*** lv chap. 9 pp. 97-109 "Flee From Fornication" ***
DINAH'S UNWISE CHOICE
Q13. Who was Dinah, and why was her choice of friends unwise?13 As we saw in Chapter 3, our friends can exert a powerful influence on us for good or for bad. (Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 15:33) Consider the example of Dinah, a daughter of the patriarch Jacob. (Genesis 34:1) Despite her good upbringing, Dinah unwisely made friends with Canaanite girls. Like the Moabites, the Canaanites were notoriously immoral. (Leviticus 18:6-25) In the eyes of Canaanite men, including Shechem-"the most honorable" of his father's household-Dinah seemed to be legitimate prey.-Genesis 34:18, 19.
"...our friends can exert a powerful influence on us for good or for bad." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_mentality
Q14. How did Dinah's choice of friends lead to tragedy?14 Dinah probably did not have sexual relations in mind when she saw Shechem. He, though, did what most Canaanites would have considered natural when sexually aroused. Any last-minute resistance on Dinah's part meant little, for he "took her" and "violated her." It seems that Shechem later "fell in love" with Dinah, but that did not change what he had done to her. (Genesis 34:1-4) And Dinah was not the only one to suffer as a result. Her choice of associates triggered events that brought disgrace and reproach on her whole family.-Genesis 34:7, 25-31; Galatians 6:7, 8.
Why "probably" and "it seems"?
Q15, 16. How can we gain true wisdom? (See also the box on page 109.)15 If Dinah learned an important lesson, she learned it the hard way. Those who love and obey Jehovah do not have to learn life's lessons the hard way. Because they listen to God, they choose to 'walk with wise persons.' (Proverbs 13:20a) Thus they come to understand "the entire course of what is good" and avoid needless problems and pains.-Proverbs 2:6-9; Psalm 1:1-3.
Who are 'wise persons'? Only JW's?
"...obey Jehovah" or the WTS interpretation of a matter?
"...entire course of what is good" - Is that learning the principles Jesus taught and exercising individual conscience or adopting the whole body of theocratic "truth" as determined by the WTS?
16 Godly wisdom is available to all who yearn for it and who act on that yearning by persisting in prayer and by regularly studying God's Word and the material provided by the faithful slave class. (Matthew 24:45; James 1:5) Also important is humility, which is reflected in a willingness to heed Scriptural counsel. (2 Kings 22:18, 19) For example, a Christian may accept in principle that his heart can be treacherous and desperate. (Jeremiah 17:9) But when the situation calls for it, is he humble enough to accept specific, loving counsel and help?
"...material provided by the faithful slave class" - in other words, the anointed as a body have no say regarding doctrine, this is what the 10 or so members of the GB have determined doctrine is
"Also important is humility..." - Where is the humility in the GB elevating themselves above all other anointed ones and arrogantly disregarding alternative views?
[Box on page 109] SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
"O you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad."-Psalm 97:10.
"Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."-Matthew 5:28.
"He that practices fornication is sinning against his own body."-1 Corinthians 6:18.
"I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow."-1 Corinthians 9:27.
"Whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap; because he who is sowing with a view to his flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but he who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit."-Galatians 6:7, 8.
"Deaden, therefore, your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite."-Colossians 3:5.
"Each one of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in covetous sexual appetite."-1 Thessalonians 4:4, 5.
Q17. Describe a situation that may arise within a family, and show how a father might reason with his daughter.17 Imagine this situation. A father does not allow his daughter and a young Christian man to go out unchaperoned. The girl responds: "But Dad, don't you trust me? We won't do anything wrong!" She may love Jehovah and have the best of intentions, yet is she "walking in [godly] wisdom"? Is she 'fleeing from fornication'? Or is she foolishly "trusting in [her] own heart"? (Proverbs 28:26) Perhaps you can think of additional principles that would assist such a father and his daughter in reasoning on the matter.-See Proverbs 22:3; Matthew 6:13; 26:41.
Where is the wife in this example? The WTS expects parents to "reason" with their children but when it comes to people reasoning with them on differing viewpoints, they are totally dismissive and arrogant
JOSEPH FLED FROM FORNICATION
Q18, 19. What temptation arose in Joseph's life, and how did he deal with it?18 A fine young person who loved God and fled from fornication was Joseph, Dinah's half brother. (Genesis 30:20-24) As a child, Joseph saw firsthand the fruits of his sister's folly. No doubt these memories, as well as Joseph's desire to remain in God's love, protected him years later in Egypt when his master's wife tried to seduce him "day after day." Of course, as a slave Joseph could not simply hand in his resignation and leave! He had to deal with the situation wisely and courageously. This he did by repeatedly saying no to Potiphar's wife and, in the end, by fleeing from her.-Genesis 39:7-12.
19 Consider: If Joseph had fantasized about the woman or had habitually daydreamed about sex, would he have been able to keep his integrity? Most likely not. Instead of entertaining sinful thoughts, Joseph prized his relationship with Jehovah, which was evident in his words to Potiphar's wife. "My master," he would say, "has not withheld from me anything at all except you, because you are his wife. So how could I commit this great badness and actually sin against God?"-Genesis 39:8, 9.
Q20. How did Jehovah maneuver matters in the case of Joseph?20 Imagine the joy that Jehovah must have felt as he observed young Joseph, far from his family, maintaining his integrity day after day. (Proverbs 27:11) Later, Jehovah maneuvered matters so that Joseph was not only released from prison but also made Egypt's prime minister and food administrator! (Genesis 41:39-49) How true the words of Psalm 97:10: "O you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad. He is guarding the souls of his loyal ones; out of the hand of the wicked ones he delivers them"!
Considering Joseph became "...Egypt's prime minister and food administrator!" why did so many spend time in prison because the WTS said they could not do civilian service?
Q21. How did a young brother in an African land show moral courage?21 Likewise today, many servants of God demonstrate that they "hate what is bad, and love what is good." (Amos 5:15) A young brother in an African land recalls that a female classmate boldly offered him sex in exchange for his help during a mathematics test. "I immediately rejected her offer," he says. "By maintaining integrity, I have kept my dignity and self-respect, which are far more valuable than gold and silver." True, sin may give "temporary enjoyment," but such cheap thrills often bring much pain. (Hebrews 11:25) Moreover, they pale into insignificance when compared with the lasting happiness that results from obedience to Jehovah.-Proverbs 10:22.
"...obedience to Jehovah" or the WTS - or is that the same?