Job 31:4 "Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?"
These conversations have been a journey. The 'friends' talked a long time to convince Job that his troubles were because of his wickedness. Job searched his life and found that he had been pretty much on track with his life except he did mention the 'sins of his youth'.
Now Job goes down the list in search of his wrong. It is tough for me to know exactly where Job is but I know he has something to learn from this test. For his friends, it came down to Job justifying himself. In a court, it might be a lack of remorse by a criminal over a deed he did. But this is no criminal this is the perfect and upright man of Job chapter 1.
So we had a 'they' chapter a while back, we could call this the 'if' chapter for it has 20 or so ifs in it. Each a search by Job for his wrong deed.
v5 "IF I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; v6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity."
That has been the theme of Job's questions throughout the conversations. As if to say "Just tell me what I did wrong!"
v16 "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fall; v17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;"
And so on...
You can't blame Job for wondering. His trials are terrible. I cannot picture how he looks with the afflictions in his body. We have read of them and found he has no relief day and night. His mind is tormented. His faith is attacked. Still he holds firm to what he thinks is right.
v29 "If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him; v30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul."
No wonder God picked Job out. He held himself to a very high standard.
v35 "Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. "
So the chapter ends as does the conversation with the last words of verse 40 "...The words of Job are ended."
Psalm 42:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
Job ends his words with passages starting with 'if'.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Job's Calamity Job 30
Job 30:1 "But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock."
Job has just told us in chapter 29 of his greatness. Now, in this chapter he tells of his great fall. Like so many of us, Job measures his greatness by his riches, position and what people think of him. In the first part of this chapter, Job describes the fathers of the youth who are now showing disrespect for him. He even goes back as far as their grandparents.
v8 "They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth."
Once he established that the lineage of the disrespectful was corrupt, he makes this statement:
v9 "And now am I their song, yea, I am their byward."
I've seen it in the movies where the homeless and forgotten are pushed aside on the streets and shoved from place to place without regard that they are a human being. Such is the picture I have of the fallen prince Job.
v12 "Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. v13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper."
It was a bad time for Job when he lost his possessions and his health. He lost his family and the respect of his household. Now, he is pushed around like a common bum. It seems Job has gone as low as he can go without actually dying which would seem a blessing now.
I'd like to note here that Satan's hand was in Job's distresses. Satan will destroy a person and then leave them without pity. Satan does not care for people but only hurts them.
v15 "Terrors are turned upon me; they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud."
v19 "He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes."
Then an echo of prayer comes from Job's lips as it came from David's in Psalm 40:
Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
Not yet though Job. v20 "I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me; I stand up, and thou regardest me not."
I'm not an expert on the meaning of the Bible. I have picked up on what could be a fault of Job's. He has declared that he is righteous and finds it a great loss that people no longer bow to his wishes. It is difficult for a well respected man to swallow the fact that he is no longer held in high regard. BUT should any of us expect that we should be raised above another. Perhaps God will raise some up, but should we demand it or expect it based on our goodness. I think not.
From verse 20 Job prays but still he is attempting to justify himself by his deeds. He did do some good things. Man's deeds, however, are man's deeds.
Let's jump to the New Testament and remember what Jesus told Peter: Luke 22:31 "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
That was my first text way back when I wrote down my first Bible lesson. I knew even then that we were all in Satan's gun sights. Satan would like to have had Peter to do to him as he did to Job but first he had the gospel to preach and the church to help establish. Satan had not changed his ways from Job to Peter and has not changed them today.
It is the LORD who protects us from him. The key was 'don't loose faith Peter'. Keep the faith.
Chapter 31 will continue Job's discourse but we are soon coming to the end of this long conversation and a new person steps into light.
Psalm 3:2-3 "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
A chapter on Job's calamity.
Some places of my interest: Chatsworth, Georgia, Brazil, Brasil, Papua New Guinea, Australia, United States, Guatemala
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Job has just told us in chapter 29 of his greatness. Now, in this chapter he tells of his great fall. Like so many of us, Job measures his greatness by his riches, position and what people think of him. In the first part of this chapter, Job describes the fathers of the youth who are now showing disrespect for him. He even goes back as far as their grandparents.
v8 "They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth."
Once he established that the lineage of the disrespectful was corrupt, he makes this statement:
v9 "And now am I their song, yea, I am their byward."
I've seen it in the movies where the homeless and forgotten are pushed aside on the streets and shoved from place to place without regard that they are a human being. Such is the picture I have of the fallen prince Job.
v12 "Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. v13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper."
It was a bad time for Job when he lost his possessions and his health. He lost his family and the respect of his household. Now, he is pushed around like a common bum. It seems Job has gone as low as he can go without actually dying which would seem a blessing now.
I'd like to note here that Satan's hand was in Job's distresses. Satan will destroy a person and then leave them without pity. Satan does not care for people but only hurts them.
v15 "Terrors are turned upon me; they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud."
v19 "He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes."
Then an echo of prayer comes from Job's lips as it came from David's in Psalm 40:
Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
Not yet though Job. v20 "I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me; I stand up, and thou regardest me not."
I'm not an expert on the meaning of the Bible. I have picked up on what could be a fault of Job's. He has declared that he is righteous and finds it a great loss that people no longer bow to his wishes. It is difficult for a well respected man to swallow the fact that he is no longer held in high regard. BUT should any of us expect that we should be raised above another. Perhaps God will raise some up, but should we demand it or expect it based on our goodness. I think not.
From verse 20 Job prays but still he is attempting to justify himself by his deeds. He did do some good things. Man's deeds, however, are man's deeds.
Let's jump to the New Testament and remember what Jesus told Peter: Luke 22:31 "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
That was my first text way back when I wrote down my first Bible lesson. I knew even then that we were all in Satan's gun sights. Satan would like to have had Peter to do to him as he did to Job but first he had the gospel to preach and the church to help establish. Satan had not changed his ways from Job to Peter and has not changed them today.
It is the LORD who protects us from him. The key was 'don't loose faith Peter'. Keep the faith.
Chapter 31 will continue Job's discourse but we are soon coming to the end of this long conversation and a new person steps into light.
Psalm 3:2-3 "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
A chapter on Job's calamity.
Some places of my interest: Chatsworth, Georgia, Brazil, Brasil, Papua New Guinea, Australia, United States, Guatemala
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Job as Rich Man Job 29
Job 29:6 "When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;"
That is a picture of a man who had plenty. Butter and oil would have been precious commodities.
Job in the continuation of his parable becomes personal with the life he once lived when all of heavens blessings were on him and he was a prince among men.
v2 "Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; v3 When his candle shined on my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness."
In all this, Job still gives God credit for the good times he has had. I find no bitterness toward God, only a sense that Job feels God has left him.
v5 "When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;"
Job was a man of position then but now he is a sick old man waiting to die. No wonder he is a little discouraged. I would be.
v10 "The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth." Referring to being in Job's presence, no doubt, waiting for what he would say.
v23 "And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain."
The people craved the leadership of Job and he guided them. It's different now. Job has lost his health, his family, his means and his position among men. In the next chapter, Job makes the comparison with his present condition to the way it was.
Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."
Job describes himself as a man of position and means.
Previous post.
That is a picture of a man who had plenty. Butter and oil would have been precious commodities.
Job in the continuation of his parable becomes personal with the life he once lived when all of heavens blessings were on him and he was a prince among men.
v2 "Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; v3 When his candle shined on my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness."
In all this, Job still gives God credit for the good times he has had. I find no bitterness toward God, only a sense that Job feels God has left him.
v5 "When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;"
Job was a man of position then but now he is a sick old man waiting to die. No wonder he is a little discouraged. I would be.
v10 "The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth." Referring to being in Job's presence, no doubt, waiting for what he would say.
v23 "And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain."
The people craved the leadership of Job and he guided them. It's different now. Job has lost his health, his family, his means and his position among men. In the next chapter, Job makes the comparison with his present condition to the way it was.
Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."
Job describes himself as a man of position and means.
Previous post.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Search for Wisdom Job 28
Job 28:27-28 "Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."
We have so far in the conversations discussed whether or not the trials of Job are because of wickedness. The friends think so. Job declares his righteousness and rather expresses that it is God's business and He can do as he wishes.
Now we hear Job talking about the difficulty of finding wisdom and then ends with the above verses. After all the discussion, it all comes down to fearing God.
Also in this chapter we get a lesson in minerals and some geography.
We find that silver runs in a vein and that gold must be refined: v1 "Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it."
Then there is iron and brass. v2 "Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone."
Job gives credit to the Lord as the one who controls everything.
Job even knew of the fire under the earth: v5 "As for the earth, out of it cometh bread; and under it is turned up as it were fire."
If you are looking for precious stones, you should know this: v6 "The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold."
Then the question "V12 "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? "
Verse 15 tells us that wisdom cannot be bought for no price can be put on it: V15 "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof."
We know where to find all sorts of precious metals and jewels and they can be used to purchase many things but wisdom is not one of them. Job again asked the question:
v20 "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?"
Now Job tells us the place to find wisdom. It is with the one who measures the wind and the water of the sea. Sometimes you just got to go to the source to get the right answer.
v23 "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof."
When we consider, as Job did, that God is the maker of all that is, He controls the wind and the waves, He tells the elements to stay in their boundaries. It is only the sensible thing to do to fear the One who made it all and can change it as He sees fit.
So we have the conclusion: v28 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."
I Kings 4:20 "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore."
Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments; his praise endureth forever."
Job speaks of wisdom and understanding.
Previous post
We have so far in the conversations discussed whether or not the trials of Job are because of wickedness. The friends think so. Job declares his righteousness and rather expresses that it is God's business and He can do as he wishes.
Now we hear Job talking about the difficulty of finding wisdom and then ends with the above verses. After all the discussion, it all comes down to fearing God.
Also in this chapter we get a lesson in minerals and some geography.
We find that silver runs in a vein and that gold must be refined: v1 "Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it."
Then there is iron and brass. v2 "Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone."
Job gives credit to the Lord as the one who controls everything.
Job even knew of the fire under the earth: v5 "As for the earth, out of it cometh bread; and under it is turned up as it were fire."
If you are looking for precious stones, you should know this: v6 "The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold."
Then the question "V12 "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? "
Verse 15 tells us that wisdom cannot be bought for no price can be put on it: V15 "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof."
We know where to find all sorts of precious metals and jewels and they can be used to purchase many things but wisdom is not one of them. Job again asked the question:
v20 "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?"
Now Job tells us the place to find wisdom. It is with the one who measures the wind and the water of the sea. Sometimes you just got to go to the source to get the right answer.
v23 "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof."
When we consider, as Job did, that God is the maker of all that is, He controls the wind and the waves, He tells the elements to stay in their boundaries. It is only the sensible thing to do to fear the One who made it all and can change it as He sees fit.
So we have the conclusion: v28 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."
I Kings 4:20 "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore."
Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments; his praise endureth forever."
Job speaks of wisdom and understanding.
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Monday, June 22, 2009
Job's Speech Part 2 Job 27
Job 27 : 6-7 "God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."
Job talks here of the wicked but in the first part he is basically saying that he will remain as he is and not change his mind or his ways.
v3 "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; v4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit."
I think that is a good attitude to have. What I picked up on and could be wrong about is that Job was saying that he would not forgive his friend. "God forbid that I should justify you.." Of course Job could not even if he wanted to. But I think he might also have been saying that he would not agree with what his friend was saying and therefore justify his remarks.
The balance of this part of Job's parable is concerning the wicked and in this vain: v13 "This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which the shall receive of the Almighty."
I know these things are written for our benefit but I would be hesitate to try to go into detail about what God thinks. From observation, Job must have had some examples to support his pronouncements about the wicked. I'm glad grace intervened for us.
v23 "Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place."
Romans 3:23-24 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
We will continue with Job's parable in the next chapter.
Previous study post
Job talks here of the wicked but in the first part he is basically saying that he will remain as he is and not change his mind or his ways.
v3 "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; v4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit."
I think that is a good attitude to have. What I picked up on and could be wrong about is that Job was saying that he would not forgive his friend. "God forbid that I should justify you.." Of course Job could not even if he wanted to. But I think he might also have been saying that he would not agree with what his friend was saying and therefore justify his remarks.
The balance of this part of Job's parable is concerning the wicked and in this vain: v13 "This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which the shall receive of the Almighty."
I know these things are written for our benefit but I would be hesitate to try to go into detail about what God thinks. From observation, Job must have had some examples to support his pronouncements about the wicked. I'm glad grace intervened for us.
v23 "Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place."
Romans 3:23-24 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
We will continue with Job's parable in the next chapter.
Previous study post
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Job's Long Speech Part 1 Job 26
Job 26:1-2 "But Job answered and said, How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?"
This is followed by several other questions that would make the most devoted person wither:
v3 "How hast thou counseled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?"
v4 "To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?"
Then in a final (well not completely final) Job shows an edge to his words:
v5 "Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof."
Although there are many precious insights gained from Job and even his friends that give us an idea of when Job was written, when he lived and their knowledge of the earth; it seems to me that their conversations have turned accusatory in nature. We are leading up to another person who is waiting on the sidelines or in the wings if this were a play and not real life.
I think Job may be feeling some better. Perhaps the healing process has already begun. We will find out later and it seems obvious that Job has started to justify himself some. He also has become a critic of his 'friends'. I do not think it is a good thing to return spiteful words with the same.
The next verse goes back to the previous discussion of whether God is hide in heaven and cannot see what goes on on earth (as one friend said) or as Job rightfully said, that his eye is everywhere.
v6 "Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering, he stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." v7
That last verse would have helped NASA and scientist long ago if they had read the Bible: "He...hangeth the earth upon nothing."
Job goes on to talk about the clouds holding rain, how the oceans are held in place and relates their movement to the day and night (tides). The chapter but not the speech ends with this verse:
v14 "Lo, these are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?"
Psalm 139:6 "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."
Job has shown that he knows a lot about most everything. He must have been a great teacher. But he reached the same conclusion as David in the verse above when he said:
Job 42:3 "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not;"
Job speaks of God's expanse.
Previous study post.
This is followed by several other questions that would make the most devoted person wither:
v3 "How hast thou counseled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?"
v4 "To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?"
Then in a final (well not completely final) Job shows an edge to his words:
v5 "Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof."
Although there are many precious insights gained from Job and even his friends that give us an idea of when Job was written, when he lived and their knowledge of the earth; it seems to me that their conversations have turned accusatory in nature. We are leading up to another person who is waiting on the sidelines or in the wings if this were a play and not real life.
I think Job may be feeling some better. Perhaps the healing process has already begun. We will find out later and it seems obvious that Job has started to justify himself some. He also has become a critic of his 'friends'. I do not think it is a good thing to return spiteful words with the same.
The next verse goes back to the previous discussion of whether God is hide in heaven and cannot see what goes on on earth (as one friend said) or as Job rightfully said, that his eye is everywhere.
v6 "Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering, he stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." v7
That last verse would have helped NASA and scientist long ago if they had read the Bible: "He...hangeth the earth upon nothing."
Job goes on to talk about the clouds holding rain, how the oceans are held in place and relates their movement to the day and night (tides). The chapter but not the speech ends with this verse:
v14 "Lo, these are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?"
Psalm 139:6 "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."
Job has shown that he knows a lot about most everything. He must have been a great teacher. But he reached the same conclusion as David in the verse above when he said:
Job 42:3 "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not;"
Job speaks of God's expanse.
Previous study post.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Bildad's Question Job 25
Job 25:4 "How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?"
Chapter 25 is a short chapter but the question is very important. So with a perfect God, how can man measure up? He cannot alone. Since the sin in the garden man has been polluted. Man's best efforts would come from a sinful nature which can only produce things of a sinful nature.
God made a way for man to be justified before God. He sent his only begotten son, born of a woman, to take the penalty for the sins of the world upon himself and shed his own blood which was unpolluted by Adam's sin to pay the debt of sin we owed.
Bildad first magnifies the position of God and his perfect state in relation to other things and man which cannot measure up to that perfectness. Bildad left out many of God's characteristics. One is his love for us.
v5 "Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight."
I don't know about that statement but we will see.
v6 "How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?"
In the New Testament, Jesus often referred to himself as the son of man. Since He is the word of God, I know he was aware of Psalms 22 where David depicted the sufferings of Christ even though he did not yet know the mystery of the gospel.
Psalm 22:6 "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people."
Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. v4 Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
The answer to Bildad question is thus found in God's love and the lamb of God which 'taketh away the sins of the world'.
Without Jesus Christ, there is no justification with God. We would stand before the judge without a question of our guilt and no refuge. We would be guilty and our punishment would be justified. Yet Christ stepped into the world and said "I will pay the penalty for man's sin."
Speaking of Jesus in Romans:
Romans 4:25 "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification."
Bildad's great question.
Previous study link.
Chapter 25 is a short chapter but the question is very important. So with a perfect God, how can man measure up? He cannot alone. Since the sin in the garden man has been polluted. Man's best efforts would come from a sinful nature which can only produce things of a sinful nature.
God made a way for man to be justified before God. He sent his only begotten son, born of a woman, to take the penalty for the sins of the world upon himself and shed his own blood which was unpolluted by Adam's sin to pay the debt of sin we owed.
Bildad first magnifies the position of God and his perfect state in relation to other things and man which cannot measure up to that perfectness. Bildad left out many of God's characteristics. One is his love for us.
v5 "Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight."
I don't know about that statement but we will see.
v6 "How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?"
In the New Testament, Jesus often referred to himself as the son of man. Since He is the word of God, I know he was aware of Psalms 22 where David depicted the sufferings of Christ even though he did not yet know the mystery of the gospel.
Psalm 22:6 "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people."
Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. v4 Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
The answer to Bildad question is thus found in God's love and the lamb of God which 'taketh away the sins of the world'.
Without Jesus Christ, there is no justification with God. We would stand before the judge without a question of our guilt and no refuge. We would be guilty and our punishment would be justified. Yet Christ stepped into the world and said "I will pay the penalty for man's sin."
Speaking of Jesus in Romans:
Romans 4:25 "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification."
Bildad's great question.
Previous study link.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"They" Job 24
Job 24:1 "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?"
Why as in "Y". Job states the fact that the Almighty (God) sees all, so those who know God ought to know that.
Here is a verse for our day.
v2"Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof."
In our day, this could encompass changing history to eliminate the role God and Christianity had in the development of our nations and all nations for that matter. Take away the landmarks and the truth in history and future generations will believe the half-truth that is left. Few will do difficult research to find the whole truth.
From here we have many verses with the term "They". It refers in some cases to those who are out for number one at the expense of the helpless. In other verses it refers to the victims.
The bad guys:
v4 "They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together."
The needy:
v8 "They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter."
Nowadays, it is often alleys and concrete staircases and tunnels but the picture is the same. Many people are without help and are hungry.
v12 "Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them."
My large print Bible shows a reference to Ecclesiastes 8:11 for the last part of the verse:
v11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."
It is not God who causes these troubles for people but those of the darkness who turn from the light and conduct their evil in darkness.
v13 "They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof."
Job could have preached this sermon today and it would be current.
v16 "In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light."
Like the vampires in the old black and white movies. The evildoers settle their evil deeds before the morning and scurry off to hide.
v17 "For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death."
Evildoers will have their day in judgment. It seems often that they will go on forever but their day will come.
v24 "They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low, they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn."
Back on the farm we would sit for hours shucking corn and brushing away the husk. We used a big butcher's knife. The very first thing we did was take a whack at the top couple of inches of the ear of corn where it is brownish and good for nothing. The knife swiftly went almost through with practice and then the top was bent over and pulled down to the other end and discarded in a swift easy motion.
Job as given us the plight of the needy and the tactics of the evildoers, then he lays out a challenge: Prove me wrong if you can. v25 "And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?"
Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, with out rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"
Job preaches on the needy and the evil who cause their plight.
Previous study post.
Why as in "Y". Job states the fact that the Almighty (God) sees all, so those who know God ought to know that.
Here is a verse for our day.
v2"Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof."
In our day, this could encompass changing history to eliminate the role God and Christianity had in the development of our nations and all nations for that matter. Take away the landmarks and the truth in history and future generations will believe the half-truth that is left. Few will do difficult research to find the whole truth.
From here we have many verses with the term "They". It refers in some cases to those who are out for number one at the expense of the helpless. In other verses it refers to the victims.
The bad guys:
v4 "They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together."
The needy:
v8 "They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter."
Nowadays, it is often alleys and concrete staircases and tunnels but the picture is the same. Many people are without help and are hungry.
v12 "Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them."
My large print Bible shows a reference to Ecclesiastes 8:11 for the last part of the verse:
v11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."
It is not God who causes these troubles for people but those of the darkness who turn from the light and conduct their evil in darkness.
v13 "They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof."
Job could have preached this sermon today and it would be current.
v16 "In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light."
Like the vampires in the old black and white movies. The evildoers settle their evil deeds before the morning and scurry off to hide.
v17 "For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death."
Evildoers will have their day in judgment. It seems often that they will go on forever but their day will come.
v24 "They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low, they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn."
Back on the farm we would sit for hours shucking corn and brushing away the husk. We used a big butcher's knife. The very first thing we did was take a whack at the top couple of inches of the ear of corn where it is brownish and good for nothing. The knife swiftly went almost through with practice and then the top was bent over and pulled down to the other end and discarded in a swift easy motion.
Job as given us the plight of the needy and the tactics of the evildoers, then he lays out a challenge: Prove me wrong if you can. v25 "And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?"
Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, with out rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"
Job preaches on the needy and the evil who cause their plight.
Previous study post.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Missionaries
Hello, I guess you noticed my map. Many countries are missing. If you know a missionary, I'd appreciate it if you would send them a link to my Bible Study. It is just that I enjoy seeing where all the dots are and how far the study is reaching out. Maybe they will get a blessing from the scripture. I hope so. Thanks.
Job Looking for God Job 23
Job 23:3 "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!"
I heard a good sermon on this verse last week from this preacher. He was talking about all of Job's losses during this time of testing. He explained that even though the loss of his family and property was bad and the loss of his health was bad, feeling that God had left him was the worst of all.
I've heard of a number of people who have gone through dark times when it seems God was far away. They kept on by faith and made it through the time of testing. That is what faith is all about. It is not knowing all the facts and trusting God anyway. I have seen impossible situations in my life just calm down seemingly without great effort by anyone. We should do all we can but there are times when we need to just wait on God. As he told Israel, their strength was in being still.
I have a little story of my own. I was a Marine guard on a small liberty boat that carried people across a rather large bay. We could not see one side while on the other so the boat driver had to go by those floating markers in the water. The problem was that another boat always came the opposite direction on the same schedule. One of those sudden storms came up and blinded all of us. The driver could not find the next marker and we were in danger of crashing into the on-coming boat. The people all got afraid and began to stand up and holler and disturb the balance of the boat. From somewhere within me I got the strength to confront the large group. In true Marine fashion I told them to "Shut up and sit down!" They complied and the boat steadied. I could then deal with the driver who had panicked and was going around in a circle looking for a marker. I told him that obviously the marker was not here so go a little ways and circle again. In this manner he found the marker just as we heard the motor of the oncoming boat. All came out fine and I'm glad because I could not swim more than a few yards at a time. The point is those passengers were afraid but the best thing for them to do was be still and let the ones in charge get them to safety. There was no time to explain. Every one needs to recognize when it is their time to lead but also when it is their time to 'shut up and sit down'.
v8 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:"
I am reminded of Daniel. He once set his face toward Israel and prayed to God for an answer. He prayed for 21 days before the answer came. The angel said he was on his way the first day but was hindered by Satan's angels until another angel came to help him. See Daniel 10:12-13.
So we are reminded of the spiritual warfare that goes on without us seeing it except for some results.
Job reasons things out in his heart.
v11 "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." v12
Job takes inventory of his life and finds that he has done the best he could to live for God. He then wonders at the fact that he was not taken out of this life before darkness overshadowed him. Sometimes you get out before the storm - sometimes you must trust him through the storm.
v16-17 "For God maketh my heart soft and the Almighty troubleth me; Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face."
Perhaps this is the key to this testing time for Job. He was an upright man but in the last part of this book, God will talk to him. He must be prepared to received what God says. So we see the phrase 'God maketh my heart soft'. He was being prepared.
Job will continue in the next chapter with a little preaching of his own.
Job Looking for God.
Previous post.
I heard a good sermon on this verse last week from this preacher. He was talking about all of Job's losses during this time of testing. He explained that even though the loss of his family and property was bad and the loss of his health was bad, feeling that God had left him was the worst of all.
I've heard of a number of people who have gone through dark times when it seems God was far away. They kept on by faith and made it through the time of testing. That is what faith is all about. It is not knowing all the facts and trusting God anyway. I have seen impossible situations in my life just calm down seemingly without great effort by anyone. We should do all we can but there are times when we need to just wait on God. As he told Israel, their strength was in being still.
I have a little story of my own. I was a Marine guard on a small liberty boat that carried people across a rather large bay. We could not see one side while on the other so the boat driver had to go by those floating markers in the water. The problem was that another boat always came the opposite direction on the same schedule. One of those sudden storms came up and blinded all of us. The driver could not find the next marker and we were in danger of crashing into the on-coming boat. The people all got afraid and began to stand up and holler and disturb the balance of the boat. From somewhere within me I got the strength to confront the large group. In true Marine fashion I told them to "Shut up and sit down!" They complied and the boat steadied. I could then deal with the driver who had panicked and was going around in a circle looking for a marker. I told him that obviously the marker was not here so go a little ways and circle again. In this manner he found the marker just as we heard the motor of the oncoming boat. All came out fine and I'm glad because I could not swim more than a few yards at a time. The point is those passengers were afraid but the best thing for them to do was be still and let the ones in charge get them to safety. There was no time to explain. Every one needs to recognize when it is their time to lead but also when it is their time to 'shut up and sit down'.
v8 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:"
I am reminded of Daniel. He once set his face toward Israel and prayed to God for an answer. He prayed for 21 days before the answer came. The angel said he was on his way the first day but was hindered by Satan's angels until another angel came to help him. See Daniel 10:12-13.
So we are reminded of the spiritual warfare that goes on without us seeing it except for some results.
Job reasons things out in his heart.
v11 "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." v12
Job takes inventory of his life and finds that he has done the best he could to live for God. He then wonders at the fact that he was not taken out of this life before darkness overshadowed him. Sometimes you get out before the storm - sometimes you must trust him through the storm.
v16-17 "For God maketh my heart soft and the Almighty troubleth me; Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face."
Perhaps this is the key to this testing time for Job. He was an upright man but in the last part of this book, God will talk to him. He must be prepared to received what God says. So we see the phrase 'God maketh my heart soft'. He was being prepared.
Job will continue in the next chapter with a little preaching of his own.
Job Looking for God.
Previous post.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Eliphaz on Righteousness Job 22
Job 22:3 "Is it any pleasure to the Almight, that thou are righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?"
My answer to both questions would be YES. I don't know about these boys who have come to Job to comfort him. They tell him he is suffering because of wickedness, then one switches as if to say, 'Okay so you are righteous, Does God care?'
I think it is so important to God that he sent his only begotten Son to die so that man had the opportunity to be pleasing to the Father.
Romans 6:13 "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
I Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
There are many verses to answer Eliphaz's questions in a positive way. At this time, they did not have the New Testament so many things were a mystery to them. Abraham would like to have know the details of the mysteries (I suppose) but he went on faith.
Now Eliphaz tells Job that God is far away and cannot see what is going on. Basically, it seems, he is saying that God just does not have time for people and the goings-on on earth.
v14 "Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not, and he walketh in the circuit of heaven."
The thick clouds were to protect the people not hide God. Sinful people before a holy God would not last long, so as in the case of Moses, God choose to appear in the thick cloud. But to say that God cannot see what's happening, is to be naive and misinformed.
Proverbs 15:3 "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."
In verses 15-16 Eliphaz refers to the flood in which Noah and his family were saved. See Genesis 6.
"Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood;"
So Eliphaz brings it down to one thing: if you are innocent you will be delivered.
v30 "He shall deliver the island of the innocent; and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands."
We ought to try to live right and do right. One preacher said 'It is never wrong to do right and it is never right to do wrong to do right.' However, man can not deliver or redeem himself by pureness because he has none. If man could save himself, I use to jokingly say: 'Pick up one foot, (while standing) now the other but keep the first one up too.' Also, it is not always God's will to deliver us from our suffering or testing time. True in the end we will be with Him and be just fine but some of our troubles just have to be gone through, often for purposes that only God knows. But He does know!
A good sermon can be found on testing time at this church website in the sermon section. It was about two Sundays ago in the morning service.
Job reasons about God in the next couple of chapters.
Psalm 62:1-2 "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
Eliphaz talks about God being far away.
My answer to both questions would be YES. I don't know about these boys who have come to Job to comfort him. They tell him he is suffering because of wickedness, then one switches as if to say, 'Okay so you are righteous, Does God care?'
I think it is so important to God that he sent his only begotten Son to die so that man had the opportunity to be pleasing to the Father.
Romans 6:13 "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
I Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
There are many verses to answer Eliphaz's questions in a positive way. At this time, they did not have the New Testament so many things were a mystery to them. Abraham would like to have know the details of the mysteries (I suppose) but he went on faith.
Now Eliphaz tells Job that God is far away and cannot see what is going on. Basically, it seems, he is saying that God just does not have time for people and the goings-on on earth.
v14 "Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not, and he walketh in the circuit of heaven."
The thick clouds were to protect the people not hide God. Sinful people before a holy God would not last long, so as in the case of Moses, God choose to appear in the thick cloud. But to say that God cannot see what's happening, is to be naive and misinformed.
Proverbs 15:3 "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."
In verses 15-16 Eliphaz refers to the flood in which Noah and his family were saved. See Genesis 6.
"Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood;"
So Eliphaz brings it down to one thing: if you are innocent you will be delivered.
v30 "He shall deliver the island of the innocent; and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands."
We ought to try to live right and do right. One preacher said 'It is never wrong to do right and it is never right to do wrong to do right.' However, man can not deliver or redeem himself by pureness because he has none. If man could save himself, I use to jokingly say: 'Pick up one foot, (while standing) now the other but keep the first one up too.' Also, it is not always God's will to deliver us from our suffering or testing time. True in the end we will be with Him and be just fine but some of our troubles just have to be gone through, often for purposes that only God knows. But He does know!
A good sermon can be found on testing time at this church website in the sermon section. It was about two Sundays ago in the morning service.
Job reasons about God in the next couple of chapters.
Psalm 62:1-2 "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
Eliphaz talks about God being far away.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Job on plight of Wicked Job 21
Job 21:13-14 "They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways."
The 'friends' of Job paint a picture of the wicked which is quite different from what Job says here. The friends have been telling Job that hard times on earth are a result of wickedness. Job tells them that that is not necessarily true as from his observations, the wicked are not disturbed on earth but live a life of luxury until they face their judgment day.
v7 "Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea are mighty in power?"
Then in verse 9 Job talks about the rod of God not being on the wicked. We all know that it is our own children that we correct, sometimes with a spanking. But we do not correct children that we do not know. So God does not exact punishment on those he does not know, not until their judgment.
v9 "Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them."
That is not to say that a wicked man will not reap some rewards here on earth. It is not, though, the gentle correcting of a father to a son. I always told my sons take correction from someone who loves you, don't wait to get it from people who do not know or love you. It will be worse.
Some will remember the story in the New Testament of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar at the gate. The rich man seemed untouched by the cares of the world but his end result was terrible, while the beggar had only what people left him, yet his end was glorious.
Remember Abraham's answer to the rich man in Luke 16:25" But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
Job continues: v29-30 "Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? the shall be brought forth to the day of wrath."
The friends or comforters may have told Job some truth in their speeches but as Job pointed out in the next verse, their truth is mixed with falsehood making their whole argument null.
v34 "How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?"
Remember how Satan twisted the truth when he was talking to Eve. He put just enough truth in his words to make them sound legitimate. So did he try to do it with Jesus when he had been fasting. It is a trick that has been passed down through the ages. It pays to listen well.
Genesis 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:"
A bold lie for it went directly against what God had said. This lie is more subtle: Genesis 3:3 "But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." It wasn't highlighted for Eve. Read what God really said: Genesis 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Notice the highlighted part is missing in the original statement made by God.
Why would Satan change a few seemingly meaningless words? I believe it was to set Eve up for the bigger lies that followed. Eve was told the rules by Adam because she was not there for the original statement, so not only did Satan cast doubt on what God said but her husband as well.
So back to Job, next time Eliphaz has a few things to say it seems to me that he is running out of steam.
Psalm 146:17 "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. v18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."
Job talks about the wicked.
Previous post.
The 'friends' of Job paint a picture of the wicked which is quite different from what Job says here. The friends have been telling Job that hard times on earth are a result of wickedness. Job tells them that that is not necessarily true as from his observations, the wicked are not disturbed on earth but live a life of luxury until they face their judgment day.
v7 "Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea are mighty in power?"
Then in verse 9 Job talks about the rod of God not being on the wicked. We all know that it is our own children that we correct, sometimes with a spanking. But we do not correct children that we do not know. So God does not exact punishment on those he does not know, not until their judgment.
v9 "Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them."
That is not to say that a wicked man will not reap some rewards here on earth. It is not, though, the gentle correcting of a father to a son. I always told my sons take correction from someone who loves you, don't wait to get it from people who do not know or love you. It will be worse.
Some will remember the story in the New Testament of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar at the gate. The rich man seemed untouched by the cares of the world but his end result was terrible, while the beggar had only what people left him, yet his end was glorious.
Remember Abraham's answer to the rich man in Luke 16:25" But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
Job continues: v29-30 "Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? the shall be brought forth to the day of wrath."
The friends or comforters may have told Job some truth in their speeches but as Job pointed out in the next verse, their truth is mixed with falsehood making their whole argument null.
v34 "How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?"
Remember how Satan twisted the truth when he was talking to Eve. He put just enough truth in his words to make them sound legitimate. So did he try to do it with Jesus when he had been fasting. It is a trick that has been passed down through the ages. It pays to listen well.
Genesis 3:4 "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:"
A bold lie for it went directly against what God had said. This lie is more subtle: Genesis 3:3 "But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." It wasn't highlighted for Eve. Read what God really said: Genesis 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Notice the highlighted part is missing in the original statement made by God.
Why would Satan change a few seemingly meaningless words? I believe it was to set Eve up for the bigger lies that followed. Eve was told the rules by Adam because she was not there for the original statement, so not only did Satan cast doubt on what God said but her husband as well.
So back to Job, next time Eliphaz has a few things to say it seems to me that he is running out of steam.
Psalm 146:17 "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. v18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."
Job talks about the wicked.
Previous post.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Zophar Reply on Resurrection Job 20
Job 20:6-7 "Though his excellency mount up to heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish forever...v8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: "
The Pharisees and Sadducees argued about the resurrection later in the New Testament but they picked up on a long debated issue. Sadducees say there is no resurrection but the Pharisees believe in the resurrection. See Acts 23:8.
Zophar is picking up on a statement Job made in the previous chapter. Zophar still insisting that Job was wicked and a hypocrite and would therefore not see a resurrection. So apparently he believed only in a resurrection of the just. He must have surely believed that troubles were a sign of wickedness for he seems to be unable to fathom otherwise in his answers to Job.
I Cor 6:14 "And God hath both raised up the LORD, and will also raise up us by his own power."
Romans 14:10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Referring to Christians.
But here Christ said: v11 "For it is written, As I live, saith the LORD, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
It seems to me that there would therefore have to be a resurrection of the wicked as well since it says 'every'.
Zophar goes on and on about all the bad things that will happen to Job because he is wicked. I believe his conclusion is based on a false assumption that being that Job is wicked. We should remember that Job is being tested keeping in mind that we are all sinners in that Adam sinned and passed on the pollution to humanity. We all need to be reconciled to God.
Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
But Job honored God and worshipped him as God whereas the wicked will usurp God and lift themselves up.
Zophar does a lot of speaking 'for God' in this chapter. I do not think he had as much understanding as he thought he did.
Job 1:22 "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
Zophar replies to Job on the resurrection.
Previous post
The Pharisees and Sadducees argued about the resurrection later in the New Testament but they picked up on a long debated issue. Sadducees say there is no resurrection but the Pharisees believe in the resurrection. See Acts 23:8.
Zophar is picking up on a statement Job made in the previous chapter. Zophar still insisting that Job was wicked and a hypocrite and would therefore not see a resurrection. So apparently he believed only in a resurrection of the just. He must have surely believed that troubles were a sign of wickedness for he seems to be unable to fathom otherwise in his answers to Job.
I Cor 6:14 "And God hath both raised up the LORD, and will also raise up us by his own power."
Romans 14:10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Referring to Christians.
But here Christ said: v11 "For it is written, As I live, saith the LORD, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
It seems to me that there would therefore have to be a resurrection of the wicked as well since it says 'every'.
Zophar goes on and on about all the bad things that will happen to Job because he is wicked. I believe his conclusion is based on a false assumption that being that Job is wicked. We should remember that Job is being tested keeping in mind that we are all sinners in that Adam sinned and passed on the pollution to humanity. We all need to be reconciled to God.
Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
But Job honored God and worshipped him as God whereas the wicked will usurp God and lift themselves up.
Zophar does a lot of speaking 'for God' in this chapter. I do not think he had as much understanding as he thought he did.
Job 1:22 "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
Zophar replies to Job on the resurrection.
Previous post
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Resurrection Job 19
Job 19:25-27 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."
I put those verses first because I see them as the crowning jewel of this chapter if not the entire book of Job. We often hear of the patience of Job, and he had great patience with his friends. But here is a demonstration of Job's faith. Faith that reaches beyond his present state into the future where his redemption is sure.
v2 "How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?"
Words can be painful, unlike the famous saying about sticks and stones. Being a writer myself, I am aware that words can be used as weapons and I try not to do that. Job was the sufferer, the victim if you will, but he is put on the witness stand by his friends where they attacked him as if they were three prosecuting attorneys.
He cautions his friends about using his own distress to magnify themselves.
v5-6 "If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach; Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net."
I think Job is telling his friends that he does not need to be reproached by them if he has erred because God has already seen his errors and is the final judge of the matter.
We see in the middle of the chapter Job's position with his closest people.
v13 "He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me."
v15 "They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight."
v16 "I called my servant, and he gave me no answer..."
v17 "My breath is strange to my wife..."
v18 "Yea, young children despised me;..."
Job gives his friends a run down of what all he has lost. He paints a picture of him loosing his position, his family, his friends and his very flesh. So, why do his friends see a need to further mock him.
v22 "Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?"
Then in the last verses Job is again the teacher. He points out that the problem is not with himself but with them and they should be careful.
v28 "But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?"
Why are people hungry? We could point out their lifestyle and the mistakes they have made that put them in their situation. In reality, those people are hungry because we judged them instead of stopping to fed them. They are guilty of being hungry, we are guilty of 'passing on the other side of the road'. Who has the problem?
Psalm 147:11 "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy."
Job speaks of the resurrection and hope after death.
Previous post.
I put those verses first because I see them as the crowning jewel of this chapter if not the entire book of Job. We often hear of the patience of Job, and he had great patience with his friends. But here is a demonstration of Job's faith. Faith that reaches beyond his present state into the future where his redemption is sure.
v2 "How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?"
Words can be painful, unlike the famous saying about sticks and stones. Being a writer myself, I am aware that words can be used as weapons and I try not to do that. Job was the sufferer, the victim if you will, but he is put on the witness stand by his friends where they attacked him as if they were three prosecuting attorneys.
He cautions his friends about using his own distress to magnify themselves.
v5-6 "If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach; Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net."
I think Job is telling his friends that he does not need to be reproached by them if he has erred because God has already seen his errors and is the final judge of the matter.
We see in the middle of the chapter Job's position with his closest people.
v13 "He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me."
v15 "They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight."
v16 "I called my servant, and he gave me no answer..."
v17 "My breath is strange to my wife..."
v18 "Yea, young children despised me;..."
Job gives his friends a run down of what all he has lost. He paints a picture of him loosing his position, his family, his friends and his very flesh. So, why do his friends see a need to further mock him.
v22 "Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?"
Then in the last verses Job is again the teacher. He points out that the problem is not with himself but with them and they should be careful.
v28 "But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?"
Why are people hungry? We could point out their lifestyle and the mistakes they have made that put them in their situation. In reality, those people are hungry because we judged them instead of stopping to fed them. They are guilty of being hungry, we are guilty of 'passing on the other side of the road'. Who has the problem?
Psalm 147:11 "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy."
Job speaks of the resurrection and hope after death.
Previous post.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Bildad Speaks Again Job 18
Job 18:2 "How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterward we will speak."
Tell us when you are finished and we will speak, says Bildad. I do not see evidence that it would make any difference.
Bildad still charts out the wickedness of Job and the penalty of the same.
In a way, Bildad is correct. We are all sinners. In this case, it does not seem the time to point out Job's faults. Job is in great distress and it is a time for comforting a friend. But he continues:
v5 "Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine."
These words bring out the best in Job's responses. We will see them in the next chapter.
Bildad wraps it up with hopelessness: v20 "They that come after him shall be astonished at his day, as they that went before were affrighted. v21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."
You know, these speeches of Job's 'friends' sound much like someone trying to impress someone with how smart they are. They do hold truth but not all the truth. They do hold wisdom but only one side of the issue. If they only knew the whole picture they would feel very ignorant.
David prayed much for the destruction of the wicked until he found himself among those who might sin. In Psalm 40 verse 2 we see his condition and his redemption:
Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
Bildad Speaks again.
Previous post.
Tell us when you are finished and we will speak, says Bildad. I do not see evidence that it would make any difference.
Bildad still charts out the wickedness of Job and the penalty of the same.
In a way, Bildad is correct. We are all sinners. In this case, it does not seem the time to point out Job's faults. Job is in great distress and it is a time for comforting a friend. But he continues:
v5 "Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine."
These words bring out the best in Job's responses. We will see them in the next chapter.
Bildad wraps it up with hopelessness: v20 "They that come after him shall be astonished at his day, as they that went before were affrighted. v21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."
You know, these speeches of Job's 'friends' sound much like someone trying to impress someone with how smart they are. They do hold truth but not all the truth. They do hold wisdom but only one side of the issue. If they only knew the whole picture they would feel very ignorant.
David prayed much for the destruction of the wicked until he found himself among those who might sin. In Psalm 40 verse 2 we see his condition and his redemption:
Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
Bildad Speaks again.
Previous post.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Job waits for Grave Job 17
I apologize for being gone a week. We had our children and grandchildren down. We had not seen the grandchildren for over a year.
Job 17:11 "My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart."
Job is a broken man. His friends do nothing but condemn him. His servants no longer obey and his family is dead or alienated from him. He is alone with his thoughts and prayers except for the daily badgering of those he once called his friends.
v2 "Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?"
Job seems to have accepted death. He remembers his past glory and recognizes his present state.
v6 "He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was a tabret."
I could not find a meaning for the word tabret but as it is used, it sounds like a person of position.
In chapter 29 we will see the man this poor wretch once was. v6 "..I washed my steps with butter..." v8 "The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up." v9 "The princes refrained talking..." v10"The nobles held their peace..."v21 "Unto me men gave ear, and waited..." v25 "I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners."
Job was a great man and worthy of respect. He was a leader and the people trusted him.
Job will learn another lesson in this powerful book of the Bible. You have heard the phrase 'what do you give a man who has everything'. I suppose we could wonder hear "What do you teach a man who seems to be the smartest man around?' We will see later as Job deals with this terrible test in his life.
It draws me to the sufferings of Jesus and the question "How does sinful man a approach a perfect God without instant destruction?" The answer was to have someone who was sinless, present his case. As Job said "Job 16:21 "O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!" See also Psalm 22.
Job 1:8 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?"
Job accepts the grave.
Previous post.
Job 17:11 "My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart."
Job is a broken man. His friends do nothing but condemn him. His servants no longer obey and his family is dead or alienated from him. He is alone with his thoughts and prayers except for the daily badgering of those he once called his friends.
v2 "Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?"
Job seems to have accepted death. He remembers his past glory and recognizes his present state.
v6 "He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was a tabret."
I could not find a meaning for the word tabret but as it is used, it sounds like a person of position.
In chapter 29 we will see the man this poor wretch once was. v6 "..I washed my steps with butter..." v8 "The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up." v9 "The princes refrained talking..." v10"The nobles held their peace..."v21 "Unto me men gave ear, and waited..." v25 "I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners."
Job was a great man and worthy of respect. He was a leader and the people trusted him.
Job will learn another lesson in this powerful book of the Bible. You have heard the phrase 'what do you give a man who has everything'. I suppose we could wonder hear "What do you teach a man who seems to be the smartest man around?' We will see later as Job deals with this terrible test in his life.
It draws me to the sufferings of Jesus and the question "How does sinful man a approach a perfect God without instant destruction?" The answer was to have someone who was sinless, present his case. As Job said "Job 16:21 "O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!" See also Psalm 22.
Job 1:8 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?"
Job accepts the grave.
Previous post.
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