DAILY TEXT, From today Wednesday May 17, 2023, Take your places, be still and see how Jehovah saves you (2 Chron. 20:17).

DAILY TEXT, Today Wednesday May 17,  Take your places, be still and see how Jehovah saves you (2 Chron. 20:17).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2023

Wednesday May 17

Take your places, be still and see how Jehovah saves you (2 Chron. 20:17).

King Jehoshaphat was presented with a very difficult situation. He, his family, and his people were threatened by a huge army of men from Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir (2 Chron. 20:1, 2). What did Jehoshaphat do? He asked Jehovah for help and strength. His humble prayer, found in 2 Chronicles 20:5-12, reveals how much he trusted his loving heavenly Father. Jehovah answered him through a Levite named Jahaziel, who told him the words of today's text. Trusting totally in his God, Jehoshaphat obeyed. When the king and the people went out to meet his enemies, he put in the front line not his best soldiers, but unarmed men who went singing. As Jehovah had promised Jehoshaphat, he defeated the enemy army (2 Chron. 20:18-23). w21.11 15, 16 pars. 6, 7.

What can husbands learn from Jehoshaphat's example?

Husbands, what can you learn from Jehoshaphat's example? You are responsible for the well-being of your family, so you strive to give it the support and protection it needs. So when problems come, you may think that you can solve them by yourself. But don't get carried away by the tendency to rely on your own strength. Rather, pray privately to Jehovah and ask for his help. Also pray heartily with his wife. Seek Jehovah's guidance by studying his Word and publications from his organization, and apply the advice you find. Some people may disagree with you making decisions based on the Bible and may even tell you that it is foolish to do so. They may say that the best protection for your family is money and material things. But remember the example of Jehoshaphat, who trusted in Jehovah and demonstrated it with actions. Jehovah did not abandon this loyal man and neither will he abandon you (Ps. 37:28; Heb. 13:5). And the marriages? What can they do to have a happy life?

What can be said of the prophet Isaiah and his wife?

Isaiah and his wife focused their lives on serving Jehovah. He was a prophet and she may have done similar work, for in the Bible she is called "the prophetess" (Is. 8:1-4). For this couple, worshiping Jehovah was the most important thing. Without a doubt, Isaiah and his wife are an excellent example for marriages today.

In order to strengthen the desire to do their best in Jehovah's service, why is it good for couples to study Bible prophecies?

How can married couples follow the example of Isaiah and his wife? Doing everything possible in his service to Jehovah. To strengthen their faith in God, they can study together the prophecies of the Bible and see how they are always fulfilled (Titus 1:2).c They can meditate on how to participate in the fulfillment of some Bible prophecies, such as the one that Jesus said that the good news would be preached throughout the earth before the end came (Matt. 24:14). The more convinced a couple is that Bible prophecies are being fulfilled, the more determined they will be to do their best in Jehovah's service.

What were Priscilla and Aquila able to do, and why?

Young married couples can benefit from the example of Priscilla and Aquila, a Jewish couple who lived in the city of Rome. They heard the good news about Jesus and became Christians. Surely they were happy with the life they led. But then everything changed unexpectedly when Emperor Claudius ordered the Jews to leave Rome. Let's think about what this meant for Aquila and Priscilla. They had to leave the environment they knew, find a new place to live and set up their shop making business in another city. Did this change in your life take Kingdom interests into the background? We sure know the answer. Already in Corinth, Priscilla and Áquila were involved in helping the congregation and collaborated with the apostle Paul to strengthen the brothers. Over time, they moved to other cities where more help was needed to preach (Acts 18:18-21; Rom. 16:3-5). What a busy and happy life they must have had!

Why should married couples set spiritual goals?

The couples of our days can follow the example of Priscilla and Aquila by putting the interests of the Kingdom first. The best time to talk about life goals is during courtship. When a couple sets definite goals in their service to Jehovah and strives to achieve them, they have more opportunities to see the holy spirit in action (Eccl. 4:9, 12). Let's look at the case of Russell and Elizabeth. Russell says, "When we were dating, we talked specifically about our spiritual goals." Elizabeth adds, "We talked about it so that when the time came to make certain decisions, they wouldn't stop us from reaching our goals." Their circumstances allowed them to move to Micronesia to serve where help was needed to preach.

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