Request

I have a tag at the bottom of each post which makes it easy to tell a friend about this Bible study. It is not an in depth study but if you are in a hurry and need a subject to think about during the day. It is quick and easy to read over a study. Please tell someone once in a while. Thank you.

Eliphaz Continues Job 5

Job 5:1 "Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?"

Eliphaz is still talking from the last chapter. I should not be too critical of Eliphaz because what he said was important enough to be recorded in the scriptures.

He shows a lot of wisdom in these verses and no doubt he has had many discussions with his friend Job. In the case, however, I think Eliphaz has missed the point and does not know the whole situation. He is dealing with Job as if this was only an individual struggle. It is a test to show Satan that a righteous man can remain faithful even in the most awful circumstances.

v2 "For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one."

He is not giving Job much credit in this chapter. He is putting Job in the category of fools and then goes on to tell him what all happens to a foolish man. In verse 4 he cruelly reminds Job of the loss of his children and indicates it was his fault "His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them."

Then he reminds Job that his crops are being taken by strangers. It also reminds one of the loss of the oxen used to plow and the other animals that were taken in the first chapter. v5 "Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance." In better times, Job would have had people to prevent all this from happening but he is in a helpless state.

As if Job had not already been praying, Eliphaz tells him that if it were him he would seek God in verse 8. 'Look now if it was me...' v8 "I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: That is good advice but probably not appropriate now for such a man as Job who must have surely been communing with God all along.

In verse 13 Job's wisdom is attacked. He is a teacher of many and must have been sought after for advice since he was so successful. v13 "He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.." I do not believe Job used his wisdom to try to get some advantage. But he is virtually accused of such here.

It goes on and on. Eliphaz is in a accusatory mode and even with his wise words, it seems, he has still missed the jest of Job's situation. I like a lot of what Eliphaz said but if I were Job and had spent my life devoted to God, I would not want to hear all that he said at this time.

In the last verse, Eliphaz takes credit for what he has said. It is based on his great wisdom. "Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good."

Just because Eliphaz has done some research on the problem, does not give him the final say so and does not make it so just because he has spoken it. There is wisdom far beyond that of man.

In the next chapter we will see what Job's response is.

Psalm 88:1-3 "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles and my life draweth nigh unto the grave."

Eliphaz continues speaking to Job.

Eliphaz Speaks to Job - Job 4

Job 4:2 "If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?"

Eliphaz was sort of respectful but as good as said that he was going to talk anyway. He makes several points in the next two chapters and I believe stretches the truth some. He is basically talking from 'much learning' and does not understand the test Job is going through.

(A note of caution when quoting and studying the Bible. There are often conversations in the Bible or someone telling a story i.e. the conversation Jesus had with Satan when he was being enticed to test God. Another is when the Philistine was telling David of Saul's death, he lied that Saul was killed by himself when actually Saul fell on his sword. The danger is in picking out a single verse and using it without considering the context.)

Let's look at the points Eliphaz made:

-Job must have sinned:
v7 "Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?"

He tells Job that he has been a shining light but surely he must have done something to bring all this trouble on him.

-God's judgment and his own experience:
v8 "Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. v9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed."

Remember the first chapter. God said Job was a perfect and upright man. It was Satan who said Job would fail if his blessings were taken away. Contrary to some present day teachings, hard times are not always a sign of sinful living, nor is wealth a sign of righteous living.

-Now Eliphaz says he was given a secret vision:
v13 "In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men."
He lays it on thick. v 14 "Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. v15 "Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:"

Now I get a little skeptical when people start talking like that. There are many spirits in the world and all of them are not of God. A cold chill will also make goose bumps and a breeze will move hair on your arm.

I John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
I Timothy 4:4 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that int he latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; v2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; heaving their conscience seared with a hot iron;"

-It seems here that Eliphaz is saying that Job has placed himself above God in some way.
v17 "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?"

I have seen nothing in Job that would indicate that he felt he was better than God. Eliphaz seems to be attacking Job's mind, to put in swirling thoughts to torment him. Is Eliphaz part of the test? Is Satan using him to no good? I cannot be sure but if a friend came to me when I was in such trouble, I would not want a long discourse. I would enjoy a drink of cool water more.

Eliphaz continues in the next chapter.

Psalm 40:14-15 "Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha."

Eliphaz talks to Job.
Link to previous post.

Welcome to the World

I just wanted to mention a few places that I do not see hitting on my Bible Study. Greenland seems like a place that would have computers and the Internet. Brazil has a different language but I'm sure they could translate it to Portuguese(Sorry if I spelled that wrong). Russia surely has folks interested in a Bible study and China is more open minded than they use to be. You see I have a map on the Bible Study that shows where the hits come from and I haven't seen any from these countries. So, here is hoping that you will check out the study and read the scriptures I provide if they are not available where you are or if you just left your Bible at home. Thank you so much.

Building Resumed Ezra 5

Ezra 5:1 "Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

We will need to look at parts of these two books of the Bible to see what they said. They are located near the end of the Old Testament just before Malachi.

v2 "Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them."

At this time it seems there were four men working on the temple: Haggai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Joshua in the mentioned books).

Then came the adversaries and confronted the builders wanting to know who told them they could start building again. Remember Cyrus told them to do so, then Artaxerxes stopped them after the governors told the king that it would take away his revenue. Now Darius is on the throne and the LORD has encamped at Jerusalem to see to the building.

v5 "But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter."

The letter to Darius from the counselors of the governors included the report that building had resumed against the orders of the previous king but it also included the testimony of the elders who told how Cyrus had ordered the building of the temple. It included a challenge to the king to search the records to see whether it was true. This goes to a legal term called a precedent. It means that if it has been done in the past by law makers, it can be done again based on that action, or something like that.

v17 "Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

The counselors asked for a ruling from the judge, in this case the king. The answer in the next chapter is not what they were expecting and dramatically turned the tide in favor of the children of Israel.

Ezra shows us what is happening in the physical world. Behind the scenes, so to speak, there is also action which we have to go to the prophets to find. As example, we will look at some verses in Zechariah:

The Lord speaking: Zechariah 1:15 "And I am sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction." The LORD intended to punish his people for their sin, he used the other nation to do so, but he was not pleased when they took it on themselves to increase the punishment.

v16 "Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem."

These chapters are very interesting: We have the LORD of Hosts, two angels and a prophet talking.

Chapter 2:3 "And behold the angel that talked with me went forth and another angel went out to meet him v4 And said unto him Run, speak to this young man, saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. v5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."

The tide has turned away from the heathen and in favor of the builders. Of course, it was the LORD who made the difference. We will close with this verse from Chapter 3:8 "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Temple work resumes.

2008 Ending

We are fast approaching the end of 2008. It has been a year like no other. Things have changed so fast in so many areas that it has been hard to keep up. Some of us have lost family members. Some have lost jobs. Some have lost homes. The very face of the world seems to have changed. We have gone from financial stability to the edge of ruin. The weather even seems to be attacking us. Needless to say, these are tough times. We have been shaken from our comfort zones. It is not a time to despair. That is easier to say than to do. Despair is an enemy that we must all fight against. Little ones are looking to us older folks for hope. We may have been battered by life and be looking for a place to 'park it' but these little ones have their life ahead of them. It is our responsibility to seek strength from the LORD so that we can guide them. That strength lies in his word where we find his promises. One I like is where he said 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'

The journey of this Bible Study started back in 2006. It has been hard at times to turn to the next chapter and search for a truth that might help someone. Consistent throughout the scripture is the fact that when God says something will happen, it will happen. We started in Genesis where Adam and Eve sinned against the LORD and he had to shed innocent blood to provide a covering for them. A promise of redemption was made, a nation was born. A great king named David became ruler of that kingdom and through him the promise for redemption continues. I have said that this nation is like a pregnant lady carrying the promise down through the ages. Efforts continue in our studies to destroy that nation but the LORD is faithful. We know from further reading that a remnant did survive and was there when Christ was born of the tribe of David and the promise of redemption was fulfilled. God's promises are reliable.

So another year comes. We must lift up our heads and find strength to point our children to the LORD. His word is stable in times of turmoil. He is faithful.

Articles in Temple II Chronicles 4

II Chronicles 4:1 "Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof."

This was not the typical altar we see in churches these days, at least in most churches in days gone by. This altar was used for animal sacrifices and so had to be rather large. 30 feet by 30 feet by 15 feet. I am not an expert but I think the height (15 feet) was to allow a place for stuff to fall away when the animals were sacrificed.

Many Bibles have a graph of the temple. It was made in the fashion of the tabernacle. The temple was of course more extravagant. It was made like a rectangle inside a rectangle plus the porch. Preparations were made outside the inner court, i.e. the washing and cleaning of ones self. Then the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies where the LORD appeared.

As the priest approached from the outside, the importance of cleanliness became progressively more important as the Holy of Holies was approached. Man cannot be in the presence of God without the blood to compensate for mans sinfulness. That is why the blood of Jesus is so important to us. He sacrificed once for all time and so the rigorous ceremony of the law is not now necessary in Jesus.

Hebrews 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

Hebrews 9:12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us."

Then in this chapter we have a listing of the various instruments and what they were made of. Precious metals all but it is said of the gold used that it was perfect gold.

v20-21 "Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold; And the flowers and the lamps and the tongs made he of gold and that perfect gold;"

So great care and great expense went into the building and furnishing of the temple. After all, Solomon had said that he was building a great house for the name of the LORD.

Psalm 138:2 "I will worship toward thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

Solomon makes the things to furnish the temple.

Solomon Begans to Build Temple II Chronicles 3

II Chronicles 3:1 "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite."

Back when David numbered the people against the Lord's will and the angel was destroying the people, it was here where David told the LORD that it was he who sinned and to please spare the people. Here on mount Moriah Solomon began to build the temple. It was to be a magnificent building.

The basic structure was 60 cubits by 20 cubits or 90 by 30 feet. 1 cubit is 18 inches.

In front of this was a porch which was 20 cubits by a height of 120 cubits. Verse 4 does not say how wide (how far out from the front of the basic structure) the porch was. It was overlaid with gold within. So upon entry, the scene was striking.

v7 "And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty and the gold was gold of Parvaim."

Everywhere the house sparkled with gold silver and precious stones. The most holy place was given special attention. Two cherubims stretched for 20 cubits (30 feet) their wings from side to side over the ark with their wings touching in the middle. They faced inward toward the altar.

v14 "And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson and fine linen and wrought cherubims thereon."

These representing royalty and the blood. (I see nothing else the crimson could represent)

Verse 17 is interesting. The pillars were named after Boaz who married Ruth of Moab who was a stranger in Israel but was married to a Jewish man who was the husband of Naomi. They had gone down to Moab during a drought where all died but Naomi and the daughters-in-law. Ruth refused to leave Naomi and so became the wife of Boaz of whom Jesse and David and Solomon descended, as well as Jesus Christ. Jachin was the head of the twenty-first course of the priests. His name means he shall establish. Boaz means fleetness and strength.

v17 "And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin and the name of that on the left Boaz."

Psalm 97 "Ye that love the LORD, hate evil; he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked."

Solomon starts work on the temple and the beauty is described in this chapter of Chronicles in our Bible Study.