An eagle-eyed reader shared this little gem with us:
In Psalm 23 in the NWT, we see that verse 5 speaks about being anointed with oil. David is one of the other sheep according to JW theology, so he can’t be anointed. Yet the old songbook song based on Psalm 23 overlooked this conflict with JW doctrine.
However, the powers that be have corrected that oversight in the new songbook by replacing that song with one that says nothing about being anointed with oil but does call Jehovah our friend and God.
It is hard to view this as anything but a deliberate and considered attempt to turn the attention of the other sheep away from the Christ and the hope open to them of becoming children of God.
It amazes me, the degree to which the Org seems willing, even eager, to rewrite their literature, and even “massage” their translation of the Bible in order to bolster their cause. They came up with a clever explanation and for many years, I believed them. But they have continued to edge away from biblical teaching and towards their own spin on matters. When they can’t even use the word “anoint” in a song which paraphrases the Bible, they’ve taken a step against the direction of goodness. Do they think they have to correct God’s written word? Are they so obsessed… Read more »
Hear, hear!
Just to let the brothers know that strictly the new world translation is not wrong in changing or giving a different reading the word anointed is a different word in Hebrew it is mashach the word David uses here in ver 5 is a different word dishanta the root word is dashen which means to fatten or to saturate to grease. so strictly speaking to translated it as anoint is not wrong but nor is it wrong to use grease or saturate or moist is wrong either because the Hebrew used here is not the traditional word used for anoint.
Hi Eric I have just been reading some of your earlier writings, and especially “Where Else Can We Go?”, you are someone truly special, I just want to tell you and other writers, and commentators, -since I began to be on this site, – that for the first time I began to examine the bible for what it truly is, as the word of God, and Gods spirit can operate on anyone who wants to do his well. Sometimes I go of the course, but having such a wonderful family who always gets me back on course , is a… Read more »
Hey JB, I’m feelin what your saying. Other than Jesus Christ himself, I can’t think of a better shepherd. (Jer 23:4)!
Psalmbee
It is almost an insult to say the song is based on Psalm 23, when so much is ignored, and things that are not there are added. I thought the reason the Org wants the “other sheep” to be friends of God is they could not come up with anything better without acknowledging the Christian Greek scriptures are written for all Christians.
The GB are ‘off their rocker’ spiritually.
Hi Eric, This is what I found Matthew Henry Comments (bible hub). Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Thou furnishest me with plenty and variety of provisions and comforts, mine enemies; seeing, and envying, and fretting at it, but not being able to hinder it. With oil; or, ointment, as the Syriac and Arabic interpreters render it; with aromatical ointments, which were then used at great feasts, Psalm 92:10 Amos 6:6 Matthew 6:17 Luke 7:38. The sense is, Thy comforts delight my… Read more »
Hello Eric. Thanks for sharing this insight from a fellow reader. I agree. It is getting more and more difficult for me to think that those who are truly leading this organization are not making these decisions deliberately. Another scripture in the Psalms along this topic that caught my attention some time ago is below. At that time I thought to myself why is the term “anointed” being guarded so closely by the governing body and their class when the scriptures use it of all the faithful. Psalm 105:6, 15 NWT “You offspring of Abraham his servant, You sons of… Read more »
Wow! That rendering, is poignant on so many levels, not least of which is the emphasis it places on our actually being of one family. Which is a picture that the WBTC wants to distort in as many ways as possible.