Bible in a Year Blog

Job 37:1-39:30 + 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10 + Psalm 44:9-26 + Proverbs 22:13
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Old Testament – Today we begin reading four amazing chapters in the book of Job when God speaks to Job! We’ve been reading a lot so far about what Job would like to say to God. Well, stay tuned for chapters 38 through 41 in Job starting today… it appears God was indeed listening to Job and has some things to say to him! (and to us!) I love the opening words of chapter 38 verses 1 through 3 – “Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.”  Below is English poet and artist William Blake’s engraving below from the year 1825 titled “The Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind”:

Below is an amazing painting by modern day artist Rina Coetzee for God’s words in Job chapter 38 verses 4 through 6!  “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who did the surveying? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

And one more fantastic painting below from Rina for verses 8 through 11: “”Who defined the boundaries of the sea as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, `Thus far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!'”

New Testament – Paul’s words in Second Corinthians chapter 4 verses 16 through 18 are incredible for each of us to take to heart: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”  I don’t know about you, but I confess that I all too often get caught up in the troubles we can see right now.  I forget about the joys to come that will last forever.  It’s sad when I forget about the joys to come.  There is so much hurt and disaster in our world that I am afraid all too often I focus only on these negative things and forget that this is a world where bad things happen.  Through our faith and relationship with Jesus we will one day be in heaven where there will be no more tears.  No more crying.  No more suffering.  But, this side of heaven, we will suffer.  Each of our bodies will deteriorate and these earthly bodies will die.  But, as Paul says in these verses above, though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day!  I pray this is the case for you.  I pray this is the case for me.  Are you experiencing renewal in your spirit every day?  Let us pray for renewal!

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Second Corinthians readings titled “Death: No Longer a Foe, but a Friend” is at this link.

Psalms – Every time I read Psalm 44 verse 23 it reminds me of one of the amazing aspects of the Psalms – that the Psalms are people like us speaking to God – and in all sorts of emotional ways: “Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.” This type of verse reminds me that it’s okay for us to not always talk to God in our “church voice.”  It’s okay to get a little bit passionate in our prayers to God.  I think God would prefer us to be real with him – where we are right now or at any given moment – rather than try to put on any special facades for God.  If ever you feel like you are at a loss for words for what you might want to say to God – how you might be needing to pray to God – surf through the Psalms…  you’ll very likely find voice for what you are trying to say.

Proverbs – Today we read in Proverbs chapter 22 verse 13 – “The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!” How does this Proverb speak to you? To me it is a reminder of all of the excuses I can make for not participating in God’s will for my life. I strongly believe that God has an amazing purpose and an amazing plan for each of our lives. I also believe that we can often do a very good job of refusing to participate in God’s plan for our life. We either think that God’s plan really isn’t all that good, so we’ll do things our own way. Or we are simply lazy or afraid or cowardly or who knows what. We make a million excuses for why we won’t get on with God’s plan for our life! How about you? Do you believe that God has an amazing purpose and plan for your life? Do you know what it is? If not, will you seek it? In either case, are you actively working on Kingdom things in your life these days? Are you living out in your life the call of the Gospel to actively love and serve others each and every day? Or are you making excuses?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Second Corinthians reminds me of Switchfoot’s song “Your Love is a Song:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmISCVDtow8

Is God’s Love a song in your life? Click here to Sing!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you will never lose heart. Pray that you are being renewed day by day through your saving faith with Jesus Christ. Pray that your relationship with Christ encourages you and strengthens you, even while outwardly you may be wasting away.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Job 37-39:30
I love the 7th verse (38) in the King James or Amplified Bible, “Gird up your loins now like a man; I will demand of you, and you answer Me” (AMP). God is serious and he means business. It’s like God is saying to Job, straighten up and fly right, take responsibility for yourself and stop gripping and complaining. The created can’t tell the Creator anything, especially since the Creator didn’t put “anything” on Job, though he allowed it.
When God first comes in to speak to Job He does not address anything Job’s friends have said nor does He address Elihu. This speaks personally to me letting me know that my primary concern is to answer God not man. Men can hold me accountable for what I believe, say and do, but whom I will really answer to is God.
God’s address to Job also shows that each and every created thing has a purpose and is uniquely designed to carry out that purpose despite our not having an understanding what it’s purpose is. Our lack of understanding does not void its purpose. If I fail to discover my purpose or reject that purpose that doesn’t change God’s purpose for me. I can use a screwdriver to drive in nails by banging the nail with the screwdriver. The nail my go in eventually, but that does not negate the usefulness of the tools ability to turn screws if I fail to use it properly.
Charles Dickens’s tale of the “Prince and the Pauper,” shows a great example of the Pauper using the Seal of England outside of its purpose, a tool to crack nuts. Its’ improper use did not negate the power of the Seal.
II Corinthians 4:13-5:10
This passage is one of my very favorites. When I first came across this passage I realized that who I am was more then my body, my flesh. Who I was as a person was who I was in spirit. I am a sprit, I have a soul and I live in a body.
1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down–when we die and leave these bodies–we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies.
The power of this verse hit me by happenstance. Someone I really liked at work had died and I was asked if I would read a scripture at his memorial service. I didn’t know what to read and suddenly this passage fell open. Now I do not subscribe to the I-have-a-problem-open-the-bible-and-whatever-page-it-falls-open-to-that’s-the-answear society, but these verses spoke to me mightily. I wanted to be able to speak something, read something that would leave people with hope, and I found it.
Psalm 44:9-26
I repeat from yesterday, this Psalm is an encapsulation of Job’s lament.
23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Get up! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you look the other way?
Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
25 We collapse in the dust,
lying face down in the dirt.
26 Rise up! Come and help us!
Save us because of your unfailing love.
Proverbs 22:13
Mike I feel you in your comments about this particular verse. Reading this verse this morning while on the train going to work I jotted down this little note:
Is this speaking about a something other than true fear? Or is fear somehow rooted in laziness. In the Parable of the Talents, the man who buried his talent said he was afraid, the Master said he was lazy, as well as wicked. (Matthew 25:24-26)
The writer of the Book of First John states, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:18 KJV). So what is fear and what is its relationship to laziness? Is there really a relationship between fear and laziness, or are we calling laziness fear to make it more palatable? Hmm, a quandary.
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Arun:

Wonderful Scriptures from JOB.
God answers with a set of questions. Awesome. No one else can answer those questions except the One who made it.
Those scriptures shows How WISE, How Mighty … Man, Our God is AWESOME GOD.
2 Corin 4:16-22
The God’s advice on focus is the problems but on the problems producing fruits of immeasurably glory.
I guess I ll have to look at my problems in this light.
Psalms,
Mike, that is really good that you mentioned about reality in prayer.
People recite and say prayer by rote.
But Honestly from heart, That is real prayer
Proverbs,
Even in the best of days, We might say all excuses just to cover our laziness,
God make us to realise when we do that.
Bless us ALL,
Amen
Arun

======= Ramona:

Job 37:1-39:30
I have heard this, “God is in control,” probably hundreds of times. It is one of those pithy little sayings that I just repeat but have never really considered the words that make up the saying nor the true weight of the saying. Today, with this reading I kind of “get it.” God IS in control. No matter what it looks like, feels like, whether we call out, “Where was God when the World Trade Towers fell five years ago, God is in control.
“And have you ever ordered Morning, ‘Get up!’ told Dawn, ‘Get to work!’ So you could seize Earth like a blanket and shake out the wicked like cockroaches? As the sun brings everything to light, brings out all the colors and shapes, The cover of darkness is snatched from the wicked– they’re caught in the very act!
(Job 38:12-15 MSG)
God is surly in control despite what we may think, despite what it looks like. WOW
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Jan:

Ramona & isn’t there such comfort in finally coming to the Truth/Realization of your revelation that GOD TRULY IS IN CONTROL. Oh what a sweet deliverance from unbelief & doubt when we come to know our Savior truly is in control of all.
Jan

======= Jenny:

I loved reading God’s words in Job. This may sound weird, but i almost had to bow as i read the words directly from God, I just feel such reverence. Of course Jesus is God incarnate, but i dont know..it trips me out sometimes!
Oh, and Corinthians readings are amazing! i LOVE it!
Jenny

======= Terry:

I always like your
pictures.
Terry 

======= Eve:

“The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” Proverbs 22:13
A lazy person is someone that finds even the most impossible reason to excuse himself from doing something. Lion outside his house? Does he live in the jungle or his house’s in the zoo?
2 Thessalonians 3:10
“If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Eve

======= Judie:

Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. This verse from 4:16 in today’s reading is so comforting and true! I don’t like to be reminded that I am getting old, but some days my body sure tells me that it is. Thank you God for renewing my spirit everyday. When my body doesn’t want to move much, my spirit can fly!
Judie

======= Robert:

Job 38-41
Today’s readings were so good. Sometimes I need a reminder of the power and might God has. Using the wonders of weather, the natural world and immenseness of the Heavens God shows us the abstract of how things work and how He has the ability to control every element in the Universe.
I liked vs. 39:26: God says to Job: “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread his wings toward the south?” I watched a documentary last week about these little finch birds in the North-east USA that migrate every year 4000 miles to Brazil. Their timing has to be precise otherwise they will get caught in Hurricanes crossing the Gulf. No one knows how these birds sense their departure time.
Robert

======= Dee:

I think this is some serious dialogue today when the creator comes down and addresses the created. I feel for Job but like u said Ramona..man can help us in accountability but we answer essentially to God.
2 Cor..God is renewing our body..outwardly we will pass away..but praise God for the renewal
We don’t get to have a ringside seat too often where God is speaking to arguments thrown by us much. Job tried to reason himself and used complaints and grumbling along with his friends however God sets him straight. Was Job there when the world was created..did he survey the land or form the clouds and stars..
2nd Corinthians, this made me think of how we yearn for being with the Lord..this life is temporal but being with the Lord is eternal..what a day that will be.
Psalm 44 ..being able to talk to the Lord in big girl voice and be real with the Lord. God is good and he is a big boy and God knows that his children need to come to him with big issues and big prayers and He really listens.
Psalm 44..I think we have all felt this way before. Desperate..relentless..wanting God to hear us..are u there Lord? Do u care? We have all been there.
Proverbs..lazy bones..yes..makes me think of..when u have an idea from God. Act quickly. If not he will seek someone else. Amen. Don’t be lazy..making excuses instead of plans is always a bad idea. Be careful..
Dee

======= John:

2Cor4 and 5:1-10
2Cor4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
I believe praying for this kind of “focus” is in God’s Will, and the kind of prayer God answers.
======================================================
2Cor5
2Cor5:1 “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” NIV
How do we “know”? John 14:1-4, and more importantly the last part of verse 19.
“..Because I live, you also will live.”
Because Jesus is alive.
When our physical body dies, we will have a glorified body in heaven. “not built by human hands”, being “not of this creation” (Heb 9:11) but of God – an eternal body.
From tent to house or building – in software terms – we are due for an upgrade : )
======================================================
The problem here, and I did not see Bob Deffingbaugh pointing it out: We do not get glorified bodies until the resurrection of our earthly bodies. In the meantime, at death, we live in heaven as disembodied spirits (if I am wrong about this – please someone correct me.)
So while Paul has no problem with absent from the body – he is REALLY looking forward to the Resurrection. Paul wants his glorified body, as should the Corinthians. Maybe Paul is making this point here because of how Greeks view the spirit and the body. They think being a “spirit” in the afterlife is the be-all-end-all. That the body is just a hindrance and the spirit is what counts. Paul is saying, ‘You don’t know – the heavenly glorified body will be fabulous – it will be the completion of all God’s plans – we will be like Jesus. You want – you should really really want this glorified body.’
Because when we get the “glorified body” we will not be naked – our disembodied spirit will be clothed. I think this is also a reference to the completed work of God in regards to Adam and Eve. After sinning they realized they were naked, now in full circle we will be eternally clothed in our “glorified body”. Death and what it does to our mortal bodies will here be completely conquered.
2Cor5:5 “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Greek tense is aorist – completed action – and there is that word again – “deposit” in Gk. “arrhabon” meaning: money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid. We have God’s Word on the deal.
======================================================
There are only two places a “saved” person can be – on earth or in heaven – never in the “grave”.
Thus while on earth we make it our goal to please him, as we do in heaven (by what we have done on earth in his name.)
Why? Because “the “saved” person will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ for our rewards or lack of rewards. If we strive to please Him on earth, then He will be pleased with us in heaven.
The Bema Seat in Corinth is still there (I hear) and is on display. The athletes from the Isthmian games received their rewards at the Bema Seat. Punishment from trials was also administered from the Bema Seat.
Paul has already mentioned in 1Cor that our works will be tested by Christ, and only what is good will be left. That is what we will be judged on for our rewards. How many will you and I have left after Christ’s assessment of our Christian lives???????
======================================================
So the saved person will have a final exam before Christ. Paul would tell the Corinthians – when do you start prepearing for the “final”? – morning of, night before, or in advance. To do well, it should be in advance. So set your sights on the eternal, prepare for your exam now. Get cracking!
What will be judged? According to Chuck Missler: deeds according to Scripture, motivation of deeds (to bring honor/glory to God), and the words you speak (perhaps thoughts also – oops that is a biggie!)
John

======= Sue:

John,
You said: The problem here, and I did not see Bob Deffingbaugh pointing it out: We do not get glorified bodies until the resurrection of our earthly bodies. In the meantime, at death, we live in heaven as disembodied spirits (if I am wrong about this – please someone correct me.)
I don’t know that I want to go so far as to “correct” you, but I would offer something I read recently by J. Vernon McGee that may provide some additional light on this subject:
Thru-The-Bible Commenary Series, The Epistles, Ephesians, J. Vernon McGee,
pp. 118-119
“When he ascended up on high” refers to the ascension of Christ. At that time He did two things: (1) He led captivity captive, which refers, I believe, to the redeemed of the Old Testament who went up to paradise when they died. Christ took these believers with Him out of paradise into the very presence of God when He ascended. Today when a believer dies, we are not told that he goes to paradise, but rather he is absent from the body and present with the Lord (See 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23). (2) When Christ ascended He also gave gifts to men. This means that He conferred gifts upon living believers in the church so that they might witness to the world. In His ascension, Christ not only brought the Old Testament saints into God’s presence, but he also, through the Holy Spirit, bestowed His gifts. At the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit baptized believers into the body of Christ and then endowed them with certain gifts, enabling them to function as members of the body. The Holy Spirit put each of them in a certain place in the body, and He has been doing the same with each new believer ever since.
“(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above the heavens, that he might fill all things.) [Eph. 4:9-10]
“The logical explanation of these verses is that since Christ ascended, He must have of necessity descended at some previous period. Some see only the Incarnation in this. The early church fathers saw in it the work of Christ in bringing the Old Testament saints out of paradise up to the throne of God. Although the Apostles’ Creed states that He descended into hell, it means hades, the place where the dead were, and it is not necessary to assume that He entered into some form of suffering after His death. His Incarnation and death were His humiliation and descent, and they were adequate to bring the redeemed of the Old Tstament into the presence of God. I recognize, however, that there are other interpretations.”
Sue

======= John:

Sue,
Thanks.
I also have McGee’s commentary. No problem with what you quote here in your post.
I am not sure what the “gifts” bestowed to Old testament saints were in McGee’s observation, but I am sure it can be reconciled.
When I say – “disembodied” I am not referring to not being in the body of Christ, just that we will be in “spirit” status until we receive our glorified bodies. We probably can receive gifts of the Holy Spirit without having a physical body in heaven. Perhaps we receive wisdom and knowledge (as gifts of the Spirit) in that we know the answers to all the questions we had here on earth. I can also see having fruits of the Spirit – joy, peace, love, etc as that would seem to be what heaven is all about. I don’t think it is necessary to have a “physical body” to receive the items mentioned above.
John

======= Sue:

Hi again, John.
Yes, I did perceive that was what you meant after I was about halfway through the exerpt from McGee, but honestly I hadn’t considered whether or not our bodies would be “spiritual” (Glorified?) or physical (such as Jesus portrayed on earth).
I wonder if it is a little of both, in that Jesus did not come through the door when he visited the apostles in the upper room; he was apparently able to pass through solid fixtures (like walls), and yet Thomas was able to place his hand into his wound in his side.
I have to think on this; it is a concept I had not onsidered.
Thanks.
Sue

======= Vance:

OB 38
VERSES 1 through 6
“Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who did the surveying? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
This is exactly why, even if we are right in the truth we believe, we need to be humble before our Loving Lord and others. For the attitude of the heart is more important than the truth known. Of course, one cannot actually truly, sincerely believe the truth without the proper humility of heart—but pride is always a caution to guard against.
2 CORINTHIANS 4
VERSES 16 through 18
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”
I like the meditation from the website, hebrew4christians.com, which is a Messianic Jewish website enabling Christians to glean from the richness of our Jewish roots. It relates directly to this point, and its words are excellent:
*********
For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as were all my fathers. (Psalm 39:12b)
In this verse, David confesses that he, like his forefathers, is ger v’toshav – a stranger and a sojourner in this world. This is a paradoxical phrase, since:
a) a ger is one who is just passing through, like a visitor or tourist
b) whereas a toshav is one who is a resident, like a settler or citizen.
How can someone be both a visitor and a resident of a place, or a stranger and a citizen at the same time? How can one “pass through” a place he is said to dwell?
Being ger v’toshav means understanding that the changes of life are the medium for that which is eternal and abiding.
We neither detach from life nor cling to it,
but live in the mediation of time and eternity.
Every moment of life is therefore made sacred, since it is the occasion to transform the temporal into the eternal.
Like a stranger, the ger v’toshav
a. holds on to things lightly,
b. yet at the same time is passionately committed to them as a gift from God.
He is both infinitely resigned in life and infinitely engaged in life,
since he understands that all of life is ordered to ultimately reveal the glory of God.
He dies to this present world and is resurrected in the undying life of God.
If we are given grace to answer the call of Jesus to “take up our cross,” we presently become ger v’toshav.
As gerim, we confess that we are strangers in this present world,
but as toshavim we believe that our labors are not in vain, and that our true citizenship is in heaven.
We must die in order to live.
***************
PSALM 44
There are times when we have reaped the consequences of our own foolishness and sin (thus dealing with a sense of our foolishness blocking us from God’s intimacy, and experiencing His discipline). Or there are times when, even when people have faithfully obeyed and yielded their hearts to the Lord through the Spirit in obedience, God has seemed distant just like what is expressed in verse 23:
verse 23
“Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.”
Yet, either way, God is always faithful to His covenant and His word—and that is what we can and must be rooted in… for OUR LIFE!
PSALM 44
4
You are my King and my God.
You command victories for your people.
5
Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.
Notice, God has commanded victory for His people. He will not fail His Word. Thank Him for that.
Let us continue to pray and give to those affected by the hurricane in Louisiana.
Vance

======= Vance:

In my reading of “With Christ In The School Of Prayer”, I ran across a reference to a Lutheran pastor named Johann Christoph Blumhardt (1805-1880).
I found the following information very enlightening and encouraging from a website with sermons by Richard M. Riss from Middlesex Presbyterian Church, Middlesex, N.J.
The name of this sermon is called, “THE ACTS OF GOD IN HISTORY”, given Feb. 22, 1998.
source: http://www.grmi.org/Richard_Riss/sermons/0002.html
“One of the most remarkable modern-day stories of revival concerns Johann Christoph Blumhardt (1805-1880), who began pastoring a Lutheran church in Moetlingen, Germany in 1838. Within a few years, a young girl in his church named Gottlieben Dittus was diagnosed by physicians as ‘demon-possessed.’ She had what people said was a strange nervous disorder, and many psychic phenomena were taking place in her home. Everyone in her family and in the village seemed to knew about these things, and finally, one of the doctors came to Blumhardt and asked him, ‘Is there no pastor in this village who can pray? I can do nothing here.’
Blumhardt wanted to have absolutely nothing to do with this, but because of pressure from his congregation, he felt compelled to pray after this doctor confronted him. The resulting spiritual battle lasted two years, and during this time, Blumhardt was neglecting his pastoral work. He was becoming tense and exhausted, and people began to think that he was about ready to collapse, mentally and physically.
But then, something happened unexpectedly. Gottlieben’s sister, who was in the room, gave a loud, long cry in a strange voice, ‘Jesus is Victor,’ and suddenly, this girl was delivered. On the
very same day, many people in the village reported hearing the whirring of wings and cries of despair, ‘Into the abyss, into the abyss, woe oh woe, we must go into the abyss!’
These events transformed the whole village. There was a tremendous revival in which lives were transformed, broken marriages were restored, enemies were reconciled, and people began to experience physical healings.
Blumhardt was more surprised by this than anyone. Prior to this time, as a matter of course, he had been laying his hands upon various members of his Lutheran church for absolution. But suddenly, people were experiencing healings when he was doing this.
His preaching began to take on a new depth, and people started to come from all over Germany to hear him preach. He had to conduct five services every Sunday, and his little church was filled to capacity each time, with people standing outside up to a radius of up to an entire kilometer.
At one point, the German emperor himself came to find out what was going on in this little town.”
Johann C. Blumhardt (1805-1880) is regarded by many as the father of German pietism. He had a son named Christoph F. Blumhardt (1842-1919) influenced a whole generation of Europeans, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Emil Brunner, Oscar Cullman, and Karl Barth.
Praise God for a godly legacy! What rich treasures are in the Body of Christ!
Job 37 (NKJV)
23
As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
24
Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.
NOTE:
Elihu really got this exactly correct! God is truly awesome! We can never ever hope to find God unless He had taken the first step and revealed Himself to us. THANK GOD THAT GOD TOOK THAT FIRST STEP—when we look at the Lord Jesus, we do see the Father!
John 14 (NKJV)
7
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Job 38 (NKJV) – The LORD Reveals His Omnipotence to Job
1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2
“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3
Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
NOTE:
We really have to be careful to speak “glibly” and “so casually” that we give the impression that we are on His level or that we know everything about God!
It has been said before and it bears repeating: Job’s “friends” were convinced they knew the mind of God and God’s will concerning Job—and they were completely wrong as God Himself says in the last chapter of the book of Job.
Yet, we CAN REALLY KNOW God, and we are CALLED TO REALLY KNOW God. But, it must be born out of spending time before the Lord in prayer, meditation on God’s Word, fasting, etc.
We do not do these things to EARN entrance to intimacy—it is just the way to intimately know God. We need to set aside distractions (sin, desires for pleasure that war in our members, TV, other good things, etc.) in order to know God.
It is easier to talk about it than to do it. Yet, IT IS WORTH IT!
The Lutheran pastor Johann C. Blumhardt (1805-1880) is one example of reaching deep into the treasures of the Presence of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4 (NKJV)
13
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” [Psalm 116:10] we also believe and therefore speak,
14
knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
NOTE:
Now the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul speaks how we can reach into the treasures of the Presence of Christ.
Reading a portion of Psalm 116 (NKJV) is very helpful in understanding what the Holy Spirit is saying in 2 Corinthians 4:13
Psalm 116 (NKJV)
1
I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.
2
Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
3
The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow.
4
Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful.
6
The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7
Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
9
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10
I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.”
~~~
The Jewish translation and comment on Psalm 116 is extremely useful and helpful in helping me understanding what the Holy Spirit speaks through the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:13.
THEN I WOULD INVOKE THE NAME OF HASHEM: ‘PLEASE HASHEM, SAVE MY SOUL!’
This denotes fervent pleading.
GRACIOUS IS HASHEM AND RIGHTEOUS, OUR GOD IS MERCIFUL.
The Psalmist explains that BEFORE He invoked Hashem’s Name, these thoughts passed through his mind. That is, he meditated on God’s Word, in which his faith was planted, and out of which his faith grows. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget NOT His benefits.”
RETURN TO YOUR REST, MY SOUL; FOR HASHEM HAS BEEN KIND TO YOU.
I said to my soul that it would find peace and comfort ONLY if it would return to Hashem.
I KEPT THE FAITH ALTHOUGH I WOULD SAY, ‘I SUFFER EXCEEDINGLY.’
I trust that which I have previously said – ‘Return my soul, unto your rest’ – for I believe that God can redeem me from my deep suffering and restore my tranquility.
That last comment is a TREMENDOUS blessing! It really unlocked a key for me.
In essence, this has been my meditation today:
David calls upon the Lord. Before he does so, however, he meditates on the CHARACTER of God as WRITTEN IN THE WORD of God in order to establish his prayers in the faith God can accept.
I call on the Lord. Before I do so, however, I meditate on the CHARACTER of God as WRITTEN IN THE WORD of God in order to establish his prayers in the faith God can accept.
As David meditates on the Lord, he speaks to his soul that it would find peace and comfort ONLY if it would return to Hashem. He casts all of his care, all of his being, onto the Lord, the ONLY Source of his total life!
As I meditate on the Lord, I speak to my soul that it would find peace and comfort ONLY if it would return to Hashem. I cast all of his care, all of his being, onto the Lord, the ONLY Source of his total supply!
Then, David verbally RE-AFFIRMS the positive confession he made earlier in the midst of a great trial: He trusts that which he had previously said – ‘Return my soul, unto your rest’ – for I believe that God can redeem me from my deep suffering and restore my tranquility.
Vance

Job 34:1-36:33 + 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 + Psalm 44:1-8 + Proverbs 22:10-12
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Old Testament – Elihu continues his strong discourse from yesterday! There is a lot of good stuff in his words today.  Chapter 34 verse 12 is awesome – “There is no truer statement than this: God will not do wrong. The Almighty cannot twist justice.”  I pray you believe this verse to be very true…?   In chapter 35 the beginning of verse 26 really stood out to me – “Look, God is exalted beyond what we can understand.” This is a powerful verse to meditate upon.  It is so true!  Certainly in this life we can know many things about God.  We can read God’s Words in the Bible.  We can surrender our lives to God’s perfect Son, Jesus.  We can allow God’s Holy Spirit to live in our hearts.  And yet, even after all of this, isn’t God still exalted beyond what we can understand?  This is beautiful to think about.  Beautiful to know.  We will not fully understand God this side of heaven.  But I do think we can certainly begin to know more and more about God and His holy love and righteousness and grace as we go through our lives.  God’s glory is so immense that we have a lifetime of adventure before us as we learn and experience more and more of God’s glory.  And then, as we pass on to the other side of this life, there is an eternity with God!  The God of all glory.  Who is exalted beyond what we can fully understand this side of heaven.  Preach it Elihu!

New Testament – I love Second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 1 today.  In fact, if there is nothing else you remember from today’s readings I hope you will remember the last 4 words of this verse always – “And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.”  We never give up.  That is powerful for each of us to remember.  Why?  Because we will have good and bad days.  Days when we are happy.  Days when we might be feeling sad.  And there will be days when we make mistakes.  When we will stumble.  When we will fall.  But you know what has often gotten me through days like those?  This simple prayer or statement or something that fortunately comes into my mind – “I’m not giving up!”  We shouldn’t say this as justification for our falling short of God’s plan for our life.  But, when we do fall short, I have found it helpful.  Or, if I haven’t fallen short, but bad stuff is happening to me, I say it.  And I don’t say it just to myself – as if my own will power will get me through the tough times.  I say it to God.  I say it really as a prayer.  I say it almost as a statement against the devil, who would love nothing more than for us to give up.  The devil would love it if we stumbled and stayed on the ground.  If we decided this Christianity thing was just not for us.  But you know what – don’t give up!  When times are tough.  When you stumble, pray it to God – “I’m not giving up.”  Tell it to yourself.  We’re not giving up!  We’re never giving up….  (go frog!)  🙂

Verse 7 today is indeed a wonderful reminder that we humans are but jars of clay – “But this precious treasure–this light and power that now shine within us–is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.'”  We really do have very fragile bodies.  They are wonderful!  But they are fragile.  They break.  They will die.  As one writer puts it, “our condition is terminal.”  And it’s true.  This side of heaven, our bodies will eventually wear out.  But – as Paul tells us in this verse – there is light and power that shines within us when we are in relationship with Jesus!  The Holy Spirit indwells our earthen vessels.  Our jars of clay.  And hopefully we and others recognize that the glory within us is not our own.  It is of God.  And it is a glory that is available to anyone.  Free of charge.  It is grace and it beckons us to receive God’s glory in our jars of clay so that we will live eternally in heavenly bodies.  But for now, we are simply in the hands of the Potter…

Psalms – Psalm 44 verse 3 is a wise statement about where the Israelites and our true strength and victory in life comes from – “They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave them victory. It was by your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because you favored them and smiled on them.” As you look back on your life and at the good things that have happened to you, do you think that these things occurred because of your own power or work alone?  Or, do you think it is possible that God’s hand was blessing your life through all of those good things – even if maybe you did not notice God was there at the time?

Proverbs – Proverbs 22 verse 12 is convicting – “The LORD preserves knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the deceitful.”  This Proverb reminds me that we truly need to examine our motives.  Why do we do what we do?  Why do we give?  Why do we love?  Why do we volunteer?  And this list goes on.  And I think we need to continually pray that we are doing what we do for pure motives.  Not for any hidden agendas.  Let us not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing.  Because, if we are acting with hidden agendas – selfish motives – it is deceitful.  Deceitful to others and deceitful to ourselves.  We may be tricking ourselves into thinking we are doing something for pure motives when truly there is a selfish agenda in the shadows.  God’s grace and love and knowledge can of course heal us of our impure motives.  And this indeed may be a process over the course of our lifetime.  I guess this Proverb jumped out at me because I am realizing that there are times when I do not act with pure motives – particularly when it comes to doing something that on the surface looks good.  I am unfortunately oftentimes subconsciously looking for some glory.  And ultimately, I know that selfish plans will fail.  They will be ruined. How about you?  Why do you do what you do?  Why do you give?  Why do you love?  Why do you volunteer?  Is it all for the glory of God?  Or is there any hint of wanting your own glory?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Second Corinthians about “Jars of Clay” reminds me of this Jars of Clay 🙂 song called “Two Hands:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUBn1_A_XPU

How are you using your two hands? Click here to raise them High!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that though you may be hard pressed on every side that you will not be crushed, through your saving faith in Jesus. Pray that that though you may find times in your life that you are perplexed, that you will not despair. Pray that if you are ever persecuted, you will not feel abandoned, but know that Jesus holds you in His hands.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Job 34:1-36:33
“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.
(Job 34:10 NET.)
Elihu is absolutely correct in his assessment; however, he like Job and his friends assume that it was God that brought this turn of events upon Job. Like all tests given to people the test maker devises the test to measure how well the person has learned the lessons. However, in Job’s case, in our case, God is not the one who creates the tests, the devil and our own sins create the trials and temptations we encounter; however, God uses those trials as tests. He, God doesn’t have to tests us because he knows everything about us, the one who needs the information the test scores brings is US and possibly the devil.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small, (Proverbs 24:10 AMP) so the writer of Proverbs states. Crises do not come to take us out; they come to reveal the cracks. Growth comes by way of crises, plans come by way of crises and truth, the truth about ourselves come by way of crises. All truth is confrontational especially the truth about ourselves.
Now why did I go off on that tangent?
ELIHU PROCEEDED and said, Bear with me and wait a little longer, and I will show you, for I have something still to say on God’s behalf. (Job 36:1-2 AMP)
Are Elihu’s words presumptuous here, not forgetting that he is sort of a Blow-Hard, but does God really need us to speak, work on His behalf? Has God become senile, has He become weak? What we “do” for God I believe God alowss us to do, He always us to be Co-laborers with Him and in that we should be blessed and in awe of His graciousness and His mercy.
Hmmm, the process of evaporation was known back in the 10th century B.C., Just a little side note.
Behold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable. [I Cor. 13:12.] For He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain from His vapor, Which the skies pour down and drop abundantly upon [the multitudes of] mankind. (Job 36:26-28 AMP)
II Corinthians 4:1-12
I like this,
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2 MSG)
I love Paul’s integrity, his faith in God and His Word, his faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross can be clearly seen in the first two verses of this chapter. Jesus said, “And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” (John 12:32 MSG). Paul preached, “…nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2 NET.)
Today, we have chicken dinners, great singers, bands, flash, lights, smoke and mirrors to attract folks to church. Where is the “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” message?
Do many fall away because we present a Christ that is not true, do we subvert the message because we don’t really believe in it and its power to change the lives of people? As the Newsweek article that Mike linked stated, American’s are looking for the spiritual, they want an experience with God. But is the experience we Believers are giving them is it God? No every sprit is of God.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1 NET.)
Psalm 44:1-8
In the vernacular of the masses, this Psalm can be summed up in one sentence,
It Ain’t about you, or us, it’s all about God!
Proverbs 22:10-12
Hmmm, 10 Throw out the mocker, and fighting, quarrels, and insults will disappear. Sooo does that mean if you have fighting, quarreling and insulting behavior in the midst, which is an effect then there must be a mocker as the cause. What’s going on on your job, in your home?
Does this verse go along with what is written in the Book of James?
For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. (James 3:16 AMP)
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Mary:

my friend and i are going to green pastures and we found so much encouragement relevant to our own personal situations.may godbless you with a double portion so that you can continue to feed others.
Mary

======= Jill:

thanks for the encouragement. or thank God rather, about not giving up.
Jill

======= Jeff:

I noticed Ramona’s aside about the ancient people understanding the water cycle, too. Also, the 28th chapter points out that they were well versed in the technology of underground mining and smelting of ores, and had an idea of the underground rocks being “transformed as by fire.” These old timers were no dummies. They observed nature and interpreted it wisely.
But the little gem that really catches my eye in this passage is in 35:10.
“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,’”
What musician hasn’t awakened in the morning with a glorious musical inspiration? Something new and exciting that hadn’t previously crossed their mind? Elihu tells us where they come from!  : )
Jeff

======== Art:

Psalm 44:3
This is a beautiful parable of the work of salvation. Man is not saved without prayer, repentance, etc., but none of these save man. Salvation is altogether of the Lord. Yes, its not about what we do, but rather about what the Lord does.
Art

======= Dee:

I love the stork and the frog in never giving up! Ever..and where Elihu spoke from his head instead of his heart.
All in all good story
Dee

======= John:

Job
What about Elihu?
After Job gives his last speech (ch. 31) which is basically self-vidication, he rests. Not only does Job recount the sins he did not commit, but in the last few verses claims to be environmetally and ecologically correct  : )
Who is this guy? He gets six chapters, so he must be important???? Is he the mediator Job wishes for in earlier chapters? Is he the false prophet as some claim? Or is Elihu analogous to John the Baptist in that he prepares the way for the Lord in this story?
Elihu means “My God is He” or another translation “in God’s stead”. Reading ahead Elihu is not mentioned by God, but the other four are addressed. Some feel he is loving and gentle – yet very critical of Job. It is also said Elihu does not reason (like the three friends) – but reveals.
Who is Elihu?
======================================================
ELIHU
Some think Elihu is a bit of a braggart. but consider the times, and he may be just laying the platform for a “right to speak”.
Elihu says the friends are wrong by saying suffering is in correlation to unrighteousness. They offer no remedy to Job’s condition – yet they condemn Job. This condemning (judgment – “krinos”) is the kind Jesus later said we are not to do.
Job is wrong – the root problem with Job is there’s a sediment of pride in the bottom of the beaker of his life and when he’s upset by the 3….the sediment stirs up with his life of righteousness……and thats a problem – john Piper
http://www.suffering.net/piper3.htm
In Job’s self-vindication – Job has gone too far.
God is not accountable to man, but it is the other way around. How often when disasters happen do we hear people want to know “Why did God allow this?” Interesting, that when good things happen in life – I am not so sure the same people are there to thank God.
God is not his enemy. There is another reason that God punishes. Elihu feels there is a residue of pride in the righteous. Chastisement is the correction.
‘Like a surgeons knife causes pain, but the purpose is to cure.’ (John Piper)
======================================================
Some revealing statements:
God is just
Job34:12 “It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.”
Should there be forgiveness with no repentance?
Job34:33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
Elihu believes Job has added rebellion to his sin of pride.
Man brings nothing to the table.
Job 35:7-8 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,
or what does he receive from your hand?
Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself,
and your righteousness only the sons of men.
[NOTE: We can do good or bad in this world. Good or bad can be recognized by mankind. But what has this to do with standing before God? We are not perfect – thus we have no standing before God on our own merit.]
God does not answer the cries (prayers) of the wicked.
Job 35:12 He does not answer when men cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked.
[Note: I believe this is also mentioned in Proverbs. It may sound harsh, but I believe the first prayer God will heed from man is – “I am lost – save me”. Think about it – Why should God heed (he hears, but will not heed) a request from one who rejects Him? And later rejects His Son and plan of salvation?]
Again repentance is the key to forgiveness.
Job 36:10-11 He makes them listen to correction
and commands them to repent of their evil.
If they obey and serve him,
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
and their years in contentment.
Man rejects or accepts.
Job 36:13,15 “The godless in heart harbor resentment;
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help….But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;
he speaks to them in their affliction.”
God is calling you Job. He is trying to get your attention. God is not a bellhop – who is at our beck and call. Quit trying to deal with God. Treat God with the respect He deserves. Know that His wonders are beyond our comprehension. Be in awe and revere God.
John

======= John:

Job 34:1-36:33
“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.
(Job 34:10 NET.)
Elihu is absolutely correct in his assessment; however, he like Job and his friends assume that it was God that brought this turn of events upon Job. Like all tests given to people the test maker devises the test to measure how well the person has learned the lessons. However, in Job’s case, in our case, God is not the one who creates the tests, the devil and our own sins create the trials and temptations we encounter; however, God uses those trials as tests. He, God doesn’t have to tests us because he knows everything about us, the one who needs the information the test scores brings is US and possibly the devil.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small, (Proverbs 24:10 AMP) so the writer of Proverbs states. Crises do not come to take us out; they come to reveal the cracks. Growth comes by way of crises, plans come by way of crises and truth, the truth about ourselves come by way of crises. All truth is confrontational especially the truth about ourselves.
Now why did I go off on that tangent?
ELIHU PROCEEDED and said, Bear with me and wait a little longer, and I will show you, for I have something still to say on God’s behalf. (Job 36:1-2 AMP)
Are Elihu’s words presumptuous here, not forgetting that he is sort of a Blow-Hard, but does God really need us to speak, work on His behalf? Has God become senile, has He become weak? What we “do” for God I believe God alowss us to do, He always us to be Co-laborers with Him and in that we should be blessed and in awe of His graciousness and His mercy.
Hmmm, the process of evaporation was known back in the 10th century B.C., Just a little side note.
Behold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable. [I Cor. 13:12.] For He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain from His vapor, Which the skies pour down and drop abundantly upon [the multitudes of] mankind. (Job 36:26-28 AMP)
II Corinthians 4:1-12
I like this,
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2 MSG)
I love Paul’s integrity, his faith in God and His Word, his faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross can be clearly seen in the first two verses of this chapter. Jesus said, “And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” (John 12:32 MSG). Paul preached, “…nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2 NET.)
Today, we have chicken dinners, great singers, bands, flash, lights, smoke and mirrors to attract folks to church. Where is the “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” message?
Do many fall away because we present a Christ that is not true, do we subvert the message because we don’t really believe in it and its power to change the lives of people? As the Newsweek article that Mike linked stated, American’s are looking for the spiritual, they want an experience with God. But is the experience we Believers are giving them is it God? No every sprit is of God.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1 NET.)
Psalm 44:1-8
In the vernacular of the masses, this Psalm can be summed up in one sentence,
It Ain’t about you, or us, it’s all about God!
Proverbs 22:10-12
Hmmm, 10 Throw out the mocker, and fighting, quarrels, and insults will disappear. Sooo does that mean if you have fighting, quarreling and insulting behavior in the midst, which is an effect then there must be a mocker as the cause. What’s going on on your job, in your home?
Does this verse go along with what is written in the Book of James?
For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. (James 3:16 AMP)
John

======= John:

2Cor4:1-12
Review
Mercy–not getting what you do deserve / withheld punishment
Grace–getting what you don’t deserve / unmerited favor
======================================================
Paul realizes that he has been shown God’s mercy. Since he is divinely called, will he also not be divinely enabled? Thus Paul can have confidence in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul preached boldly (with no fear), humbly (message of the cross/it is not about mankind), truthfully, and with integrity.
[NOTE: Paul did not complain of what he did not have, but rejoiced in what he was given. Can we say the same?]
======================================================
2Cor4:4a “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers…”
Age or world can be interchanged. But – Who is the “god of this age”? Satan, the concept of false idols, or something we concentrate (and hence worship) more than God? Or “all of the above”. Realize that Satan uses idols and outside interests to detract and diminish God – anything to keep people from seeking God.
Satan has no power to blind peoples minds. God does, but Satan does not. So how does he do this “blinding” of Gentiles? Through “lies and deceit”.
John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” NIV
It is all a big “con” job with satan. Think about how a “con man” operates. A con man does not steal your money – he gets you to give it to him. How? By creating a scenario that is very believable (but not true), in that scenario the “con man” appeals to the “victim’s” pride, intelligence, greed,etc. The victim falls for the story, and hands over some money. In the end – the victim is separated from his money, and left with nothing.
satan works the same way. A scenario is created that comes close to God’s plan, but does not include Jesus or concept of grace. The victim has his ego stroked. Your a smart guy. You can figure this out. Doesn’t this make sense to you? In the end, one is left not separated from money – but from God.
How many people do you know that have it all figured out? Have something that works for them. Makes sense to them. Gives them a participatory role in their going to heaven. The problem is they are self-centered – focusing on what they know, what they can figure out. As long as they are looking inward for the solution, they will always be blinded. Until they turn to God and quit looking inward – they will never find the “truth”.
In essence, Satan convinces one to blind himself from the truth. That is the ultimate “con job”.
======================================================
I like in verse 6 that Paul references Genesis:
“Let light shine out of darkness”
to give us the idea that we are a new creation”.
======================================================
JARS OF CLAY
Not ming dynasty valuable vases, but jars of clay. The treasure is not the jar – it is common everyday vessel – but in what is inside the jar. So that it would be evident to anyone who had eyes to see that the work was being done by the power of God, not the power of the vessel.
Paul keeps refering to the death of and life in Christ. If we did not have Christ’s death we would not be able to have the “life in Him”. The two are intertwined.
I need to keep an eye on this next year in readings, but a commentator mentioned – whenever Christ talked about his coming death in the Gospels – he also always refered to the resurrection. The two go hand in hand.
Missed this back in Matthew
Matt6:13
“And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.” NIV
I always thought a later scribe added “one” after evil – from the scribe’s own line of thought for clarification.
Turns out that “evil” in Greek is “poneros” and it is being used in the nominative case in this verse. Jesus is naming/giving a title to “evil”.
“The word is used in the nominative case in Mt. 6:13. This usually denotes a title in the Greek. Hence Christ is saying, deliver us from “The Evil”, and is probably referring to Satan.”
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/4/1156971793-3363.html
Guess the scribe was correct in adding “one” to the text : )
Just adding to my list for reality of entity known as – satan. Posting for others that might be doing the same.
John

======= Vance:

2 Corinthians 4 (NKJV)
6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
10
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Psalm 44 (NKJV)
4
You are my King, O God; command [or, Who commands] victories for Jacob.
5
Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
Psalm 44 (NIV)
4
You are my King and my God, Who decrees victories for Jacob. [or, King, O God; / command victories for Jacob]
5
Through you we push back our enemies; through Your Name we trample our foes.
NOTE:
May we pray, wait on the Lord, fast, do whatever the Spirit of God is prompting us to do so “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body”.
It is true that Christ is in all believers—but are the Presence, Authority, and Love Christ being seen through us?
We may not always see or know how the Lord Jesus is using us.
If we are totally surrendered and consecrated to the Lord, we will “see and follow” the Holy Spirit very closely as did the Perfect Man, the Lord Jesus, and as did the apostles in the NT.
Galatians 2 (KJV)
20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
~~~
God has decreed victories for Jacob, i.e., has commanded victories for Jacob.
May we truly enter into the GLORY of Christ so we are a living letter, a living doorway to the Glorious Presence of Christ. May we always pray for the peace of Jacob (i.e., Israel) as a nation. Israel’s enemies, no matter who, will fail.
Psalm 44 (NKJV)
7
But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us.
8
In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah
May we pray for the spiritual Israel as well.
Galatians 6 (NKJV)
15
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
May we pray for many Arabs, as well as other Gentiles, to come to truly know the Prince of Peace.
Vance

Job 31:1-33:33 + 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 + Psalm 43:1-5 + Proverbs 22:8-9
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Great readings in Job today!  In chapter 31 Job basically “rests his case.”  He gives his final plea.  This chapter is the last time we’ll read this many words from Job.  Late in the book we’ll get some brief words of repentance from Job after God speaks.  In chapter 31 I like how Job lays out his case – and lets everyone know what his retribution should be.  He basically gives a series of if / then statements.  If I did this, then that should happen to me.  This is similar to the book of Exodus’ concept of the “law of retaliation”, from Exodus chapter 21 verses 23-25:  “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”  Do you see how Job’s logic in chapter 31 is similar to this law of retaliation?  You’ll recall in our readings from Matthew chapter 5 that Jesus calls us beyond the law of retaliation (which was really a law of “limited-retribution” in its day, limiting people to retaliate only based on actual harm done – meaning, eye for an eye.  Not a life for an eye, etc.).  Jesus called us beyond this law of retaliation and beyond limited retribution to the highest law of love.  Bible.org has an in depth look at Jesus’ taking on the law of retaliation in Matthew 5:38-42 at this link.  I think at the end of chapter 31 as Job rests his case, the scene may have looked something like this image below… with Elihu chomping at the bit to speak (as we know in chapter 32) in the upper left hand corner of this image…

Before we move onto Elihu – today in Job chapter 31 we read what I think is one of Job’s most profound pleadings.  It is a 10th century B.C. pleading that is ultimately fulfilled by a little baby born in a manger in Bethlehem who is now seated at the right hand of the Father.  Here is Job’s prophetic plea in verse 35: “”If only I had someone who would listen to me and try to see my side!”  You and I are so very fortunate that we do not need to make such a plea as this.  Jesus is in heaven seated on his throne and will receive our prayers!  Jesus listens to us!  Jesus sees our side!  It is humbling to look back toward the time of Job, and realize that Jesus had not yet walked the earth as a man and taken on the sins of the world on the cross.  Jesus had not yet risen from the grave and ascended into heaven.  Job was looking for someone to listen to him and to see his side.  You and I are blessed immensely in this regard.  We do not need to look anywhere else other than to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

In Job chapters 32 and 33, Elihu becomes angry at Job and his friends and presents his case!  Elihu was sitting on the sidelines up until this point and obviously was ready to say a few words!  It was amazing to read his words in chapter 32 – it was apparent to me that he was young and energetic and felt he had some very important things to say – and we will hear all that Elihu has to say between now and chapter 37!  🙂 Interestingly, as we get to God speaking to Job and his friends in chapter 38, you’ll note God does not condemn Elihu along w/ Job’s 3 other friends.  The English poet and artist William Blake made this wonderful engraving below in the year 1825 titled “The Wrath of Elihu”:

New Testament – I love Paul’s words in Second Corinthians verse 3: “Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts.”  That is a great concept!  We are living letters from Jesus sent out to the world!  Have you ever thought of yourself as a letter from Jesus?  I have not, but I like it!  It’s also interesting to realize that the Spirit living within us as Christians professes and gives witness to the glory of God oftentimes without us even realizing it.  I heard a quote once that said something like, “Who you are is so strong that I cannot hear a word you are saying.”  Basically this quote means that the inherent nature of who we are overshadows our very words.  It’s more important than our words – people notice our inherent nature!  Be it good or be it not so good…  So, if the Spirit of Jesus is within us I do believe that the Holy Spirit gives witness and gives glory to God to others that we come in contact with – even if we don’t say a word!  This is the letter that we are from Christ to the world.  The letter that is written on our hearts.  And of course there is St. Francis of Assisi who said: “Preach the Gospel at all times – use words only when necessary.”  Again, the Spirit of Jesus within us preaches the Gospel to the world even without us consciously saying words.  Don’t get me wrong – sometimes words are exactly what are needed.  But oftentimes our very presence through the Spirit of Jesus living within us is more than enough.  So, let us go forth into our world this week as living letters from Jesus to a hurting and dying world that so needs the Good News of the Gospel!  Are you a letter from Jesus?!

Psalms – I think Psalm 43 verse 5 starts off with a couple of questions that then answer themselves by the end of the verse – “Why am I discouraged?  Why so sad? I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again–my Savior and my God!” I would agree with what this verse is getting at.  If I find myself to be discouraged or sad, it comes as no great surprise to me that I have been putting my hope in things other than God.  I have been perhaps even praising false idols.  And the sure fire way to be freed from the discouragement or sadness?  To put my hope once again in God and God only.  And to praise him again!  I think this Psalm verse is a great reminder to make sure we are not placing our hope in anything other than God.  For anything other than God will only leave us empty in the end.

Proverbs – I love Proverbs 22 verse 9: “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.”  It reads like an additional Beatitude from the book of Matthew / Sermon on the Mount.  And it’s so straightforward.  Blessed are those who are generous.  Why?  Because they feed the poor.  Doesn’t get more straightforward than that!  Although, I will say that we can be generous not only with our money, but in so many ways that we live our lives.  We can be generous in spirit – to feed the poor in spirit.  We can be generous with our time – to feed those who are time-starved.  We can be generous with our encouragement – to feed those who are feeling down.  We can be generous in our prayers – to feed those who may not yet know how to pray.  And yes, of course, we can be generous with our finances – to feed those who are physically hungry.  What are some ways that you are generous with the poor?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminds me of Matthew West’s song “Me on Your Mind:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hie9q5aOA6k

Do you believe you are on God’s mind? Click here and find out!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are generous to the poor. Pray that you share your food with the poor. Pray that you yourself will be blessed, just as you are blessing the poor.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless!
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Job 31-33:33

The last couple of days as I read through Job I keep thinking about his friends and their responses to Job and I have come to the conclusion, albeit a possibly wrong conclusion, that Job’s three friends were scared. They were afraid that what had happened to him might happen to them. In their need to understand something they found hard to grasp, they distanced the chance for calamity falling upon them, in their own minds, by detaching themselves from Job. The only way they could successfully delineate Job’s condition from their “wealth” was to rationalize in their own minds that Job had sinned and they had not.

Fear, a consequence of our sin nature, causes us to try to elevate ourselves too worthiness by pointing out and magnifying the flaws in others while we sugar coat the glaring sin in our own lives. All we are doing is whistling at the wind and hiding behind leaves we have sown together, trying to hide our nakedness from God. In our sense of inadequacy, we make our own laws then judge others by the laws we made as if we control the universe: In doing so we follow the sin of Satan who desired to be the Most High God. (Ezekiel 28:12-13)

II Corinthians 3:1-18

7 That old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life?

I have seen people “glow” with what had to be the glow of the Holy Spirit. People who are in the Marine Corp can identify each other when out of uniform because they have something called l’esprit des corps. I believe Christians should be able to identify each other without pins, flags, Christian speak, but by the way we carry ourselves, by the glow that comes from being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers should be able to look at us and know that we have been with Jesus. They may not like it but they would sure have to respect it.

Psalm 43:1-5

Job could have written this Psalm, Job’s speeches could have been encapsulated in these five verses. There is nothing new or unique in the trials we experience and the pain we go through. What we experience, what Job went through is common to men and women living upon an earth beset with sin. What we have to remember and put our hope in is Jesus Christ that is the only way to survive intact the trials and tests that come our way.

Proverbs 22:8-9

8Those who plant seeds of injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will end.

We desire to get vengeance on our enemies but here it states the crop produced by evil deeds will devastate the one who sowed the seeds. Maybe in our cry of, “Lord, how long?” the plant is growing and the fruit is maturing. Maybe God is allowing the wicked to dig such deep pits in their attempt to entrap others that when they fall into it themselves, they will not be able to get out.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Edie:

Job 28:1-30:31 + 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 + Psalm 42:1-11 + Proverbs 22:7
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Job chapter 28 is incredible!  It could be my favorite chapter of Job so far this year.  I kind of forgot about this chapter from my previous readings of this book.  It seems to me to a large degree this chapter builds up and gets at one of the most important points in the Old Testament Wisdom / Poetry Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) in the closing verse 28 of this chapter: “And this is what God says to all humanity: `The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'”  Beautiful!  We do hear this theme over and over again in the other Wisdom / Poetry books of the Old Testament.  It is a powerful and true point.  I love the way Job builds up to this point early on in this chapter 28.  Verses 12 through 14 I found to be particularly great: “”But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. `It is not here,’ says the ocean. `Nor is it here,’ says the sea.”  So, how about for you?  Where do you find wisdom?  Where do you find understanding?  What does it mean to you that the fear of the Lord is true wisdom?  Do you believe this is true?  Do you believe that forsaking evil is real understanding?

In Job chapter 29 today we read about his former blessings, including these in verses 7 through 10: “Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders. The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming. The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths. The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.”

New Testament – I absolutely love and appreciate Paul’s words today in Second Corinthians chapter 2 verses 14 through 16: “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. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing. To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume.”  What great imagery!  Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God!  I love it.  It does get sad – but true – in verse 16 when Paul says that to those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom.  Why do you suppose this is?  I think it because when someone is living their life completely enslaved to sin and they encounter the light – the fragrance – of the Gospel, they either will embrace it or push it away.  Unfortunately I am afraid some folks – perhaps even us in our past – are so enslaved to sin that the sin literally makes us fear / flee from the light and fragrance of the Gospel.  Unfortunately sin can ensnare someone such that the Gospel is the fragrance of death and gloom because that is where the sin is leading someone who is enslaved to it – to death and gloom.   Sad… and this reminds us of how urgent it is for us to pray for others who are enslaved to sin.  Let us pray the fragrance of the Gospel and the grace of God will turn them back toward the Savior of the World who can free them forever – Jesus Christ.  Jesus – is there a name more fragrant?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Corinthians titled “The Sufficiency of God Through his Spirit” is at this link.

Psalms – Today we read Psalm 42 verse 1, which is one of my favorite verses in the Bible! “As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.”  That is so right on.  Lately these days I have been longing for God more than ever – and I love that.  I am thankful for that.  There have been seasons in my life – which can certainly be called “dry” seasons – where I have not longed for God.  Where I have not longed for the true Living Water.  I just love the picture this Psalm verse paints in my mind – a deer in the wilderness is fleeing from hunters.  It is literally dying of thirst as it runs.  It is tired.  It is weary.  It is running from death.  And it needs water.  It pants for streams of water.  Like this deer, I pray that I long for God in the same way.  As I flee from sin.  As I am tired.  As I am weary.  As I run from death.  I need God.  I long for God.   How about you?  Do you long for God these days as a deer longs for water?  Are you consistently drinking from the true Living Water?

Proverbs – We read great wisdom in Proverbs 22 verse 7 today: “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.” This Proverb reminds me of some of the “Get Out of Debt” seminars and books that are out there.  I haven’t read any of the books, but I did attend a half day seminar a while back, and I found it to be really good.  It is true that we are so caught up in a cycle of debt here in the U.S. – and I imagine in other countries too.  The thing I remember from the half day seminar is that we will never get out of debt if we cannot control our “appetites.”  If we cannot stop buying and spending and consuming beyond what we really need, we’ll continue to be in debt.  And once we are in debt, we are indeed slaves to the lender.  Slaves to our credit card companies.  Pretty scary when you think about it.  I pray that if you are struggling with debt, you do check out a seminar or book – don’t buy the book if you can help it!  🙂  Get it from the library.  We need to stop our impulses to “BUY NOW” or “DON”T MISS OUT” on x, y or z.  Let’s get out of debt and get out of slavery to our lenders.  Literally cut up that credit card if that’s what you need to do to control your out-of-control spending…

Worship Video:  Our Second Corinthians readings today reminded me of the Delirious song “Majesty.”  I had the good fortune to worship to this song with Delirious many years ago just before it was released.  They were playing some of their “new stuff” and this was a great song to worship to live!  You’ll notice the crowd in this video is definitely worshiping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNjH8QDpBFY

Do you know our Majestic Lord? Click here for your Majesty!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. “ Psalm 42:1 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that your soul is panting for God today. Pray that your soul pants for God as a deer pants for streams of water. Pray that your soul is panting today for Living Water, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Laura:

Job 23:1-27:23 + 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 + Psalm 41:1-13 + Proverbs 22:5-6
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – In chapter 23 verse 12 today Job makes such a powerful statement about his relationship with God!  “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (NIV)  The first statement is of course powerful – Job has not departed from the commands of God’s.  But the second statement is the one that really stood out to me today – Job has treasured God’s words more than food!  This may sound like nice high holy talk from the Old Testament…  but I think each of us should stop and meditate on this one in our lives today.  Do we treasure God’s Word, The Bible, more or do we treasure the food we eat each day more?  I’m sure most of us would say the Bible…  But let me put this another way for us to really think about this.  How many minutes a day do you spend eating?   And how many minutes a day do you spend reading the Bible?  What might make this whole equation even a little bit more interesting to consider is how many minutes a day do you think about food?  Prepare food?  Talk about food?  And then how many minutes a day do you think about the Bible?  Prepare for reading the Bible?  Talk about the Bible?  I am afraid that we may be a people today who (when the rubber meets the road and we look at actual time spent in each activity) treasure our food more than we treasure God’s Word.  However, the first step in realizing we have a problem is admitting we have a problem!  🙂  When it comes to amount of time you spend with food when compared to the amount of time you spend with God’s Word, do you have a problem?  Can you learn something from Job’s word’s today in verse 12: “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.” (ESV)

New Testament – I love that Paul calls Jesus the “Divine Yes” in today’s readings in Second Corinthians chapter 1 verse 19 in the NLT!  Here are verses 18 through 20 in the NIV – “But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.”  Amen!  Do you realize that Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises in the Old Testament?  The Law pointed to Jesus in the OT and the Law is fulfilled in Jesus.  The sacrificial system pointed to Jesus in the OT and the sacrificial is fulfilled in Jesus.  Jesus is indeed the Divine Yes!  In your life each and every day, is Jesus your Divine Yes?

Psalms – Today we read in Psalm 41 verse 1 – “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.” For some reason this verse really opens up my heart. Something about the word “weak.” Maybe this verse really speaks to me because I myself feel weak at times. And yet, I am so blessed in so many ways. And I realize that there are so many others out there in this world who may not have the blessings that I have, and who are struggling through an extremely tough cycle of weakness. And I wonder – what am I doing to help those who are weak? Do I really have regard for the weak? Do you? What in our life really demonstrates that we have regard for the weak? Are we investing time or finances into the weak? Are we praying for the weak? Are we loving the weak?

Proverbs – Proverbs 22 verse 6 today teaches us: “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.”  You know, this verse actually reminds me of quite a bit of recent work I’ve had the good fortune to participate in or observe when it comes to early childhood education.  85% of a child’s brain develops in the first 3 years of their life.  Think this is a critical period of time to teach children?  Certainly after the age of 3 we still have so much opportunity to teach children to choose the right path.  I am becoming more and more convinced that education for children is so critical here in our own backyards and throughout the world.  And unfortunately, as we all know, quality education is not happening in many sectors of our society and our world.  Let me encourage you to please invest in childhood education in your own backyard and around the world.  Find a child to mentor.  Teach a Sunday school class.  Invest in nonprofits working on childhood education.  Sponsor a child through World Vision where they will get a fantastic Christian education.  Will you join me in personally getting involved with and investing in organizations that teach our children to choose the right path?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings in Second Corinthians reminds me of the Matt Redman song “10,000 Reasons:”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM

How many reasons to you have to follow Jesus? Click here for 10,000 Reasons!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you train your children in a godly manner. Pray that you, as a child of God, are living in the way you know you should go. Pray that you and your children will not turn from living a godly life.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Job 23:1-27:23

Now that I am reading Job using a different perspective, I see amongst his words and his “friend’s” words many things from a different view point. One of the things I see is this belief that when things are going badly for us, God must not be anywhere near.

If I knew where on earth to find him [God], I’d go straight to him. I’d lay my case before him face-to-face, give him all my arguments firsthand. I’d find out exactly what he’s thinking, discover what’s going on in his head. (Job 23:3-5 MSG)

This kind of thinking is not held exclusively by Job all of us do it, believers and unbelievers. Things not going our way or how we think they should go then either we begin making a list of everything we feel guilty of; or, if we have truly repented of our sin and we are not operating out of “false” guilt, we question God’s justice for beating us up adding, “God if you only knew!” We think God is hiding from us because we just don’t understand what is going on.

If we really stop and think and look at the process of refining silver and gold and or study how precious metals and minerals are formed in the earth, we would understand that everything valuable that God has created comes by way of seeking (Ask, Seek and Knock) pressure and/or heat. It takes heat to melt silver to skim off the dross; and even greater heat to purify gold. Diamonds are nothing but pieces of black dirty coal under a lot of pressure for a very long time. The value is increased; the beauty of the metal or mineral is enhanced by stress, lots of stress.

Mike I love your food analogy in today’s comment on Job. If we, those who are believers in Jesus Christ really examined your questions we would think about why so many of us, and in some areas, most of us, are so focused on physical food and have no relationship with the Words of God and His Christ, the Bible. Let’s just get real: Ask the question, at least pertaining to the Church in the United States, “Why are there so many obese folk filling the church pews across the country?” It could give the appearance that many of us are not getting our comfort from the Word of God but from the plate, and not the collection plate, the dinner plate. About 12-18 months ago my pastor, before he began his message, read a letter from the manager of the local Red Lobster that asked him to speak to the congregation about their behavior. You see, after Sunday services (three serves 8am; 10:30am; 1pm) folks were going over to the restaurant and demanding to be seated ahead of everyone else already on the waiting list because they were CCC members. How rude, crude and totally not Christ like. Obviously, their physical bellies were not being controlled by what they just had been given spiritually. Christ like behavior is manifested through the Fruit of the Spirit—so, show me the fruit!

Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Luch:

It’s interesting today how Job 24:12 and Psalm 41:1 tie in together. On the one hand, Job says “the groans of the dying rise from the city, and the wounded cry for help, yet God does not respond to their moaning.” At this point that was Job’s reality. Although he did not abandon God, his experience seemed to indicate that God DOES NOT pay attention to people’s pain. But then in Psalm 41:1 it says, “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak…” Perhaps one of the primary ways that God does pay attention to humanity’s groaning is through followers of Jesus who do ‘have regard for the weak’. Philip Yancey once said, “the question is not ‘where is God when it hurts’ but rather, “where is the church when people hurt?” Worth thinking about, isn’t it??

Luch

======= Pat:

Job 23: 2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. 3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! 4 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.”

Every time I study the Book of Job these same verses stand out to me. If Job did have a kink in his relationship with God, this summarizes it. Job never lost his faith in God. He never lost his awe for God’s power. However, instead of wanting to seek out God to fall on his knees before Him and ask for release from his perils, Job wants to seek out God for sole the purpose of arguing with Him. I feel that we as Christians experience this same situation from time to time. We know that God is all-powerful. We know that only God can change the tides and deliver any and all things. It is because we recognize this that we at times tend to tell God what we want, how we want it done, and when to do it, instead of asking God to take over and do what He knows is best for us. When we do this, we are as Job and actually wanting to argue our case before God instead of submitting to God’s will. We want to be the puppet master and want God to be our puppet and deliver what we want for out life. Well, we are to be God’s puppet and let God be the puppet master, we are to be the clay and let God be the potter! Yes, we are to present our case before God but then we are to turn it over to God. We are to listen to the Holy Spirit and let God take control of the situation in His on way.

God Bless!
Pat

======= Carmen:

======= Vance:

Job 23 (NKJV)
10
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11
My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12
I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

NOTE:
Can I say I have truly followed the example of Job’s words? Honestly, I have to say I have not.

I am delighted by the following words by Andrew Murray from “With Christ In The School Of Prayer”:

“Faith is simply surrender: I yield myself to the impression the tidings I hear make on me. By faith I yield myself to the living God. His glory and love fill my heart, and have the mastery over my life.”

“Faith is fellowship; I give myself up to the influence of the friend who makes me a promise, and become linked to him by it. And it is when we enter into this living fellowship with God Himself, in a faith that always sees and hears Him, that it becomes easy and natural to believe His promise as to prayer.”

“Faith in the promise is the fruit of faith in the promiser: the prayer of faith is rooted in the life of faith. And in this way the faith that prays effectively is indeed a gift of God. Not as something that He bestows or infuses at once, but in a far deeper and truer sense, as the blessed disposition or habit of soul which is wrought [i.e., shaped, fashioned, formed] and grows up in us in a life of intercourse [i.e., intimate fellowship] with Him.”

“Though we have God’s promises in the Bible, with full liberty to take them, the spiritual power is wanting, except as God Himself speaks them to us. And He speaks to those who walk and live with Him. Therefore, HAVE FAITH IN GOD.”

WOW!

I read the verses which the Holy Spirit placed in Scripture from Job’s experience in Job 23:12—“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”

I believe Job is saying the same thing—using different words—as Andrew Murray said in his journey of faith.

May this be true for me, and for you: “His glory and love fill my heart, and have the mastery over my life.”

I am definitely not there. I allow other unnecessary distractions to keep me from deep fellowship with the Lord. But it doesn’t have to remain that way. We can grow, little by little, each day!

The Holy Spirit is using Job and Andrew Murray to show me that no trial or heartache is an excuse to turn away from God to other things—to turn away from seeking God as the comfort of life.

source: http://www.intouch.org/myintouch/mighty/portraits/andrew_murray_213652.html

“Murray’s life was not without testing. As a young man, an enduring sickness left him weak and exhausted. Later at the prime of his ministry, a severe illness resulted in his absence from the pulpit for two years. But God used each trial to remove all that hindered his devotion to Christ.”

”Murray wrote, ‘That awful pride and self complacency which have hither to ruled in my heart.’ He fought an insidious battle with pride, but God had the victory.”

“’What is the matter? Here I am, knowing that God has justified me in the blood of Christ, but I have no power for service. My thoughts, my words, my actions, my unfaithfulness – everything troubled me.’ “

“Murray’s daughter wrote of her father, ‘It was after the “time of silence” [in sickness] when God came so near to father and he saw more clearly the meaning of a life of full surrender and simple faith. He began to show in all relationships that constant tenderness and unruffled lovingkindness and unselfish thought for others which increasingly characterized his life from that point. At the same time he lost nothing of his strength and determination.’ “

May I—may we—be like that.

I know that Job was not perfect and that he regularly confessed his sins and the sins of his family (Job 1). In this context, Job’s persistent determination to love God and obey is remarkable:

Job 27 (NKJV)
6
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.

2 Corinthians 1 (NKJV)
20
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
21
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
22
who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

NOTE:
Jesus specifically came, and the Holy Spirit is specifically given to us, that we might learn to be “established” and to walk in God’s very practical “anointing”. God has already “sealed us” and has given the Spirit in our hearts “as a guarantee”.

The only thing that is holding us back is US.

The devil is a liar and a loser, and he has no power against God. And, as we maintain vital and living fellowship with the Lord, the devil cannot keep us in his mindset of sin and confusion. “Greater is He Who is in you than what is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

Psalm 41 (NKJV)
9
Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

NOTE:
This passage is interpreted and applied by the Holy Spirit to the Lord Jesus:

John 13 (NKJV):
21
When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22
Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.
18
“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me [or, eats My bread] has lifted up his heel against Me.’ [Psalm 41:9]

Proverbs 22 (NKJV)
5
Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards his soul will be far from them.

NOTE:
We can have real and great sorrow from living in this world. May we grieve in a way that draws us closer to the Lord.

May our souls be far from thorns and snares.

May our souls always be very close to the Presence and the Word of the Father, so we can have real strength and joy in all of the experiences of life on earth—and forever in heaven.

Vance

======= John:

2Cor1-2

When Paul got updated on Corinth, it appears the Christians had taken to heart what Paul had said on his visit and what Paul wrote in 1Cor. Yet, there were still some that were at odds with Paul – taking some pot shots at him for not returning to Corinth. Paul greets, updates, and addresses the concerns about his not returning during the time between visit and 2Cor.
======================================================
ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED

Shortly after being saved, I had a social conversation with a Pastor of a local church. He asked me, if I believed in the “security” of my Salvation. I did and still do. At that point he ran to his house and returned giving me some books he had written. The minister did not believe in security, he felt a Christian could lose his/her salvation. We talked off and on for a while, but neither one of us budged from our position.

I thought it strange. To me, from a common sense standpoint, “assurance” frees you from that worry of waking up every morning thinking, “Am I saved or am I lost?” So we are free to go about growing in Christian maturity.

However, I do not base my belief in assurance on my “feelings”, there is plenty of evidence in Scripture. One set of verses is here:

1Cor1:1-22
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” NIV

God “makes” – in Greek tense is an ongoing action.

Anointed, sealed, deposit – are in aorist tense – completed action.

Anointed: God has identified us, chosen if you will, and consecrated us for lives as Christians.

Sealed: Authenticated us, “In the ancient world, a seal was used to identify and to protect. If something was sealed, everyone knew who it belonged to (the seal had an insignia), and the seal prevented anyone else from tampering with the item. The Holy Spirit is upon us to identify us and to protect us.” – David Guzik

Deposit – “earnest” in KJV (the idea of giving earnest money to someone).GK. word “arrhabon” meaning – “money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid.”
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/7/1156685302-7592.html

How comforting are these words. God has identified us, authenticated us, and put a down payment on us that will be fulfilled in Heaven.

This is why I think the idea from the OT that God keeps His Word is so important. God in OT over and over showed He was not a fickle God – He did what He said He would do. God’s promise of salvation and our status as “co-heirs” to heaven is as rock solid as the entity standing behind those promises. Personally, I have no doubts 🙂
======================================================
FORGIVENESS FOR THE SINNER

Much speculation about who the “sinner” was that Paul referred to in this text. It could be the man who acted immorally with his stepmother in 1Cor5.

Whoever the “sinner was”, although it bothered Paul – his point was the sinner’s actions grieved the “assembly”. By majority he was sent away from the “assembly. Apparently, the sinner repented, but was not allowed back.

The Corinthians were of two extremes. In 1COr5 the brethren winked and nodded at the sin – they were loathe to condemn the man. Now they were loathe to forgive the sinner even though he repented of his sin.

“Paul told them to do more than forgive, he also told them to comfort. “There may be a judicial forgiveness which is hard, and leaves the soul always conscious of the past. Comfort takes the soul to heart, and forgets. That is how God forgives, and so should we who are His children.” (Morgan)

“If discipline is largely lacking in the Church of today, so also is the grace of forgiving and comforting those who, having done wrong, are truly repentant. How often, alas! souls have been indeed swallowed up with overmuch sorrow because of the harshness and suspicion of Christian people toward them in view of some wrong which they have done . . . Love never slights holiness; but holiness never slays love.” (Morgan)

2Cor2:11
“in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” NIV

“outwit” (the Greek word pleonekteo) is used in four other verses in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 7:2, 12:17-18, 1 Thessalonians 4:6). It has the idea of cheating someone out of something that belongs to them. When we are ignorant of Satan’s strategies, he is able to take things from us that belong to us in Jesus, things like peace, joy, fellowship, a sense of forgiveness, and victory.” – David Guzik

Satan’s schemes were recognizable to Paul:

“Satan’s strategy against the man was first of lust, then of hopelessness and despair. Satan’s strategy against the church was first the toleration of evil, then of undue severity in punishment. Satan’s strategy against Paul was to simply make him so stressed and upset over the Corinthian Christians that he lost peace and was less effective in ministry!” – David Guzik

[NOTE: Once again the idea of a “nebulous evil force” does not jive with Paul’s talk of “outwitting” and “schemes”. Paul is talking about a “real” entity.]

John

Job 20:1-22:30 + 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 + Psalm 40:11-17 + Proverbs 22:2-4
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Today in Job chapter 21 verses 7 through 13 we read these words of Job: “”The truth is that the wicked live to a good old age. They grow old and wealthy. They live to see their children grow to maturity, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them. Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves without miscarriage. Their children skip about like lambs in a flock of sheep. They sing with tambourine and harp. They make merry to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in prosperity; then they go down to the grave in peace.”   How do these words of Job speak to you?  Is there truth in these words?   If the wicked go to the grave in peace, what happens to them after the grave?  Honestly, I’m not so sure about the wicked living to a good old age and going to the grave in peace…  I personally would not take this chance.  I think living a wicked life leads to inner conflict and an unhealthy life and potentially an early grave.  I understand why Job said these words in his circumstances (he was experiencing suffering without committing the great sins his friends accused him of), but I personally would not bet on a wicked life delivering a long lifetime of wealth or peace…

New Testament – Today we begin Paul’s Second Letter to the church in Corinth!  Corinth was a city known in the 1st century for its wealth and lust.  It was a trade center with thousands of sailors who disembarked there.  Its pagan temples encouraged the practice of sexual immorality along with idol worship.  Thus, this was not an easy place for the early church!  But clearly a place where the church was so needed!  Below is a map of where Corinth is in Greece – it is about 48 miles west of Athens.  And below that is a modern day photo of ancient remains of the pagan temple to Apollo from ancient Corinth:

~ Second Corinthians ~
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Ephesus
Date: A.D. 57
Content: Paul’s earlier letter to the Corinthians had not settled all of the problems. It had some good effect upon them but much more remained to be done. In particular, Paul had to settle the problem concerning his own authority. Deep suspicions had been aroused concerning him, for what reasons we do not fully understand. But in great anguish Paul writes to reestablish his own apostolic authority. He also attempts to deal with some more practical matters, like supporting the poor believers elsewhere.
Theme: Triumph over adversity is seen throughout this letter. It is a very personal one, written by one who loved his people but had been deeply wronged by them. As Paul catalogs the experiences of his life and the nature of the Christian ministry, it is possible to see the grace of God at work bringing good from evil. Satan is active, seeking to destroy God’s work, but God is greater still, establishing those who trust in him. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 25) More commentary on Second Corinthians is at this link. Below is “The Apostle Paul”, by the artist Rembrandt from the year 1657:

Bible Project:  Here is a terrific video overview of 2nd Corinthians!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lfPK2vfC54

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Corinthians chapter 1 titled “Why Bad things happen to God’s people” is at this link.  Below is a great image for 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 from today’s readings from what looks to be Guatemala to me.  (though maybe this picture is more South America/Andes region?)  I had the good fortune to travel to Guatemala two years ago – and I miss it!  It is a beautiful country with beautiful people!

Psalms – Today Psalm 40 verse 16 stood out to me for it’s pure joy and praise: “But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!””  Does this verse resonate with you today?  Have you searched for God in your life?  Are you filled with joy and gladness because of that search?  Do you love God’s salvation?  Do you shout praises to God for all he has done for you?

Maybe if verse 16 does not resonate for you today, hopefully verse 17 can encourage you: “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now. You are my helper and my savior. Do not delay, O my God.”  Do you believe that Jesus is thinking about you right now?  Do you believe that Jesus is your helper and your savior?

Proverbs – Proverbs 22 verse 2 is a great reminder that our wealth or status does not affect who we are in God’s eyes or in God’s very hands: “The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.”  As we are all created by God, we should not ever consider ourselves better than anyone – nor lesser than anyone – because someone else has a different set of finances than we do.  If you think about it, every single person you meet has a different set of finances than you do.  Some are richer, some are poorer.  And yet we all have this in common – God made us.  How might this affect how you view others in this world?  Do you literally and consciously realize that God made each and every one of us?  Below is Michelangelo’s “Creation” from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, circa 1505-1513:

Worship Video:  Today’s readings in Psalm 40 reminded me of The After’s wonderful song called “Light Up the Sky.” Here’s a great live version of this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UpWVQbbKVo

Has God lit up the sky for you? Click here for Light!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray a prayer of praise to God, our Father of compassion and comfort! Pray that you will comfort those in your life who are in any trouble, with the comfort you yourself have received from God through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Job 20-22:30
Mike I will attempt to give a brief answer to your question about Job’s perspective on the wicked. The problem with Job’s observation is just that, it is his observation and his own conclusion. Since we look at things with our own eyes, we have our perspective not God’s. People can witness the same accident, and depending on where they are standing, whether their view is obstructed, and throw into this mix, partiality, we will testify on a stack of bibles that what we have seen is true, but each saw things differently.
Job is experiencing internally the pain of what happened to him, his three friends are observing from the outside and making their own conclusion of the cause, all four are wrong because none has God’s point of view and none understands that it was not God that brought Job down, albeit, temporarily but it was Satan, though God allowed it.
Several things have crossed my mind as I read this, Job’s three “friends” are judging him by what they see and judge themselves by their intentions. That is something we do. They have set themselves “higher” then Job, thus they believe they have the “right” to make judgments against Job by saying he must have sinned because of his state, so they are unable to hear Job’s rebuke of them. They consider themselves wiser than Job because Job is destitute and they are not. There are those who believe their wealth, multiple degrees, etc. make them smarter, wiser and above reproach, so they can give advice, ungodly advice, to everyone they deem beneath them.
Job and his friends see the same things, yet hold differing views because each has a different perspective; however, seeing “effects” and then judging what they think is the “cause,” sin, is dangerous business
What I also find in this by all four men are a lot of truth in their speech with a little bit of untruth mixed in. So trying to ascertain which part of their speech is true and/or false, with some assumptions thrown in is kind of like trying to remove the cup of saltwater that has been mixed in with a barrel full of fresh water, impossible. The whole barrel must be emptied and then filled with fresh water again, sans the seawater.
II Corinthians 1:1-11
Interesting how the trial Job is experiencing is dealt with by Paul. If Paul’s words had been available to Job while he was experiencing this “test”, Job might have had a brighter disposition. However, we today are able to read Paul’s words so we need to stop murmuring and complaining every time something doesn’t go our way.
3 All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God’s comfort.
Psalm 40:11-17
The 16th verse is the one that caught my attention just like it did to Mike and Vance.
But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”
Usually we shout Amen, Hallelujah and the Lord is great when something wonderful happens but even if something bad happens the Lord is Still Great! When a natural disaster comes upon the earth and tens of thousands die, the Lord is Great. When we lose our job, the Lord is Great. God’s greatness doesn’t depend on us having a great day, God is great because He IS Great! Great is part of His Character.
Proverbs 22:2-4
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.
Another verse in God’s Word that proves no one’s wealth seats them in a higher position or place in life as far as God is concerned. Man is the one who operates in a “class” system. We all want to think we are better than someone else is. Even the poorest of the poor, the lowest on man’s social scale, will observe someone’s behavior and say, “Even I don’t do that,” as if they, me, I, we, set the High Mark for righteousness and social decorum. God have mercy.
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Ramona:

Job 20:1-22:30
Something else came to me while reading Job this year, Job, though loved and studied for his trials and how he came out, could not stand up to the pressure of the enemies nor his “friends.” Jesus did. Job had wealth on the earth; Jesus’ wealth was in heaven with His Father. Job involuntarily lost his wealth; Jesus gladly gave us His (Heb. 12:2) to become flesh and live amongst us. Job delivered widows, orphans and the oppressed from their poverty and subjugation, which is temporary state; Jesus delivered us from sin and death, which is eternal. Job became accusatory under his temporary loss and pain; Jesus said, “… Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Mark 14:36 KJV)
There are many more opposite comparisons between Job and Jesus; however, my purpose is not to vilify Job or even to point out his faults. Throughout the Old Testament, we find men and woman who acted heroically and operated in faith as stated in the 11th chapter of Hebrews; however, all they could do was provide a temporary deliverance from difficult situations. Jesus is the only one who could and would deliver permanently.
Job is a case study in how to stand. By looking out the rebuke and correction God eventually gives his friends and Job, we have a case study showing how to persevere, but first we must recognize that our enemy is not God but the devil, and more than likely ourselves for blaming the wrong guy for our problems and coming to wrong conclusions.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:11-17 KJV)
Ramona

======= Sharlena:

Romona & Mike,
Thank you so much helping me better understand why
Job would have to suffer as he was. Reading your comments helps me to see it from a very different perspective.
Thank you both for your part in my journey to become closer to God. Each day I look forward to all that is offered on this website.
Blessings to all.
Sharlena

======= Art:

God speaks to me through Rembrandt’s painting “The Apostle Paul”. Thank you, Mike, for always including such inspiring visual arts to the readings, commentary, and music.
A prayer of deliverance from pressing trouble:
Psalm 40:13
Please Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
The language of believing prayer– deliver me, help me. looking for deliverance and help from God only.
Of earnest prayer– make haste to help me.
Of submissive prayer– be pleased, O Lord, if according to your good pleasure.
Of consistent prayer– “Help me” which implies efforts for his own deliverence, putting his own shoulder to the wheel.
Oh, the far-reaching beauty and wisdom of the Psalms. Study, sing, pray them daily!
Art

======= Janice:

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO POST HERE AND HELP IN SHARING THEIR VIEWS…I COME HERE EACH DAY TO REFLECT AND TRY TO OBTAIN SOME PEACE..TAHNK YOU ALL…GOD BLESSINGS TO ALL
JANICE

======== Dee:

I love this song! Yes u do light up the sky and let us know u are with me..
Job! Bless his heart. Jobs perception was all over the place..he was correct. He had not sinned. He was doing the right thing..however..saying people are loving longer in peace while sinning..I can’t get on that bandwagon.
2nd Corinthians today!!so God is with us when we are weighted down..
Psalms 40 even when disaster hits God is still great!!
Proverbs the rich and poor..God made them all! Amen!
Dee

======= Vance:

JOB 21
12
They sing with tambourine and harp. They make merry to the sound of the flute.
13
They spend their days in prosperity; then they go down to the grave in peace.
14
All this, even though they say to God, `Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.
15
Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us if we pray?’
16
But their prosperity is not of their own doing, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.
29
But I tell you to ask those who have been around, and they can tell you the truth. 30Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape.
31
No one rebukes them openly. No one repays them for what they have done.
32
When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
33
A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest and the earth gives sweet repose.
34
“How can you comfort me? All your explanations are wrong!”
I notice what Job said in verse 16:
But their prosperity is not of their own doing, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.
Sometimes the wicked do prosper and do very well. The answer is, even if those who reject God and reject Christ seem to do exceedingly well and seem to have a “good” life, there is accountability in the next life.
Hell is not a tool to use to “scare” people or “hit people over the head with”. It is the reality that nothing goes unnoticed or unaccounted for…even if it may seem that way.
Luke 16 (NKJV)
25
But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27
“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,
28
for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
29
Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
30
And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31
But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
2 CORINTHIANS 1
3
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source[b] of every mercy and the God who comforts us.
4
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
5
You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
THANK GOD FOR THE NEARNESS OF THE PRESENCE AND REALITY OF CHRIST!
PSALM 40
16
But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”
Do we— do I —experience the reality of Jesus, His Presence, and His joy? The “Joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)
The world does not care how much we know.
People want to know how much we care… and how much we having a living, vital faith.
John 15
7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Vance

======= Vance:

I found the name of “Job” interesting in Hebrew:
“Iyov (ee-YOHV) n. Job. Book of the Ketuvim [i.e., God’s writings] dealing with ultimate mysteries regarding evil and God’s existence. Iyov means ‘persecuted’ or ‘hated.’”
Source – Messianic Jewish website:
http://hebrew4christians.com/Glossary/Hebrew_Glossary_-_I/hebrew_glossary_-_i.html
~~~
This is interesting, especially since Job’s “friends” strongly mocked and accused him.
Job 21 (NKJV):
1
Then Job answered and said:
2
“Listen carefully to my speech, and let this be your consolation.
3
Bear with me that I may speak, and after I have spoken, keep mocking.
~~~
There is no truly satisfactory answer we can give to anyone to explain good and evil.
We must come to the place where we believe there is a God, that He exists, and is ultimately a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
We must come to know that creation is not, and that people do not always act, as God intended— that something went wrong. The “something that went wrong” is sin.
Thus, we can and must come to the place where we see that so called “acts of God” (when nature destroys) and that the acts of people do not reflect the Good, Powerful and Loving character of God.
And we can and must see God—not just in the New Testament—but all through Scripture reaching out to man in Love and Mercy in the midst of questions which perplex us people.
~~~
Job 21 (NKJV)
7
Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power?
8
Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
NOTE:
This question leads me to the very excellent verses in Psalm 37 (NKJV):
1
Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Note that these verses simply state the OBJECTIVE fact of reality of God’s view: “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
If you invert the numbers of Psalm 37 to Psalm 73, we find the SUBJECTIVE, human view of the same question:
Psalm 73 (NKJV)
1
Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
2
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3
For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
16
When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—
17
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.
18
Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
19
Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20
As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.
21
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind.
22
I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
23
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
~~~
This is why it is SO NECESSARY AND GOOD to be in regular fellowship with God’s people.
God’s plan is teach us and establish us personally while we are in the community of God with others who know and seek God.
Matthew 18 (NKJV)
20
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
2 Timothy 2 (NKJV)
22
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
~~~
Job 22 (NKJV) – Eliphaz Accuses Job of Wickedness
25
Yes, the Almighty will be your gold [The ancient versions suggest defense] and your precious silver;
26
For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.
NOTE:
It is interesting that the Holy Spirit chose to keep all of the words of Job’s “friends” who constantly accuse and mock Job wrongly.
Even though Eliphaz is accusing Job of wickedness in this chapter, yet these particular words of the Holy Spirit in the Bible really impressed me.
They touched on a deep longing not just to know about God from Scripture and reading, but to spend time with God.
This makes me think of a quote by Andrew Murray. He is often called “The Apostle Of Abiding Love”. Note this brief sketch of the ministry of Andrew Murray according to In Touch Ministries:
“Even at this early stage of ministry, he already showed signs of becoming a noted author. The ‘deeper Christian life’ was a favorite subject for Murray. He told how God was committed to revealing more of Himself to those who would seek Him.”
”As a preacher, he consistently drew large crowds and led many to trust Christ as their Savior.”
(source: http://www.intouch.org/myintouch/mighty/portraits/andrew_murray_213652.html)
I like this quote by Andrew Murray in “With Christ In The School of Prayer”:
“Count it one of the chief blessings of prayer to exercise faith in God, as the Living Mighty God who waits to fulfil in us all the good pleasure of His will, and the work of faith with power.”
“See in Him the God of Love, whose delight it is to bless and impart Himself.”
Amen.
2 Corinthians 1 (NKJV)
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
NOTE:
As we really know the true joy in fellowship with the Lord, even our sorrow becomes a means of receiving God’s comfort.
Then, in our lives and words, we can be a living witness to the true and living God, and to the Lord Jesus.
Psalm 40 (NKJV)
16
Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually,
“The LORD be magnified!”
17
But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.
NOTE:
Our words we speak and the thoughts we repeat to ourselves either produce life or death. May we follow the wise advice and will of the Holy Spirit: “let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The LORD be magnified!’ ”
This is a spiritual discipline of worship before the Lord.
The next verse is amazing: “But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me.”
May we really come to know this loving God and receive His thoughts about us. Isn’t it amazing that the Lord sets His thoughts upon us?
In the fog and confusion of the questions as we live our lives on this “desert” called earth, may we receive the Living Water of God’s Thoughts and Presence!
Vance

Job 16:1-19:29 + 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 + Psalm 40:1-10 + Proverbs 22:1
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives!”  Whoo-hoo!  Awesome words from Job today in chapter 19 verse 25!

Job chapter 19 verses 23 through 27 are some of the best known and well loved verses of the book of Job.  These verses seem to be where Job hits his high point in his understanding of his relationship with God:  “Oh, that my words could be written. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”  How powerful are these verses??  Great stuff.  Job starts off saying that he hopes his words could be written and engraved forever – and indeed they were as we are reading them in the Bible!  Then Job makes the incredible statement that even in the midst of all of his suffering and perceived distance from God, he knows that God lives!  The closing two verses are powerful in that they actually indicated a belief in the resurrection by Job.  He says that even after his body has decayed – after his death here on this earth – he will see God with his own eyes in his own body!  How could this possibly be?  Well, only if he believed in a resurrected body after death – as we’ve been reading about in First Corinthians chapter 15 the past couple of days!  I’ve read some various commentaries on who is the “Redeemer” that Job is referring to in verse 25.  Jesus?  Could be.  But it seems like most commentaries seem to suggest Job is referring to God himself, rather than Jesus.  Though, of course Jesus is God so maybe this is a moot point!  🙂 Job does talk about his desire for a mediator in other parts of this book, which could be references to Jesus as well.  I found this great artwork below that was painted based on the chapter of Job 19.   Re-read the entire chapter of Job 19 again and I think you’ll see the beauty of this artwork…

New Testament – We wrap up Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians today!  What an amazing book!  I have been blessed immensely by it this year.  I hope you have too? I like Paul’s instructions to the church in Corinth in chapter 16 verses 1 through 3 today: “Now about the money being collected for the Christians in Jerusalem: You should follow the same procedures I gave to the churches in Galatia. On every Lord’s Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.”  I love this last sentence!  It made me smile.  Paul knows how us humans are – back then and now – we like to procrastinate!  We like to do things at the last minute if we can.  Well, I concur with Paul that our giving to our churches should be a regular thing.  With each pay check we should “put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned.”  Really, as I think about it, giving of money to our churches with each paycheck is an act of worship.  We are worshiping God with our finances.  Let us not wait to give to our churches.  Let us give faithfully and regularly with each paycheck God blesses us with!

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in First Corinthians titled “Paul’s Closing Words” is at this link.  Below is a great image and message from First Corinthians 16:14 –

Psalms – Psalm 40 starts off in verse 1 with a beautiful reflection on David “waiting patiently for the Lord” about his prayer, and in turn God “heard his cry.” David then goes forward in the Psalm rejoicing in the Lord and culminating in this powerful statement in verse 8: “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” How does this Psalm speak to you today? Do you wait patiently for the Lord in your prayer life? Do you desire to do God’s will? Is His law within your heart today?

Proverbs – We have a beautiful Proverb verse 1 to start off the 22nd Chapter of Proverbs!  “Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold.”  Do you believe this Proverb to be true?  Which do you seek after more – a good reputation or money?  You know though, the more I think about this Proverb I have some concerns about it.  Only in that if we seek after having a good reputation, then we may really be focusing on ourselves and how other people look at us, rather than focusing on Kingdom things.  We may decide to do something because it’s “popular”, rather than it being “right.”  We may give to the poor with blazing trumpets because this will help our reputation – but Jesus clearly said we should not do this.  Does this make sense?  I mean given the choice of a good reputation or being rich, this Proverb is clearly true.  But it’s not enough.  That’s why we need to read the entire Bible to get the full context of everything else that surrounds any 1 particular verse in the Bible, like this one.  One verse is not enough.  It’s Truth.  But not enough.  We need the entire Bible.  Good for you for going through the One Year Bible this year!  Please do keep up your study of the entire Bible beyond just this year.  We need the entire Bible for our entire life…

Worship Video: For our Job readings today, here’s a YouTube for “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C. Mullen: (she sings the first verse in Spanish, then transitions to English)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plk4hA4hCtI

Do you know that our Redeemer lives? Click here to meet our Redeemer!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you desire a good name more than riches. Pray that you desire godly esteem more than silver and gold.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Job 12:1-15:35 + 1 Corinthians 15:29-58 + Psalm 39:1-13 + Proverbs 21:30-31
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – I forgot how much trash-talking goes on here in the book of Job! It occurred to me that all of this bickering back and forth between Job and his friends keeps transpiring without Satan coming up in their comments at all. Meaning, no one seems to realize that Satan is the one who has afflicted Job! And I’m wondering if this happens in our lives today as well? Do we sometimes miss it when Satan is literally attacking us? Do we blame others? Blame ourselves? Maybe even blame God? When the blame should be directed at the Deceiver? I think Job and his friends could have used Michael the Archangel to come into the picture here and whoop up on Satan like he’s doing in this painting below from the year 1518 by the Italian artist Raphael:

There are some great words of wisdom from Job in today’s readings. I love the poetry of his words in chapter 14. A lot of it reminds me of the book of Ecclesiastes, which we’ll read later this year. Below is an illustration of Job and his three friends from the Book of Hours of Etienne Chevalier by the 15th century French painter Jean Fouquet:

New Testament – Today in First Corinthians chapter 15 verses 42 through 44 and 49 we read: “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. . . And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.” Have you thought much about heaven? Have you considered life after death? Do you believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead? Do you believe that your body will be raised imperishable? That your body will raised in glory? In power? Do you believe that there is a spiritual body, just like we now know our earthly body? Are you looking forward to bearing the likeness of Jesus in heaven? On a side note, Randy Alcorn’s book “Heaven” is a fantastic look at life after death for those whose lives have been surrendered to Jesus. Please please read this book if you haven’t yet! It will change your perspective on heaven!

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in First Corinthians 15 titled “A Refresher Course on the Resurrection of the Dead” is at this link. Below is a great image for First Corinthians 15 verse 54:

Psalms – Today in Psalm 39 verse 5 we read – “My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath.” This is a powerful verse for each of us to meditate upon. How does this verse speak to you? Do you feel like life moves fast sometimes? If so, how are you spending your time? Are you being intentional about how you invest your time? Are you being intentional about your work? Your friends? Your finances? Volunteering? Serving others? Loving others? Watching TV – or better yet, not watching TV? 🙂 If life really is “but a breath” – are you spending your breath wisely? With your breath are you constantly loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself?

Proverbs – Today in Proverbs 21 verse 31 we read: “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” How does this Proverb speak to you? For me it is a reminder that anything we do in our life is dependent on the Lord. If we want to be successful in life – in our jobs, ministries, marriages, friendships, anything – we will only be successful if the Lord is with us. So, how do we know if the Lord is with us? My first suggestion is prayer. I believe we should commit every thing we do to prayer. I will admit that lately my prayer life has not been very good. And I’ve noticed the effects of it. I want victory is so many areas of my life – but it seems like I am too often “saddling up” the horse without seeking the Lord’s guidance and wisdom and blessing. How is your prayer life these days? Are you committing everything you do to prayer? Are you earnestly seeking through prayer the Lord’s guidance, wisdom and blessing, knowing that victory rests only with the Lord?

Below is a great image for Proverbs 21:30 from today’s readings:

Worship Video: Our First Corinthians chapter 15 readings about Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection bodies have been amazing! They reminded me of the Chris Tomlin song “Home:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIb4NC5ikYo

Are you looking forward to heaven as your home? Click here to find your way Home!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray in thanksgiving and anticipation for the day you will be raised imperishable through a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Pray in thanksgiving for God’s incredibly good gift of Heaven.

Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Job 8:1-11:20 + 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 + Psalm 38:1-22 + Proverbs 21:28-29
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Okay, so I am sure that most of us have heard the old adage “patience of Job.” (As in, “she has the patience of Job.” etc.) Well, today’s chapters 9 & 10 are probably not where this adage came from!  🙂  Job is not showing a lot of patience in these chapters.  Can you blame him?  Would you speak differently if you were in Job’s situation?  Or perhaps would your language be worse?  It is important to note that Job does not curse God directly, as Satan said Job would do in the beginning of the book.  Job is certainly complaining about his situation – and, well, not to spoil the book of Job here for you… but Job will repent of what he says to God later in the book.  In Job chapter 10 today we read Job’s plea to God, including this in verses 18 through 22: “`Why, then, did you bring me out of my mother’s womb? Why didn’t you let me die at birth? Then I would have been spared this miserable existence. I would have gone directly from the womb to the grave. I have only a little time left, so leave me alone–that I may have a little moment of comfort before I leave for the land of darkness and utter gloom, never to return. It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of utter gloom where confusion reigns and the light is as dark as midnight.'”

The other adage, in addition to “patience of Job”, that I was thinking about in today’s readings is “with friends like these, who needs enemies??”  🙂   Zophar in chapter 11 seems to really have compassion-deficiency!  I do think that Zophar and Bildad in chapter 8 were trying to say the things they thought Job needed to hear.  But they overstated the case I think in a few places.  I don’t agree w/ Zophar saying in chapter 11 verse 3 that Job mocked God: “When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed?”  Here’s my question for us today.  Are we sometimes like Zophar and Bildad?  Do we jump to conclusions about maybe why bad things are happening to our friends?   Do we offer up our big advice and big words and big bluster before really listening to our friends and understanding their situation fully?  I am afraid that sometimes we jump to conclusions far too quickly.  I always try to remember the old Stephen Covey adage (wow, 3 adages here in 1 post! 🙂 from the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”:  “Seek first to understand, and then to be understood.”  Let us seek first to really understand our friends or family members issues before we start offering our prescriptions for them.  Let us first try walking a mile in their shoes!

New Testament – We read beautifully true words from Paul today in First Corinthians chapter 15 verses 3 & 4: “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me–that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.”  And then there are some interesting words from Paul in verses 17 through 19: “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ have perished! And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.”  He immediately follows up these verses with this statement in verse 20: “But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.”  This is quite a chapter from Paul about the Resurrection of Jesus and the Resurrection of the dead!  I think the key question we each need to ask ourselves is: do you believe that Jesus was born on this earth 2,000 years ago, is the Son of God, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for your sins, and on the third day rose from the dead?  This is the question on which all of Christianity – and your personal faith in Jesus – hinges.  So, what say you?

In verses 5 through 8 today six resurrection appearances of Jesus’ are mentioned.  Below is a full list of Jesus’ resurrection appearances from Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible:
1. The empty tomb (not an appearance per se – but no body was in the tomb – the first indication of the resurrection)
2. To Mary Magdalene in the garden
3. To the other women
4. To two people going to Emmaus
5. To Peter
6. To the ten disciples in the upper room
7. To the 11 disciples in the upper room (including Thomas this time – see painting below)
8. To seven disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee
9. To the 11 disciples on a mountain
10. To more than 500
11. To James
12. To the disciples at His ascension
13. To Paul on the road to Damascus

One of my favorite paintings of a resurrection appearance of Jesus’ is by the Italian artist Caravaggio from the year 1603 titled “Doubting Thomas”:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in First Corinthians 15 titled “A Refresher Course on the Resurrection of the Dead” is at this link.  Below is a great image for First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 2 from today’s readings:

Psalms – Psalm 38 is powerful!  Verses 4 & 5 speak so much to our human condition – “My guilt overwhelms me–it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins.”  Does this verse speak to you in any way, shape or form?   If so, please consider then verse 18 – “But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.” Will you confess your sins to God today?  Will you admit that you are truly sorry for your sins?  Will you pray for healing from your sins?  Will you make confession of your sins to God a regular practice?

Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 21 verse 29 today is subtle but so true: “The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright proceed with care.”  Have you ever seen folks that put up a bold front, but don’t have much behind it all?  And then seen those that are so humble and maybe even seem quiet, but then deliver incredible fruits?  As Jesus said – you’ll know a tree by its fruit.  A bad tree cannot produce good fruit and a good tree cannot produce bad fruit.  This Proverb is a great reminder that the front / the sales pitch / the first impression is not the fruit!  It’s what comes next and what is delivered with quality and consistency that comes next.  Do you put up a bold front at times?  Or do you make it a habit to instead proceed with care?  Let us be an upright people!

Worship Video:  Today’s readings remind me of Josiah Queen’s song “The Prodigal:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K0Yy9EH48k

Are you a prodigal? Click here to return to Jesus!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you wholeheartedly believe in the Resurrection of Jesus. Pray that you wholeheartedly believe in your resurrection after death, if you have a saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:

Job 4:1-7:21 + 1 Corinthians 14:18-40 + Psalm 37:30-40 + Proverbs 21:27
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Today in Job chapter 4 we read about Eliphaz the Temanite’s first response to Job, including these words in verses 3 through 6: “In the past you have encouraged many a troubled soul to trust in God; you have supported those who were weak. Your words have strengthened the fallen; you steadied those who wavered. But now when trouble strikes, you faint and are broken. Does your reverence for God give you no confidence? Shouldn’t you believe that God will care for those who are upright?” How do these words of Eliphaz’s speak to you?  Are these fair words for him to be saying to Job?  Are they fair words for us to consider in our own lives today as well?

Then in chapter 6 Job responds to Eliphaz as follows in verse 2 through 6: “If my sadness could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would be heavier than all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke so rashly. For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. He has sent his poisoned arrows deep within my spirit. All God’s terrors are arrayed against me. Don’t I have a right to complain? Wild donkeys bray when they find no green grass, and oxen low when they have no food. People complain when there is no salt in their food.”  How do these words of Job’s speak to you?  Are these fair words for him to be saying in reply to Eliphaz?  Are they fair words for us to consider in our own lives today as well?

Below is a powerful image for Job’s words in chapter 7 verse 11:

New Testament – I don’t know if you’ve ever heard Billy Graham say that he likes to read the newspaper in one hand with the Bible in the other hand?  I will try to provide an example of how we can do this today, thanks to an article a couple of years ago in Newsweek titled “In Search of the Spiritual” at this link.  This is an opportunity to read Paul’s words today in First Corinthians chapter 14 on orderly worship, and then compare to what you read in this Newsweek article.  I’ll let you work out your own conclusions.  Be like Billy Graham – read the news of the day in one hand with the Bible in the other hand.   Tim Challies (one of my favorite bloggers) has an interesting take on this Newsweek article on his blog at this link.

On some more Billy Graham / magazine notes, did everyone catch the Newsweek magazine article in 2006 about Billy titled “Pilgrim’s Progress”?  You can read it online here. 

The One Year Bible Companion book dives into the question “Does 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 mean that women should not speak in church services today?”  I encourage you to pick up this book, as it is invaluable in going through the One Year Bible and covers great questions like this.  I will share with you a little bit of their answer on this today – “Women have much to contribute and can participate in worship services. In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public.  Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that their Christian freedom gave them the right to question men in public worship.  This was causing division in the church.  Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship.  The purpose of Paul’s words was to promote unity, not to teach about women’s role in the church.”  Thank you Tyndale for this Q & A.

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in First Corinthians titled “Spiritual Gifts and Self Control” is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 37 verses 30 & 31 read like amazing Proverbs: “The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong. They fill their hearts with God’s law, so they will never slip from his path.”  Are you filling your heart with God’s teachings?  Are you doing this so that you will never slip from His path?  Are you offering good counsel to those around you?  When others around you see you, do they see someone that clearly knows what is right from wrong?  Below is a little Right & Wrong sign humor for you 🙂 – 

Proverbs – Proverbs 21 verse 27 is one of those that makes you go “ouch” – “God loathes the sacrifice of an evil person, especially when it is brought with ulterior motives.”  Well, not the evil person part making me go ouch, so much as the “ulterior motives” part.  I do think there is so much wisdom in Jesus’ admonition to give without letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing.  I am afraid that sometimes I have not only let the right hand know when I’m giving – but many other people as well!  That’s ulterior motives.  And it’s not right obviously, as we see in this Proverb today and as we hear from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.  How about you and your giving or acts of kindness – Do you give with pure motives?  With no ulterior motives?  With no strings attached?

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Mountain People Worship’s song “My Heart Wants You:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQahQg8ymyQ

What does your heart want? Click here for your true desire!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Blessed are those whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” Job 5:17 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are blessed by the gift of God’s discipline. Pray for holy correction from God to make you more and more like Jesus each day.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona: