"JEHOVAH SAVES THOSE WHO ARE DISCOUNTERED" “Jehovah is close to those who have a broken heart, he saves those who are discouraged.” (PS. 34:18) What will we see in this study? SOMETIMES we realize how short and 'full of worry' life is. (Job 14: 1) So you can understand why we feel discouraged from time to time. Many of Jehovah's servants in the past also felt this way. Some even wished to die. (1 Kings 19: 2-4; Job 3: 1-3, 11; 7:15, 16) But Jehovah - the God they trusted - comforted and strengthened them again and again. Their story was written in the Bible to comfort and instruct us. - Rom.15: 4. In this study, we will look at the example of Joseph, the son of Jacob; widow Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth; the Levite who wrote Psalm 73; and the apostle Peter. All of these servants of Jehovah have experienced discouraging situations. How did Jehovah strengthen them? What lessons can we learn from them? The answers to these questions will increase our confidence that “Jehovah is close to those with a broken heart” and that “he saves those who are discouraged”. (Ps. 34:18) JOSÉ SUPPORTED CRUEL INJUSTICES What happened to José when he was young? When Joseph was about 17, God made him have two dreams. These dreams indicated that José would become an important person and that he would be respected by his family. (Gen. 37: 5-10) But shortly after having these dreams, Joseph's life changed completely. Instead of respecting Joseph, his brothers sold him. He ended up becoming the slave of an Egyptian officer named Potiphar. (Gen. 37: 21-28) From one moment to the next, Joseph went from being a beloved son to becoming an insignificant slave in Egypt, working for a man who did not know Jehovah. (Gen. 39: 1) Then, Joseph's situation got even worse. Potiphar's wife accused Joseph of trying to rape her. But Potiphar did not even investigate the charge. Instead, he sent Joseph to prison, where he had to be chained. (Gen. 39: 14-20; Ps. 105: 17, 18) Joseph was just a young man. Imagine how he must have felt when he was falsely accused of trying to rape someone. Furthermore, what would people think of Jehovah upon learning of the accusation? Undoubtedly, José had many reasons to be discouraged! How did Joseph's dreams help you? Another thing that helped José overcome his discouragement was thinking about the dreams he had years before. They showed that José would see his family again and that his situation would improve. And that is what happened. When José was about 37, his dreams started to come true in an impressive way! (Gen. 37: 7,9,10; 42: 6,9) According to 1 Peter 5:10, what will help us as we go through suffering? Lessons for us. José's story reminds us of how cruel this world is and how people treat us unfairly. Even a brother in the faith can hurt us. But if we see Jehovah as our Rock, or our Refuge, we will not be discouraged or stop serving him. (Ps. 62: 6, 7; read 1 Peter 5:10.) Also remember that Joseph was about 17 years old when Jehovah made him have special dreams. It is clear that Jehovah trusts the youth who serve him. Today many young people are faithful to Jehovah like Joseph. Some of them, for not giving up their loyalty to God, are even unjustly imprisoned. (Ps 110: 3) TWO WOMEN TAKEN BY SADNESS Because of a great famine, Naomi and her family members had to leave their home in Judah to live as foreigners in Moab. There, Naomi's husband, Elimelech, died, and she was left alone with her two children. After a while, Noemi's children married two Moabite women: one was called Ruth and the other was called Orpa. After about ten years, Naomi's children also died, leaving no children. (Ruth 1: 1-5) Imagine how devastated these three women were! Of course, Ruth and Orpa could get married again. But Naomi was already old; who was going to take care of her? Once, Noemi was so depressed that she even said, “Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. ” Heartbroken, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth went with her. (Ruth 1: 7, 18-20) What happened to Naomi and Ruth? The owner of the field where Ruth gleaned was a rich man named Boaz. Ruth's love and loyalty to Naomi left Boaz impressed. So he bought their family inheritance and married Ruth. (Ruth 4: 9-13) Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed, who later became King David's grandfather. (Ruth 4:17) How did Boaz help Naomi and Ruth? God proved to Naomi and Ruth that he can help his servants who are sad and discouraged. Can he do the same for you? (See paragraphs 8 through 13.) Imagine Naomi's joy in carrying little Obede, thanking God for this gift! But the best is yet to come. When they are resurrected, Naomi and Ruth will discover that Obed became the ancestor of the Promised Messiah, Jesus Christ! jw.org
"JEHOVAH SAVES THOSE WHO ARE DISCOUNTERED"
“Jehovah is close to those who have a broken heart, he saves those who are discouraged.” (PS. 34:18)
What will we see in this study?
SOMETIMES we realize how short and 'full of worry' life is. (Job 14: 1) So you can understand why we feel discouraged from time to time. Many of Jehovah's servants in the past also felt this way. Some even wished to die. (1 Kings 19: 2-4; Job 3: 1-3, 11; 7:15, 16) But Jehovah - the God they trusted - comforted and strengthened them again and again. Their story was written in the Bible to comfort and instruct us. - Rom.15: 4.
In this study, we will look at the example of Joseph, the son of Jacob; widow Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth; the Levite who wrote Psalm 73; and the apostle Peter. All of these servants of Jehovah have experienced discouraging situations. How did Jehovah strengthen them? What lessons can we learn from them? The answers to these questions will increase our confidence that “Jehovah is close to those with a broken heart” and that “he saves those who are discouraged”. (Ps. 34:18)
JOSÉ SUPPORTED CRUEL INJUSTICES
What happened to José when he was young?
When Joseph was about 17, God made him have two dreams. These dreams indicated that José would become an important person and that he would be respected by his family. (Gen. 37: 5-10) But shortly after having these dreams, Joseph's life changed completely. Instead of respecting Joseph, his brothers sold him. He ended up becoming the slave of an Egyptian officer named Potiphar. (Gen. 37: 21-28) From one moment to the next, Joseph went from being a beloved son to becoming an insignificant slave in Egypt, working for a man who did not know Jehovah. (Gen. 39: 1) Then, Joseph's situation got even worse. Potiphar's wife accused Joseph of trying to rape her. But Potiphar did not even investigate the charge. Instead, he sent Joseph to prison, where he had to be chained. (Gen. 39: 14-20; Ps. 105: 17, 18) Joseph was just a young man. Imagine how he must have felt when he was falsely accused of trying to rape someone. Furthermore, what would people think of Jehovah upon learning of the accusation? Undoubtedly, José had many reasons to be discouraged!
How did Joseph's dreams help you?
Another thing that helped José overcome his discouragement was thinking about the dreams he had years before. They showed that José would see his family again and that his situation would improve. And that is what happened. When José was about 37, his dreams started to come true in an impressive way! (Gen. 37: 7,9,10; 42: 6,9)
According to 1 Peter 5:10, what will help us as we go through suffering?
Lessons for us. José's story reminds us of how cruel this world is and how people treat us unfairly. Even a brother in the faith can hurt us. But if we see Jehovah as our Rock, or our Refuge, we will not be discouraged or stop serving him. (Ps. 62: 6, 7; read 1 Peter 5:10.) Also remember that Joseph was about 17 years old when Jehovah made him have special dreams. It is clear that Jehovah trusts the youth who serve him. Today many young people are faithful to Jehovah like Joseph. Some of them, for not giving up their loyalty to God, are even unjustly imprisoned. (Ps 110: 3)
TWO WOMEN TAKEN BY SADNESS
Because of a great famine, Naomi and her family members had to leave their home in Judah to live as foreigners in Moab. There, Naomi's husband, Elimelech, died, and she was left alone with her two children. After a while, Noemi's children married two Moabite women: one was called Ruth and the other was called Orpa. After about ten years, Naomi's children also died, leaving no children. (Ruth 1: 1-5) Imagine how devastated these three women were! Of course, Ruth and Orpa could get married again. But Naomi was already old; who was going to take care of her? Once, Noemi was so depressed that she even said, “Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. ” Heartbroken, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth went with her. (Ruth 1: 7, 18-20) What happened to Naomi and Ruth?
The owner of the field where Ruth gleaned was a rich man named Boaz. Ruth's love and loyalty to Naomi left Boaz impressed. So he bought their family inheritance and married Ruth. (Ruth 4: 9-13) Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed, who later became King David's grandfather. (Ruth 4:17) How did Boaz help Naomi and Ruth?
God proved to Naomi and Ruth that he can help his servants who are sad and discouraged. Can he do the same for you? (See paragraphs 8 through 13.)
Imagine Naomi's joy in carrying little Obede, thanking God for this gift! But the best is yet to come. When they are resurrected, Naomi and Ruth will discover that Obed became the ancestor of the Promised Messiah, Jesus Christ! jw.org
Where r u from brother?