| Highlights of Dawn | November 1969 |
Let Us Give Thanks
“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.” —Deuteronomy 8:10
THE Lord had permitted his servant Moses to bring his people to the very doors of the Promised Land; but he who had led them with such fortitude throughout the forty years of the wilderness journey was not to enter the land himself. Realizing this, he rehearsed in the presence of the children of Israel all the various laws and commandments of the Lord which were to guide them while they dwelt in the land, and which were designed to keep them in the Lord’s favor. He also reminded them of the good things that would be theirs to enjoy in that bountiful land: “For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.”—Deut. 8:7-9
How lovingly and how generously the Lord had provided for his people! And then Moses gave them two admonitions: they were ever to speak their gratitude and thanks to the Lord for his goodness to them, and they were to remember and keep his commandments: “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day.”—Deut. 8:10-11
In view of all God had done for them, surely these requirements were not too burdensome, indeed, it was for their own blessing and happiness that they should keep God’s righteous commandments; and Moses knew that the very act of regularly rendering praise and glory and thanksgiving to Jehovah would serve to keep alive in their hearts an appreciation of his great goodness to them, and thus encourage them to walk in his ways. But their carnal hearts betrayed them; they did not always remember their God with grateful hearts. They disobeyed his commandments, and they failed to gain the fulness of the promised blessings.
Another Band of Pilgrims
The words that Moses used to describe the blessings of that land which the Israelites were to possess might well be used to picture the rich bounties of that new world on the shores of which another, but smaller, band of refugees first set feet in the harsh winter of 1620. These, also, had fled from bondage—religious bondage—and hoped to find liberty and happiness for themselves and their children in the new world across the ocean. That first winter was difficult; but the following year, when the harvest was in, the survivors gathered round their tables to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Though the harvest was meager, and their baskets not full, they rejoiced in their good fortune, and remembered to give thanks to their Creator.
These were the vanguard of a mighty nation; and that simple celebration on the shores of Massachusetts Bay almost three and a half centuries ago was the origin of our present Thanksgiving Day. In keeping with custom, Thursday, November 27, is proclaimed by the President of the United States as a day of thanksgiving. And surely one would suppose that the people of this most prosperous nation in the world would have much for which to be thankful.
But what is happening in this “good land,” this land of plenty, of “liberty and justice for all”? What is the mood of the people? Much the same as in other parts of the world. True, there is abundance in this land, and the people enjoy a large measure of freedom. But along with the plenty there is grinding poverty; along with the freedom there is frustration, discrimination, discouragement. A social and moral sickness is poisoning the land, the symptoms of which are revealed in civil disorders and strikes, in widespread immorality and increasing lawlessness.
The world’s financial and economic ills seem to defy all attempted remedies by the best efforts of their leaders. Indeed, as one news commentator so aptly put it, the solution of any given problem seems merely to beget others. While all this is going on, wars—ideological, economic, and religious—are killing and maiming multitudes and despoiling the land. And the growing discouragement and hopelessness of all is heightened by the general feeling that there is no way out.
Cause for Thankfulness?
Under these conditions the mood of many, not only in this country, but in the whole world, seems to be one far from thankfulness. Certainly, for many in the world, as a result of the increase of knowledge, the standard of living and general well-being has in the last several decades been substantially improved. But not for all! The dwellers in the ghettos, the malnourished and ill-housed, the families of those whose sons or brothers or. husbands are fighting and dying on foreign soil, the Biafran mothers vainly striving to comfort their starving children, the enslaved of entire nations existing precariously under the cruel heel of their oppressors, the untold, unhappy millions of India, of Africa, of the Americas,—what, these may well ask, have we to be thankful for? Even the sentiment of those whose lot has been most improved seems to be, not one of gratitude for the good things they now enjoy, but of expecting and demanding even yet more.
But not all who dwell upon this planet Earth share in the hopelessness and confusion that besets the vast majority of earth’s inhabitants, high and low, rich and poor. As the Lord’s true people view the events of the world in the light of God’s holy Word, their hearts are lifted up in faith and hope. They are not unmindful of the sorrows of the world, nor unaware of their despair. But the very events that cause discouragement and unbelief in the hearts of the world’s multitudes bring hope to the Lord’s people, while increasing their faith in God and in his promises.
What we are witnessing today is not evidence that God is dead, as some suggest. Rather, it is proof that God is very much alive, and that he is, according to his sure Word of truth, taking an active hand in the affairs of mankind. What we are witnessing, in fact, is the death of an evil world. For the tribulations of this time of trouble in which we live betoken the coming of the kingdom of God with its promised blessings for all the families of the earth.
Cause for True Thankfulness—God’s Kingdom
During his ministry Jesus constantly referred to the coming of the kingdom of heaven which would bring blessings to the people. Having this in mind, and greatly desiring these promised blessings, the disciples came to Jesus as he sat on the Mount of Olives, and said: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming [presence], and of the end of the world [age]?” (Matt. 24:3) After reciting the events that would occur in the world leading up to the end of the Gospel Age, prior to the establishment of the kingdom, he said: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.”—Matt. 24:21,22
The account given to us in Luke’s Gospel of this same period of time at the end of the age, gives us some additional information about these troublous times. There our Lord tells us that “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be … upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” (Luke 21:24-26) The Scriptures reveal that the “times of the Gentiles” is a period of 2,520 years during which the dominion of earth would be given over to Gentile powers. This period began in 606 B.C. with the overthrow of Israel’s last king, Zedekiah.
This lease of power in the hands of the Gentile nations came to an end in 1914, when virtually all the nations of what has been known as Christendom became embroiled in World War I. This war wrought great devastation upon those ruling houses representing the exercise of Gentile power in the earth; and World War II served further to weaken the economic and social fabric of the nations. How accurately the Lord had foretold the “distress of nations, with perplexity [Greek, no way out],” that is even now plaguing the whole world! And how vividly was the present mood of the masses described by the Lord as the roaring of the sea and the waves!
The Day of the Lord
Notice how the prophet Zephaniah describes this day in which we are now living: “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord.” (Zeph. 1:14-17) The prophet here gives us not only an accurate portrayal, in symbolic language, of the trouble in the world today, but he also tells us why it is occurring: “Because they [the nations and their rulers] have sinned against the Lord.”
The prophet continues, “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” Then, after thus describing the utter destruction of all the evil systems and institutions that presently plague the earth, he tells us of that wonderful time when God’s kingdom is established in the earth, when all the world will honor and praise and glorify his holy name: “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.”—Zeph. 3:8,9
The Prophet Isaiah gives confirmation of the trouble that shall come on the earth in this day, and shows that its purpose is forever to destroy wickedness and sin. “Howl ye: for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: and they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth; they shall be amazed one at another: their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. … And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”—Isa. 13:6-13
A New Heavens and a New Earth
The Apostle Peter also describes the time in which we are living as the day of the Lord which is to bring about the destruction of “this present evil world” prior to the full establishment of the kingdom of God. It is this work of destruction by the Lord that is bringing the distress upon the nations, with perplexity. This time is also called “the day of his preparation” (Nah. 2:3) leading to the establishment of God’s kingdom, which Peter describes as that “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—II Pet. 3:13
Surely, here is cause for thankfulness on the part of groaning humanity! Surely, the whole world should rejoice in and welcome a reign of righteousness, under a just and merciful king! But Peter tells us the world will not understand the meaning of the momentous events in which they are engulfed. The day of the Lord will come as a “thief in the night,” he tells us; and although the very culmination of God’s great plan of the ages for their everlasting happiness and blessing is at the threshold, they do not know what is taking place! “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Cor. 2:9) And since, because of the din and uproar of the day of the Lord, they cannot hear the glad tidings which herald the coming kingdom, the troubles through which the world is passing seem to them to be no cause for thankfulness.
Unto You It Is Given
But the Lord’s people do understand these things, for “God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” (I Cor. 2:10) They remember the words of the Lord when he said, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” They look up to the Lord, and lift up their heads in thankfulness and rejoice, not simply in their own approaching redemption, but in the promised redemption of the groaning and travailing world of mankind. They rejoice, not in the troubles coming upon an evil world, but in the fact that just beyond the destruction of this day of the Lord will come the glorious kingdom of God—the everlasting kingdom of peace, in which they will live and reign with Christ a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6) They are thankful, not merely in their exaltation to power and glory and honor, but because that righteous kingdom will bring the desire of all nations; the time when “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”—Rev. 21:4
As the unsuspecting world spins drunkenly on its way to destruction, what a comfort to the Lord’s people is this understanding of his plans and purposes, of his times and seasons. Although the meaning of these events is a mystery to the world, it is not so to the consecrated followers of the Lord. “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them it is not given.”—Matt. 13:11
How blessed we are in this knowledge! And how thankful! Recall how greatly the Prophet Daniel desired to know of these things. Daniel was used of the Lord to describe events that would mark the second presence of the Lord. He said it would be a “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time … many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” It would also be during our Lord’s second presence that the world’s dead would be resurrected from the dust of the earth. (Dan. 12:1,2,4) Daniel, like all others, had many loved ones and friends sleeping in death; he longed for the day when they would come forth, and so he said: “O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” But it was not the due time for this to be known, and the answer came, “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
Even the disciples of the Lord were not apprised of the timing of events in the outworking of God’s plan for man. In answer to their question, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” he said, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:6,7) Although they but dimly understood the development of God’s plans, they knew that the grand purpose was to bring blessings to all men; and they longed for this blessed time to come. But it was not for them to know. But by the Lord’s grace, unto the Lord’s people who are living at the end of the age, it is given to know!
We alone, of all the people of the earth, understand why the world is in turmoil. We, alone, are not of them whose hearts are failing them for fear as we observe those things that are happening all about us. From the lofty vantage point of the revealed Word, we see the mighty power of God, in the hands of our present Lord, directing the course of peoples and nations for their ultimate blessing; and our hearts are lifted toward him in thankful praise. For we, like Daniel, and like the disciples, and indeed like all the unhappy and unknowing multitudes of earth, look with longing hearts for that wonderful time to arrive. But we, the Lord’s people, look forward to it with a faith that is ours alone—a faith that is based on the sure Word of prophecy, for through his Word the Lord has revealed to us that “the time is at hand.”
Partakers of the Divine Nature
God’s plan for mankind in general is a restitution to perfect life here on earth for all those who prove obedient in heart and in deed to the righteous laws of his kingdom; for Jesus Christ came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” (Acts 3:19-21; Luke 19:10) But to the faithful followers of Jesus, the Heavenly Father has something far more wonderful in store; for to these he has made heavenly promises. Peter tells us something of these, saying: “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.” (II Pet. 1:3-4) After telling us of the work to be accomplished in the day of the Lord (II Pet. 3:10-12), and having these wonderful promises in mind, Peter asks a heart-searching question: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [in lives of holiness, RSV] and godliness?” What manner of persons, indeed, Peter!
True, the troubles of the day of the Lord primarily constitute a judgment on the nations; but it will also be a special time of trial to the Lord’s people. In his earlier epistle, Peter writes: “Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” The Apostle Paul also brings this fact to our attention: “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. … Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”—I Cor. 3:11-15
The Trial of Your Faith
These admonitions are directed to the church. And they strongly suggest that the Lord’s people should give all diligence to make their calling and election sure; that they should be attending to God’s Word, making the truth their own, and building on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. For it is only as each has done so that he will be able to stand in the evil day. It is also the privilege of each of the Lord’s consecrated ones to continue faithfully to tell forth all the glad message of the kingdom. Somewhere, sometime, that last member of the body of Christ will be found and joyfully joined to his Head. And at the least, we shall be able to bring some measure of hope and comfort to one here or one there of the travailing world of mankind.
No, not many of the world see any present cause for thankfulness. But when the day of the Lord has done its work; when the church is finally complete, and the kingdom fully established; when the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea; when the righteous judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth—then will all that are in heaven and in earth see and appreciate the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the love of their merciful Father, and unitedly raise their hearts and voices to their loving Creator in everlasting, thankful praise. Then will come to pass the beautiful words of the Psalmist David:
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”—Ps. 100