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(Cont. from Page 1/9/87). "UNDER HIS GLORY A BURNING WILL KEEP BURNING AWAY LIKE THE BURNING OF A FIRE." (Isaiah 10:16). People who seek glory adopt various ways to achieve it. But few confess the real reason for their endeavour as merely self-glory. Glory-seekers make such excuses as: 'It's really for the community', or, 'I just want to give something back', or, 'I try to give the people what they want', or, 'I've just always been ambitious'. But they never say: 'I do it for the glory and adoration I receive from others!' (Adore: To worship; to love or revere intensely; to adorn). Glory-seeking was manifest in the boastful words of the king of Assyria, which Jehovah described as, "this fruit of his pride" and "arrogance and vainglory". In response to the king's boast that, "By my own might I have acted and in my own wisdom I have laid my schemes; I have removed the frontiers of nations and plundered their treasures, like a bull I have trampled on their inhabitants, my hand has found its way to the wealth of nations", Jehovah has promised to give attention to such ones. (Read: Isaiah 10:12-17 NEB). Humans who seek glory do so to fulfil the desires of their conceited self-image through some 'achievement' made public. I have often heard it said, 'I just want to be somebody' (someone important). Regrettably, their sole purpose is to exalt over others. The giving or the receiving of glory among humans contravenes the law of God: "You shall have no other god to set against Me." (Exodus 20:2 NEB). On Page 1/9/87 are listed component parts of the "sturdy frame" of "Assyrian" types described as "fat ones", who seek glory through "enacting harmful regulations", constantly writing out "sheer trouble" for the purpose of "wresting away justice" from the afflicted and lowly ones of God. (10:1,2 & 16). In fulfilment, Jehovah says that He will keep sending "under [their] glory" a "burning" like the burning of a fire. (10:16). Apostates are such because they seek self-glory (vainglory), even after having come to a knowledge of God. Likewise, politicians and their admirers have this "mark" of idolatry, and extend their allotted physical and spiritual boundaries, even exalting themselves above the glory of God! The effect of Jehovah God sending an overflowing flood of righteousness to waste away self-exalting dispositions by Spirit "fire" will delight His beloved people as they see a reversal of roles and "become the captors of those holding them captive, and they must have in subjection those who were driving them to work." (14:1,2). The "wasting disease" is the execution of a strict decision from God. (10:16-23 NEB).
(Cont. on Page 8/9/87). 3/9/87. |
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