1. In what difficult situation was David?
David was fleeing for his life, as Saul, the mighty king of Israel, was determined to kill him. Since he had nothing to eat, he stopped in the city of Nob, where he asked to be given only five loaves (1 Sam. 21: 1, 3). Later, he and his men took refuge in a cave (1 Sam. 22: 1). Why was David in this situation?
2. How did Saul put himself in a dangerous position? (1 Samuel 23:16, 17).
Seeing that David was so popular and had won so many battles, Saul was eaten up with envy. He also knew that because of his disobedience Jehovah had rejected him as king and had chosen David to occupy the throne of Israel (read 1 Samuel 23:16, 17). But since he was still the king of Israel, Saul had a huge army and many who supported him, so David had to flee for his life. Did Saul really believe that he could oppose what Jehovah had said about David? (Isaiah 55:11). The Bible doesn't say so, but we can be sure of one thing: that he was putting himself in a dangerous position. Those who fight against God always lose.
3. How was David feeling in spite of everything he was going through?
David was a humble man. He did not choose to be the king of Israel; it was Jehovah who did it (1 Sam. 16:1, 12, 13). As a result, Saul hated David to death. But David did not blame Jehovah for the dangers he was experiencing. Neither did he complain about having little food and having to take refuge in a cave. On the contrary, it may be that while he was hiding in that cave he composed the beautiful song of praise that includes the words of our theme text: “Those who seek the Lord shall not lack anything good” (Ps. 34:10).
ILLUSTRATION:
Even in difficult moments, David said that he did not lack for anything good. (See paragraphs 1 to 3). *
4. What questions will we answer, and why are they important?
Many of Jehovah's servants today do not have enough food or other things necessary to live. * This has been the case, especially during the recent pandemic. And the situation will get worse as the “great tribulation” approaches (Matt. 24:21). For all this, let's see the answer to four questions: In what sense did David lack "nothing good"? Why should we learn to be content with what we have? Why can we be sure that Jehovah will help us? care for? And how can we prepare now for the future?
“NOTHING I WILL LACK”
5, 6. How does Psalm 23:1-6 help us understand what David meant when he said that God's servants would lack “nothing good”?
What was David referring to when he said that Jehovah's servants would lack “nothing good”? Something that will help us understand it is to analyze some similar words that we find in Psalm 23 (read Psalm 23:1-6). David begins this psalm by saying, “The Lord is my Shepherd. I will lack nothing." In the rest of this psalm, David mentions the things that are of real importance: the abundant spiritual blessings that he enjoys because Jehovah is his Shepherd. Jehovah “guides him in paths of righteousness” and faithfully supports him through thick and thin. David recognizes that his life in Jehovah's “grassy meadows” will not be without problems. He may feel discouraged at times, as if he walked "in the valley of deep darkness," and he says he will have enemies. But since Jehovah is his Shepherd, David says: “I will fear no evil.”
So, in what sense did David lack “nothing good”? In a spiritual sense, he had everything he needed. His happiness did not depend on material things. He was satisfied with what Jehovah gave him. For David, the most important thing was to have the blessing and protection of his God.
7. According to Luke 21:20-24, what difficult situation did first-century Christians living in Judea face?
David's words teach us that it is very important to have a proper view of material things. It is true that we can enjoy the material goods we have, but we must not let them take first place in our lives. That is a foundational truth that first-century Christians living in Judea came to understand (read Luke 21:20-24). Jesus had warned them that one day Jerusalem would be "surrounded by encamped armies." When that happened, they would have to flee to the mountains. If they did, they would be saved, but they would have to leave many things behind. A few years ago, The Watchtower said: “They left their houses and fields, and did not even pick up their belongings from their homes. Trusting in Jehovah's protection and support, they put His worship above everything else that might seem important.”
8. What important lesson is taught by what happened to the Christians in Judea?
What important lesson does what happened to the Christians in Judea teach us? The Watchtower mentioned in the previous paragraph said: “We may face tests regarding our view of material goods. Will these be of fundamental importance to us, or will the salvation to come be more important for all those who are on God's side? Yes, escape may involve certain hardships and hardships. We have to be prepared to do whatever it takes, like the first-century Christians who fled Judea.” *
9. How does the advice the apostle Paul gave the Hebrews encourage you?
Can we imagine how difficult it must have been for those Christians to leave almost everything they had and start a new life in another place? They needed faith to trust that Jehovah would help them get what they needed. But five years before the Romans surrounded Jerusalem, the apostle Paul had given the Hebrews some helpful advice. He said: “Let your way of life be free from the love of money, and be content with the things you have. Because he has said: 'I will never leave you and I will never forsake you'. So we can confidently say, 'Jehovah is my helper. I will not have fear. What can man do to me?'” (Heb. 13:5, 6). How did the Christians who took Paul's advice seriously before the Roman invasion fared? Surely it cost them less to adjust to a simpler life in their new home. They were sure that Jehovah would provide for their basic needs. Paul's words assure us that we can have that same confidence.
“WE ARE HAPPY WITH THAT”
10. What “secret” did Paul leave on record for us?
Paul gave similar advice to Timothy, and it works for us too. He wrote, “So if we have food and clothing, let us be content with it” (1 Tim. 6:8). Does this mean that we can't enjoy a tasty meal, have a decent place to live, or buy a piece of clothing from time to time? Paul was not referring to that. What he meant is that we should be content with what we have materially (Phil. 4:12). That was Paul's “secret”. The most valuable possession we have is our friendship with God, not material things (Hab. 3:17, 18).
11. What lesson do we learn from what Moses told the Israelites?
What we think we need may not be what Jehovah thinks. Let's see what Moses said to the Israelites after they had spent 40 years in the desert: “The Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done. He is very aware of your journey through this great desert. During these 40 years, Jehovah your God has been with you and you have not lacked for anything” (Deut. 2:7). During those 40 years, Jehovah gave them manna as food. And his clothes, the same ones in which they had left Egypt, never wore out (Deut. 8: 3, 4). Some of the Israelites may have thought that all this was little, but Moses reminded them that they had everything they needed. Jehovah will be happy if we learn to be content with what we have, that is, if we value even the smallest things that he gives us, see them as a blessing and give thanks for them.
ILLUSTRATION:
Series of images: 1. A young man leaves Egypt together with other Israelites. 2. A few years later, the young man is already a grown man and is with his wife in the desert collecting manna. He wears the same clothes as he did when he left Egypt. 3. The same man is already elderly and is checking out his store. He still wears the same clothes.
The Israelites lacked nothing in the 40 years that they walked in the desert. And we? Can we feel content with what we have now? (See paragraph 11). *
LET US BE SURE THAT JEHOVAH WILL TAKE CARE OF US
12. Why do we know that David trusted in Jehovah and not in himself?
David knew that Jehovah is loyal and that he cares deeply for those who love him. Although his life was in danger when he composed Psalm 34, his faith was so strong that he felt as if the angel of Jehovah was camping around him (Ps. 34:7). Apparently, David compared Jehovah's angel to a soldier who was camping on the alert for the enemy to appear. Although David was a mighty warrior and Jehovah had promised him that he would become king, he did not trust his ability to throw a stone or use a sword to defeat his enemies (1 Sam. 16:13; 24 :12). Rather, he trusted God and his angel to rescue those who fear him. Of course, we do not expect him to protect us today in a miraculous way. But what we do know is that no servant of God who trusts him will come to permanent harm.
13. When Gog of Magog launches his attack, why will it seem like we're easy targets, but why won't we be afraid? (See cover drawing.)
In the near future, our confidence in Jehovah's ability to protect us will be tested. When we are attacked by Gog of Magog, a coalition or group of nations, we may think that he will end our lives. Then we will have to be convinced that Jehovah can deliver us and that he will. To the nations we will be like defenseless sheep that have no one to protect them (Ezek. 38:10-12). They will think that we are an easy target, because we have no weapons or training for war. They will not see what we will see with the eyes of faith: an army of angels encamped around God's people ready to defend us. How could the nations see it, if they do not have faith in Jehovah? What a surprise they will get when the heavenly armies come to the rescue! (Rev. 19:11, 14, 15).
ILLUSTRATION:
Jesus and the angels watch as armed policemen approach the home of some Witnesses.
During the great tribulation, the forces of Gog de Magog may try to attack us in our homes. But we are reassured knowing that Jesus and his angels will be very aware and will defend us. (See paragraph 13).
LET'S PREPARE NOW FOR THE FUTURE
14. What must we do now to prepare for the future?
What can we do now to prepare for the future? First, we must have the proper judgment about material things and remember that one day we will have to go and leave everything behind. In addition, we should be content with what is necessary and feel very happy to be friends with Jehovah. The better we know our God, the more convinced we will be that he will be able to protect us when Gog of Magog attacks us.
15. What past experiences taught David that Jehovah would never fail him?
Let's see what else helped David cope with trials. He said: “Taste and see that Jehovah is good; happy is the man who takes refuge in him” (Ps. 34:8). These words reveal to us why David knew that he could count on Jehovah's support. He often leaned on his God, and it never failed him. When he was young, David faced a giant Philistine warrior named Goliath and told him, “This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hands” (1 Sam. 17:46). Later, when he was in the service of King Saul, he tried to kill him several times, but "the Lord was with David" (1 Sam. 18:12). Since he had seen Jehovah's hand in the past, he knew that now he would continue to help him. That same thing can help us to prepare ourselves for the tests.
16. In what ways can we prove that Jehovah is good?
The more we seek Jehovah's guidance now, the more confident we will be that he will help us in the future. For example, it takes faith and trust in Jehovah to ask our employer to give us time off to go to an assembly or to ask him to make changes in our schedule so that we can go to all the meetings and preach more. Let's imagine that he rejects our request and we lose the job. Do we have faith that Jehovah will never leave us and will never forsake us, and that he will always provide us with the things we need? (Hebrews 13:5). Many brothers who are in the full-time service can tell how Jehovah helped them when they needed him most. Jehovah is faithful.
17. What is the text of the year 2022, and why is it so timely?
With Jehovah on our side, we need not fear what happens in the future. If we put him first in our lives, he will never leave us. To remind us of the need to prepare now for the difficult days ahead and trust that Jehovah will never leave us, the Governing Body has chosen Psalm 34:10 to be the year text for 2022: “Those who seek Jehovah will not be nothing good will be missing."
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
In what sense do we lack anything good?
Looking at similar words found in Psalm 23 will help us understand. In the rest of this psalm, David mentions the things that are really important—the abundant spiritual blessings he enjoys because Jehovah is his Shepherd.
What “secret” did Paul leave on record for us?
He wrote: "So if we have food and clothing, let us be content with that." What he meant is that we should be content with what we have in a material sense. That was Paul's “secret”. The most valuable possession we have is our friendship with God, not material things.
What can we do now to prepare for the future?
First, we must have the proper judgment about material things and remember that one day we will have to go and leave everything behind. In addition, we should be content with what is necessary and feel very happy to be friends with Jehovah.
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