Job 29-31  Job's last long discourse is presented in these three chapters.  Chapter 29 is Job's look at his past . He felt God's blessing on his life and his family.  "Oh that I were as in the months gone by, as in the days when God watched over me; When His lamp shone over my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;"  Everything was "perfect" in the days prior to that one day when Job lost everything.  He was blessed with his children, his wealth, his position in society.. "... my steps were bathed in butter.." He felt like a king, was treated with respect and maybe even reverence. 

Chapter 30 "But now.. "  Everything changed for Job that day.  Now he was being mocked, scorned, and threatened.  He was a broken man. "and now my soul is poured out within me."  Job's deepest sorrow was that he felt abandoned by God. "He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. I cry out to Thee for help, but Thou dost no answer me; I stand up, and Thou dost turn Thy attention against me." ( v19-20)  Job says he is "mourning without comfort;"  No one.. not even God.. seems to care for him in his present state. 

Chapter 31 - Here Job chronicles his "righteousness".   He is willing to take the consequences of anything he is guilty of.. but.. he asserts.. he isn't guilty!

He hasn't allowed his eyes to wander. 

He hasn't walked in falsehoods. 

He hasn't deceived anyone. 

He hasn't been unfaithful to his wife. 

He hasn't mistreated his servants.

He hasn't neglected the needy. 

He hasn't oppressed the orphans. 

He hasn't trusted in gold or wealth. 

He hasn't worshiped the sun or moon. 

He hasn't spoken evil or cursed anyone. 

He hasn't refused help to the alien at his door. 

He hasn't even mistreated his land. 

 

Job knows that God sees his ways and numbers his steps.  God knows what he has and has not done. His appeal is to the God who sees.

And God is about to answer. 

Father in heaven, You see me. You know me. All that I have done, that I shouldn't have.. all that I have not done that I should have.  It is true for every single one of us.  Our lists mean nothing when it comes to You.  For all our "righteous deeds"  as Isaiah wrote, "are like a filthy garment". We  look to You, our Lord.. "Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou are potter; and all of us are the work of Thy hand. " Our  only hope is You.  Oh how thankful we are for the forgiveness of our sins through Christ Jesus our Savior!  Thank You that we are IN Christ and He is in us.  We are clothed with the righteousness of our Lord, who gave Himself up to the cross so that we might be Yours forever.  We praise and worship You with all our hearts.  Father, You see those who are suffering right now. Those who feel abandoned and have no comfort. Answer their cries, Father.  Remind them that You were with Job even when he felt hopeless.. and You will be with them through it all.  We are Your people and we will trust You fully. Help us to do so more and more.  In the name of Jesus, who never forsakes us, we pray. Amen. 

 Job 27 Job feels betrayed by his friends.. and even by the Lord.. "As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty who has embittered my soul.. "  He is confident that he did nothing to deserve the suffering that he had experienced.  It is the godless... the wicked who should be judged and punished by God. 

But in chapter 28 Job changes his focus. Once again we find Job looking to God.  In verses 1-11 Job talks about the creation, in particular the abundant wealth hidden underneath the ground and in the rocks - gold, silver, copper, gems - unseen and unimportant to the beasts of the earth. But, men dig and smelt and labor to unearth them. They.. we.. place great value on these kinds of things. 

In comparison, Job asks, "But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?"  The things most important and vital to life- wisdom and understanding.... what is really worth searching and laboring for:

"Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. 

The deep says, 'It is not in me;' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.' 

Pure gold can not be given in exchange for it, nor can silver be weighed as its price. 

It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx, or sapphire. 

Gold or glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold. 

Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; and the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls...

 (v13-18)

"Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?"  Job asks again.. 

"God understands its way; And He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.When He imparted weight to the wind, and meted out the waters by measure, when He set the limit for the rain, and a course for the thunderbolt, Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out, and to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding."  ( v23-28)

Paul prayed  for the believers in Colossae ... "that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in true knowledge of God's mystery, that is Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 

I'm reminded of Christ's words about treasure - " Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."( Matthew 6:19-21)

He also said, "The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil." ( Matthew 12:35)

Where is our treasure?  Or maybe more importantly.. WHAT is our treasure?   Jesus said, "the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.. the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Matthew 13:44-46)

True wealth if found in Christ..in whom we find true wisdom and knowledge.. His Kingdom is worth every ounce of our strength, every minute of our time, every part of our lives.. .  He is the Treasure that will never rust or fade.. and that no one can take away from us.  Hallelujah! 

Father in heaven, hallowed is Your Name.  You are worthy of all our praise and all our thanksgiving. We seek You. We seek Christ Jesus, our Redeemer and great Treasure. We seek Your wisdom and understanding that can not be found in all the earth.. but is hidden in Christ. This is the treasure we desire more than anything this world can offer. Thank You for this Word today.. reminding us once again of what is most valuable .. You.  Fill us Spirit with this depth of Truth and Life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Job 22-26 The argument between Job and his friends wages on.  They are getting angry at Job, for he will not be persuaded that they are right.  He has not done the things they have accused him of doing.  They want him to repent, but he has nothing to repent of.. or so he thinks.  Eliphaz's criticism is almost vicious.  Yet, Job does not respond in anger.  Instead, Job turns back to his yearning to seek God, to find Him, and to learn what He is doing. 

"Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn the words which He would answer, and perceive what He would say to me. Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?" (23:3-6) 

Job believes that he is completely innocent and that God is acting in a way that terrifies him. "It is God who has made my heart faint, and the Almighty who has dismayed me..." (v15-16) 

In chapter 24 Job wonders at the ways of God that seem to favor the wicked and fail the poor.  The more he talks, the more discouraged they all become! 

Bildad begins to sink into a depression.. .. "How then can a man be just with God?..If even the moon has no brightness and the stars are not pure in His sight, how much less man, that maggot, and the son of man, that worm!"(25:4-6)

Job rebukes Bildad, "To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit was expressed through you?"

Job reminds him that God is great...."He stretches our the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing. He wraps up the waters in His clouds; and the cloud does not burst under them." (26:7-8) 

God covers the moon. He makes a boundary for light and darkness. He quiets the seas. He clears the heavens.  "His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold these are the fringes of His ways; and how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?"

When things don't make sense in our world.. when the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer.. when we can't hear God's voice and we start to feel terrified or deserted.. may we be like Job in this moment.. remembering Who God is.. the power of His might.. His greatness and His goodness. May we encourage one another with the message of God's love and grace. 

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.."

Father in heaven, teach us to seek You with all our hearts and to never give up. Show us Your glory in the midst of our sorrows, pain, depression.. or whatever is blocking our path to You. We desire to draw nearer to Your heart, to be filled with Your love, and to lay everything else down at Your feet.  Spirit of God let the power of Christ work in us today. We ask this in the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Job 20-21  Such comforters.. Job's friends are.. Their accusations and pronouncements get harsher and harsher.. They cannot fathom that Job is suffering for nothing. He must be guilty of vile sinfulness to have such a terrible punishment. Zophar's message in Chapter 20 is a solemn picture of the end of a wicked man's life.   "He perishes forever like his refuse.. "  Because of his pride, oppression, and excess, the wicked will suffer.. "He may flee from the iron weapon, but the bronze bow will pierce him. It is drawn forth and comes out his back, even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him, complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures.. " v24-26

Yet, Job argues, he has seen the wicked prosper. "Their descendants are established in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes, their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them... (21:8-9)" Even in their deaths they seem to not acknowledge God. It seems unfair to Job.. yet again he bows to God's sovereignty .. "Can anyone teach God knowledge, in that He judges those on high?" v22 We understand how Job feels.. "One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and satisfied; ... while another dies with a bitter soul, never even tasting anything good, together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.. " v23-26

It appears.. at least on the surface.. that sometimes the unbeliever lives a "better" life than that of a believer.  They might have great mansions, wonderful clothing, or luxurious cars.. they may even seem happy and content.  We even see terrible dictators and terrorists.. strutting around, boasting of their own greatness.. and wonder why God does not strike them dead.  We see humble Christian brothers and sisters thrown into prisons, terrorized, persecuted, and even killed.. and we wonder why God does not deliver them and take vengeance on their enemies. 

Like Job.. we need to bow to God's sovereignty.... He sees. He knows. He judges. We do not understand.. for  His ways  are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  What we do know is that God is good.  He is kind. He is powerful. And He is just. Like Job, we must cling to Him.. no matter what. 

Father in heaven, You are God in heaven above and on earth below and there is no other.  What we do not understand.. we must simply trust You for... We are Yours and surrender to Your will, no matter what.. and trust You for the strength to face what comes. Even as I write these words, I tremble.. for if You do not help us, we have no help. If You do not comfort us, we have no comfort. We truly need You every moment and every hour.  May we understand this truth..and pray this prayer.. that You would grant us, according to the riches of Your glory. "to be strengthened with power through [Your] Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith; and that.. being rooted and grounded in love, [we] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the  breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that [we] may be filled up to all the fulness of God." ( Eph. 3:15-19)  Come and fill us again today, Lord, that we might stand firm, resisting evil.. until the day of Your appearing.. knowing without doubt that Your grace is sufficient no matter what!  In the Name of our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ we pray. amen.

 Job 18-19   Bildad once again responded to Job's lament.  Both  men throw accusations at each other, saying that the other side thinks they are better, more righteous, or wiser than himself. Bildad's argument here gives us a look at the  life and death of the wicked. It is stark and solemn.. something that we don't like to dwell on, but perhaps something we need to contemplate. 

v5 "Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out, and the flame of his fire gives no light. The light in his tent is darkened, and his lamp goes out above him."  Bildad describes this life of darkness - 

He no longer walks with strength. He gets caught in his own schemes. He ends up in his own net. Terror surrounds him. His strength leaves him.  His health fails him. His security is gone. Even the memory of him is lost. "Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God. "

Bildad is not wrong in this. Other Scriptures agree: 

Proverbs 4:19 "the way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble." 

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness." 

Jesus talked about darkness too:

Matthew 6:23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

John 3:19 "And this is the judgement that the light has come into the world and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil."

John 8:12 "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'"

John 12:35 "Jesus therefore said to them, 'For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness doe not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light. " 

 Jesus came to bring us out of the darkness!

John 1:5 "And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it." Light can never be seized by the darkness! Jesus is the True Light who overcomes it!

Acts 26:18  Paul's testimony is that Jesus called him to  ministry for this purpose "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me."

 Darkness keeps trying.. as Paul warns us in Ephesians 6:12 " For our struggle is ... against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness... "

But.. as he wrote in Colossians 1:13 "For He ( God)  delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son."  As we walk in His Light we are safe. 

Darkness is the enemy in life but also the future place of those who refuse the Light... 

Matthew 8:12 ".. but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. " 

Bildad's message was true... but not about Job.  For Job responds to the True Light.. "And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold and whom my eyes shall see and not another. My heart faints within me." (19:25-27)

Father in heaven, thank You for the Light!  Thank You for not condemning us to eternal darkness, but instead sending the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son so that we might have life. We look forward to that day when there will be no more darkness!  Help us to keep walking in the Light day by day.. to the glory of our Lord Jesus.  Father, we see the darkness trying to snuff out the Light in so many ways in our world.. help us to open the eyes of others that they might see the True Light and turn from the darkness and receive forgiveness for their sins and the wonderful inheritance promised to those who follow Jesus.  Come and fill us Holy Spirit that we might be light in this darkness.. wherever we are.. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Job 15 - 17   Eliphaz speaks once again, this time with anger and insults against Job.  He sees Job as a wicked man with no wisdom and he sees God as one who doesn't even trust His angels, let alone "one who is detestable and corrupt." Unfortunately that is a point of view that still prevails in our world today. 

Job relies, "Sorry comforters are you all."  If things were on the other foot, Job says, he would be there to strengthen and help his friends, not accuse and insult them. 

Job is feeling exhausted, shriveled, torn, hunted, slapped, handed over to ruffians, shattered... God has "grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.. " (16:12) Ever feel that way?

As I read Job's description of himself.. I think of Jesus at Calvary.. "His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours my gall on the ground. He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior..."  Job suffered, yes, but our gracious Lord, Jesus Christ suffered even more.. for us. 

Job cried out, "My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, the grave is ready for me." ( 17:1)  He was losing all hope and his friends were only making him feel worse. 

Perhaps we should exam how we handle suffering...our own pains and sorrows.. or that of our friends?  May we have the compassion of our God and the steadfastness of Jesus.  

II Thessalonians 2:16-17 is a prayer that we can pray.. "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word." Who do you know that needs to have you pray for them today? Do it now!

Father, I thank You for loving us and for giving us comfort in our struggles and sorrows.  I pray for those I know who need to feel Your love today.  Pour out Your grace upon them. Comfort them with Your Presence and peace.  Bring alongside them friends who will truly love and comfort them with words that are kind and loving. May we know Your love, be filled with Your grace and mercy, and reach out to those who are suffering today.  We pray this in the name of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Job 11-14  Zophar,  Job's third friend, speaks next.  He comes on strong.. accusing Job of talking too much, of boasting, and of not knowing God.  He rebukes Job and tells him to repent so that his troubles would be over.  As in the others, there is a grain of truth in Zophar's message:  "Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? They are as high as the heavens, what can you do?"

But, Zophar and the others are rebuked by Job.. "Truly then you are the people, and with you wisdom will die!"  Job throws back at them.  He resents their accusations and their "wisdom". So he  turns back to the Lord God.  Everything is in God's hands, Job repeats.. and if God wants to do anything, no-one can stop Him. 

"With Him are wisdom and might, to Him belong counsel  and understanding." (12:13)  God tears down and builds up. God imprisons and releases. God humbles the proud. God raises up nations and destroys them too. 

Job wants to bring his argument before God. He doesn't want his peers to keep speaking. "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. This also will be my salvation, for a godless man may not come before His presence." Job is sure of his innocence, sure of His Savior, and sure of the fact that his days are numbered and in God's hands. 

In spite of the suffering. In spite of the accusations from his friends.. in spite of feeling deserted by God.. Job keeps waiting. " .. all the days of my struggle I will wait, until my change comes. Thou wilt call and I will answer Thee; Thou wilt long for the work of Thy hands." (14:14-15)

Father in heaven, teach us Your ways through this servant of Yours, Job.  Teach us to keep trusting. Teach us to wait upon You. Teach us to exalt and praise You and to give You thanks.  Remind us, Father, that You are in control and that Your good and perfect will is always better than anything we can ask for.  Teach us to lay down our lives, take up our crosses and follow Jesus.. no matter what.  Thank You for the salvation that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord and King!  Amen. 

 Job 10   Job was desperately seeking a way out of his misery.  He felt that death was near and was seeking an answer from God.  Job's understanding of who he is reminds me of  Psalm 139.

"Thy hands fashioned and made me altogether.. Remember now, that Thou hast made me as clay; and wouldst Thou turn me into dust again? Didst Thou not pour me out like milk, and curdle me as cheese; clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews? " v8-11

Job knew that he was fearfully and wonderfully made.  He recognized the power of God and the kindness of God.  And he realized that God knew a lot more than he could ever imagine.. "Yet these things Thou hast concealed in Thy heart; I know that this is within Thee." 

Job couldn't face the God who was seemingly punishing him for something  that he didn't even know.. .  So, instead he just wished that he had never lived.  And even in all of this, he kept believing.. "Thou hast granted me life and lovingkindness; and Thy care has preserved my soul." v12

Father in heaven,  we look to You, who has made each of us for Your own purposes, and we praise Your Name.  You are the One who knows us intimately, loves us deeply, and saves us from all sin, from death, and from the darkness that sometimes shadows us, like it did Job.  Thank You for the Word and for the example of Your servants who kept their faith even in the midst of misery.  We need You every hour and You are always with us. For this we are so grateful.  Be glorified in our lives we pray. Amen. 

 Job 8  Bildad is the next to speak to Job and according to  Chapter 9:2, Job agrees with what he has to say.   Bildad's main point is that God is just.  "Does God pervert justice or does the Almighty pervert what is right?" (v3) 

Bildad thinks that Job's sons were taken away because of their own sins.  He encourages Job to "seek God and implore the compassion of the Almighty.. "   He suggests that Job seek counsel and learn from the past generations.  He encourages Job to trust God for the future.. for "God will not reject a man of integrity." And, he encourages Job to have hope because  God would "..yet fill your mouth with laughter." 

Chapter 9 is Job's response to Bildad.  He agrees that God is just, but he feels that he has not been treated justly and that he has no recourse.. no one to argue on his behalf.. and no way to argue with God who will do what He wants to do.. no matter what.  He makes some good points:

"But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to dispute with Him, he could not answer Him once in a thousand times." (v2-3)

"It is God who removes the mountains.. He overturns them in His anger;...Who shakes the earth.. .commands the sun not to shine.. stretches out the heavens.. tramples down the waves.. Who does great things, unfathomable, and wondrous works without number.." 

Job says that even if God passed him by, he wouldn't know it. Even if he called on God and He answered him.. he wouldn't have the words to say.  Even if he was righteous.. his mouth would condemn him..Even if he washed himself with snow or lye.. he would not be clean enough for God. 

"For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him." (v32)

And all this is true, for God is Sovereign and all powerful. We cannot answer Him or question Him...  But, God so loved the world..  all of us.. that He gave us  Jesus!   How can we be right before God?  Jesus!  How can we know His Presence?  Jesus!  How can we be made clean?  Jesus!  We cannot come before the Father in any other way.  Our God is just, but He also is merciful and in His greatness He has given us Living Hope. 

Hallelujah!  Christ Jesus came to bring us into God's Presence, to give us a hope and a future far greater than anything we can imagine!

Father in heaven, thank You for this lesson from Your servant Job.  What he could not imagine, You have provided. How thankful we are for the Hope we have in Christ Jesus who is the Mediator, sitting at Your right hand, interceding for us.. even this very moment. How amazing! As David wrote, "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" These thoughts make my soul sing!   You are the One who moves mountains, parts seas, and rescues Your children from darkness.  We praise You Lord! Thank You for giving us words to praise You! We give You our worship as we surrender to Your will. Be exalted in all the earth and in Your people today.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen. 

 Job 6-7  Job tries to answer his friend, but all he feels is "vexation".  He still thinks he would be better off dead than in his current condition.  We can relate.. when we are sick or in pain, it is hard to be patient with others.. especially those who aren't being helpful.  Job does not feel any kind of comfort from Eliphaz's long speech.  Instead, he just feels worse. 

Job contemplates his coming death. As far as he knows, life is over for him and he just wants it done with.  "I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath."   In 7:17, Job turns to the Lord again.. "What is man that Thou dost magnify him, and that Thou art concerned about him, that Thou dost examine him every morning, and try him every moment?"

Job questions God "Have I sinned? What have I done to Thee, O watcher of men?"  Job asks for pardon and forgiveness.. so he can just lay down and die.  His anguish is as deep as it could be. 

Father in heaven, there are times in our lives when we think our pain is more than we can bear.. whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual... we know that You do see us, You do care for us, and You are our hope and salvation.  Like Job, we might think that our lives are over or that we would be better off dead.. but, we know that You see us and that Your plan is always for our good and for Your purposes.  Keep us faithful, keep us hopeful, and keep us steadfast in Your love and grace we pray. That even in those kinds of times, we will trust in You.  Thank You for being our Healer, our Protector, and our always faithful Father. amen. 

 Job 4:12-5:27    Eliphaz tells of an experience he had.. it was frightening.  He heard a whisper.  He had a "disquieting" dream.  He felt dread and began to tremble.  He felt the breath of a spirit pass over him and it made his hair stand up.  It was completely silent but then he heard a voice. 

"Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?"  The answer to these questions is apparently "No".   The voice tells him that God doesn't trust anyone.. not His servants, not His angels.. and certainly not "those who dwell in houses of clay." People are dust.  We are broken. We die. 

Yet, Eliphaz was not totally without hope! Chapter 5 tells us that Eliphaz does have faith in God. "But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. He gives rain to the earth, and sends water to the fields..." ( v8-9)

Eliphaz recites the works of God:

God lifts up the lowly. He helps those that mourn.  He frustrates the wicked. He "captures the wise by their own shrewdness."  He saves.. the poor from the hand of the mighty."  He gives the "helpless hope".  He shuts up the unrighteous.  He reproves and disciplines His own.  

God "inflicts pain and gives relief; He wounds and His hands also heal."  He delivers.. He redeems.. He protects.. He gives peace. 

What Eliphaz did not know.. and what we have the privilege to know.. is the greatness of our God who sent Jesus Christ to accomplish all of this!

Father in heaven, we rejoice in Who You are. You are good. You are true. You are holy. You are loving.  You are our God and we bless Your Name. Bring us to a greater faith and to a greater love. Help us to walk this path of life in humble obedience and continual worship. Teach us Your ways and fill us with Your love. May Your will be done, Your Kingdom come, and Your Name exalted in all the earth. Thank You for the living hope that we have in Christ Jesus the Lord. amen. 

Job 4:7-11  Eliphaz, Job's friend, has another point to make.  "Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?" 

Was this true of Job?  Was he trusting in himself.. his fear.. his integrity?  Is this true of us?  Do we trust in our own selves.. is our confidence in our own integrity and  faith?  Did Job rest.. and do we rest.. in our self - righteousness?  It is a fair question. 

Eliphaz gives his opinion, based on his own experiences... 

"Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?"  Do the innocent get punished? Are the righteous destroyed?  Eliphaz is trying to make the point that only the wicked perish, but we know that this is not true.  Innocent people are often falsely accused and even killed... in fact, Jesus Christ was... for us!

"According to what I have seen... " Eliphaz emphasized, "those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble harvest it."   O, if that were so!  Eliphaz wants it to be so.. that God would punish the wicked and that would be the end of sin. We often want that too.. don't we?

But, the ways of God are higher than ours and His thoughts greater than ours. He has allowed the wicked to succeed and the righteous to fail.  The psalmist wrote about this in Psalm 73, "But, as for me I lost my balance, my feet nearly slipped, when I grew envious of the arrogant and saw how the wicked prosper.  For when their death comes, it is painless; and meanwhile their bodies are healthy; they don't have ordinary people's troubles, they aren't plagued like others....Yes, this is what the wicked are like; those free of misfortune keep increasing their wealth. "  

The psalmist's complaint leads him to think that  his devotion to the Lord meant nothing.."It's all for nothing that I've kept my heart clean and washed my hands, staying free of guilt; for all day long I am plagued; my punishment comes every morning." That is until.. " I went into the sanctuaries of God and grasped what their destiny would be.. "  He confesses his lack of understanding and turns back to the Lord.. ""Whom do I have in heaven but You? And with you, I lack nothing on earth. My mind and body may fail; but God is the rock for my mind and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; ... But for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made Adonai Elohim my refuge, so that I can tell of all your works."  ( Psalm 73: 2-5,12-14;17;25-26;  CJB) 

Father in heaven, we know that our understanding is so limited and that You know everything.  Help us to remember again that You are Sovereign and that You are good. We can trust You with our lives and know that You are our Rock and our portion forever.  May we trust in You alone.. not in our own works, but on the work that Jesus Christ finished on the cross of calvary. Help us to not be discouraged by what the wicked in this world do.. but to pray for repentance and salvation.. for they are on the path to destruction.   Holy Spirit, strengthen us to love You and to love even our enemies, for this is the commandment of our Savior and King. In His name we pray. Amen. 

 Job 4-5  Eliphaz, Job's friend, is the first to speak to Job and give him his point of view. He gives us some things to think about here.. 

Verses 1-6  Eliphaz reminds Job of the many times he admonished, strengthened, and helped other people. Then he asks, "But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed." 

Well, that touches a nerve, doesn't it? Many people are just like that.  We don't mind helping or correcting someone else.. but when the shoe is on the other foot.. well we don't appreciate that at all.  

Eliphaz has a point... "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." (5:17)  David wrote in Psalms 141:5 "Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil to my head; do not let my head refuse it.. "   In other words.. when I am wrong and someone points it out.. let me listen and not become defensive and stubborn.  Let me accept God's discipline with humble repentance. 

Even though this is not Job's problem.. it is still a truth that we can learn from. 

Father in heaven,  we do not want to be blind to our own sinfulness.  Holy Spirit, bring Your light and shine it into our hearts.. Search us and reveal the attitudes and assumptions that we hold about our own lives that are not pleasing to You. Give us a spirit of repentance. Forgive us, we pray. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Job 3  This chapter is called "Job's Lament" in my Bible.  Job pours out his heart.. to God, to his friends, to his wife... to anyone who will listen.  It boils down to this.. Job wishes that he had never been born.  He is so miserable and heart-broken that death is preferable over life. 

We see some of Job's beliefs about death in these verses... 

v13 -"For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest."

v14-19 Kings, counselors, princes, and even the wicked, the prisoner, or the slave.. "The small and the great are there.. "

Death in Job's thinking is a place of rest and a place where anyone and everyone is equally comfortable. We know that this is not Truth. We know that there is only quiet and rest for those who belong to Jesus. We know that all who die will face the judgement seat.  Yet, we see that Job's philosophy is widely accepted in our own days.  Millions of people who do not believe in God still believe that death is preferable to life.. that they will find rest.. that they will be happy.  They don't know that God sees them and knows them and that He will judge us each according to our deeds. ( Matthew 16:27) They don't know that unbelief will result in eternal death. 

"Why is light given to him who suffers, and life to the bitter of soul; who long for death but there is none.." v20-21  Job asks the question that is still asked all these centuries later.. why is there suffering? "I am not at ease, nor and I quiet, and I am not at rest, but turmoil comes."  Job concludes. 

We know that Job will find out later that God was not finished with him yet.  He could not see it.. but there was a purpose for his suffering and there was a day of restoration coming.  Job had not lost his faith, but he had lost his hope. This is what God would restore in him eventually.. and it would begin with this question.. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" (38:4) God would change  Job's focus from himself to His Lord. 

Our hope is in the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  When we are suffering, when we are discouraged, or when we start wondering why we are still among the living.. we need to go back to the basics.. our God, our Creator, Who is a great and mighty God. We need to change our focus from ourselves to Him!  His purposes will be accomplished and we can trust Him.  Like Job, may our response be, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee? I lay my hand on my mouth." (40:4)

Great is our God and greatly to be praised!

Father, turn our eyes and our hearts back to Yourself. Thank You for the Word of Life that reminds us that our lives are in Your Hands and that You love us with an everlasting love.. even if we  are suffering, or despondent, or heart-broken.  Help us to learn from Job and to keep our hope on the certainty of Your grace, power, and sovereignty.  Thank You. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. 

 Job 2  Again, the Lord focuses on Job as he questions Satan.  "Have you considered My servant Job?... And he still holds fast his integrity.."  

Satan asks and is granted the permission to test Job further, this time a physical disease. "Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." (v7)  And, even when Job's wife questions his integrity.. Job keeps his faith.. "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"

What about us?  What if all we had was taken away? What if we lost all our children to a disastrous storm? What if we became so sick that death would seem an improvement?  What if our spouses told us to give up?  What if?   Would we keep trusting our Lord? Would we keep worshiping? Would we have the integrity that Job had?  

This word "integrity" comes from the Hebrew word [tummah] - with the definition of innocence.  It indicates completeness, simplicity, and uprightness.  God Himself called Job "a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil."  He was a man complete in his faith. 

When Job's friends come to him, their intentions are honorable.  Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar come to comfort Job.  When they see him, they weep for him.  They join him with torn robes and dust on their heads. They sit down with him and stay with him for 7 days, "no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great." All these actions speak of love and friendship.  We can learn from this. 

Father in heaven, we bow before You to confess our lack of integrity.  We need You.  We often fail to have the kind of faith that Job exhibited.  But, You have told us that You will make us whole. We are being made complete in Jesus Christ, our Sanctifier. You are faithful and You will do it. You have told us that the testing of our faith produces endurance.  Let it be so in us.  Our problems are so petty compared to Job's.  May we learn from his example how to  accept good and adversity from Your hand.. knowing that Your grace is sufficient for us.  Thank You for the grace and mercy that comes from You.  Great is Your faithfulness each and every day. Amen!

 Job 1 God loved Job.  He knew Job and testified of Job's character " For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God, and turning away from evil.."  But, God still allowed Job to suffer. 

Job lost everything.  His wealth, his family, and later his health. But, he did not lose his faith. "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

This is a hard book to read. The accusations and arguments of Job's friends.. the painful pleas of Job himself...  These are words that are recorded in Scripture.. which Paul tells Timothy  "All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training.. "  So, what is it that God wants to say through Job's story?

Suffering comes.. but it does not mean that God is not in control.  Peter wrote to remind us of Who God is so that we will live accordingly.  Since all Scripture has this purpose then, we need to learn what Job has to teach us. 

So, the first thing that we can gain from Job is that he grieved.. "Then Job arose, tore his robe and shaved his head and he fell to the ground and worshiped."  Job loved his children. He offered burnt offerings and sacrifices for them in case they had sinned.  His grief was all consuming.  Yet, even in this depth of suffering.. Job worshiped God. 

Father, we have not suffered such depths of grief as Job did.. but, if that day comes, we ask that You would give us the faith to worship in the midst of our grief.  Teach us through Your word today Lord.  Show us Your love and power and grace, that we would see You more clearly and worship You always. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 

 II Peter 3:10-18  "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.. "  Because God is sovereign.. because He has declared it.. because we have come to know that there is a judgement coming and that the Lord is being patient because of His desire that no one should perish.... since all these things are true.. Peter asks, "what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.. "

Peter tells us to look for and hasten "the coming of the day of God.. "  because He has promised  "new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells."  We are thankful that God is patient so that we can see more people saved, but we look forward to the day when Christ will return, the old will pass away and the new will come!  "O that will be glory to me"!!!  We do pray for that joyous day when "righteousness" is the atmosphere that we will live in. 

"Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless."  There is that word "diligent" again..  Peter started out this letter with that exhortation, telling us to be diligent in our faith, in moral excellence, in knowledge, in self-control, in perseverance, in godliness, in kindness, and in love.  He told us to be diligent "to make certain about His calling and choosing you.. " by practicing these things.  While we look forward to that day.. we must stay "on guard."

Peter also exhorted us to remember.. remember the Scripture, remember the sovereignty and power of our Creator, and to remember that there is a day coming when God will bring a final judgement on this world and all who dwell here.  ".. knowing this beforehand, be on your guard.. " Peter writes.  Stay steadfast. Grow in "the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 

"To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen"

Father in heaven, we thank You for Your patient and steadfast love. Thank You for the Word of Truth. Thank You for our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son.  Holy Spirit, lead us in the diligent pursuit of godliness and grace. Teach us more about Jesus. Fill us with His love.  Teach us how to love Him more and more. Teach us to keep our eyes fixed on Him so that we will be ready for the day of His return. We ask this in His Precious Name. Amen. 

 II Peter 3;1-9  Peter says that he wrote this letter to stir "up your sincere mind by way of reminder.."  He exhorts us to remember what the prophets wrote beforehand and what Jesus said and the apostles taught. One of those vital truths is that Jesus is coming again!

Some unbelievers were mocking those who believed in the return of Jesus.. and that is still true today.  "Where is the promise of His coming?"  Nothing has happened in 2000 years.. or since "the beginning of creation".. they might say. But, Peter reminds us, that definitely does not mean that He isn't coming!

First of all, we need to remember that God is the Creator... "by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed being flooded with water."  God was and is in control.. He chose to make the world just like it is and He chose to judge the sinfulness of mankind by sending the flood.  This is a fundamental truth. We serve a Mighty God who is transcendent over all of His creation.  He does not answer to us, but we answer to Him!

Secondly, "the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly men."   Just as the first thing happened.. the second will.  Peter wants us, his readers, to remember this.. take it seriously.. and live accordingly.. God said it and it will be so. It is a reality that, if we take seriously, will effect.. well.. everything! 

Thirdly, Peter reminds us that God doesn't view things the way we do.. time is in His Hands. "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."  Time is God's creation.  It doesn't not affect Him.  It does not worry Him. It does not rush Him.  He has been known to turn back time and to make time stand still!  Moreover, we are reminded too, that our times are in His Hands.  He knew our whole life before we were even conceived!  Think about that!

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (v9)

O Hallelujah! Thank You Father, for You are merciful and compassionate, and Your love is everlasting. Thank You for patiently waiting for us to come to repentance and find salvation in Jesus Christ, our gracious Savior.  Keep our minds fixed.. stayed.. steadfast.. in Christ.  Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith, increase our perseverance, and fill us with this great Love that flows from our God and Father, and through Jesus Christ, our King. As we read and believe Your Word, Lord, help us to live holy lives and to share the gospel before the day of judgement comes, so that many more will not perish, but come to repentance also. We ask this in the Name of Jesus.  Amen.