DO NOT BE AFRAID

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True worshippers were affected by the appalling conditions that prevailed before Jerusalems destruction in
607 B.C.E. You can thus understand why God told Jeremiah: Do not be afraid. (Jer. 1:8; Lam. 3:57) And Jehovah
had him tell others of his people the same encouraging words. (Read Jeremiah 46:27.) What insight can we gain from
this? In this dangerous time of the end, we could occasionally feel fear. At such times, will we listen to Jehovah, who in
effect is telling us: Do not be afraid? Earlier in this volume, we considered how God sustained Jeremiah during that
truly fearful time. Let us briefly review what happened, in order to see a lesson in it for us.
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As the Babylonians tightened their grip on Jerusalem, hunger overtook the people. Soon many were without food.
(Jer. 37:21) As if the famine were not enough, Jeremiah was trapped in a place that could become his grave. The
princes of Judah had pressed weak-willed King Zedekiah to acquiesce. Then they had Jeremiah thrown into a deep
cistern. There was no water in it, just a lot of mire. As Jeremiah began sinking into the mud, he could see no human
way out. If you had been in that situation, would you not have felt some fear?Jer. 38:4-6.
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Though he was a mortal like us, Jeremiah trusted Jehovahs word that He would never abandon him. (Read
Jeremiah 15:20, 21.) Did Jehovah reward that trust? We know for a fact that he did. God moved Ebed-melech to defy
the princes and rescue Jeremiah. With the kings permission, Ebed-melech pulled the prophet up out of the cistern,
rescuing him from death in that muddy deep.Jer. 38:7-13.
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Even when Jeremiah was back standing on solid ground, he was not out of danger. Pleading in Jeremiahs
behalf, Ebed-melech had told the king: He will die where he is because of the famine. For there is no bread anymore
in the city. (Jer. 38:9) Food was so scarce in Jerusalem that people were resorting to cannibalism. Yet, Jehovah again
intervened to save his prophet. And Jeremiah passed on to Ebed-melech a guarantee of protection from Jehovah. (Jer.
39:16-18) Jeremiah had not forgotten Gods assurance: I am with you to deliver you. (Jer. 1:8) With Almighty God
guarding those two loyal men, neither human enemies nor hunger would finish them off. They escaped death in that
doomed city. What is the point? Jehovah promised protection and fulfilled his promise.Jer. 40:1-4.
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The fulfillment of Jesus prophecy about the conclusion of the system of things is moving inexorably toward its
climax. In the near future, there will occur signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not
knowing the way out . . . while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited
earth. (Luke 21:25, 26) We must wait to see what form those signs will take and what terror they produce among
many. No matter what develops, though, you need never doubt Jehovahs ability and desire to save his people. The
outcome for those who do not have his favor, however, will be quite different. (Read Jeremiah 8:20; 14:9.) Even if it
seems that his servants are in a condition as hopeless as the dank, dark bottom of a cistern, he can rescue them!
Gods words to Ebed-melech will apply to his people: I shall without fail furnish you an escape, and by the sword you
will not fall; and you will certainly come to have your soul as a spoil, because you have trusted in me, is the utterance
of Jehovah.Jer. 39:18.
WORDS WRITTEN FOR YOU
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To all those to whom I shall send you, you should go; and everything that I shall command you, you should
speak. (Jer. 1:7) Jeremiahs life changed forever when he heard that command from God. From that moment forward,
his overwhelming concern was to announce the word of Jehovah. That phrase appears repeatedly throughout the
book of Jeremiah. In the last chapter, Jeremiah relates the capture of Jerusalem and the exiling of its last king,
Zedekiah. Yes, Jeremiah continued teaching and exhorting the people of Judah to obey Jehovah until events made it
clear that his work was complete.
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There are many parallels between Jeremiahs assignment and the public ministry of Jehovahs Witnesses today.
Like him, you serve the true God during a time of judgment. Other responsibilities require some of your time and
energy; yet the preaching of the good news is by far the most significant work you can do in this system of things. By
means of it, you exalt Gods great name and accept his absolute right and authority as Universal Sovereign. (Read
Lamentations 5:19.) You also demonstrate outstanding love for neighbor by helping others to know the true God and
his requirements for life.Jer. 25:3-6.
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Regarding the work that Jehovah gave him to do, Jeremiah said: Your word becomes to me the exultation and
the rejoicing of my heart; for your name has been called upon me, O Jehovah God of armies. (Jer. 15:16) Such
rejoicing and contentment are set before all today whose hearts move them to speak on behalf of the true God. You
thus have good reason to keep proclaiming Jehovahs message, as did Jeremiah.
How can the examples of Jeremiah and Ebed-melech help you to be courageous? What
quality of Jeremiah do you want to imitate as you preach?