I love Job on many different facets. It allows a person God is fond of to be human and cry out and vent but also shows the true grit of friendship and how some are not so friendly when all else has failed Job..it shows how you need to know the whole story before you start judging. Just good stuff
I love in 1st Corinthians that we should be seeking not temporal stuff here on earth but eternal stuff that lasts forever.
The Psalm 38: 4-5 remind me of Job when boils break out on his body and he was so afflicted..he cried out to the Lord for relief. There isn’t a thing wrong about just needing some help.
Proverba..keeping a big front or being diligent , quiet humble but getting the job done..carries alot of clout in the long run
Dee
======= Jan:
Regarding the Book of Job & Job 5 as we can see below there is much truth in what Job’s friends say/tell him in regard to his situation. I don’t think the Book of Job is about what his/Job’s friends say or think or do – I think the Book of Job is about knowing that even though you may be a righteous person & in God’s favor, that that situation can change at any time – not because you have been sinful or disobedient but because you are going to go through the fire in your/our lives to be tested & that is exactly what was happening with Job – so don’t be unaware of these circumstances/happenings that will come to God’s sons & daughters – it will surely happen, it is part of the process. I don’t judge Job’s friends but understand them well-they are grasping at straws just like we do when something happens to us or those we love/our friends. I take this as a book of learning & knowing that we will all go through the fire & be tested & to hang on like Job does/did to the truth of God (what he/Job knew) & ride the wild wave to completion/deliverance & reap the reward after the testing (especially if you pass the test).
Job’s friends did the best they knew how & according to their experience & knowledge of how the Lord acts/acted in the past in regard to sin/disobedience:
Eliphazs Response Continues
1.”You may cry for help, but no one listens. You may turn to the angels, but they give you no help. 2.Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple. 3.From my experience, I know that fools who turn from God may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster. 4.Their children are abandoned far from help, with no one to defend them. 5.Their harvests are stolen, and their wealth satisfies the thirst of many others, not themselves! 6.But evil does not spring from the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the earth. 7.People are born for trouble as predictably as sparks fly upward from a fire.
8.”My advice to you is this: Go to God and present your case to him. 9.For he does great works too marvelous to understand. He performs miracles without number. 10.He gives rain for the earth. He sends water for the fields. 11.He gives prosperity to the poor and humble, and he takes sufferers to safety. 12.He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so their efforts will not succeed. 13.He catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness, so that their cunning schemes are thwarted. 14.They grope in the daylight as though they were blind; they see no better in the daytime than at night. 15.He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong. He saves them from the clutches of the powerful. 16.And so at last the poor have hope, and the fangs of the wicked are broken.
17.”But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the chastening of the Almighty when you sin. 18.For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal. 19.He will rescue you again and again so that no evil can touch you. 20.He will save you from death in time of famine, from the power of the sword in time of war. 21.You will be safe from slander and will have no fear of destruction when it comes. 22.You will laugh at destruction and famine; wild animals will not terrify you. 23.You will be at peace with the stones of the field, and its wild animals will be at peace with you. 24.You will know that your home is kept safe. When you visit your pastures, nothing will be missing. 25.Your children will be many; your descendants will be as plentiful as grass! 26.You will live to a good old age. You will not be harvested until the proper time!
27.”We have found from experience that all this is true. Listen to my counsel, and apply it to yourself.”
Jan
====== John:
Job
I agree with Jan, that the friends are doing the best they can with what they know – even if the tone becomes progressively harsher.
Perhaps what is important here is what the friends DO NOT DO:
1) They do not pray. They do sit and empathize with Job for seven days in silence – but no prayer. There is plenty of prayer (addressing God) in Job – but it comes from Job. The friends “talk” about God.
2) Friends do not hear Job. They do not address Job’s speeches other than saying, you say this – but God punishes sin, you are being punished, therefore you sinned, repent. How many times do we in consoling friends get locked in on a train of thought and speak it, without really hearing what the other person is saying?
======================================================
Bildad ( a bit harsher)
Premise: Man must have God’s blessing to prosper.
Starts off without the tact of Eliphaz. “How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.”
God is just; does he pervert Justice? (NO)
Therefore, God will not punish the righteous.
Implies Job is wicked. So repent.
======================================================
JOB REPLIES
For the first time in story involving the speeches, I noice Job hears and responds to what is said.
Job agrees with Bildar’s wrods, BUT no man can be just before God.
God has complete power over nature.
Job cannot prove his innocence before God.
To Job it looks like God punishes the good and wicked.
[NOTE: There are some intersting insights (truths)about God by both Job and his friends. They just cannot connect the dots.
CH. 9
v 2. Man cannot be righteous before God
v15. I can only plead for mercy before the Judge. We do not want justice from God – we want and need His Mercy.
V22. God is just, but God also may afflict without cause. Job knows these two things and believes them. However, Job cannot resolve the two in his mind. Later in Jesus, we see the two put together in the sacrtifice of an innocent Christ to save mankind.
In vs. 32-34 Job recognizes there is a missing link. Job cannot stand before God and defend himself, he needs an intermediary. (Foreshadowing Christ)]
In chapter 10 Job returns to the theme – Let me understand or leave me alone to die.
======================================================
ZOPHAR (harshest yet)
God is lenient: you deserve worse.
God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
Gods ways are incomprehensible.
Repent and God will forgive.
John
====== John:
1Cor15:1-28
GOING BACK TO BASICS
Paul reminds the corinthians of the Gospel – the thing that really matters.
CHRIST DIED AND ROSE AGAIN.
But there was division, and this time in an essential. The Corinthians believed in the ressurection of Jesus, but some did not believe in the ressurection of the dead (man).
“Why has Paul so carefully proved the resurrection of Jesus? It wasnât because the Corinthian Christians believed Jesus did not rise from the dead. In fact, he makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 15:11 that they did believe it: so we preach and so you believed. Then why was it important?
i. The Corinthian Christians were not denying Jesusâ resurrection; they were denying our resurrection. They were influenced either by Greek philosophy (which considered the resurrection undesirable, thinking the state of âpure spiritâ superior), or by the thinking of the Sadducees (which thought the world beyond to be just wishful thinking). The bottom line is that the Corinthian Christians believed we lived forever, but not in resurrected bodies.
ii. Remember that resurrection is not merely life after death. It is the continuation of life after death in glorified bodies, which are our present bodies in a glorified state. – David Guzik
Paul presents the logic why ressurection of dead is a truth.
======================================================
First Fruits
I cannot remember if I mentioned this during gospels. Christ was the first fruits of the dead. In Judaism, before the field was harvested – a first fruit (wave sheath) offering was made by the priests. Some choice grain was picked and offered to God, then the full harvest would commence. Christ went first and we come after as the harvest of the “body of Christ”.
INTRICACY OF GOD’S PLAN
God’s plan is so intricate, and in regards to Christ very faithful to the Feasts he declared to Israel.
The first fruits offering (lifting up the sheath of grain to God) was done on the first day after the Sabbath. Not the High Sabbath of Passover, but after the Sabbath (Saturday) that fell after Passover. Offering took place sometime in morning before noon.
So it is entirely possible that on the Sunday following Christ’s crucifixion when the priests were making the first fruit offerings to God – that at the moment of the offering – is when Jesus went up to the Father as the literal first fruits offering.
[Note: There was a period of 7 days before Jesus came back to doubting Thomas in the upper room, and later eventually ascended into heaven. Co-incidently the priesthood were to go into their tent (later in seclusion of temple) for 7 days to be ordained in the presence of God before they could be consecrated and perform their priestly functions (LEV8:33). Wonder if that is why Jesus was in presence of God for seven days before returning to the disciples? :)He is our High Priest isn’t He?]
More? Acording to Eliot McQuaid of “Friends of Israel” site. Oil (symbol of anointing) was spread on the sheath of grain, and the way it was done the bundle of grain appeared to have stripes on it when held up to the sun. The same as Christ was anointed and He bore the stripes of man when he was lifted up to God.
======================================================
Adam and Christ
“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
Repeated concept – twice for emphasis. First it is clear Paul is talking about a real person (Adam). Second, some people have a hard time with concept of one man being the reason for sin in the world. At times, I have a hard time understanding the concept.
Two things:
1) If you can accept Christ (one man) redeemed all sins; then why not one man being the cause of “death” (sin)?
2) The empirical evidence is in. Look at mankind. The OT heroes were flawed. Mankind has each gone his own way like sheep astray (Isaiah). This world is no Garden of Eden – something is wrong – it started somewhere.
======================================================
GLORY TO GOD
I believe that this whole creation process by God was to provide a love gift to His Son – Jesus Christ. That Jesus would be the first fruits of many “brothers”.
In the END, Jesus who has been given all power in the heavens and earth, in an act of submissiveness (there’s that word again)- will return all to the Father as His gift.
Why? Besides out of love and submissiveness to the Father? Because then God will receive His FULL GLORY. And that is what this has been all about from the beginning – God’s glory.
John
======== Vance:
Job 8
1
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied to Job:âŚ
13
Such is the fate of all who forget God. The hope of the godless comes to nothing.
14
Everything they count on will collapse. They are leaning on a spiderweb.
15
They cling to their home for security, but it won’t last. They try to hold it fast, but it will not endure.
16
The godless seem so strong, like a lush plant growing in the sunshine, its branches spreading across the garden.
17
Its roots grow down through a pile of rocks to hold it firm.
18
But when it is uprooted, it isn’t even missed!
19
That is the end of its life, and others spring up from the earth to replace it.
It takes WISDOM to discern the reality of truth. The fact is, what Bildad says is what the Lord Himself has said in other places, and is irrevocably true:
Jeremiah 17
5
Thus says the Lord: Cursed [with great evil] is the strong man who trusts in and relies on frail man, making weak [human] flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord.
6
For he shall be like a shrub or a person naked and destitute in the desert; and he shall not see any good come, but shall dwell in the parched places in the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
7
[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.
8
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.
THEN THE LORD EMPHASIZES THE REALITY OF THE HUMAN HEART:
9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?(A)
10
I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
SO…
Does that mean that Bildad the Shuhite was correct in the way he was talking to Job? It was like he was scolding him. When people get sick, do we automatically ssume, âthere must be sin in his or her lifeâ?
Sin, of course, can and will effect every area of lifeâincluding the body and the mindâif not repented of.
I like the Weekly Torah Reading from the website hebrew4christians, a Messianic Jewish website where Christians can learn Hebrew for freeâand learn the wonderful Jewish roots to our faith. Part of the Weekly Torah Reading
is pertinent to the question about Bildad the Shuhite and, by extension, about all of us:
âIn the reading from Mark, the LORD Jesus was asked which of the mitzvot of the Torah is the most important of all? Or, to put it another way, what is it that God requires of us? What is the purpose of our lives, and how can we fulfill that purpose?
Jesus answered this question by reciting the Shema (with the vâahavta) as the greatest commandment and added the commandment from Leviticus 19:18, âYou shall love your neighbor as yourselfâ as the second great commandment:
Jesus answered, “The most important (commandment) is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
Va’etchanan means âI pleaded,â which we may now understand as Godâs plea that we:
1. Love Him as the Source of all our real and abiding good
2. Love one another as we love ourselves
The love of God and others! Think of it!
The greatest commandment is NOT found
* in the knowledge of
Torah, regardless of how
edifying or noble;
* nor in external
observances, regardless
of how scrupulously or
beautifully observed;
* nor in the practice of
Jewish minhagim
(customs), regardless of
how much they might make
us feel identified with
Godâs Chosen People.
No.
==> Jesus’ answer is that the greatest duty of our lives is to love God with every bit of our passion, inwardness, and strength, and to extend that same love we instinctively feel toward ourselves to others around us.
When we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit is produced within us, we will not find ourselves walking contrary to the way of the Torah (Gal. 5:22-23), and the inward motivation of the Torah will be written upon our hearts (Jer. 31:33).
As Rav Shaâul (Paul) wrote in Romans 13:10, âLove is the fulfilling of the law.â
May it please the LORD to give us a heart that can love in the truth. Amen.
We KNOW that Jesus has truly risen from the deadâand thus so have we as God has placed us âIN CHRISTââand we have trusted and received Jesus as Lord. THANK GOD!
Since we know that, we CAN live the love life that the Father commands, that Jesus commandsâthrough Jesus living HIS LIFE THROUGH US!
I need to spend time before the Lord⌠being so full of HIS LOVE and HIS PRESENCE so there is no room for any sinful intentions to rule. THEN⌠I can love as I trust Jesus to love through me.
Vance
======== Vance:
Job 9 (NKJV – Job: There Is No Mediator)
32
âFor He is not a man, as I am ,that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together.
33
Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both.
34
Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let dread of Him terrify me.
35
Then I would speak and not fear Him, but it is not so with me.
NOTE:
It is true that God the Father is not a man. In fact, that is a wonderful thing about GodâHe is God and not a man. As such, He is totally above all creation, He is trustworthy, and He is not fickle.
I Samuel 15 (NKJV)
29
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.â
~~~
Yet, Job needed God to be a man so Job could talk âone on oneâ with God. God did, however, come to earth in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus is our Mediator.
May we not live âin the fogâ and pray âin confusionâ about our lives. May we know Godâs will as God has revealed in His Word. May we know God intimately through the Lord Jesus by the Spirit of God so we clearly know His guidance, and we follow.
Ephesians 5 (NKJV)
17
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
May we know Godâs Word and His way, and set our wills to yield to Him and to follow Him with all of our heart. Andrew Murray said in âWith Christ In The School of Prayerâ:
â[T]he Lord warns us against the vain repetitions of the Gentiles, who think to be heard for their much praying. We often hear prayers of great earnestness and fervour, in which a multitude of petitions are poured forth, but to which the Saviour would undoubtedly answer, âWhat will you that I should do unto you?ââ
âBut the word of the Master teaches us more. He does not say, âWhat do you wish?â, but âWhat do you will?â One often wishes for a thing without willing it. I wish to have a certain article, but I find the price too high; I resolve not to take it; I wish, but do not will to have it.”
“The sluggard wishes to be rich, but does not will it. Many a one wishes to be saved, but perishes because he does not will it. The will rules the whole heart and life; if I really will to have anything that is within my reach, I do not rest till I have it.â
âThe will is the highest power in the soul; grace wants above everything to sanctify and restore this will, one of the chief traits of Godâs image, to full and free exercise.â
âFaith is nothing but the purpose of the will resting on Godâs Word, and saying: I must have it. To believe truly is to will firmly.â
âIt is often spiritual sloth that, under the appearance of humility, professes to have no will, because it fears the trouble of searching out the will of God, or, when [the will of God is] found, [it fears] the struggle of claiming it in faith. True humility is ever in company with strong faith, which only seeks to know what is according to the will of God, and then boldly claims the fulfillment of the promise [in John 15]: âYou shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.â LORD TEACH US TO PRAY.â
Job 11 (NKJV- Zophar Urges Job to Repent)
4
For you have said, âMy doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.â
5
But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you,
6
That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
7
âCan you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
NOTE:
I really have to be careful in proclaiming out of pride that âI know what God wantsâ if I do not know. There is a clear certainty we can know about Godâbut it comes out of times of prayer, surrender, and seeking Godâs Word and His will until He establishes in us His truth about a matter.
I Corinthians 15 (NKJV)
10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
28
Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
NOTE:
ONLY BY GRACE am I what I am. And thank God that His grace is NOT IN VAIN. Thus, I always need to ask God for the persistent and consistent faith of the Lord Jesus Who never took His eyes from fulfilling the Fatherâs will.
Godâs grace will accomplish Godâs will in me. Am I willing for God to have all of me, so grace can fulfill all of God’s will in me?
D.L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see a man fully surrendered to God. I will be that man.”
Throughout eternity, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father are one. One God in unity. Yet, in His role, Jesus always is the means of fulfilling the Fatherâs will. In His role, Jesus brings all in submission to the Father.
Psalm 38 (NKJV)
15
For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.
16
For I said, âHear me, lest they rejoice over me, lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.â
21
Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me!
22
Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
NOTE:
God is our ONLY salvation! May we always pray: âMake haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!â
Amen.
Vance
Re: Debt
I can certainly see why it is said that money is the root of all evil. Once you acquire wealth or goods purchased with it, there is a never ending thirst for more. You will never have your fill of earthly desires. Those who choose God over money will one day acquire heavenly wealth beyond measure. As it says in Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. vs 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. How easy it is to be obsessed and allow ourselves to lust after earthly possessions. In the long run these possessons leave us cold and empty.
Storing up treasure in heaven is not limited to tithing but is accomplished by all acts of obedience to God. There is a sense in which giving money to God’s work is like investing in heaven. But our intention should be to seek the fulfillment of God’s purposes in all we do, not merely what we do with our money.
Psalms 37:21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. Another important biblical truth. Psalms 119: 36 says “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. In Proverbs 19:1 it says “Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
What Proverbs 19:1 is saying as follows: A blameless life is far more valuable than wealth, but most people don’t act as if they believe this. Afraid of not getting everything they want, they will pay any price to increase their wealth (to obtain more goods) cheating on their taxes, stealing from stores or employers,withholding tithes,refusing to give. But when we know and love God, we realize that a lower standard of living or even poverty is a small price to pay for personal integrity. Do your actions show that you sacrifice your integrity to increase your wealth? What changes do you need to make in order to get your priorites straight and to perhaps get out of debt. This advice is for myself, since I too fall short in this area. Thank you God for your word and wisdom.
Government leaders, businesses, families even churches get trapped into thinking money is the answer to every problem. We throw money at our problems. But just as the thrill of wine is only temporary, the soothing effect of the last purchase soon wears off and we have to buy more. Do we see ourselves here? Scripture recognizes that money is necessary for survival, but it warns against the love of money (Matthew 6:24, 1 Tim 6:10; Heb 13:5) Money is dangerous because it deceives us into thinking that wealth is the easiest way to get everything we want. The love of money is sinful because we trust money rather than God to solve our problems. Those who pursue its empty promises will one day discover that they have nothing because they are spiritually bankrupt.
Laura
======= Ramona:
>>I can certainly see why it is said that money is the root of all evil.>>
The actual quote is:
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
You don’t need to have money for it to be a root of ALL evil in one’s life. Money is neutral it takes on the character of the one who possesses it. There are many people who use the money they have acquired to do good. Even Jesus had a treasurer, Judas, and you donât have a treasurer unless you have a surplus.
Ramona
======= Michelle:
Re: Getting out of debt–I highly recommend Dave Ramsey–
http://daveramsey.com/ He’s got a radio show and a terrific book Total Money Makeover (which I borrowed from the library.) He’s no nonsense and very practical. Also entertaining.
Getting out of debt is something my husband & I have been working on steadily over the past several years and are still pushing through. It’s a total change in mindset. If we don’t have cash, we don’t buy it. Seems obvious but it’s so countercultural.
Michelle
====== Luch:
thanks for “Majesty’. I had a special moment with the Lord as I listened to this song.
Job’s word in 29:1-6 are telling, “Oh, for the days…” How often we all say that, “Oh man, back in the day.” But here Job is pining for the days of his prime when “God’s intimate friendship blessed my home’. It did’t have to end. We see in Job 23 that even though Job didn’t sense God’s presence he stayed close to God by obedience and by treasuring the Words of God. Good formula for days when we feel God is not very present.
Luch
======= Lori:
Not my will, but Yours be done. New meaning for me in this season, I am still working it out. I was recently sharing with a pastor that my mind is consumed with doubt about everything I do. I am constantly thinking, Is this what God wants me to do, does this reflect Jesus, is my life an example of God at all times and so on. He said that it sounds like I have lost the path of grace and wandered into the way of living under the law. It’s like a prison. How can be good enough? How can I live good enough? How can I not be a disappointment to God. It’s like if you had 2 children and one was really handsome, smart, articulate, atheletic and popular. Everyone loves this kid and his parents are proud. But they have another kid who isn’t so cute, not too smart, clumsy and not quite as liked by everyone. The parents totally love this kid too, but they sort of pat him on the head and say, it’s ok, we love you anyway. I feel like God loves me, but I can’t do what He wants. I am not saving lives, I don’t preach the gospel with my mouth and my life is quiet. I want to be a Godly example, but is living it enough? How can I be good enough for God? If God chooses not to bless me, is that denial good enough for me to live the rest of my life worshipping God? Jesus was called to a life of suffering. If I am supposed to be like Christ, am I willing to spend my life suffering if that’s what He wants me to do? How can I pray when the things I pray against come to pass? Are my prayers not worth saying yes to? If I don’t get on my knees, spend time adoring, confessing, giving thanks and then asking, can I ever get to the throne room? How do I be worthy enough to get into a “Father daughter” relationship with the savior. Can it be personal? I want to live in the freedom of Jesus. I want to be liberated from this world and the influences of the flesh. Can I get that close to God? Can I trust Him? Will He “take care of me?” or do I have to spend my whole life suffering. How can I be good enough?
Lori
======= Pam:
Another song for this reading:
As the deer
https://youtu.be/UZv3jzOTE70
Pam
======= Julie:
So this isn’t deep thought at all>
What I want is where did you get the JESUSFLOWER clip art. I absolutely love it and would like to aquire it for my wall at home.
I love your blog! It is so encouraging!
Julie
======= Janice:
thank you ….true wealth is the sharing of time with all you love..and celebrating in the time we are given to share with eachother…blessings and good wishes to all
Janice
======= Rob:
I don’t think Job 40 was talking about hippo more likely a dinosaur as a hippo doesn’t move it’s tail like a cedar tree.
Rob
======= Jane:
It’s interesting because in the beginning of Job his friend mocked him in Job 4 ” you being so pious now where is your faith?” Now in these last chapters a lot of good stuff! People had revered him. They had their hands on their mouths as he walked by. How many people do we ogle like that? Probably a lot. That why no body is beyond reproach. God will show mercy on who he wants. This chapter has helped me understand Jobs loss of position. How humbling and embarrassing both. I pray each of us can learn from this. I certainly have.
Jane
====== Judie:
“But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God.”
Wow. What an awesome message. What a different way of looking at my place in this world. I want to be God’s captive. I want to join Christ in that triumphal procession. This message is going to settle in my heart and mind forever!
Thank you Mike for giving us this daily blog that helps us draw closer to God.
Judie
======= Ron:
Prov. 22:7 – “….the borrower is servant to the lender.” CREDIT CARD DEBT = if you are in debt by using your credit card(s)….cut it in half….that’s called “PLASTIC SURGERY!” đ
Ron
======= Robert:
Laura: Thanks for your words of wisdom about money. A serious subject! I guess that is why Jesus taught more about money than anything else. I am always sitting on the fence when it comes to how to use it in the best way. I have always found the Bible to guide me and usually there is a timely scripture there that pushes me in a certain direction.
Right now there is a great demand to support Haiti in its earthquake disaster. Today’s readings have given me a push to donate. An orphanage/organization I like is: https://www.cfchcanada.ca/
Always, for God’s glory!
Robert
====== Dee:
Job! Reminded me of Proverbs 1 and 31st chapter. Beautiful section on wisdom! Yes
2nd Corinthians 12-17 short section Our lives are a fragrance presented to God. Yes! Love it
Psalm 41 love the same verse Mike! As a deer panteth for water so my soul thirst for u.yes. such good thoughts and words! Yes praise the Lord.
Proverbs 22;7 we r in the same position right now. Getting put of debt
Wish I never even saw a cc myself. Prayers for all going through same..
Dee
======= John:
Job
Job 26:4
“Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?”
Goes back to idea of: exactly who is inspiring the friends’ speech?
Job 26:7b
“he suspends the earth over nothing.”
Interesting when you compare the beliefs of this time about the earth to what Job states.
After more lament, Job gives final response.
In chapter 28. Job speaks on wisdom. Precious metals and all kinds of things can be gotten out of the earth and seas. But where do you find wisdom? Nowhere on earth.
Job28:28 ‘The fear of the Lordâthat is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’
Job goes into a compare and contrast. In ch. 29 Job wishes for the good old days, and seems to come dangerously close to an issue of “pride”. Than falls back into a lament in Ch. 30.
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Thoughts:
People talk about the patience of Job. God seems to also have exhibited patience. We know God does respond, and since the conversation repeats itself ad nauseum – God could have spoken earlier?????
Going back to the opening – Satan did not pick Job. God Brought up Job. I get the feeling Satan walked into a set-up. God knew what He was doing. He had a reason for suggesting Job. Satan, despite His rebellion, as always – ends up advancing God’s plan.
John
======= John:
2Cor2:12-17
Vs. 14
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” NIV
“Here, Paul takes an image from the Roman world, seeing Jesus as the victorious, conquering general in a triumph parade. A Roman triumph parade was given to successful generals when returning from their conquests…âThe idea is borrowed from an ancient Roman triumph, which to the eyes of the world of that day was the most glorious spectacle which the imagination could conceive.â (Meyer)
vs.15
“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” NIV
“Fragrance, in the form of incense, was common at the Roman triumph parade. In Paulâs mind, this fragrance is like the knowledge of God, which people can smell when the triumph parade winds by.” – David Guzik
âTo the victors the perfume from the censers would be the perfume of joy and triumph and life; but to the wretched captives who walked so short a distance ahead it was the perfume of death, standing for a past defeat and their coming execution.â (Barclay)
“In the same way, the message of the gospel is a message of life to some and a message of condemnation to those who reject it (John 3:17-21). âThe same happens to the present day to those who receive and to those who reject the Gospel: it is the means of salvation to the former, it is the means of destruction to the latter; for they are not only not saved because they do not believe the Gospel, but they are condemned because they reject it.â (Clarke)
“..we do not peddle the word of God for profit.”
“The word peddling has the idea of âadulteratingâ or âwatering downâ for gain, and was especially used of a wine seller who would water down the wine for more profit. Paul was not like the others who might water down the gospel for gain!” David Guzik
“…in Christ we speak before God with sincerity..”
“Sincerity is the Greek word eilikrineia, which means âpureâ or âtransparent.â Barclay says, âIt may describe something which can bear the test of being held up to the light of the sun and looked at with the sun shining through it.â Paulâs message and ministry did not have hidden motives or agendas.” – David Guzik
John
======= Vance:
JOB 28 (NKJV) – Jobâs Discourse on Wisdom
26
When He made a law for the rain, and a path for the thunderbolt,
27
Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28
And to man He said, âBehold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.â â
NOTE:
The Hebrew word for âfearâ is âyir’ah {yir-aw’}â, and it means: âfear (of God), respect, reverence, pietyâ.
Basically, it is to honor and revere God above myselfâHe is God, I am not. Then, this practice and attitude of waiting on God to honor Him leads to depart from evil.
I like this challenge I read this morning:
âThe only way to live a successful Christian life is to come under the authority of God â to be in obedience to Him.”
“So I ask you. Are you living in obedience to God? Have you accepted Godâs authority to the extent that you are willing to give up our way and take Godâs way, to give up your will and take Godâs will?”
“Even Jesus had to say, ‘Not my will, but Thine be done.’ (Luke 22:42). The Bible tells us: ‘Though He [Jesus] was a son, yet He LEARNED obedience by the things which He suffered.’ (Hebrews 5:8)”
“Can we understand that Jesus, the Man, had to learn obedience to God exactly as you and I do? The writer of Hebrews spoke of His learning obedienceâI mean, having to LEARN it like I have to learn it, like you have to learn it.â
âEventually, Jesus had to face the thing that God wanted Him to do. He didnât want to go to the cross. He didnât want nails driven into His hands. Can you imagine how that would hurt? Imagine having the flesh and bones of your hands crunched by nails being driven through them and then having nails driven through your feet.â
âThatâs the law of God. Thatâs the law of nature. So Jesus had to give. He had to obey God. The human part of Him didnât want to do it any more than we do. But Jesus is our example in giving up our own way and taking Godâs [way]. We, too, can say, ‘Not my will, but Godâs be done’. And how glorious it is when we go through it, endure the pain of it, and come out with a resurrection, with a seed multiplied, with the joy of the Lord flowing in our hearts. . .â
2 Corinthians 2 (NKJV)
14
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
15
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16
To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not . . .
NOTE:
We are certainly not sufficient in our humanity to carry or dispense the aroma of Christ to others. We must receive this from the Lord by grace before we can give it.
The sacrifices to the LORD God carried with them a sweet aroma of worship (as in Genesis 8:20 and 21).
May I truly be the living sacrifice to God by the Lord Jesus as I depend on the Spirit so others can sense the true âsweetnessâ of the Life of Christ. âFor to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.â
~~~
Psalm 42 (NKJV)
1
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
2
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? [OR, I see the face of God.]
6
O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar.
7
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with meâ a prayer to the God of my life.
NOTE:
This is the key to the fear of the Lord and to wisdom, which issues out of the fear of the Lordâto always keep our souls and spirits thirsting after God and receiving Life from the Lord Jesus.
I like these comments from the âTreasury of Davidâ by Charles Spurgeon on these verses:
âAll thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
David thought that every trouble in the world had met in him, but he exaggerated, for all the breaking waves of Jehovah have passed over none but the Lord Jesus; there are griefs to which he makes his children strangers for his love’s sake.
Sorrow naturally states its case forcibly; the mercy is that the Lord after all hath not dealt with us according to our fears. Yet what a plight to be in!â
âYet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime.
Come what may there shall be âa certain secret somethingâ to sweeten all. Lovingkindness is a noble life belt [i.e., life jacket] in a rough sea. The day may darken into a strange and untimely midnight, but the love of God ordained of old to be the portion of the elect, shall be by sovereign decree meted out to them. No day shall ever dawn on an heir of grace and find him altogether forsaken of his Lord: the Lord reigneth, and as a sovereign he will with authority command mercy to be reserved for his chosen.
And in the night.
Both divisions of the day shall be illuminated with special love, and no stress of trial shall prevent it.â
Vance