A Simpler Approach to the Faithful and Discreet Slave Part 8

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A Misused Proverb

The Watchtower Magazine of May 15, 1995 appeals to Psalm 97:11 and Proverbs 4:18 as justification for past errors and subsequent newer doctrines.

“Light has flashed up for the righteous And rejoicing for those upright in heart.” -Psalm 97:11.

This is interpreted to mean that they regularly receive doctrinal clarifications described as “flashes of light” from Jehovah.

However, does one get that from a careful reading of the entire Psalm?

“Jehovah has become King! Let the earth be joyful. Let the many islands rejoice. Clouds and thick gloom are all around him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him And consumes his adversaries on every side. His lightning bolts light up the land; The earth sees it and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before Jehovah, Before the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, And all the peoples see his glory. Let all those serving any carved image be put to shame, Those who boast about their worthless gods. Bow down to him, all you gods. Zion hears and rejoices; The towns of Judah are joyful Because of your judgments, O Jehovah. For you, O Jehovah, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all other gods. O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad. He is guarding the lives of his loyal ones; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked. Light has flashed up for the righteous And rejoicing for those upright in heart. Rejoice in Jehovah, you righteous ones, And give thanks to his holy name.” -Psalm 97:1-12 New World Translation 2013.

It appears that, in context, the light in this Psalm is associated with Jehovah’s day of judgment where he rewards the righteous conduct of his loyal ones:

“He is guarding the lives of his loyal ones; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked. Light has flashed up for the righteous And rejoicing for those upright in heart.”

In this verse, “light” appears to be synonymous with “rejoicing” just as “the righteous” are synonymous with “those upright in heart”.

Albert Barnes comments on verse 11:

“Light is sown for the righteous – That is, there is light for the righteous; or, they shall be brought into light, though they may be for a time in darkness. The word rendered “sown” – זרע zâra‛ – is from a verb which properly denotes to scatter, to disperse – as seed is scattered or dispersed when sown in a field. It is hence used with reference to moral subjects, as to sow righteousness, Proverbs 11:18; to sow iniquity, Proverbs 22:8; to sow mischief, Job 4:8; that is, these things are scattered or sown, as seed is in a field, and produce a corresponding harvest. Thus light is scattered abroad, and will produce an appropriate harvest – a harvest of joy. It will spring up around the righteous, and he shall reap that which light tends to produce – happiness, intelligence, and peace. The figure of sowing light is an unusual one, but the meaning is plain. It is, that the righteous will not always be in darkness; that there is in preparation for him a harvest of joy; that it will as certainly be produced as a harvest will from grain that is sown; that though there may be present calamities, there will be ultimate peace and triumph.

And gladness for the upright in heart – The word gladness here – joy, or rejoicing – is parallel to the word light. Joy or gladness is sown for the righteous; that is, arrangements are made for producing joy, as preparations are made by sowing seed for a harvest. The world is full of arrangements for conferring happiness on the righteous.” –Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.

A text note on this verse in the NET Bible reads:

““Light is planted for the godly, and for the upright of heart joy.” The translation assumes an emendation of זָרַע (zaraʿ, “planted”) to זָרַח (zarakh, “shines”) which collocates more naturally with “light.” “Light” here symbolizes the joy (note the following line) that accompanies deliverance and the outpouring of divine favor.”

The Septuagint translates zara with the Greek word ανατελλω (anatello) which means to raise, throw up or cause to spring up. This is most likely why the New World Translation renders it “flashed up”. However, the link with rejoicing or gladness as the reward is still maintained. Light does not appear to be associated at all, whether sown in the Hebrew or sprouted in the Greek, with increasing knowledge.

Matthew Poole’s Commentary

Light, i.e. joy and felicity, as this word is used, Esther 8:16; Psalm 112:4, and oft elsewhere. Is sown; is prepared or laid up for them, and shall in due time be reaped by them, possibly in this life, but undoubtedly in the next. And therefore bear your afflictions for Christ with patience and cheerfulness.

This point is clearly evident in Esther chapter 8:

“For the Jews there was relief and rejoicing and exultation and honor (Esther 8:16) (The footnote for relief reads: Lit., light.)

Light in Psalm 97:11 also appears to be similar to the use of light elsewhere in the scriptures as a metaphor for divine favor:

Although I hoped for good, bad came; I expected the light, but darkness came (Job 30:26)

He has driven me out and makes me walk in darkness, not in light (Lamentations 3:2)

What about Proverbs 4:18?

But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light That grows brighter and brighter until full daylight (Proverbs 4:18)

How do scholars explain this verse?

Peake’s commentary on the Bible 

“light and life are synonymous. Hence to ‘see light’ should not be taken in the sense of mental illumination, but as denoting the experience of a full, free and satisfying life (page 420)

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

“Shining … shineth – The two Hebrew words are different; the first having the sense of bright or clear. The beauty of a cloudless sunshine growing on, shining as it goes, to the full and perfect day, is chosen as the fittest figure of the ever increasing brightness of the good man’s life.”

Matthew Poole’s Commentary

“The path of the just is as the shining light; the common course of their lives or actions is pure and spotless, clear and certain, safe and comfortable, as light is. That shineth more and more unto the perfect day; just men do daily more and more grow in knowledge, and grace, and consolation, until all be perfected and swallowed up in glory.”

Pulpit Commentary

“Verse 18. – A contrast is drawn in this and the following verse between the path of the just and the way of the wicked. The former is, by an extremely beautiful image, likened to the light at dawn, which goes on increasing in brightness and intensity as the day advances, until at length it reaches its meridian splendour and glory. An exactly similar figure is found in David’s last words (2 Samuel 23:4) The path of the just; i.e. their moral course.”

That text from the New World Translation reads:

“The God of Israel spoke; To me the Rock of Israel said: ‘When the one ruling over mankind is righteous, Ruling in the fear of God, It is like the morning light when the sun shines, A morning without clouds. It is like the brightness after the rain, Making grass sprout from the earth (2 Samuel 23:3, 4)

Reading Proverbs chapter 4 from verse 14 shows that verses 18-19 contrast the benefit to the “righteous” of obeying the instructions of a wise father with the damage to the wicked who forsakes such wisdom.

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil men. Shun it, do not take it; Turn away from it, and pass it by. For they cannot sleep unless they do what is bad. They are robbed of sleep unless they cause someone’s downfall. They feed themselves with the bread of wickedness, And they drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light That grows brighter and brighter until full daylight. The way of the wicked is like the darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble (Proverbs 4:14-19)

Proverbs 4:18 taken with verse 19 does not illustrate the course of any individual or organization replacing doctrines and failed prophecies with new doctrines and prophecies. The Watchtower society knows this:

“Those who undertake a study of God’s Word, the Holy Bible, and apply what it says will be like someone who starts a journey early in the morning. At first, he cannot see much because it is dark. But as the sun begins to rise, he sees more and more. Finally, the sun shines directly overhead. He sees everything in clear detail. Such an illustration calls to mind a Bible proverb: “The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.”—Proverbs 4:18.

What about those who reject God’s guidance? The Bible says: “The way of the wicked ones is like the gloom; they have not known at what they keep stumbling.” -Proverbs 4:19. Yes, the wicked are like the man who stumbles in the dark. Even their seeming successes are at best temporary, for “there is no wisdom, nor any discernment, nor any counsel in opposition to Jehovah.”—Proverbs 21:30.

Therefore, follow the guidance of God’s Word, the Bible. If you do, you will find the words of Proverbs 3:5, 6 to be true: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.” -The Watchtower September 1, 1997 page 32.

Notice, by their own reasoning, that it is the person that applies what the Bible says in his life that is blessed for doing so, while those that do not, stumble as if in darkness. Yet they continue to use this proverb to justify their constant correcting of false teachings with the aim of giving the impression that they are periodically receiving divine guidance. Even if this were true, where does the proverb limit this guidance to one sole channel of communication that all should adhere to? It is the path of the righteous ones not the path of the governing body that is like the bright light. The guidance is available to anyone that endeavors to follow the Bible.

Due to their track record of failed dates for the coming of Armageddon and numerous doctrinal adjustments the Watchtower society has been accused of being a false prophet. Is this accusation justifiable or is it false? I will consider this in the next article.

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[1] See The Watchtower September 15, 1931 page 283 also The Watchtower June 1, 1933 page 174

[2] See The Watchtower February 1, 2013 pages 8-9 “The Bible Changes Lives”