand and appreciate Jehovah’s protection.

This week’s Treasures helps us keep a proper perspective of Jehovah’s protection. Jehovah may not always remove a trial or prevent something painful from happening, but he never stops caring for his servants. He protects us by helping us gain wisdom, guiding us through his Word, and giving us the support we need to remain faithful. So when we face difficult circumstances, we can continue trusting Jehovah, knowing that his protection is always directed toward what is truly best for us.

📌 NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 28- OCTOBER 4, 2026.

In hard times, having a supportive brother or sister by our side can make all the difference. In this week's article, we will look at the accounts of Jeremiah and Ebed-melech during one of the most stressful periods in Jerusalem’s history. We’ll consider three vital ways we can support our brothers today: by speaking up for others as Ebed-melech courageously did, by comforting those in need as Jeremiah did, and by encouraging our fellow worshippers to remain obedient to Jehovah.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Keep Being There for One Another

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you could not solve someone else’s problem, but you still wanted to do something to help? Maybe a brother or sister was being treated unfairly. Maybe someone was going through a difficult time and needed a little encouragement. At times like that, even a few kind words can make a big difference. They can remind a person, “I am not alone. Someone cares about me.”

That is one beautiful way we can support one another. We may not always be able to remove a problem, but we can stand beside the person who is facing it. We can speak up when others misunderstand them. We can comfort them when they are afraid. And we can gently encourage them to keep obeying Jehovah when they are under pressure.

The Bible gives us several fine examples of this kind of support. One of them is Ebed-melech. His example shows that supporting someone sometimes means having the courage to speak up for them, even when doing so may put us in an uncomfortable or dangerous position.

Speak up for others

The situation involving the prophet Jeremiah was very serious. Jeremiah had been giving Jehovah’s message to the people, but the princes of Judah did not like what he was saying. They falsely accused him of weakening the hands of the soldiers and stirring up trouble. They went to King Zedekiah and demanded that Jeremiah be put to death.

The king gave in to their demands. The princes took Jeremiah and threw him into a muddy cistern. There was no water in it, but there was deep mud, and Jeremiah began to sink into it. He was being left there to die.

Now think about Ebed-melech. He was a eunuch in the house of King Zedekiah. He knew what had happened to Jeremiah, and he also knew that the men responsible for it had power and influence. Speaking up could have brought trouble on him. He could have thought, “This is a matter between the king and the princes. I had better stay out of it.”

But Ebed-melech did not stay silent. He went to King Zedekiah and spoke in Jeremiah’s behalf. He explained that what had been done to Jeremiah was wrong and that the prophet was in danger of dying in the cistern.

That took courage. Ebed-melech did not know exactly how the king would respond. He was putting himself in a difficult position by speaking up for someone whom others hated. But he cared more about doing what was right than about protecting himself.

Zedekiah responded favorably. He ordered Ebed-melech to take 30 men with him and rescue Jeremiah. So Ebed-melech was able to help save Jeremiah’s life.

What a powerful example of supporting a fellow servant of Jehovah. Ebed-melech did not simply feel sorry for Jeremiah. He saw that Jeremiah needed help, and he did something about it.

Jehovah also saw what Ebed-melech did. Later, during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, Jehovah assured Ebed-melech through Jeremiah that he would not perish. Jehovah knew that Ebed-melech had shown godly courage, and He rewarded him.

This teaches us something important. Sometimes supporting one another requires us to speak up. We may hear someone being judged unfairly or spoken about in a negative way. We may know facts that others do not know. Or we may see that a brother or sister is facing a challenge and needs someone to help explain the situation.

Of course, speaking up does not mean that we become involved in every matter or that we criticize others. Rather, it means that when someone genuinely needs help, we do not simply stand back and watch. We look for a kind and respectful way to help.

This is especially important when a brother or sister is being misunderstood. People may see only part of a situation. They may notice what someone is not doing without knowing what that person is already doing or what difficulties they are facing.

For example, a sister in a divided home may sometimes arrive late at the meetings and leave quickly afterward. Others may notice that she does not often bring her children with her. They might begin to question why she does not take a stronger stand with her unbelieving husband. But they may not know the whole situation. She may be doing the very best she can. She does not have complete control over her schedule, and she may not have the final say over her children.

If we know that, what would be loving to do? Instead of joining negative talk, we can speak up for her. We can mention the good things she is doing and show appreciation for her efforts. Our kind words may help stop unfair criticism.

There are many other situations in which our sisters may need someone to speak up for them. A widow or divorced sister may need help with tasks that her husband once handled. An older sister may need someone to help her communicate with medical professionals. A pioneer sister who is busy with other theocratic assignments may be criticized because she is not able to spend as much time in the ministry as some other pioneers.

In situations like these, we want to see beyond what is immediately visible. Instead of quickly judging, we can ask ourselves, “Is there something I can do to support this sister?”

Jesus gave us an excellent example in this regard. He was quick to speak up for his spiritual sisters when they were misunderstood. When Martha criticized Mary, Jesus defended Mary and helped Martha see the situation from a better point of view. Later, when others criticized Mary for what they thought was a poor decision, Jesus again came to her defense. He understood her motive and praised her for what she had done.

How must Mary have felt when Jesus spoke up for her? She had been misunderstood by others, but Jesus knew her heart. His words must have reassured her that her efforts were seen and appreciated.

We can do something similar. We may not be able to solve a sister’s entire problem, but perhaps we can say something positive about her. We can remind others of what she is doing well. We can help people see the situation more clearly. And sometimes, simply knowing that someone understands can give a person the strength to keep going.

So we might ask ourselves: Whom in my congregation might I need to speak up for?

But supporting someone is not limited to speaking up for them. Sometimes, after we have helped protect someone from unfair treatment, they still have to face the difficult situation. At that point, they may need something else from us—comfort.

Comfort those who are distressed

Ebed-melech himself later needed encouragement.

After rescuing Jeremiah, Ebed-melech became afraid that the princes might harm him. He knew these men were powerful, and he may have wondered what they would do to him because he had helped Jeremiah. So although he had shown courage when Jeremiah was in danger, he now had his own fears to deal with.

Jeremiah was still imprisoned, but he did not ignore what was happening to his friend. When Jeremiah learned about Ebed-melech’s concern, he did not simply think, “He will have to deal with his own fears.” Instead, Jeremiah did what he could to comfort him.

Through Jeremiah, Jehovah gave Ebed-melech a reassuring promise. Jehovah knew what Ebed-melech had done, and He assured him that he would be protected during the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

Think about the friendship between these two men. Ebed-melech had supported Jeremiah when Jeremiah was in danger. Later, Jeremiah was able to support Ebed-melech when he was afraid.

That is a beautiful picture of what supporting one another can look like. Sometimes one person is strong while another is struggling. At another time, the situation may be reversed. We all have moments when we need someone to encourage us.

A person who is going through distress may not need a long speech. They may simply need someone who will listen, show understanding, and remind them of Jehovah’s care. A comforting scripture or a few sincere words can help a person feel less alone.

And notice something about Jeremiah. He himself was not in an easy situation. He was imprisoned. Yet he still thought about the feelings of someone else. His own problems did not prevent him from giving comfort.

That is worth thinking about. Sometimes we may tell ourselves, “I have enough problems of my own.” But supporting one another does not always require a lot of time or effort. A message, a phone call, a kind word before or after a meeting, or simply asking, “How are you really doing?” can mean a great deal.

We should also remember that a person may not always tell us that they need comfort. Ebed-melech did not necessarily need someone to remove his fear. What he needed was reassurance that Jehovah saw what was happening and would take care of him.

The same can be true today. A brother or sister may smile at the meeting, answer comments, and continue with their normal activities, while privately carrying a lot of worry. We may not know everything they are dealing with. That is why genuine interest in others is so valuable.

When we take time to notice people and listen to them, we may discover opportunities to strengthen them.

And there is another way we can support our brothers and sisters that is even more important than simply helping them feel better for the moment. We can help them remain strong spiritually.

Encourage others to obey Jehovah

Jeremiah did more than comfort Ebed-melech. He continued to encourage people to follow Jehovah’s direction, even when doing so was difficult.

Jeremiah had already experienced opposition because of the message Jehovah had given him. Yet when he had an opportunity to help someone make a good decision, he did not hold back. His words to Ebed-melech were not simply comforting words. They were connected with trust in Jehovah.

This is an important part of supporting one another. When someone we care about is under pressure, we may be tempted to say only what will make them feel better. But true support goes further. We want to help our brothers and sisters keep trusting Jehovah and continue doing what is right.

Sometimes a person may be tired, discouraged, or facing pressure from family members. At such a time, a kind friend might remind them why obeying Jehovah is worth it. We can help them see that Jehovah understands their situation and values their efforts.

That does not mean giving someone a lecture. It can be as simple as saying, “Keep going. Jehovah sees what you are doing.” Or, “You are doing your best, and Jehovah knows your situation.” Such words can strengthen someone when they are close to giving up.

We need to be careful, though, not to judge what another person should be able to do. The example of the sister in a divided home helps us here. Others may have thought she should be doing more, but they did not know everything she was dealing with. So when we encourage others, we want our encouragement to be based on love and understanding, not pressure.

Our goal is not to make someone feel guilty. Our goal is to help them draw closer to Jehovah.

That is what makes Christian support so special. We do not support one another merely so that life will be easier. We want to help each other stay close to Jehovah and remain faithful.

When someone is discouraged, we can remind them of Jehovah’s promises. When someone is being treated unfairly, we can speak up for them. When someone is afraid, we can reassure them. And when someone is struggling to do what is right, we can gently encourage them to keep obeying Jehovah.

All three forms of support require something similar—we have to notice people.

Ebed-melech noticed that Jeremiah was in danger. Jeremiah noticed that Ebed-melech was afraid. Jesus noticed when Mary was being misunderstood. None of them simply focused on themselves. They paid attention to what others were going through, and then they acted.

That gives us a good question to think about: Are there brothers or sisters around me who may need my support right now?

Perhaps there is someone who is being misunderstood. Maybe someone needs us to say something positive about them. Perhaps an older brother or sister needs practical help. Maybe someone who usually seems strong is quietly discouraged. Or maybe someone is facing pressure and needs a friend to remind them why they should continue obeying Jehovah.

We do not need to wait until someone asks for help. We can look for opportunities to support others.

When we look at Ebed-melech, Jeremiah, and Jesus, we see that supporting others is not just about saying nice things. It involves noticing a need and responding with love.

Ebed-melech put himself at risk to speak up for Jeremiah. Jeremiah, even while imprisoned, took the time to comfort Ebed-melech. Jesus defended those who were being misunderstood and helped them see that their efforts were valuable. And Jeremiah continued to encourage others to trust Jehovah and follow His direction.

These examples remind us that people in our congregation may need different kinds of support at different times. One day, we may be the person who needs encouragement. Another day, we may be the one who can give it. One day, we may need someone to speak up for us. Another day, we may have the opportunity to speak up for someone else.

That is why we should continue supporting one another. We do not want to help only when a problem becomes obvious. We want to develop the habit of noticing people, understanding that we may not know everything they are facing, and looking for ways to strengthen them.

So as we leave this discussion, think about the question: Whom in my congregation might I need to speak up for? And perhaps add another question: Who might need a little comfort or encouragement from me right now?

We may never know how much our words or actions mean to someone. Ebed-melech probably could not know how his courage would affect Jeremiah’s life. Jeremiah could not know how much Jehovah’s promise would strengthen Ebed-melech. Jesus’ defense of Mary showed her that her good motive had not gone unnoticed.

But Jehovah saw it all.

And Jehovah sees what happens among us today. He sees when we quietly defend someone who is being misunderstood. He sees when we take time to comfort someone who is afraid. He sees when we encourage a brother or sister to keep obeying Him. He sees the love behind those actions.

So let us not wait for someone to be in a crisis before we show that we care. Let us keep our eyes open. Let us listen. Let us speak up when someone needs a voice. Let us comfort those who are hurting. And let us gently help one another keep walking faithfully with Jehovah.

We may not be able to change every difficult situation our brothers and sisters face. But we can make sure they do not have to face those situations feeling alone.

Continue supporting one another. Because when we do, we are not only strengthening our brothers and sisters—we are showing Jehovah that we truly care about the people he loves.

As we’ve seen, mutual support is vital when facing trials or persecution. Whether it takes courage to speak up on behalf of a fellow believer, kindness to offer comfort, or mildness to encourage obedience, our efforts never go unnoticed by Jehovah. Let’s each ask ourselves this week: “Whom in my congregation might I need to support or speak up for today?” When we act like Ebed-melech and Jeremiah, we help keep our spiritual family strong and united.

📌 NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 21-27 2026.

Welcome to this week's Treasures on the theme "Jehovah Supports Those Who Stand Behind His Kingdom." Examining Jeremiah’s faithful stance during times of political unrest shows how we can remain courageously neutral, trust in God's daily support, and keep our ultimate loyalty focused on Jehovah's Kingdom during difficult trials.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Jehovah Supports Those Who Stand Behind His Kingdom

There are times when simply doing what is right can make us stand out. When most people around us are strongly divided over an issue, it can take courage not to get pulled into the arguments, pressure, and emotions of the moment. And when people misunderstand our position, remaining calm and faithful can become even more difficult. Jeremiah experienced exactly that kind of situation. He lived at a time when the people of Judah were deeply divided over what their nation should do. Political tensions were high, strong opinions were being expressed, and rebellion against Babylon had become an issue that stirred powerful feelings. Yet Jeremiah had a clear position because he knew what Jehovah wanted him to do.

By Jeremiah’s time, Judah was facing the powerful Babylonian Empire. Some people believed that Judah should submit to Babylon, while others strongly supported rebellion and looked to Egypt for military assistance. Eventually, King Zedekiah did rebel and sought help from Egypt. The Babylonians responded by returning to Judah, conquering its cities, and once again surrounding Jerusalem. Imagine the pressure Jeremiah faced at that point. The people were frightened, but many were also filled with nationalistic feelings. They wanted to believe that Jerusalem would survive and that Egypt would come to their rescue. Yet Jeremiah was required to deliver a message that was very different from what many people wanted to hear.

Jehovah’s message through Jeremiah was clear: Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians. Those who remained in the city would die, but those who went out to the Chaldeans would survive. That was not a popular message. It probably sounded to many like Jeremiah was giving up on his own people or supporting their enemies. But Jeremiah was not choosing a political side. He was supporting Jehovah’s direction. His concern was not which human government would appear stronger or which political faction would win. His concern was remaining loyal to Jehovah and delivering the message Jehovah had given him.

That distinction is important. Jeremiah was living in a politically charged environment, but he did not allow the controversy around him to determine his course. Jehovah’s Kingdom was the issue that mattered most to him. He understood that Jehovah was the one directing events and that the outcome would be exactly as Jehovah had said. So even when the message was unpopular, Jeremiah did not change it to make people feel more comfortable.

That required courage because speaking the truth brought consequences. Jeremiah was not simply ignored. His position was misunderstood. Jeremiah 37:13-15 tells us that when he was going out through the Gate of Benjamin, he was accused of deserting to the Babylonians. The princes of Judah did not understand that Jeremiah was simply delivering Jehovah’s message. They assumed that because he said Jerusalem would fall and encouraged people to surrender, he must have been taking the Babylonians’ side. They struck him and put him in detention.

Think about how painful that must have been. Jeremiah was being punished for doing exactly what Jehovah had asked him to do. He was not secretly working with Babylon. He was not betraying his people. He was faithfully giving them the only message that could save their lives. Yet his motives were completely misunderstood.

That can happen when someone chooses to support Jehovah’s Kingdom rather than become involved in political controversies. People may not always understand why we remain neutral. They may assume that if we do not support their political position, we must support the opposite position. But neutrality does not mean that we are indifferent to people or to the problems they face. It means that we recognize that human governments cannot solve mankind’s deepest problems and that our ultimate hope rests with God’s Kingdom.

Jeremiah’s example helps us appreciate why we need to be careful during times of political unrest. When people around us are angry, frightened, or strongly divided, there can be tremendous pressure to express an opinion, take a side, or become involved. It can feel difficult to remain separate from the controversy, especially when the issue affects people we know personally. But Jeremiah did not allow the political atmosphere around him to change his loyalty to Jehovah.

In fact, the more pressure Jeremiah experienced, the more important it was for him to hold firmly to Jehovah’s message. He did not soften what Jehovah had said simply because the people might react badly. He did not think, “Perhaps I should say this in a gentler way so they will not become angry with me.” He continued to speak the truth.

His faithfulness eventually led to even greater persecution. The princes told Zedekiah that Jeremiah should be put to death because they claimed he was weakening the hands of the fighting men and seeking the harm of the people. Zedekiah gave them permission to do what they wanted with Jeremiah. They took him and lowered him into an empty cistern. There was no water in it, but there was deep mud, and Jeremiah began sinking into it.

That was a frightening situation. Jeremiah had already been beaten and imprisoned, and now his life was in danger simply because he had remained faithful to Jehovah. From a human point of view, his situation looked desperate. Yet Jehovah had not abandoned him.

An Ethiopian servant named Ebed-melech heard what had happened. He courageously approached the king and explained that Jeremiah had been treated wrongly. Zedekiah gave him permission to rescue the prophet. Ebed-melech took men with him, lowered ropes and worn-out cloths into the cistern, and carefully pulled Jeremiah out of the mud.

What a beautiful reminder that Jehovah can provide support through people who are willing to do what is right. Jeremiah could not rescue himself from that cistern, but Jehovah saw his situation and made a way for help to reach him.

This also teaches us something about the way Jehovah supports his servants. His support does not always mean that he prevents a trial from happening. Jeremiah still experienced opposition, imprisonment, beatings, and the fear of death. Jehovah allowed him to face those things, but he did not leave him without help. At the right time, Jehovah provided the assistance Jeremiah needed.

That is encouraging because sometimes we may think that if Jehovah is supporting us, a difficult situation should immediately disappear. But Jeremiah’s experience shows that Jehovah’s support can take another form. He can give us the courage to endure. He can provide encouragement through fellow believers. He can give us wisdom to know what to do. And he can open a way through a situation when we may see no way forward.

Jeremiah needed that support again when he was imprisoned during the later part of the Babylonian siege. His circumstances were especially difficult because Jerusalem was running out of food. Jeremiah was confined in the Courtyard of the Guard, so he could not simply leave and look for food himself. He was dependent on others, even though many people around him opposed him.

Yet Jeremiah had good reason to trust Jehovah.

Jehovah had promised to care for Jeremiah, and he did not forget him when conditions became difficult. Jeremiah 37:21 tells us that the king commanded that Jeremiah be given a round loaf of bread each day from the bakers’ street, “until all the bread was exhausted from the city.” Think about how simple that provision sounds. Jeremiah did not receive an abundance of food. He received enough to survive each day.

But that was exactly what he needed.

The city was experiencing famine, disease, and death. Food was becoming scarce, yet Jehovah made sure that Jeremiah continued to receive what he needed. Jehovah did not remove Jeremiah from the crisis, but he sustained him through it.

There is something very reassuring about that. Sometimes we may pray for Jehovah to change our circumstances, and perhaps the circumstances do not change as quickly as we hoped. We might wonder, “Is Jehovah really helping me?” Jeremiah’s experience reminds us to look carefully at the ways Jehovah is supporting us. His help may come in a form that is simple and practical, but that does not make it any less real.

Jeremiah received his daily bread. Baruch, Ebed-melech, and others also survived that terrible period. Jehovah knew exactly what was happening to his faithful servants and did not lose sight of them.

This brings us back to our theme: Jehovah supports those who support his Kingdom.

Jeremiah supported Jehovah’s direction when it was unpopular. He did not become involved in the political struggle taking place around him. He did not change his message to gain acceptance. He continued to speak what Jehovah told him, even when doing so brought persecution. And Jehovah supported Jeremiah through those difficult circumstances.

We can apply that lesson today. We live in a world where political issues can quickly become emotional. People may feel very strongly about leaders, governments, policies, wars, elections, or national causes. Social media can make those feelings even stronger because we are constantly exposed to opinions, arguments, and emotionally charged information.

As Christians, we need to be especially careful not to allow that atmosphere to weaken our support for God’s Kingdom. We know that Jehovah’s Kingdom is the only permanent solution to mankind’s problems. So we want our words, actions, and conversations to show that our primary loyalty belongs to Jehovah and his Kingdom.

That does not mean that we stop caring about people. Quite the opposite. Jeremiah cared deeply about the people of Judah. He warned them because he wanted them to survive. We too can care about our neighbors, relatives, friends, and people in our community. We can show kindness, respect, and compassion regardless of their political opinions. But we do not need to take sides in political controversies in order to show that we care.

Jeremiah’s example also helps when others misunderstand us. Perhaps someone asks why we do not support a particular political movement. Or perhaps someone assumes that because we refuse to take a side, we must secretly support the other side. We do not need to become defensive or argumentative. We can calmly explain that our hope is in God’s Kingdom and that we want to remain neutral because of our loyalty to Jehovah.

That takes courage, especially if the people around us are passionate about the issue. But remember Jeremiah. He was misunderstood even though he was doing exactly what Jehovah had told him to do. Being misunderstood does not mean that we are doing something wrong.

What matters most is how Jehovah views our conduct.

There may also be times when remaining neutral brings personal inconvenience. We might be left out of conversations. Someone might make an unfair comment about our beliefs. We might even be accused of not caring about our country or our fellow citizens. In such situations, Jeremiah’s experience can strengthen us. He did not change his position simply because others misunderstood him.

And Jehovah did not abandon him.

The question at the end of our material is therefore worth taking seriously: “How can the examples of Jeremiah and others motivate me to support God’s Kingdom during times of political unrest?”

First, Jeremiah reminds us to keep our loyalty clear. When the world becomes divided, we do not need to become divided along with it. We can continue to focus on Jehovah’s Kingdom and the hope it gives mankind. Second, Jeremiah reminds us not to be frightened by misunderstanding. If people misinterpret our neutrality, we can remain calm and respectful while continuing to do what we know is right. Third, his experience teaches us to trust Jehovah’s support. We may face pressure, but Jehovah sees what is happening and can sustain us through it.

We can also remember Ebed-melech. He was willing to act courageously to protect Jeremiah even though doing so could have put him in a difficult position. His actions remind us that supporting Jehovah’s servants can sometimes require courage too. We want to be the kind of people who strengthen one another when pressure comes, rather than adding to the pressure.

And what about when we personally feel afraid? Jeremiah was not fearless in the sense that he never experienced fear. His circumstances were genuinely frightening. Courage meant that he continued doing what Jehovah asked even though he had reasons to be afraid.

That is encouraging because we do not need to wait until we feel completely fearless before taking a stand for what is right. We can pray to Jehovah, acknowledge our fear, and then move forward with his help.

Jehovah supported Jeremiah in the cistern. He supported him during imprisonment. He provided his daily bread when the city was experiencing famine. And he preserved Jeremiah through the destruction of Jerusalem.

Jehovah can likewise support his servants today.

We do not know exactly what circumstances we may face in the future. Political conditions can change quickly. Situations that seem stable can become uncertain. But we do know where our loyalty belongs. We know which Kingdom we support. And we know the kind of God Jehovah is.

Conclusion

Jeremiah lived through a time when people were divided, emotions were intense, and taking a political position could have seemed like the easiest course. Yet Jeremiah chose something more important. He chose to remain loyal to Jehovah and to support Jehovah’s direction, even when that made him unpopular and even when others completely misunderstood him.

His faithfulness did not mean that his life became easy. He was beaten. He was imprisoned. He was thrown into a muddy cistern. He experienced hunger and lived through a terrible siege. But through every one of those experiences, Jehovah saw him, remembered him, and supported him.

That is the part of Jeremiah’s example we should take to heart.

Supporting Jehovah’s Kingdom does not mean that we will never face pressure. It means that when pressure comes, we know where to stand.

When political opinions become heated, we can remain peaceful. When others demand that we choose a side, we can remember where our true loyalty lies. When our neutrality is misunderstood, we do not have to compromise simply to gain approval. And when remaining faithful becomes difficult, we can remember Jeremiah in that cistern and in that prison courtyard. Jehovah had not forgotten him, and Jehovah will not forget faithful servants today.

So let us keep supporting God’s Kingdom—not only when it is easy, but especially when the world around us is divided and unsettled. Let our loyalty be clear, our conduct peaceful, and our confidence in Jehovah strong.

Jeremiah stood with Jehovah when almost everything around him seemed to be falling apart. And Jehovah stood with Jeremiah.

May we have that same determination: whatever happens around us, whatever pressure we face, and whatever others may think of our position, we will continue to support Jehovah’s Kingdom. Because when we stand firmly for Jehovah, we can be certain that Jehovah will never stop supporting us.

📌 NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 21-27 2026.

Welcome to this week's Treasures on the theme "Jehovah Supports Those Who Stand Behind His Kingdom." Examining Jeremiah’s faithful stance during times of political unrest shows how we can remain courageously neutral, trust in God's daily support, and keep our ultimate loyalty focused on Jehovah's Kingdom during difficult trials.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Jehovah Supports Those Who Stand Behind His Kingdom

There are times when simply doing what is right can make us stand out. When most people around us are strongly divided over an issue, it can take courage not to get pulled into the arguments, pressure, and emotions of the moment. And when people misunderstand our position, remaining calm and faithful can become even more difficult. Jeremiah experienced exactly that kind of situation. He lived at a time when the people of Judah were deeply divided over what their nation should do. Political tensions were high, strong opinions were being expressed, and rebellion against Babylon had become an issue that stirred powerful feelings. Yet Jeremiah had a clear position because he knew what Jehovah wanted him to do.

By Jeremiah’s time, Judah was facing the powerful Babylonian Empire. Some people believed that Judah should submit to Babylon, while others strongly supported rebellion and looked to Egypt for military assistance. Eventually, King Zedekiah did rebel and sought help from Egypt. The Babylonians responded by returning to Judah, conquering its cities, and once again surrounding Jerusalem. Imagine the pressure Jeremiah faced at that point. The people were frightened, but many were also filled with nationalistic feelings. They wanted to believe that Jerusalem would survive and that Egypt would come to their rescue. Yet Jeremiah was required to deliver a message that was very different from what many people wanted to hear.

Jehovah’s message through Jeremiah was clear: Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians. Those who remained in the city would die, but those who went out to the Chaldeans would survive. That was not a popular message. It probably sounded to many like Jeremiah was giving up on his own people or supporting their enemies. But Jeremiah was not choosing a political side. He was supporting Jehovah’s direction. His concern was not which human government would appear stronger or which political faction would win. His concern was remaining loyal to Jehovah and delivering the message Jehovah had given him.

That distinction is important. Jeremiah was living in a politically charged environment, but he did not allow the controversy around him to determine his course. Jehovah’s Kingdom was the issue that mattered most to him. He understood that Jehovah was the one directing events and that the outcome would be exactly as Jehovah had said. So even when the message was unpopular, Jeremiah did not change it to make people feel more comfortable.

That required courage because speaking the truth brought consequences. Jeremiah was not simply ignored. His position was misunderstood. Jeremiah 37:13-15 tells us that when he was going out through the Gate of Benjamin, he was accused of deserting to the Babylonians. The princes of Judah did not understand that Jeremiah was simply delivering Jehovah’s message. They assumed that because he said Jerusalem would fall and encouraged people to surrender, he must have been taking the Babylonians’ side. They struck him and put him in detention.

Think about how painful that must have been. Jeremiah was being punished for doing exactly what Jehovah had asked him to do. He was not secretly working with Babylon. He was not betraying his people. He was faithfully giving them the only message that could save their lives. Yet his motives were completely misunderstood.

That can happen when someone chooses to support Jehovah’s Kingdom rather than become involved in political controversies. People may not always understand why we remain neutral. They may assume that if we do not support their political position, we must support the opposite position. But neutrality does not mean that we are indifferent to people or to the problems they face. It means that we recognize that human governments cannot solve mankind’s deepest problems and that our ultimate hope rests with God’s Kingdom.

Jeremiah’s example helps us appreciate why we need to be careful during times of political unrest. When people around us are angry, frightened, or strongly divided, there can be tremendous pressure to express an opinion, take a side, or become involved. It can feel difficult to remain separate from the controversy, especially when the issue affects people we know personally. But Jeremiah did not allow the political atmosphere around him to change his loyalty to Jehovah.

In fact, the more pressure Jeremiah experienced, the more important it was for him to hold firmly to Jehovah’s message. He did not soften what Jehovah had said simply because the people might react badly. He did not think, “Perhaps I should say this in a gentler way so they will not become angry with me.” He continued to speak the truth.

His faithfulness eventually led to even greater persecution. The princes told Zedekiah that Jeremiah should be put to death because they claimed he was weakening the hands of the fighting men and seeking the harm of the people. Zedekiah gave them permission to do what they wanted with Jeremiah. They took him and lowered him into an empty cistern. There was no water in it, but there was deep mud, and Jeremiah began sinking into it.

That was a frightening situation. Jeremiah had already been beaten and imprisoned, and now his life was in danger simply because he had remained faithful to Jehovah. From a human point of view, his situation looked desperate. Yet Jehovah had not abandoned him.

An Ethiopian servant named Ebed-melech heard what had happened. He courageously approached the king and explained that Jeremiah had been treated wrongly. Zedekiah gave him permission to rescue the prophet. Ebed-melech took men with him, lowered ropes and worn-out cloths into the cistern, and carefully pulled Jeremiah out of the mud.

What a beautiful reminder that Jehovah can provide support through people who are willing to do what is right. Jeremiah could not rescue himself from that cistern, but Jehovah saw his situation and made a way for help to reach him.

This also teaches us something about the way Jehovah supports his servants. His support does not always mean that he prevents a trial from happening. Jeremiah still experienced opposition, imprisonment, beatings, and the fear of death. Jehovah allowed him to face those things, but he did not leave him without help. At the right time, Jehovah provided the assistance Jeremiah needed.

That is encouraging because sometimes we may think that if Jehovah is supporting us, a difficult situation should immediately disappear. But Jeremiah’s experience shows that Jehovah’s support can take another form. He can give us the courage to endure. He can provide encouragement through fellow believers. He can give us wisdom to know what to do. And he can open a way through a situation when we may see no way forward.

Jeremiah needed that support again when he was imprisoned during the later part of the Babylonian siege. His circumstances were especially difficult because Jerusalem was running out of food. Jeremiah was confined in the Courtyard of the Guard, so he could not simply leave and look for food himself. He was dependent on others, even though many people around him opposed him.

Yet Jeremiah had good reason to trust Jehovah.

Jehovah had promised to care for Jeremiah, and he did not forget him when conditions became difficult. Jeremiah 37:21 tells us that the king commanded that Jeremiah be given a round loaf of bread each day from the bakers’ street, “until all the bread was exhausted from the city.” Think about how simple that provision sounds. Jeremiah did not receive an abundance of food. He received enough to survive each day.

But that was exactly what he needed.

The city was experiencing famine, disease, and death. Food was becoming scarce, yet Jehovah made sure that Jeremiah continued to receive what he needed. Jehovah did not remove Jeremiah from the crisis, but he sustained him through it.

There is something very reassuring about that. Sometimes we may pray for Jehovah to change our circumstances, and perhaps the circumstances do not change as quickly as we hoped. We might wonder, “Is Jehovah really helping me?” Jeremiah’s experience reminds us to look carefully at the ways Jehovah is supporting us. His help may come in a form that is simple and practical, but that does not make it any less real.

Jeremiah received his daily bread. Baruch, Ebed-melech, and others also survived that terrible period. Jehovah knew exactly what was happening to his faithful servants and did not lose sight of them.

This brings us back to our theme: Jehovah supports those who support his Kingdom.

Jeremiah supported Jehovah’s direction when it was unpopular. He did not become involved in the political struggle taking place around him. He did not change his message to gain acceptance. He continued to speak what Jehovah told him, even when doing so brought persecution. And Jehovah supported Jeremiah through those difficult circumstances.

We can apply that lesson today. We live in a world where political issues can quickly become emotional. People may feel very strongly about leaders, governments, policies, wars, elections, or national causes. Social media can make those feelings even stronger because we are constantly exposed to opinions, arguments, and emotionally charged information.

As Christians, we need to be especially careful not to allow that atmosphere to weaken our support for God’s Kingdom. We know that Jehovah’s Kingdom is the only permanent solution to mankind’s problems. So we want our words, actions, and conversations to show that our primary loyalty belongs to Jehovah and his Kingdom.

That does not mean that we stop caring about people. Quite the opposite. Jeremiah cared deeply about the people of Judah. He warned them because he wanted them to survive. We too can care about our neighbors, relatives, friends, and people in our community. We can show kindness, respect, and compassion regardless of their political opinions. But we do not need to take sides in political controversies in order to show that we care.

Jeremiah’s example also helps when others misunderstand us. Perhaps someone asks why we do not support a particular political movement. Or perhaps someone assumes that because we refuse to take a side, we must secretly support the other side. We do not need to become defensive or argumentative. We can calmly explain that our hope is in God’s Kingdom and that we want to remain neutral because of our loyalty to Jehovah.

That takes courage, especially if the people around us are passionate about the issue. But remember Jeremiah. He was misunderstood even though he was doing exactly what Jehovah had told him to do. Being misunderstood does not mean that we are doing something wrong.

What matters most is how Jehovah views our conduct.

There may also be times when remaining neutral brings personal inconvenience. We might be left out of conversations. Someone might make an unfair comment about our beliefs. We might even be accused of not caring about our country or our fellow citizens. In such situations, Jeremiah’s experience can strengthen us. He did not change his position simply because others misunderstood him.

And Jehovah did not abandon him.

The question at the end of our material is therefore worth taking seriously: “How can the examples of Jeremiah and others motivate me to support God’s Kingdom during times of political unrest?”

First, Jeremiah reminds us to keep our loyalty clear. When the world becomes divided, we do not need to become divided along with it. We can continue to focus on Jehovah’s Kingdom and the hope it gives mankind. Second, Jeremiah reminds us not to be frightened by misunderstanding. If people misinterpret our neutrality, we can remain calm and respectful while continuing to do what we know is right. Third, his experience teaches us to trust Jehovah’s support. We may face pressure, but Jehovah sees what is happening and can sustain us through it.

We can also remember Ebed-melech. He was willing to act courageously to protect Jeremiah even though doing so could have put him in a difficult position. His actions remind us that supporting Jehovah’s servants can sometimes require courage too. We want to be the kind of people who strengthen one another when pressure comes, rather than adding to the pressure.

And what about when we personally feel afraid? Jeremiah was not fearless in the sense that he never experienced fear. His circumstances were genuinely frightening. Courage meant that he continued doing what Jehovah asked even though he had reasons to be afraid.

That is encouraging because we do not need to wait until we feel completely fearless before taking a stand for what is right. We can pray to Jehovah, acknowledge our fear, and then move forward with his help.

Jehovah supported Jeremiah in the cistern. He supported him during imprisonment. He provided his daily bread when the city was experiencing famine. And he preserved Jeremiah through the destruction of Jerusalem.

Jehovah can likewise support his servants today.

We do not know exactly what circumstances we may face in the future. Political conditions can change quickly. Situations that seem stable can become uncertain. But we do know where our loyalty belongs. We know which Kingdom we support. And we know the kind of God Jehovah is.

Conclusion

Jeremiah lived through a time when people were divided, emotions were intense, and taking a political position could have seemed like the easiest course. Yet Jeremiah chose something more important. He chose to remain loyal to Jehovah and to support Jehovah’s direction, even when that made him unpopular and even when others completely misunderstood him.

His faithfulness did not mean that his life became easy. He was beaten. He was imprisoned. He was thrown into a muddy cistern. He experienced hunger and lived through a terrible siege. But through every one of those experiences, Jehovah saw him, remembered him, and supported him.

That is the part of Jeremiah’s example we should take to heart.

Supporting Jehovah’s Kingdom does not mean that we will never face pressure. It means that when pressure comes, we know where to stand.

When political opinions become heated, we can remain peaceful. When others demand that we choose a side, we can remember where our true loyalty lies. When our neutrality is misunderstood, we do not have to compromise simply to gain approval. And when remaining faithful becomes difficult, we can remember Jeremiah in that cistern and in that prison courtyard. Jehovah had not forgotten him, and Jehovah will not forget faithful servants today.

So let us keep supporting God’s Kingdom—not only when it is easy, but especially when the world around us is divided and unsettled. Let our loyalty be clear, our conduct peaceful, and our confidence in Jehovah strong.

Jeremiah stood with Jehovah when almost everything around him seemed to be falling apart. And Jehovah stood with Jeremiah.

May we have that same determination: whatever happens around us, whatever pressure we face, and whatever others may think of our position, we will continue to support Jehovah’s Kingdom. Because when we stand firmly for Jehovah, we can be certain that Jehovah will never stop supporting us.

📌 NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 14-20, 2026.

Welcome to this week's study review covering Jeremiah chapters 32 and 33. As we examine these scriptures, we see clear evidence of Jehovah’s unlimited power, loyal love, and perfect justice. Reflecting on these godly attributes builds our faith and stabilises our hearts during personal trials.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Jehovah Rewards Those Who Obey Him Faithfully

Have you ever noticed that it is easy to make a promise when you really need help? When we are facing a problem, we may suddenly become very determined to do what is right. We may pray more, make good decisions, and promise ourselves that things will be different. But then, once the pressure passes, it can become much easier to return to our old way of doing things.

Jehovah looks beyond what we do in a moment of pressure. He sees what is in our heart. He is pleased when our obedience comes from a genuine desire to follow him—not simply because we want him to remove a problem or protect us from unpleasant consequences. That is an important lesson we can learn from what happened in Judah during Jeremiah’s day.

At one point, Jerusalem was under serious threat from the Babylonians. Zedekiah was the king of Judah, but he had rebelled against Babylon despite Jehovah’s direction through Jeremiah. The Babylonians then surrounded Jerusalem. The situation was becoming desperate, and the people knew that they needed Jehovah’s favor.

At that time, Zedekiah and the people made an agreement to release their Hebrew slaves. This was in harmony with Jehovah’s Law, which required a Hebrew slave to be released after six years of service. So, while the city was surrounded and the danger was very real, the people released their slaves.

At first, this might have looked encouraging. They were finally doing something that Jehovah had commanded. But the circumstances behind their obedience were important. They had not suddenly developed a deep love for Jehovah’s direction. The pressure of the siege had made obedience seem like a way to gain God’s favor and perhaps escape the disaster that was coming.

Then something unexpected happened. An Egyptian military force came to help Jerusalem, and the Babylonians temporarily lifted the siege. The immediate danger seemed to be gone.

And what did the people do?

They took back the slaves they had released and forced them into servitude again.

That revealed something about their heart. Their obedience had been temporary. When they were frightened, they were willing to obey. But when the danger seemed to disappear, they returned to what they wanted to do.

This is a serious warning for us because it shows that there is a difference between obeying Jehovah because we genuinely want to obey him and obeying only when we think obedience will benefit us.

Imagine someone who follows a particular command only because he is afraid of what might happen if he does not. As long as the consequences seem close, he is careful. But if he begins to think that he can get away with disobeying, his real attitude becomes visible.

Jehovah wants more than that. He wants our obedience to come from the heart.

The experience of those Jews also shows why it is dangerous to think, “If I obey Jehovah now, maybe he will make my problem go away.” Of course, we can pray to Jehovah for help when we are in trouble. We should. But our obedience should not be something we switch on and off depending on our circumstances.

Think about what happens when someone is facing a serious problem. Perhaps they become very regular at the meetings, pray often, and make changes in their life. That is good. But once the problem improves, what happens? Do they continue with those good habits because they have drawn closer to Jehovah? Or do they slowly return to the way things were before?

The issue is not whether someone has struggled. All of us can have moments when our determination weakens. The lesson is to examine our motive. Do I obey Jehovah because I love him and trust his direction, or mainly because I want to avoid the consequences of doing something wrong?

Jehovah knows the difference.

And there is another side to this. Sometimes obedience is difficult precisely because we do not immediately see the benefit. Jehovah may ask us to wait, to exercise self-control, to forgive, to avoid something that seems attractive, or to follow directions that requires humility. At such times, we have an opportunity to show that our obedience is genuine.

We can say in our heart: “I may not understand everything right now, but I trust Jehovah. If he says this is the right course, I want to follow it.”

That kind of obedience has value because it shows faith.

This is where the example of the Rechabites becomes especially impressive. Their conduct was completely different from that of the people of Judah. They showed that obedience can remain firm even when there is no immediate pressure forcing us to do what is right.

The Rechabites lived during Jeremiah’s time, and they had a very unusual family tradition. Their forefather Jehonadab had given them specific commands. Among other things, he had told them not to drink wine. Jehonadab had been dead for a long time, but his descendants continued to respect his command.

Jehovah allowed their obedience to be tested in a very direct way.

Jeremiah was instructed to bring the Rechabites into one of the dining rooms at the temple. He then placed wine before them and invited them to drink it. Think about that situation. The wine was right there. Jeremiah himself was the one offering it. Yet the Rechabites refused.

They explained that their forefather Jehonadab had commanded them not to drink wine, and they had continued to follow his instruction.

What makes their example so striking is that they were not under pressure to obey Jehonadab. He was already dead. They were not afraid that he would punish them. There was no immediate disaster that they were trying to escape. They simply respected the command they had been given and were determined to follow it.

Jehovah was pleased with that attitude.

And if they showed such respect for the instruction of an earthly forefather who was no longer alive, how much more should we be determined to obey Jehovah, the living God?

That comparison makes the lesson very clear. The Judeans obeyed when obedience seemed useful, but the Rechabites obeyed because they were resolved to do so. Their circumstances did not determine whether they would follow the command.

That is the kind of determination we want to develop toward Jehovah.

The Rechabites’ example also teaches us something about what it means to be resolved. Being resolved does not mean that we will never experience temptation or that obedience will always feel easy. It means that we have already settled in our heart what we want to do.

That can make a big difference when a difficult situation suddenly comes.

Suppose we have already decided that we will obey Jehovah even when nobody is watching. Then, when we are alone and have an opportunity to do something wrong, we do not have to spend a long time debating whether we should do it. Our decision has already been made.

Or suppose we have already decided that we will follow Jehovah’s moral standards even if people around us treat those standards as outdated or unnecessary. When pressure comes, we are not trying to decide whose opinion matters more. We know where we stand.

That is similar to the Rechabites. When Jeremiah placed the wine before them, they did not suddenly have to decide what they believed. They already knew their position.

There is something else encouraging about their example. Jehovah noticed their obedience.

Jeremiah 35:18, 19 records Jehovah’s response. He commended the Rechabites for obeying the command of their forefather and then gave them a rewarding promise: “There will not be cut off from Jonadab the son of Rechab a man to stand before me always.”

Jehovah did not overlook what they had done. Their faithful obedience mattered to him.

That is important for us too. Sometimes obedience may seem unnoticed. We may make a decision to do what is right, but nobody else knows how difficult that decision was. Perhaps we resisted a temptation privately. Perhaps we kept following Jehovah’s direction even though others were not doing so. Perhaps we continued to do what is right even when we did not see an immediate reward.

Jehovah sees it.

He sees the choices we make when there is no audience. He sees the effort behind our obedience. He knows when doing what is right costs us something.

The Rechabites were rewarded for their faithful obedience. Their example stood in sharp contrast with the people of Judah, who repeatedly disobeyed their Creator even though Jehovah had given them far more reason to obey than the Rechabites had to obey their earthly forefather.

That contrast helps us appreciate the value Jehovah places on obedience.

It also helps us understand the theme: Jehovah rewards faithful obedience.

His reward is not necessarily that everything in our life will immediately become easier. The Rechabites themselves lived during a very difficult period. Jehovah did not promise them a life without problems. But he did show that he valued their faithfulness and gave them a reassuring promise of his favor and continued existence.

Likewise, we should not think of obedience as a bargain with Jehovah: “If I obey, then Jehovah must give me the life I want.” That would bring us back to the wrong attitude we saw among the Judeans.

Instead, we obey because Jehovah is our God and because we trust him. We know that his commands are for our good. We also know that he does not forget those who remain faithful to him.

That gives us a very useful question to consider personally: Am I determined to obey Jehovah even when I feel that I could avoid the consequences of disobedience?

That question goes deeper than simply asking whether we know Jehovah’s commands. We may know exactly what Jehovah says is right. The question is what we will do when disobedience seems easy and the consequences seem unlikely.

For example, what if nobody would find out?

What if we thought there would be no immediate consequences?

What if everyone around us was doing the same thing?

What if obedience meant giving up something we really wanted?

Those moments reveal what is in our heart.

The Judeans had shown that when they feared the Babylonians, they could make an outward change. But once the immediate danger passed, they returned to their former conduct. The Rechabites showed the opposite. Their obedience did not depend on pressure. It was part of who they were.

We can work toward having that same kind of settled determination.

One way is to think about Jehovah’s reasons for giving his commands. Instead of viewing his direction simply as a list of things we can and cannot do, we can remember that Jehovah knows us better than we know ourselves. His standards protect our relationship with him and protect us from the painful results of wrongdoing.

Then obedience becomes less about “What am I allowed to do?” and more about “What choice will please Jehovah?”

That is a beautiful change in thinking.

It can also help us prepare before temptation comes. The Rechabites had already made their decision long before Jeremiah put wine before them. Similarly, we can decide in advance that we will not compromise when faced with pressure.

We can pray about the areas where we know we are vulnerable. We can strengthen our conscience through regular study of God’s Word. We can take seriously the counsel we receive at our meetings. And when we recognize a weakness, we can make adjustments rather than waiting until we are in a difficult situation.

That way, when a test comes, we are not starting from zero.

Most importantly, we can remember who is asking us to obey. Jehovah is not an unreasonable ruler looking for opportunities to punish his servants. He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us. His commands are expressions of his wisdom and love.

The Rechabites’ example shows that Jehovah notices faithful obedience. The Judeans’ example warns us not to obey only when we are frightened or when we want something from Jehovah.

So perhaps we can ask ourselves that question again: “Am I resolved to obey Jehovah, even if at times I feel I could avoid the consequences of disobedience?”

If the answer is yes, we should continue strengthening that resolve. And if we realize that our obedience sometimes depends too much on our circumstances, we do not need to become discouraged. We can make our determination stronger today.

Conclusion

The people of Judah had a choice. When they were frightened, they temporarily did what Jehovah required. But when the pressure eased, they went back to their old ways. Their actions showed that their obedience had not truly reached their heart.

The Rechabites gave a completely different example. They obeyed even when there was no immediate pressure to do so. They remained faithful to a command given by an earthly forefather who was long dead. Jehovah saw that obedience, he was pleased with it, and he rewarded them.

Their example leaves us with a powerful thought: our faithfulness is never wasted, and our obedience is never invisible to Jehovah.

There may be times when doing what Jehovah asks feels difficult. There may be moments when disobedience appears easier, when nobody seems likely to know, or when we wonder whether we could escape the consequences. But that is exactly when our obedience can show Jehovah what is truly in our heart.

So let us not wait until trouble comes before we decide to obey. Let us not obey Jehovah only when we need his help. Let us make our decision now.

When obedience is difficult, remember the Rechabites. When temptation makes disobedience look harmless, remember the Judeans. And when you wonder whether Jehovah notices your efforts, remember his response to the Rechabites.

Jehovah sees faithful obedience. He values it. He remembers it. And he rewards those who remain loyal to him.

May we therefore be determined to obey Jehovah—not merely when it is convenient, not merely when we are afraid of the consequences, but because we love him, trust him, and want to remain close to him. Then, whatever test may come, we can have the satisfaction of knowing that we have chosen the safe and rewarding course: faithful obedience to Jehovah.

📌 NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 14-20, 2026.

Welcome to this week's study review covering Jeremiah chapters 32 and 33. As we examine these scriptures, we see clear evidence of Jehovah’s unlimited power, loyal love, and perfect justice. Reflecting on these godly attributes builds our faith and stabilizes our hearts during personal trials.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Jehovah Rewards Those Who Obey Him Faithfully

Have you ever noticed that it is easy to make a promise when you really need help? When we are facing a problem, we may suddenly become very determined to do what is right. We may pray more, make good decisions, and promise ourselves that things will be different. But then, once the pressure passes, it can become much easier to return to our old way of doing things.

Jehovah looks beyond what we do in a moment of pressure. He sees what is in our heart. He is pleased when our obedience comes from a genuine desire to follow him—not simply because we want him to remove a problem or protect us from unpleasant consequences. That is an important lesson we can learn from what happened in Judah during Jeremiah’s day.

At one point, Jerusalem was under serious threat from the Babylonians. Zedekiah was the king of Judah, but he had rebelled against Babylon despite Jehovah’s direction through Jeremiah. The Babylonians then surrounded Jerusalem. The situation was becoming desperate, and the people knew that they needed Jehovah’s favor.

At that time, Zedekiah and the people made an agreement to release their Hebrew slaves. This was in harmony with Jehovah’s Law, which required a Hebrew slave to be released after six years of service. So, while the city was surrounded and the danger was very real, the people released their slaves.

At first, this might have looked encouraging. They were finally doing something that Jehovah had commanded. But the circumstances behind their obedience were important. They had not suddenly developed a deep love for Jehovah’s direction. The pressure of the siege had made obedience seem like a way to gain God’s favor and perhaps escape the disaster that was coming.

Then something unexpected happened. An Egyptian military force came to help Jerusalem, and the Babylonians temporarily lifted the siege. The immediate danger seemed to be gone.

And what did the people do?

They took back the slaves they had released and forced them into servitude again.

That revealed something about their heart. Their obedience had been temporary. When they were frightened, they were willing to obey. But when the danger seemed to disappear, they returned to what they wanted to do.

This is a serious warning for us because it shows that there is a difference between obeying Jehovah because we genuinely want to obey him and obeying only when we think obedience will benefit us.

Imagine someone who follows a particular command only because he is afraid of what might happen if he does not. As long as the consequences seem close, he is careful. But if he begins to think that he can get away with disobeying, his real attitude becomes visible.

Jehovah wants more than that. He wants our obedience to come from the heart.

The experience of those Jews also shows why it is dangerous to think, “If I obey Jehovah now, maybe he will make my problem go away.” Of course, we can pray to Jehovah for help when we are in trouble. We should. But our obedience should not be something we switch on and off depending on our circumstances.

Think about what happens when someone is facing a serious problem. Perhaps they become very regular at the meetings, pray often, and make changes in their life. That is good. But once the problem improves, what happens? Do they continue with those good habits because they have drawn closer to Jehovah? Or do they slowly return to the way things were before?

The issue is not whether someone has struggled. All of us can have moments when our determination weakens. The lesson is to examine our motive. Do I obey Jehovah because I love him and trust his direction, or mainly because I want to avoid the consequences of doing something wrong?

Jehovah knows the difference.

And there is another side to this. Sometimes obedience is difficult precisely because we do not immediately see the benefit. Jehovah may ask us to wait, to exercise self-control, to forgive, to avoid something that seems attractive, or to follow directions that requires humility. At such times, we have an opportunity to show that our obedience is genuine.

We can say in our heart: “I may not understand everything right now, but I trust Jehovah. If he says this is the right course, I want to follow it.”

That kind of obedience has value because it shows faith.

This is where the example of the Rechabites becomes especially impressive. Their conduct was completely different from that of the people of Judah. They showed that obedience can remain firm even when there is no immediate pressure forcing us to do what is right.

The Rechabites lived during Jeremiah’s time, and they had a very unusual family tradition. Their forefather Jehonadab had given them specific commands. Among other things, he had told them not to drink wine. Jehonadab had been dead for a long time, but his descendants continued to respect his command.

Jehovah allowed their obedience to be tested in a very direct way.

Jeremiah was instructed to bring the Rechabites into one of the dining rooms at the temple. He then placed wine before them and invited them to drink it. Think about that situation. The wine was right there. Jeremiah himself was the one offering it. Yet the Rechabites refused.

They explained that their forefather Jehonadab had commanded them not to drink wine, and they had continued to follow his instruction.

What makes their example so striking is that they were not under pressure to obey Jehonadab. He was already dead. They were not afraid that he would punish them. There was no immediate disaster that they were trying to escape. They simply respected the command they had been given and were determined to follow it.

Jehovah was pleased with that attitude.

And if they showed such respect for the instruction of an earthly forefather who was no longer alive, how much more should we be determined to obey Jehovah, the living God?

That comparison makes the lesson very clear. The Judeans obeyed when obedience seemed useful, but the Rechabites obeyed because they were resolved to do so. Their circumstances did not determine whether they would follow the command.

That is the kind of determination we want to develop toward Jehovah.

The Rechabites’ example also teaches us something about what it means to be resolved. Being resolved does not mean that we will never experience temptation or that obedience will always feel easy. It means that we have already settled in our heart what we want to do.

That can make a big difference when a difficult situation suddenly comes.

Suppose we have already decided that we will obey Jehovah even when nobody is watching. Then, when we are alone and have an opportunity to do something wrong, we do not have to spend a long time debating whether we should do it. Our decision has already been made.

Or suppose we have already decided that we will follow Jehovah’s moral standards even if people around us treat those standards as outdated or unnecessary. When pressure comes, we are not trying to decide whose opinion matters more. We know where we stand.

That is similar to the Rechabites. When Jeremiah placed the wine before them, they did not suddenly have to decide what they believed. They already knew their position.

There is something else encouraging about their example. Jehovah noticed their obedience.

Jeremiah 35:18, 19 records Jehovah’s response. He commended the Rechabites for obeying the command of their forefather and then gave them a rewarding promise: “There will not be cut off from Jonadab the son of Rechab a man to stand before me always.”

Jehovah did not overlook what they had done. Their faithful obedience mattered to him.

That is important for us too. Sometimes obedience may seem unnoticed. We may make a decision to do what is right, but nobody else knows how difficult that decision was. Perhaps we resisted a temptation privately. Perhaps we kept following Jehovah’s direction even though others were not doing so. Perhaps we continued to do what is right even when we did not see an immediate reward.

Jehovah sees it.

He sees the choices we make when there is no audience. He sees the effort behind our obedience. He knows when doing what is right costs us something.

The Rechabites were rewarded for their faithful obedience. Their example stood in sharp contrast with the people of Judah, who repeatedly disobeyed their Creator even though Jehovah had given them far more reason to obey than the Rechabites had to obey their earthly forefather.

That contrast helps us appreciate the value Jehovah places on obedience.

It also helps us understand the theme: Jehovah rewards faithful obedience.

His reward is not necessarily that everything in our life will immediately become easier. The Rechabites themselves lived during a very difficult period. Jehovah did not promise them a life without problems. But he did show that he valued their faithfulness and gave them a reassuring promise of his favor and continued existence.

Likewise, we should not think of obedience as a bargain with Jehovah: “If I obey, then Jehovah must give me the life I want.” That would bring us back to the wrong attitude we saw among the Judeans.

Instead, we obey because Jehovah is our God and because we trust him. We know that his commands are for our good. We also know that he does not forget those who remain faithful to him.

That gives us a very useful question to consider personally: Am I determined to obey Jehovah even when I feel that I could avoid the consequences of disobedience?

That question goes deeper than simply asking whether we know Jehovah’s commands. We may know exactly what Jehovah says is right. The question is what we will do when disobedience seems easy and the consequences seem unlikely.

For example, what if nobody would find out?

What if we thought there would be no immediate consequences?

What if everyone around us was doing the same thing?

What if obedience meant giving up something we really wanted?

Those moments reveal what is in our heart.

The Judeans had shown that when they feared the Babylonians, they could make an outward change. But once the immediate danger passed, they returned to their former conduct. The Rechabites showed the opposite. Their obedience did not depend on pressure. It was part of who they were.

We can work toward having that same kind of settled determination.

One way is to think about Jehovah’s reasons for giving his commands. Instead of viewing his direction simply as a list of things we can and cannot do, we can remember that Jehovah knows us better than we know ourselves. His standards protect our relationship with him and protect us from the painful results of wrongdoing.

Then obedience becomes less about “What am I allowed to do?” and more about “What choice will please Jehovah?”

That is a beautiful change in thinking.

It can also help us prepare before temptation comes. The Rechabites had already made their decision long before Jeremiah put wine before them. Similarly, we can decide in advance that we will not compromise when faced with pressure.

We can pray about the areas where we know we are vulnerable. We can strengthen our conscience through regular study of God’s Word. We can take seriously the counsel we receive at our meetings. And when we recognize a weakness, we can make adjustments rather than waiting until we are in a difficult situation.

That way, when a test comes, we are not starting from zero.

Most importantly, we can remember who is asking us to obey. Jehovah is not an unreasonable ruler looking for opportunities to punish his servants. He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us. His commands are expressions of his wisdom and love.

The Rechabites’ example shows that Jehovah notices faithful obedience. The Judeans’ example warns us not to obey only when we are frightened or when we want something from Jehovah.

So perhaps we can ask ourselves that question again: “Am I resolved to obey Jehovah, even if at times I feel I could avoid the consequences of disobedience?”

If the answer is yes, we should continue strengthening that resolve. And if we realize that our obedience sometimes depends too much on our circumstances, we do not need to become discouraged. We can make our determination stronger today.

Conclusion

The people of Judah had a choice. When they were frightened, they temporarily did what Jehovah required. But when the pressure eased, they went back to their old ways. Their actions showed that their obedience had not truly reached their heart.

The Rechabites gave a completely different example. They obeyed even when there was no immediate pressure to do so. They remained faithful to a command given by an earthly forefather who was long dead. Jehovah saw that obedience, he was pleased with it, and he rewarded them.

Their example leaves us with a powerful thought: our faithfulness is never wasted, and our obedience is never invisible to Jehovah.

There may be times when doing what Jehovah asks feels difficult. There may be moments when disobedience appears easier, when nobody seems likely to know, or when we wonder whether we could escape the consequences. But that is exactly when our obedience can show Jehovah what is truly in our heart.

So let us not wait until trouble comes before we decide to obey. Let us not obey Jehovah only when we need his help. Let us make our decision now.

When obedience is difficult, remember the Rechabites. When temptation makes disobedience look harmless, remember the Judeans. And when you wonder whether Jehovah notices your efforts, remember his response to the Rechabites.

Jehovah sees faithful obedience. He values it. He remembers it. And he rewards those who remain loyal to him.

May we therefore be determined to obey Jehovah—not merely when it is convenient, not merely when we are afraid of the consequences, but because we love him, trust him, and want to remain close to him. Then, whatever test may come, we can have the satisfaction of knowing that we have chosen the safe and rewarding course: faithful obedience to Jehovah.

📌 NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 7-13, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: Jehovah’s Qualities Give Us Stronger Faith

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to trust someone when you really know that person? If someone has always kept their word, has been there when you needed help, and has shown that they genuinely care about you, you do not have to keep wondering whether you can rely on them. Your experience with that person gives you confidence. The same is true in our friendship with Jehovah. The more we get to know him, the more reasons we have to trust him. And when we regularly stop and reflect on his qualities, that trust becomes even stronger.

The prophet Jeremiah had many reasons to strengthen his faith in Jehovah. He lived during a very difficult period. He saw the wickedness of the people around him, experienced opposition, and at times was troubled by what he saw happening. Yet he continued to rely on Jehovah. Why? Jeremiah knew the kind of God he was serving. He had seen evidence of Jehovah’s power, he knew about His loyal love, and he trusted His perfect sense of justice.

We can benefit from doing the same. There may be times when we know that Jehovah can help us but, because of the situation we are facing, we still feel worried. We may wonder how we are going to cope or how a problem will work out. At those moments, reflecting on Jehovah’s qualities can make our faith feel real and personal. Today we will consider three qualities in particular: Jehovah’s power, his loyal love, and his sense of justice. Each one gives us another reason to trust him.

Let’s begin with Jehovah’s power. Jeremiah expressed his confidence in Jehovah at Jeremiah 32:17: “O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Look! You made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. Nothing is too wonderful for you.” Jeremiah was surrounded by circumstances that were far beyond his control. But he knew that his circumstances were not beyond Jehovah’s control.

Think about what Jeremiah was saying. Jehovah made the heavens and the earth. When we take even a little time to consider what that means, it gives us a very small glimpse of Jehovah’s power. Look at the sun, for example. We depend on it every day. We feel its warmth, we benefit from its light, and life on earth depends on the energy it provides. Yet the sun is only one star among the enormous number of stars in the universe. Some stars are vastly larger than our sun. The scale of creation is difficult for us even to imagine.

And who made all of it? Jehovah.

So when Jeremiah said, “Nothing is too wonderful for you,” he was not using an empty expression. He was thinking about something he knew to be true. Jehovah’s creative power proves that there is no situation beyond his ability.

That can be very reassuring when we face a problem that seems too big for us. Maybe we have tried to solve something ourselves and have reached the point where we simply do not know what else to do. We might feel tired or even helpless. But Jehovah is not limited in the way we are. His power is unlimited.

Of course, Jehovah’s power is not merely something we admire when we look at creation. He has used his power to benefit people. In the first century, Jehovah gave Jesus the power to perform miracles. The blind could see, the lame could walk, lepers were cleansed, the deaf could hear, and the dead were raised. Those miracles gave people powerful evidence of what Jehovah can accomplish.

What about us today? We do not expect Jehovah to perform miraculous healings. But he still uses his power to strengthen his servants. Isaiah 40:29 says: “He gives power to the tired one and full might to those lacking strength.” That is a promise we can really appreciate because Jehovah understands that his servants sometimes become tired.

Notice that Jehovah does not say that his servants will never feel weak. Instead, he promises to give power to the tired one. So there may be a situation that we cannot change immediately, but Jehovah can give us the strength to endure it.

Isaiah 40:31 adds: “Those hoping in Jehovah will regain power.” Think about how that might work in our life. We may wake up and still have the same problem we had yesterday. The circumstances may not have changed. But after praying to Jehovah, reading his Word, attending our meetings, and receiving encouragement from fellow believers, we find that we can face another day. We have strength that we did not feel we had before.

That does not mean the problem was imaginary. It means Jehovah helped us endure it.

Paul referred to this kind of help as “power beyond what is normal.” Jehovah can give us strength that goes beyond what we might expect from ourselves. So when we feel that we are running out of strength, it is good to remember what Jeremiah remembered: the One we are depending on made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too wonderful for him.

But there is another reason we can confidently turn to Jehovah. It is not enough simply to know that someone can help us. We also want to know that they want to help us. That brings us to Jehovah’s loyal love.

Jeremiah 32:18 speaks of Jehovah as the One who shows loyal love. What does that mean for us? Jehovah’s love for his servants is not shallow or temporary. His loyal love moves him to remain faithful to those who are devoted to him. He wants them to stay close to him and wants them to succeed in remaining faithful.

That is especially comforting when we are going through a trial. Sometimes a difficult situation can affect our emotions. We may know that Jehovah loves us, but we might not always feel that love. We may wonder, “Does Jehovah really understand what I am dealing with?” At such times, reflecting on his loyal love can help us see the situation differently.

Jehovah lovingly supports his servants. Psalm 46 describes him as a refuge and a source of strength. So when we are under pressure, we can approach Jehovah in prayer. We are not speaking to someone who is distant or uninterested. We are speaking to our heavenly Father, who wants us to remain close to him.

Jeremiah himself is a good example. He openly expressed his feelings to Jehovah. He did not pretend that everything was easy. When he was troubled, he spoke to Jehovah. And yet Jeremiah continued to trust him.

That teaches us something comforting. We do not have to hide our feelings from Jehovah. If we are worried, we can tell him. If we are discouraged, we can tell him. If something has deeply hurt us, we can tell him. Then, as we pray, we can remind ourselves of Jehovah’s loyal love. He has not stopped caring simply because we are going through a difficult period.

Jehovah’s loyal love also assures us that he wants us to succeed spiritually. He does not look at us as though he is simply waiting for us to make a mistake. He wants us to stay close to him. He gives us what we need to maintain our integrity.

So when we are facing a trial, we can think about both Jehovah’s power and his loyal love. He is able to help us, and he wants to help us.

There is still another quality that can strengthen our faith, especially when we experience something that seems unfair. That is Jehovah’s perfect sense of justice.

Jeremiah knew that Jehovah is just. But there was a time when what he was seeing troubled him so much that he asked Jehovah a very direct question. At Jeremiah 12:1, he said: “Why is it that the way of the wicked succeeds?”

Can we understand why Jeremiah felt that way? He was seeing wicked people prosper while he himself was experiencing difficulties. He was also personally affected by the way people treated him because he faithfully delivered Jehovah’s message. So Jeremiah was not asking this question because he had stopped trusting Jehovah. He was trying to understand something that was difficult for him.

We may have felt something similar. Perhaps we have watched someone act dishonestly and yet appear to prosper. Maybe someone has treated us unfairly and we wondered why nothing seemed to happen. Or we may see situations in the world that seem so wrong that we wonder how long Jehovah will allow them to continue.

What can help us when that happens? We can reflect on Jehovah’s justice.

Jeremiah 32:19 says of Jehovah: “Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give to each one according to his ways and the fruitage of his works.”

What a reassuring thought. Jehovah’s eyes are open. He sees everything. We may not see the complete picture, but Jehovah does. We may not know another person’s motives, but Jehovah does. We may not know what happened when nobody else was watching, but Jehovah does.

So if we experience an injustice, we do not need to feel that Jehovah has somehow missed it. He has not.

And because Jehovah’s sense of justice is perfect, we can trust him completely. Human justice can be limited. People can make mistakes because they do not have all the facts. But Jehovah never lacks information. He knows the full situation, and his judgment is always right.

Jeremiah saw evidence of this in the way Jehovah dealt with Judah. Jehovah had been patient with his people. He repeatedly warned them and gave them opportunities to change. But they continued in their wrongdoing. Eventually Jehovah acted in harmony with his justice.

So Jeremiah had good reason to trust that Jehovah would deal with wickedness, even when he did not understand the timing.

That is something we need to remember too. Jehovah’s justice does not always operate according to our timetable. We may think, “This should have been corrected already.” But Jehovah sees matters from a much larger perspective. We can tell him how we feel, just as Jeremiah did, while continuing to trust that Jehovah will act at the right time.

That can protect us from becoming bitter.

When we are treated unfairly, it is natural to feel hurt. But if we keep replaying the injustice in our mind, it can begin to affect our peace and even our relationship with Jehovah. Reflecting on his justice can help us let go of what we cannot control. We can remind ourselves: Jehovah saw what happened. He knows the whole situation. I can leave this in his hands.

That does not mean we pretend that injustice does not hurt. It means we refuse to allow it to weaken our trust in Jehovah.

And now we can see how beautifully these three qualities work together.

When we are facing something that seems impossible, we can remember Jehovah’s power. He made the heavens and the earth, and he can give us strength beyond what we feel we have.

When we feel alone or wonder whether Jehovah really cares, we can remember his loyal love. He wants his servants to stay close to him, and he lovingly supports them through their trials.

And when we face something unfair, we can remember Jehovah’s justice. His eyes are open to all that happens. Nothing escapes his notice, and he will always do what is right.

This is why reflecting on Jehovah’s qualities is so valuable. We are not simply learning information about God. We are getting to know our Father better. And the better we know him, the easier it becomes to trust him.

So when we read the Bible, we can look for opportunities to think about Jehovah himself. We can ask, “What does this account show me about his power? What does it show me about his loyal love? What does it tell me about his justice?” The answers can become something we carry with us when we face our own challenges.

Jeremiah did that. His life was not easy, but his faith was not based on having easy circumstances. He knew Jehovah. And that knowledge helped him keep going.

We can build that same kind of faith. We do not have to wait until a crisis comes before we think about Jehovah’s qualities. We can reflect on them now. Then, if something difficult happens later, we will already have strong reasons to trust him.

And perhaps one of the best times to reflect on Jehovah’s qualities is when everything is going well. Why? Because that is when we can quietly strengthen our friendship with him. Then, when our circumstances change, our confidence in Jehovah does not have to change with them.

Conclusion

All of us will face moments when we do not know exactly how a situation will turn out. There may be times when we feel that we do not have enough strength. There may be times when we are hurt by unfair treatment. And there may be times when we simply wish we could understand why Jehovah has allowed something to happen.

At those moments, we have something very precious to turn to—not simply an answer to every question, but a Person we know we can trust.

Think about Jehovah’s power. The One who made the heavens and the earth can give us the strength we need.

Think about his loyal love. He wants us to remain close to him, and he cares about helping us stay faithful.

And think about his justice. His eyes are open to everything. He sees what we see, he sees what we do not see, and he will always do what is right.

Jeremiah had those reasons to trust Jehovah, and so do we.

So when a problem feels too big, don’t look only at the problem. Take a moment to think about Jehovah’s power. When you feel discouraged, don’t allow your feelings to convince you that Jehovah is far away. Reflect on his loyal love. And when something seems unfair, tell Jehovah how you feel, but then remember that his eyes are open and his justice is perfect.

The more we reflect on Jehovah’s qualities, the better we come to know him. And the better we know him, the stronger our faith becomes.

Jehovah can help us because he is powerful. He wants to help us because he has loyal love for his servants. And we can trust him completely because everything he does is perfectly just.

That is why taking time to reflect on who Jehovah is can do more than make us feel encouraged for a moment. It can build the kind of faith that helps us keep trusting Jehovah, whatever circumstances we may face.

📌 NEXT WEEK AUGUST 31- SEPTEMBER 6, 2026.

TREASURES WEEKLY Theme: I Will Make . . . a New Covenant

Have you ever received a promise that completely changed the way you viewed a difficult situation? When someone trustworthy makes a promise, we gain confidence because we know that person has both the ability and the desire to fulfill it. Throughout history, Jehovah has made many promises to his servants. Each one reveals his love and his desire to bless mankind. One of the most remarkable promises he made was through the prophet Jeremiah: “I will make a new covenant.”

Those words were especially meaningful because Jehovah’s people already had a covenant with him—the Law covenant given through Moses. So why was a new covenant needed? Did it mean that the Law covenant had failed? Not at all. The Law covenant had accomplished exactly what Jehovah intended. It helped the Israelites understand his standards, revealed the seriousness of sin, and prepared them for something greater that would come in the future.

When Jehovah made the Law covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, He gave that nation a special relationship with Him. They became His treasured possession, and He arranged for the tribe of Levi to provide priests who would serve the nation. Jehovah even spoke of them becoming “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” This showed that He had a wonderful purpose in mind for them.

However, there was a serious problem that the Law covenant itself helped reveal. The Israelites were imperfect. Even though many sincerely wanted to serve Jehovah, they could not keep His perfect standards completely. Their repeated sins showed that mankind needed something more than a written law and repeated animal sacrifices. A greater provision was needed—one that could provide a permanent solution to the problem of sin.

This is why Jehovah’s promise of a new covenant was such encouraging news. It would bring benefits that the previous covenant could not provide. It would make possible lasting forgiveness and open the way for Jehovah to accomplish His purpose through the promised Seed.

The promise of the new covenant revealed something beautiful about Jehovah. He knew that humans needed more than just instructions telling them what was right and wrong. They needed help to draw closer to him and to have their sins forgiven in a permanent way. The Law covenant clearly showed Jehovah’s righteous standards, but it also showed that imperfect humans could not save themselves from sin. They needed Jehovah to provide a greater arrangement.

Through Jeremiah, Jehovah explained what would make the new covenant different. He said that He would put His law within his people and write it on their hearts. This did not mean that Jehovah would simply remove his standards or allow people to do whatever they wanted. Instead, it meant that true worshippers would be moved from within to obey Jehovah. His laws would not just be written in a record for them to read; they would become part of their thinking, their desires, and their way of life.

That teaches us an important lesson today. Jehovah has always cared about what is inside a person. He is not only interested in outward actions. A person could follow certain commands outwardly while their heart is far from Jehovah. But Jehovah desires worship that comes from love. He wants us to serve him because we appreciate who he is and because we trust that his ways are always best.

This also helps us understand why the new covenant is connected with forgiveness of sins. Jehovah did not simply ignore the sins of imperfect humans. He did not lower his standards of justice just to show mercy. Instead, he provided a perfect legal basis for forgiveness. This was possible because of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Under the Law covenant, animal sacrifices were offered repeatedly. Those sacrifices had value because Jehovah commanded them, and they helped the Israelites understand that sin requires a sacrifice. However, those sacrifices could not completely remove sin. They pointed forward to something greater. The new covenant would be made effective, not by the blood of animals, but by the precious blood of Jesus.

This is why the apostle Paul explained that without the pouring out of blood, forgiveness does not take place. Jesus’ perfect human life was given as the ransom. Because of that sacrifice, Jehovah could forgive sins in a way that fully satisfied his perfect justice. The new covenant was therefore not based on overlooking wrongdoing. It was based on Jehovah’s loving provision through his Son.

Think about what this tells us about Jehovah’s personality. He is both just and merciful. Some people may find it difficult to balance those qualities. They may think that showing mercy means ignoring what is right, or that being just means being harsh. But Jehovah shows the perfect balance. He does not excuse sin, yet he lovingly provides a way for repentant humans to receive forgiveness.

This should move us to appreciate the value of the ransom. When Jehovah forgives someone, it is not because sin is a small matter. Sin has serious consequences, and Jehovah paid a great price to make forgiveness possible. The sacrifice of Jesus shows how much Jehovah loves humans and how much he desires to restore a close relationship with them.

But who would be included in this new covenant? Jeremiah’s prophecy mentioned “the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” However, the natural nation of Israel as a whole did not become part of this arrangement. Many rejected Jesus as the Messiah and refused to accept the way Jehovah was fulfilling his purpose. Instead, Jehovah formed a new spiritual nation—the Israel of God—made up of anointed Christians.

This helps us see the difference between the Law covenant and the new covenant. The Law covenant was between Jehovah and the nation of natural Israel. The new covenant is between Jehovah and spiritual Israel, with Jesus Christ serving as the Mediator. Through this arrangement, Jehovah accomplishes his purpose involving those who will serve with Christ in the heavenly Kingdom.

But does that mean the new covenant has no benefit for Christians who do not have the heavenly hope? Not at all. The blessings connected with this covenant extend far beyond those who are directly included in it. Those who look forward to everlasting life on earth are also able to benefit from this loving arrangement.

They are able to approach Jehovah with a clean conscience because of the ransom sacrifice that made forgiveness possible. They support the arrangement Jehovah has established and gladly accept the blessings that flow from it. Just as foreigners in ancient times could join themselves to Jehovah and worship him, those with an earthly hope today can draw close to Jehovah and enjoy a relationship with him.

This shows how generous Jehovah’s purpose is. The new covenant highlights that Jehovah is not only concerned with a limited group of people. His desire is to bless obedient humans from all nations. Through the promised Seed, Jesus Christ, Jehovah is bringing about blessings that will benefit countless people who love and serve him.

So when we think about the new covenant, we should not see it as just a Bible teaching to understand. We should see it as a reflection of Jehovah’s love. It shows that he understands our condition, knows our need for forgiveness, and has lovingly provided the perfect solution to sin.

Understanding the new covenant should affect the way we view Jehovah and the way we treat others. One of the most touching aspects of this arrangement is Jehovah’s willingness to forgive. Through Jeremiah, Jehovah promised: “I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.” This does not mean that Jehovah forgets in the sense of losing memory. Rather, it means that when he forgives, he does not continue bringing up the matter or hold the sin against the person. Once Jehovah has accepted the ransom and forgiven a repentant person, he does not keep reopening the past.

What a comforting thought that is. Many imperfect humans struggle with letting go of past mistakes—both their own and those of others. We may say that we forgive someone, but later, when the situation comes up again, we may be tempted to mention what happened. Jehovah sets the perfect example for us. Since he is willing to forgive and no longer bring up sins that have been forgiven, we should strive to imitate his generous attitude.

Of course, forgiving others does not mean that we minimize serious wrongdoing or pretend that hurtful actions never happened. Jehovah himself does not do that. He takes sin seriously. But when a matter has been handled properly and forgiveness has been extended, continuing to hold on to resentment would not reflect Jehovah’s way of thinking.

This is especially important within the Christian family. We all make mistakes because we are imperfect. Sometimes a brother or sister may say something hurtful, disappoint us, or make a decision that affects us. If they are repentant and we have forgiven them, we want to avoid constantly bringing up their past mistakes. Doing so would be very different from the way Jehovah treats those he forgives.

Jesus also highlighted the importance of forgiveness when he taught his disciples to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Jehovah has shown us tremendous mercy, and he wants us to extend that same spirit to others. When we forgive, we are not saying that wrong actions do not matter. Rather, we are showing that we appreciate the forgiveness Jehovah has extended to us.

The new covenant also reminds us that Jehovah wants a close relationship with his servants. He did not simply provide a legal arrangement for forgiveness and leave humans at a distance. Through Jesus Christ, he opened the way for people to become close to him. What a privilege it is to approach Jehovah with confidence, knowing that he understands our weaknesses and has provided the means for us to receive forgiveness.

This should motivate us to examine our own relationship with Jehovah. Do we view his forgiveness as something ordinary, or do we deeply appreciate the price that made it possible? Do we allow gratitude for the ransom to influence our choices and our attitude? The more we appreciate Jehovah’s mercy, the more we will want to please him.

The new covenant also teaches us something about trust. Jehovah always keeps his promises. When he said through Jeremiah, “I will make a new covenant,” it may have seemed impossible from a human viewpoint. The nation of Israel had failed many times. Jerusalem would eventually be destroyed, and the people would experience exile. Yet Jehovah’s purpose did not fail. At the right time, he brought about every detail of his promise.

That gives us confidence today. We live in a world where many promises are broken. People may have good intentions but lack the ability to fulfill what they say. Jehovah is completely different. When he makes a promise, he has both the power and the desire to carry it out. The fulfillment of the new covenant assures us that every other promise Jehovah has made will also come true.

Conclusion

The promise of the new covenant teaches us something precious about Jehovah. It shows that he understands the greatest problem facing imperfect humans—the problem of sin—and that he lovingly provided a solution. The Law covenant helped people recognize their need for forgiveness, but the new covenant brought the perfect sacrifice that could make lasting forgiveness possible.

It also reminds us that Jehovah’s forgiveness is not based on ignoring justice. He did not simply overlook sin. Instead, he provided the ransom through Jesus Christ, a sacrifice that satisfied his perfect standards and opened the way for humans to have a clean standing before him.

So how should we respond? We can show our appreciation by allowing Jehovah’s laws to be written on our hearts. We do not want to serve him merely because of obligation. We want his standards to shape our thinking, our decisions, and our desires. We also want to imitate his willingness to forgive others, remembering that we ourselves benefit every day from his mercy.

The new covenant is a powerful reminder that Jehovah does not give up on imperfect humans who sincerely want to serve him. He provided a way for sins to be forgiven, for people to draw close to him, and for his purpose to move forward. What a privilege it is to know a God who is both perfectly just and deeply loving.

May we continue to value the blessings made possible through the new covenant, strengthen our trust in Jehovah’s promises, and always show by our actions that we are grateful for the greatest expression of love he has provided through Jesus Christ.

TREASURES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 3-9, 2026.

Theme: The Importance of Good Shepherds

Imagine a flock of sheep out in open countryside. They are not dangerous animals. They are gentle, dependent, and easily influenced by their surroundings. They do not always know where the safest path is or where danger may be hidden. Because of that, they rely completely on a shepherd to guide them, protect them, and care for them. When the shepherd is attentive, the sheep feel secure. They are fed, they are guided to safe places, and they can rest without fear. But when the shepherd is careless or selfish, the sheep quickly suffer. They become scattered, vulnerable, and confused.

That simple picture helps us understand a very important spiritual truth: the kind of shepherds people follow matters deeply.

In the time of ancient Judah, Jehovah used the illustration of shepherds to describe those who were responsible for guiding His people. Sadly, many of those “shepherds” failed in their responsibility. Instead of caring for the people, they neglected them. Instead of protecting them, they allowed them to be harmed spiritually.

At Jeremiah 23:2, Jehovah strongly rebuked the shepherds of Israel because they were scattering His flock. Instead of strengthening the people spiritually, they were contributing to their downfall. Similarly, Ezekiel 34:2-5 shows that these shepherds were feeding themselves rather than caring for the flock. They were focused on their own benefit, their own position, and their own comfort, while the people under their care were left spiritually weak and vulnerable.

That is a very serious situation.

Because when those who are supposed to guide others spiritually fail to do so, the consequences do not remain limited. They spread. The people begin to lose direction. Wrong practices become more acceptable. Spiritual standards weaken. Over time, confusion grows, and the relationship between the people and Jehovah becomes damaged.

And that is exactly what happened in Judah.

But the problem did not stop with neglect. It went even further. False prophets and unfaithful teachers also played a role in leading the people astray. Instead of correcting wrongdoing, they encouraged it. Instead of helping people return to Jehovah, they gave them messages that made them feel comfortable in their wrong course.

At Jeremiah 23:14, we see that these prophets strengthened those who were doing wrong, telling them that everything was fine, even when it was not. They gave false assurance instead of honest guidance. As a result, immoral behavior and spiritual decline became more widespread.

When those who are supposed to represent Jehovah begin to mislead others, the effect is very damaging. People start to lose their sense of direction. Wrong actions begin to feel normal. And slowly, what is spiritually dangerous becomes accepted.

This is why Jehovah took such strong action against that condition. Because He cares deeply about His people, He does not allow them to be misled without warning.

When we look at history, we also see that this was not a new problem. Many leaders in Israel and Judah failed in their responsibility. Some kings, instead of guiding the nation in worship of Jehovah, led them into false worship. Over time, this pattern contributed to spiritual decline among the people.

And the result was very sad. A nation that was meant to be close to Jehovah gradually drifted away from Him. Not because Jehovah stopped caring, but because the guidance they were receiving was corrupted.

This helps us understand a very important principle: the quality of spiritual leadership has a direct impact on the spiritual condition of those who are being led.

But Jehovah did not leave His people without hope.

In contrast to those unfaithful shepherds, Jehovah also provided faithful ones. True shepherds, or overseers, were meant to care for the flock in a very different way. They were not to dominate or neglect the people, but to serve them with love and humility.

In the Christian arrangement today, overseers are encouraged to shepherd the congregation with care, not out of obligation, but willingly. They are to set a good example, not just give instructions. That means their actions are just as important as their words.

They are reminded that the flock does not belong to them—it belongs to Jehovah. That understanding helps them to treat others with respect, kindness, and genuine concern.

And this is where the contrast becomes very clear.

Bad shepherds lead by neglect, self-interest, or misleading influence. Good shepherds lead by care, example, and faithfulness to Jehovah’s standards.

One produces confusion and harm. The other produces stability and spiritual strength.

This arrangement reflects something very beautiful about Jehovah. He does not only provide direction for His people—He also provides caring ones to help guide them. And when those individuals follow His standards closely, the congregation benefits greatly.

But this also highlights something for all of us personally.

Even though not everyone serves as an overseer, all of us are influenced by spiritual guidance. That means we benefit when those taking the lead are spiritually strong and faithful. At the same time, we also contribute to the spiritual health of the congregation by the way we respond, support, and imitate good examples.

So this is not just about leadership—it is about the whole spiritual environment.

When shepherds are faithful, the flock feels safe. There is peace, unity, and encouragement. People are more likely to grow spiritually because they are receiving proper care and direction.

And when we think about it, that is exactly what Jehovah wants for His people.

He does not want His servants to feel confused, neglected, or misled. He wants them to feel supported, guided, and spiritually nourished.

That is why faithful shepherding is so valuable.

It is also why the Bible encourages those who take the lead to do it with eagerness and humility, not as if they are ruling over others, but as examples the flock can follow.

That kind of leadership builds trust. It strengthens unity. And it reflects Jehovah’s own caring personality.

Because Jehovah Himself is the ultimate Shepherd. He is never careless with His people. He never misleads them. He always provides what they need spiritually, and He ensures that faithful shepherds are available to care for the congregation.

So when we see good shepherds at work, it is really a reflection of Jehovah’s care in action.

And when we think about the difference between good and bad shepherding, it becomes clear why Jehovah takes this matter so seriously. The spiritual well-being of His people depends on it.

Conclusion

So what have we learned?

We have seen that when spiritual shepherds are unfaithful—whether through neglect, wrong example, or misleading influence—the people suffer. History shows that this can lead to confusion, spiritual weakness, and even turning away from Jehovah.

But we have also seen the beautiful contrast. When shepherds are faithful, caring, and humble, the congregation is strengthened. People are guided properly, protected spiritually, and encouraged to remain close to Jehovah.

This helps us appreciate even more the value of good shepherds among Jehovah’s people today.

They are not perfect, but when they follow Jehovah’s standards and set a good example, they contribute to a healthy, united, and spiritually strong congregation.

So we can be grateful for the arrangement Jehovah has provided. And we can also support it by cooperating with loving guidance and continuing to build unity among ourselves.

Because ultimately, good shepherding reflects Jehovah’s own care—and that is something that benefits all of us deeply.

How did the fulfillment of Jeremiah 23:5, 6 benefit God’s people?

The fulfillment of this prophecy benefits God’s people because it provides them with a righteous and trustworthy Shepherd-King who gives loving direction and ensures proper care for Jehovah’s people. Unlike the unfaithful leaders of ancient Judah who misled and neglected the flock, this promised ruler would guide God’s people with justice, wisdom, and genuine concern.

For God’s people today, this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Under his leadership, Jehovah’s servants receive clear spiritual direction, protection from being misled, and loving care that helps them remain close to Jehovah and spiritually secure.