Tag Archives: Treasures from God’s Word

Abuse of Power Leads to Loss of Authority


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | ISAIAH 17-23

Abuse of Power Leads to Loss of Authority

Shebna was the steward “in charge of the house,” likely the house of King Hezekiah. His position was second only to the king, and much was expected of him.

Shebna orders men to work on his burial place
  • Shebna should have cared for the needs of Jehovah’s people
  • He selfishly pursued glory for himself
  • Jehovah replaced Shebna with Eliakim
  • Eliakim was given “the key of the house of David,” which symbolized power and authority
Consider: How could Shebna have used his authority to help others?

The Knowledge of Jehovah Will Fill the Earth


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                                          Treasures from God\’s Word 
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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | ISAIAH 11-16

The Knowledge of Jehovah Will Fill the Earth

How this prophecy applied to the Israelites

  • Neither on the way home from their exile in Babylon nor in their restored land did the Israelites need to fear wild beasts or beastlike men.​—Ezr 8:21, 22

How this prophecy applies to our day

  • Knowledge of Jehovah has changed personalities. Formerly violent people have become peaceable. Knowledge of God has created a global spiritual paradise

How this prophecy will be fulfilled in the future

  • The whole earth will be transformed into a secure, peaceful paradise, according to God’s original purpose. No creature, whether human or animal, will pose any threat

Paul was changed by the knowledge of God

  • As a Pharisee, he displayed beastlike traits.​—1Ti 1:13
  • Accurate knowledge transformed his personality.​—Col 3:8-10

The apostle Paul changed his angry personality to a gentle one

The Messiah Fulfilled Prophecy


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | ISAIAH 6-10

The Messiah Fulfilled Prophecy

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Centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would preach “in the region of the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” Jesus fulfilled this prophecy as he traveled throughout Galilee preaching and teaching the good news.​—Isa 9:1, 2.

A map of Galilee
  • A jar of wine
    Performed his first miracle​—Joh 2:1-11 (Cana)
  • The 12 apostles
    Chose his apostles​—Mr 3:13, 14 (near Capernaum)
  • Jesus teaches
    Gave the Sermon on the Mount​—Mt 5:1–7:27 (near Capernaum)
  • A resurrected boy
    Resurrected a widow’s only son​—Lu 7:11-17 (Nain)
  • The resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples
    Appeared to some 500 disciples after his resurrection​—1Co 15:6 (Galilee)

The Bible Describes a Capable Wife


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 27-31

The Bible Describes a Capable Wife

Proverbs chapter 31 contains a weighty message to King Lemuel from his mother. Her wise counsel taught him what to look for in a capable wife.

A capable wife is trustworthy

A woman in Bible times passes food to her family
  • She provides valuable suggestions concerning family decisions while remaining submissive
  • Her husband trusts her to make wise decisions, not insisting that she obtain his approval for every matter

A capable wife is industrious

A woman in Bible times grinds grain
  • She learns to be thrifty and live modestly so that her family can be neatly dressed, presentable, and well-nourished
  • She works hard and watches over her household day and night

A capable wife is spiritual

A woman prays
  • She fears God and cultivates a personal relationship with him

“Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of Jehovah”


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | ISAIAH 1-5

“Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of Jehovah”

“In the final part of the days”
The time in which we now live
“The mountain of the house of Jehovah”
Jehovah’s elevated pure worship
“To it all the nations will stream”
Those embracing pure worship gather in unity
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah”
True worshippers invite others to join them
“He will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths”
By means of his Word, Jehovah instructs us and helps us to walk in his paths

People from many nations go up to the mountain of Jehovah
“Nor will they learn war anymore”
Isaiah described a conversion of weapons of war into farming implements, indicating that Jehovah’s people would pursue peace. What were these tools in Isaiah’s day?
“Swords into plowshares”
1 A plowshare was the part of a plow that cut the surface of the soil. Some were made of metal.​—1Sa 13:20
“Spears into pruning shears”
2 A pruning shear was perhaps a sickle-shaped metal blade fastened to a handle. This tool was used to prune vines.​—Isa 18:5

A sword and a spear

A plowshare and a pruning shear

The Shulammite Girl​—An Example Worthy of Imitation


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | SONG OF SOLOMON 1-8

The Shulammite Girl​—An Example Worthy of Imitation

What made her an outstanding example for worshippers of Jehovah?

The Shulammite girl with the daughters of Jerusalem
  • She wisely waited for true love
  • She refused to have others pressure her into feeling romantic love for just anyone who came along
  • She was humble, modest, and chaste
  • She would not let her love be bought with gold or flattery

Ask yourself:

‘Which quality of the Shulammite girl could I better imitate?’

“Remember . . . Your Grand Creator in the Days of Your Youth”


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | ECCLESIASTES 7-12

“Remember . . . Your Grand Creator in the Days of Your Youth”

Remember your Grand Creator by using your abilities to serve him while you are young

A young man stands erect and an old man stands with the aid of a cane
  • Many youths have the health and vigor to tackle exciting and challenging assignments
  • Youths should use their time and energy in God’s service before old age limits them

Solomon used poetic language to describe the challenges of old age

  • Women look out a window
    Verse 3: “The ladies looking out the windows find it dark”
    Diminished vision
  • Women sing
    Verse 4: “The daughters of song grow faint”
    Diminished hearing
  • Caper berries
    Verse 5: “The caper berry bursts”
    Diminished appetite

“Train a Boy in the Way He Should Go”


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 22-26

“Train a Boy in the Way He Should Go”

A mother reads a scroll with her daughter while the father and son make pottery together
Proverbs contains sound advice for parents. Just as bending young branches influences their growth, training children inclines them toward serving Jehovah when they grow up.
  • A person ties a twig to a stake
    Training children properly takes much time and effort
  • Parents must set a good example, and they must carefully instruct, admonish, encourage, and discipline their children
  • Discipline is loving training that corrects the mind and heart
  • Children require different types of discipline

Pursue Peace With Others


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 17-21

Pursue Peace With Others

A sister prays, then talks to another sister to resolve a disagreement and restore peace
Peace among Jehovah’s people is no accident. When disagreements arise, emotions may be very strong, but counsel from God’s Word is stronger still.

When facing difficulties, faithful Christians pursue peace by . . .

  • remaining calm
  • making sure they have all the facts before responding
  • lovingly forgiving the transgression

Wisdom Is Better Than Gold


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TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 12-16

Wisdom Is Better Than Gold

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A set of scales with a scroll that weighs more than gold coins
Why is godly wisdom so valuable? It delivers its owners from bad ways and preserves them alive. It has a positive effect on their disposition, speech, and actions.

Wisdom protects from pride

  • A haughty man
    A wise person recognizes that Jehovah is the Source of all wisdom
  • Those who achieve success or who receive more responsibility must especially guard against pride and haughtiness

Wisdom promotes wholesome speech

  • One man talks and another listens
    A wise person uses insight to find the good in others and speaks well of them
  • Wise words are persuasive and sweet like honey, not harsh or confrontational