DAILY TEXT, From today Wednesday February 15, Our Father who art in heaven, may your name be hallowed (Matt. 6:9).

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Wednesday February 15

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (Matt. 6:9).

Jehovah loves his name and wants everyone to respect it (Is. 42:8). But, for some 6,000 years, he has sullied his good name (Ps. 74:10, 18, 23). It all started when the Devil (which means “slanderer”) accused God of denying Adam and Eve something they needed (Gen. 3:1-5). Since then, Jehovah has been falsely accused of denying human beings what they really need. Jesus was concerned that his Father's name was being dishonored more and more. Jehovah is the only one who has the right to rule the heavens and the earth, and he is the best ruler there is (Rev. 4:11). But the Devil has tried to trick angels and humans into thinking that God doesn't have that right. Soon this issue will be resolved once and for all. It will be demonstrated that Jehovah is the best ruler and that only his Kingdom can bring true peace and security to Earth. w21.07 9 pars. 5, 6.

Who have rebelled against Jehovah, and what will he do to them?

The rebellion of some of his children. Jehovah made angels and human beings perfect. But the rebellious angel named Satan (which means “opposer”) caused Adam and Eve, who were also perfect, to turn against Jehovah. Other angels and other human beings also rebelled (Jude 6). In time, even some members of the nation of Israel, who were God's chosen people, rejected him and began to worship false gods (Is. 63:8, 10). Rightly so, Jehovah felt betrayed. But he has kept holding on, and he will keep holding on until the day comes when he wipes out all the rebels. What a relief it will be to his loyal servants, who along with him continue to endure the wickedness of this world.

What lies are told about Jehovah, and how do we respond to them?

The constant lies of the Devil. When Satan accused faithful Job, he implied that all of God's loyal servants serve him out of sheer selfishness (Job 1:8-11; 2:3-5). The Devil has maintained those accusations to this day (Rev. 12:10). We can prove that Satan is a liar by enduring hardship and staying loyal to Jehovah out of love. And, just like Job, Jehovah will bless our endurance (James 5:11).

Satan uses the leaders of false religions to say that Jehovah is cruel and to blame for the suffering in the world. And when a child dies, some even say that God took him because he needed another little angel in heaven. What a way to insult Jehovah! But we know the truth. So when we suffer a serious illness or lose a loved one, we never blame God. On the contrary, we have faith that one day he will remedy our sufferings. We can tell everyone who will listen that Jehovah is a God of love. So Jehovah can answer the one who challenges him (Prov. 27:11).

What does Psalm 22:23, 24 teach us about Jehovah?

10 The suffering of his beloved servants. Jehovah is a compassionate God. That's why it pains him to see us suffer, be it because of persecution, illness, or our imperfections (read Psalm 22:23, 24). He feels our pain. He wants to end it, and he will (compare Exodus 3:7, 8; Isaiah 63:9). The day will come when he will fulfill this promise: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be sadness, nor crying, nor pain” (Rev. 21:4).

How does Jehovah feel when he thinks of his loyal servants who have died?

The death of his friends. How does Jehovah feel when he thinks of faithful men and women who have died? He is looking forward to seeing them again (Job 14:15). Can we imagine how much Abraham misses his friend? (James 2:23). Or to Moses, to whom he spoke “face to face”? (Ex. 33:11). And how he longs to hear David and other psalmists sing his beautiful praises to him again! (Ps. 104:33). Although these friends of his are sleeping in death, he has not forgotten them (Is. 49:15). Jehovah remembers every detail of his personality, “because from his point of view they are all alive” (Luke 20:38, note). One day, he will bring them back to life and will once again accept your sincere prayers and take pleasure in your adoration. Isn't it true that these ideas comfort those of us who have lost a loved one?

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