DAILY TEXT, From today Saturday July 29, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him (Ps. 103:13).

DAILY TEXT, From today Saturday July 29, 2023, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him (Ps. 103:13).

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Saturday July 29

Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him (Ps. 103:13).

One reason Jehovah shows mercy is because of his matchless wisdom. The Bible says that “the wisdom from above” is “full of mercy and good fruits” (James 3:17). Like a loving father, Jehovah knows that his mercy benefits his children (Isa. 49:15). It gives them hope even if they are imperfect. Because of his infinite wisdom, he shows them mercy whenever he finds a reason to. But he exercises this quality in perfect balance. Because he is so wise, he never goes to the other extreme and becomes permissive. Now, suppose a servant of God deliberately decides to lead a life of sin. So what should be done? Through inspiration, the apostle Paul wrote: “Stop associating . . . with that person” (1 Cor. 5:11). Unrepentant sinners are expelled from the congregation. It is necessary to do so to protect faithful brothers and to reflect the holiness of Jehovah. w21.10 9, 10 pars. 7, 8.

According to Hebrews 12:5, 6, why can we say that the expulsion is a show of mercy? b) Which example helps us to understand it?

When it is announced in a meeting that someone we love is “no longer Jehovah's Witness,” we feel a deep sadness. We may wonder if it was necessary to expel him. Is expulsion really a show of mercy? Yes it is. If someone needs discipline, the wisest, most merciful and loving thing to do is to give it to them (Prov. 13:24). Can disfellowshipping help an unrepentant sinner change his attitude? Yes. Many who have committed serious sin have found that the firm steps the elders took were the jolt they needed to come to their senses, change their behavior, and return to the arms of Jehovah.​—Read Hebrews 12:5, 6 ).

Let's think about this example. The shepherd of a flock notices that one of his sheep is sick. He knows that to treat this particular disease he has to isolate the sheep from the rest of the flock. But sheep are social beings. They want to be with the others and tend to get upset when taken out of the herd. So if the shepherd isolates a sheep to treat it, does that mean that he is being cruel to it? Of course not. He knows that if he allows the sheep to stay with the flock, the disease will spread. So isolating the sick one protects the whole flock (compare Leviticus 13:3, 4).

Why can the person expelled be compared to a sick sheep? And what help do the expelled have?

We could say that an expelled person is like that sheep, because he is sick in a spiritual sense (James 5:14). Like some physical illnesses, spiritual illness can be highly contagious. Therefore, in some cases it is necessary to isolate the person from the congregation. This disciplinary measure is an expression of Jehovah's love for faithful members of the flock and can touch the sinner's heart and cause him to repent. While he is expelled, he has the possibility to attend the meetings, where he can receive spiritual nourishment and strengthen his faith again. He can also get publications for his personal use and watch JW Broadcasting®. And, when the elders observe him making changes, from time to time they can give him advice and guidance to help him recover so that he can be readmitted as a Jehovah's Witness.

What loving and merciful action can elders take when a sinner does not repent?

It is important to remember that only unrepentant sinners are disfellowshipped. The elders know that this is a serious matter that cannot be taken lightly. And they also know that Jehovah disciplines “to a due degree” (Jer. 30:11). They love their brothers and do not want to do anything that will damage their relationship with Jehovah. But sometimes the loving and merciful thing is to remove the sinner from the congregation.

Why did a Christian have to be expelled from the Corinthian congregation?

Let's see how the apostle Paul dealt with the case of an unrepentant sinner in the first century. This Corinthian Christian had immoral conduct, as he was living with his father's wife. How scandalous! Jehovah had told the ancient nation of Israel: “The man who lies with his father's wife has brought dishonor to his father. Both must die without fail” (Lev. 20:11). Of course, Paul couldn't tell the Corinthian congregation to execute that man; but he did tell her to expel him. The immoral behavior of this man was affecting a part of the congregation. There were even some who thought it was not such a serious sin (1 Cor. 5:1, 2, 13).

How did Paul show mercy to the man expelled from Corinth, and why? (2 Corinthians 2:5-8, 11)

Some time later, Paul learned that the sinner had made changes and had truly repented. Although the man had tarnished the name of the congregation, Paul told the elders that he did not want to be "too severe." He gave them the following instruction: “You must kindly forgive him and comfort him.” And he explained why: "So he doesn't feel overwhelmed by being too sad." Paul felt sorry for this man who had repented. The apostle did not want him to feel so overwhelmed and crushed with guilt that he would stop seeking forgiveness (read 2 Corinthians 2:5-8, 11).

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