Today we will complete the study of chapter 4. As we saw yesterday it was the start of the conversation and accusations of his friends after 7 days of mourning without anyone speaking.
‘The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken. The lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered. “Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, Dread and trembling came upon me, Which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my skin stood on end! The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, and then I heard a voice, saying: ‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He? Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He? God puts no trust or confidence, even in His [heavenly] servants, And He charges His angels with error. How much more [will He blame and charge] those who dwell in houses (bodies) of clay, Whose foundations are in the dust, Who are crushed like a moth. Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces and destroyed; Unobserved and unnoticed, they perish forever. Is not their tent-cord drawn up within them [so that the tent collapses]? Do they not die, and yet without [acquiring] wisdom?’’
We see as we start today’s reading and study how Eliphaz tries to demonstrate through his description that in spite of strength and resources, wicked people experience calamities. We see that the lion’s characteristics are described through 5 different words to represent the wicked people and calling out Job.
The roaring of the lion: The word used here (אריה ‘aryêh) or in a more usual form (ארי ‘ărı̂y), is from, ארה ‘ârâh, to pull, to pluck, and is probably given to the lion as the puller in pieces, on account of the mode in which he devours his prey, Bochart, however, contends that the name is not from, ארה, because, says he, the lion does not bite or crop his food like grass, which, he says, the word properly means, but is from the verb ראה râ’âh, to see, because, says he, the lion is the most keen-sighted of the animals; or rather from the fire of his eyes – the terror which the glance of his eye inspires. So the Greeks derive the word lion, λέοντα leonta, from λάω laō, to see. See Beehart, Hieroz. Lib. iii. c. 1, p. 715.
The voice of the fierce lion: The word here translated “fierce lion” (שׁחל shı̂chal) is from שׁחל shachal, to roar, and hence, given for an obvious reason to a lion. Bochart understands by it the swarthy lion of Syria; the lion which the Arabians call adlamon. This lion, says he, is dark and dingy. The usual color of the lion is yellow, but Oppian says that the lion in Aethiopia is sometimes found of a dark color, μελανόχροος melanochroos; see Bochart, Hieroz. Lib. i. c. 1, p. 717, 718.
The teeth of the young lions: The word used here, כפיר kephı̂yr, means a “young lion already weaned, and beginning to hunt for prey.” – Gesenius. It thus differs from the גוּר gûr, which means a whelp, still under the care of the dam; see Ezekiel 19:2-3; compare Bochart, Hieroz. Lib. iii. c. 1, p. 714. Some expression is here evidently to be understood that shall be applicable to the voice, or the roaring of the lion. Noyes supplies the words, “are silenced.” The words “are broken” can be applicable only to the teeth of the young lions. It is unnatural to say that the “roaring” and the “voice” are broken. The sense is, that the lion roars in vain, and that calamity and destruction come notwithstanding his growl; and as applied to men, it means that men who resemble the lion are disappointed and punished.
The old lion: The word used here, לישׁ layı̂sh, denotes a lion, “so called,” says Gesenius,” from his strength and bravery,” or, according to Urnbreit, the lion in the strength of his old ago; see an examination of the word in Bochart, Hieroz. P. i. Lib. iii. c. 1, p. 720. Perisheth for lack of prey – Not withstanding his strength and power. That is, such a thing sometimes occurs. Eliphaz could not maintain that it always happened. The meaning seems to be, that as the strength of the lion was no security that he would not perish for want, so it was with men who resembled the lion in the strength of mature age.
The stout lion’s whelps: The word here rendered “stout lion,” לביא lâbı̂y’, is probably derived from the obsolete root לבא lâbâ’, “to roar,” and it is given to the lion on account of his roaring. Bochart, Hieroz. P. i. Lib. iii. c. 1. p. 719, supposes that the word means a lioness. These words complete the description of the lion, and the sense is, that the lion in no condition, or whatever name indicative of strength might be given to it, bad power to resist God when he came forth for its destruction. Its roaring, its strength, its teeth, its rage, were all in vain. Are scattered abroad – That is, when the old lion is destroyed, the young ones flee, and are unable to offer resistance. So it is with men. When the divine judgments come upon them, they have no power to make successful resistance. God has them under control, and he comes forth at his pleasure to restrain and subdue them, as he does the wild beasts of the desert, though so fearful and formidable.
From the study we are following, it adds the following insight into verses 10-11:
Job 4:10 “The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.” Understand vanishes, or perishes (out of Job 4:9). Or, is restrained, or suppressed, as may be gathered out of the following branch of this verse. “And the teeth of the young lions are broken”: The power of such mighty ones to do mischief is taken away from them, and they and their families are brought to ruin. The teeth of lions are very strong in both jaws; they have fourteen teeth, four incisors or cutters, four canine or dog teeth, six molars or grinders.
Job 4:11 “The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.” Dares not venture out of his den in search of prey, amidst the roar of thunder. The blaze of lightning, and the violence of the storm, that blast of God, mentioned in the preceding verse. “And the young lion’s whelps are scattered abroad”: Are so affrighted with the lightning and thunder, that, being separated, they flee in different ways, and cannot find the path which leads to the den of the lioness, their dam. Thus do the divine judgments suddenly oppress, scatter, and bring to nothing the fierce and powerful tyrants of the earth, and unexpectedly strip them of all their wealth gotten by injustice and oppression. Eliphaz now, was relating Job to evil men who were spoken of as lions. He was saying that Job had abused his power as a leader. The old lion was a tyrant who had lost his power. In this last statement, it was a terrible blow to Job, because his children were called the whelps. They were taken from Job, but they were not scattered, they were in heaven with God. Job’s friend spoke of them, as if they were lost for the sins of their father. All of the statements from Job’s friend were not true, because they were not from God.
Ever had people tell you that they received a word from God for you? Ever checked it against God’s Word to confirm the truth of it? Ever found it to be true? Ever found it to be false? Ever not checked and just assumed it was true or false without verifying? Ever not checked and later found out they were wrong? Turn to God for wisdom so that you won’t be mislead or tricked by the plans and ploys of the devil.
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
Ever had your friends who you thought knew you make false accusations? Ever had your friends do or say something hurtful to you in the midst of tragedy? Ever had your friends in the midst of the pain seem to turn on you? Ever had your friends who say they had come to comfort you after a while turn around and start to accuse of you things without knowledge or cause?
Ever realized that Satan will look for weakness just like the wolf when watching a flock in order to know where to attack? Ever realized that Satan will look to use those closest to you to try and derail your efforts for God? Are you rested? Are you prayed up? Are you read up on God’s Word? Are you geared up with the full armor of God? Are you getting your family and friends ready too? Ever been that friend? Ever considered that there might be something bigger going on? Ever considered that you don’t know it all and you don’t have all the details?
Have any friends who use sarcasm as their weapon of choice?
We need to be cautious and remember what Jesus taught when being questioned by his disciples about the blind man. We might want to consider God is working in and through it for good. We might want to turn to God rather than trying to cast judgement! We might want to consider God’s glory that might be revealed through the situation.
‘While He was passing by, He noticed a man [who had been] blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world [giving guidance through My word and works].” When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made mud with His saliva, and He spread the mud [like an ointment] on the man’s eyes. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. So the neighbors, and those who used to know him as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Still others said, “No, but he looks like him.” But he kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The Man called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received my sight!” They asked him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” ‘
Now there are times when we do things that cause us self inflicted pain and suffering. Consider this and don’t be one to point fingers without checking your own life first.
‘ “ Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly]. For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you. Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me get the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite (play-actor, pretender), first get the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. ‘
Today’s reading from Job 4 starts into the conversations with Job’s friends who had traveled so far to come and support and comfort him after such devastation and pain.
‘Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, “If we dare to converse with you, will you be impatient [or offended]? But who can restrain himself from speaking? Behold, you have admonished and instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have helped the one who was stumbling to stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees. But now adversity comes upon you, and you are impatient and intolerant; It touches you, and you are horrified. Is not your fear of God your confidence, And [is not] the integrity and uprightness of your ways your hope? “Remember now, who, being innocent, ever perished? Or where [and in what circumstances] were those upright and in right standing with God destroyed? As I have seen, those who plow wickedness And those who sow trouble and harm harvest it. By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they are consumed. The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken. The lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered. “Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, Dread and trembling came upon me, Which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my skin stood on end! The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, and then I heard a voice, saying: ‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He? Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He? God puts no trust or confidence, even in His [heavenly] servants, And He charges His angels with error. How much more [will He blame and charge] those who dwell in houses (bodies) of clay, Whose foundations are in the dust, Who are crushed like a moth. Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces and destroyed; Unobserved and unnoticed, they perish forever. Is not their tent-cord drawn up within them [so that the tent collapses]? Do they not die, and yet without [acquiring] wisdom?’’
Starting in today’s reading we see the engagement of discussion between Job and his friends. We see that today’s dialog starts with Eliphaz whose name means “my god is gold”. We learn that Eliphaz’s name and native land of Teman are associated with Esau and Edom (Genesis 36:11, 1 Chronicles 1:36, Jeremiah 49:7). Imagine being accused just because your friend had never seen anyone who was innocent suffer. Imagine being accused by your friend of being a hypocrite. Imagine being accused by your friend that you must have done something to deserve the punishment. We know from the reading of God’s Word that Eliphaz has no idea what took place between God and Satan that caused this suffering of Job. We learn that Eliphaz begins with sarcasm as he accuses Job of not practicing what he preaches. Based on the order of the speakers in Job, it would be most probably that Eliphaz would be the eldest and wisest of Job’s sage friends as he gets to speak first. We will see in the continued reading how Eliphaz also happened to be the most compassionate one of the three friends. We learn looking into this more how Eliphaz starts with emphasis on God’s greatness and His judgment of sin. Today’s study provides us with the context around the other two friends as well with:
Eliphaz takes the position of a theologian, emphasizing the greatness of God and His judgment of sin. Bildad takes the position of a traditionalist, emphasizing the principles of wisdom, which he suggests Job has violated. All three of them take a negative view of Job, assuming that he has done something to bring this trouble on himself.
The silence stopped after 7 days of morning. It starts out more compassionately where Job is acknowledged and recognized for being a wise man. We see the truth of Proverbs 17:28 of how wise people can seem as long as they keep quiet. Don’t be so arrogant that you start to speak to only find out that you aren’t as smart you thought or others were thinking. Let’s be prudent and discreet about our words and our thoughts and look to control our tongues and keeping our mouth shut.
“Who can withhold himself from speaking”: When he hears such unreasonable and ungodly words coming from such a person as thou art, whereby thou dost accuse thy Maker, and reproach his providence, and contemn his blessings? No man who hath any respect to God, or love to thee, can forbear reproving thee.
Eliphaz was fully aware that up until this time Job did not want his friends to talk to him. We discussed earlier, that many times deep grief has to be worked out silently within one’s self. Now, Eliphaz believed that it might be time to speak to Job. He was actually asking Job’s permission to speak to him. He had waited 7 days, and now he felt he must speak.
We see how he speaks to how many people Job has helped over the years. We learn how he was able to give them good advice and teaching them lessons. Unfortunately, the sarcasm kicks in though with a finger pointing that Job may not have learned this lesson himself though and could be why he is having to go through this suffering. We learn how Job had been one who encouraged others who were troubled, discouraged, and demoralized through sharing advice, support, and comfort with those who were unable to bear the load of their situation or their responsibility. We learn how Job was one who would help the downcast and needy all around him facing problems of many kinds. We learn how he directed them in the ways of the Lord and helped to strengthen them in the Lord. He helped them in the pressures and the falls by pointing them back to God, God’s promises and care. Job would point them back to God. Job would help strengthen their faith. Job would help them rebuild their trust in God. We learn how just like how Job had concerns over his own family, his kids, we learn that Job also cared for others who were around him. Job’s advice helped them in the midst of their troubles and trials to be able to be renewed and recover.
With Job 4:5, we see the accusation that Job may not be able to take his own medicine. Today’s study notes put it this way:
Job 4:5 “But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.”
That is, the evil which thou didst fear (Job 3:25), or that which had come upon those whom thou didst so comfort.
“And thou faintest”: There is no more spirit left in thee: and thou canst not practice thy own advice.
“It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled”: It is now come to be thine own case, and thou art struck with consternation.
This friend was telling Job that he was good at giving advice, but he was not very good at taking advice. He was also saying, take for yourself the advice you have given others. This friend of Job believed that this calamity that had befallen Job, was a chastisement from God. He was thoroughly convinced that Job had done some terrible thing, and God was punishing him for it.
Eliphaz then turns Job’s faith and trust and belief to the test. He asks him about how he is living in comparison to what he says he believes. Today’s study expands on it this way and we will continue in this chapter tomorrow:
Job 4:6 “[Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?”
The meaning seems to be, “Should not thy fear or piety be thy confidence, and the uprightness of thy ways or hope? Should not the piety you was so ready to commend to others supply a sufficient ground of hope for thyself?” Or we may understand, “Is not thy reverence, thy confidence, thy hope, and thy integrity shown to be worthless if thou faintest as soon as adversity toucheth thee?” The drift of the speaker is virtually the same in either case.
Job feared God, and had confidence that God would see him through every peril. His hope was that he lived before God the very best that he could. He had done everything as near perfect as he knew how. It was very hard to put that confidence in God into practical application, with as much trouble as Job had at this time. The friend was making a deceptive remark to Job about his righteousness. He was saying, if you were righteous in the sight of God, wouldn’t he save you from this? He had begun to insinuate that Job had sinned.
Verses 7-11: Eliphaz illustrated his belief in the principle of divine retribution (“plow” and “reap”), with an example from the animal kingdom: if a lion does not catch its prey, then it and its cubs will suffer.
Job 4:7 “Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?”
This was, probably, some very good advice that Job had given to his friends in need who had come to him. God would not be cut off. It just appeared that way at the moment.
“Who ever perished, being innocent”? Eliphaz, recognizing Job’s “fear of God” and “integrity” (verse 6), was likely encouraging Job at the outset by saying he wouldn’t die because he was innocent of any deadly iniquity, but must be guilty of some serious sin because he was reaping such anger from God. This was a moral universe and moral order was at work, he thought. He had oversimplified God’s pattern of retribution. This simple axiom, “the righteous will prosper and the wicked will suffer,” does not always hold up in human experience. It is true that plowing and sowing iniquity reaps judgment, so Eliphaz was partially right (Gal. 6:7-9; 1 peter 3:12), but not everything we reap in life is the result of something we have sown (see notes on 2 Cor. 12:7-10). Eliphaz was replacing theology with simplistic logic. To say that wherever there is suffering, it is the result of sowing sin is wrong (Exodus 4:11; John 9:1-3).
Job 4:8 “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.”
“Even as I have seen,” that is, Eliphaz’s argument was based on personal experience. “They that plow iniquity … reap the same,” meaning, you reap what you sow. Therefore, Job must be suffering because of sin.
With friends like this, Job did not need enemies. His friend was accusing him of sin. Iniquity here, was speaking of both physical and spiritual evil. He was saying, “you reap, what you sow”. He was convinced that Job had sinned and was refusing to repent of that sin. This was not true.
Job 4:9 “By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.”
They and their works, those that plough, the sowers, and reapers of iniquity; the allusion is to the blasting of corn by the east wind, or by mildew, etc. Having used the figures of ploughing and sowing before; and which is as soon and as easily done as corn, or anything else, is blasted in the above manner. And denotes the sudden and easy destruction of wicked men by the power of God, stirred up by his wrath and indignation, because of their sins. Who when he blows a blast on their persons, substance, and families, they perish at once.
“And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed”: Meaning his wrath and anger, which is like a stream of brimstone, and kindles a fire on the wicked, which are as fuel to it, and are soon consumed by it. The allusion is to breath in a man’s nostrils, and the heat of his wrath and fury discovered thereby. Some think this refers to Job’s children being destroyed by the wind (see Isa. 11:4).
It is the breath of God within all of us that allows us to live. God is in control of our birth and our death regardless of who we are or what we have done. It is also Jesus who is the Judge of all the world. It is his determination of whether we live in heaven or spend an eternity in hell.
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
How would you respond after losing everything? What would your response be? Would it be pointing fingers or blame? Would it be looking for answers or excuses? Imagine if it was as bad as what happened to Job where he first lost everything and then was afflicted by painful boils all over his body. Today we will see how he responds to this attack of the devil who is trying to get him to curse God, turn his back on God, give up on God, give up on his trust in God, give up on his faith in God.
‘After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth . And Job said, “Let the day on which I was born perish, And the night which announced: ‘There is a man-child conceived.’ May that day be darkness; Let God above not care about it, Nor light shine on it. Let darkness and gloom claim it for their own; Let a cloud settle upon it; Let all that blackens the day terrify it (the day that I was born). As for that night, let darkness seize it; Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; Let it not be counted in the number of the months. Behold, let that night be barren [and empty]; Let no joyful voice enter it. Let those curse it who curse the day, Who are skilled in rousing up Leviathan. Let the stars of its early dawn be dark; Let the morning wait in vain for the light, Let it not see the eyelids of morning (the day’s dawning), Because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide trouble from my eyes. “Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire? Why did the knees receive me? And why the breasts, that I would nurse? For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest [in death], With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built up [now desolate] ruins for themselves; Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver. Or like a miscarriage which is hidden and put away, I would not exist, Like infants who never saw light. There [in death] the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest. There the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the taskmaster’s voice. The small and the great are there, And the servant is free from his master. “Why is the light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter in soul, Who wait for death, but it does not come, And dig (search) for death more [diligently] than for hidden treasures, Who rejoice exceedingly, And rejoice when they find the grave? Why is the light of day given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in? For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And my cries [of despair] are poured out like water. For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, And that of which I am afraid has come upon me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, And I am not at rest, and yet trouble still comes [upon me].”’
After the loss, after the pain, after the mourning, after the friends coming to mourn with him, Job speaks. Job doesn’t curse God though, we see as the chapter starts when he decides to start speaking, he curses his birth date. After all the loss and suffering, he questions what was the point of him being born. All that he had held dear and the fears of them all have all come to him. We learn about Job’s feeling through all of his suffering through the poetry. We will read as the study continues about the interactions between him and his friends.
We learn through today’s reading how Job wishes that he had never been born because the joys of his life weren’t worth the pain he has and is going through. We learn how in comparison he would have rather never been born than to have suffer, never to have been born than to have had wealth and lost it, and never to have been born than to have had children who were all killed. We read how he would rather have his birthday perish, never to be remembered, and even removed from the calendar. We learn how broken down Job had become. We learn how depressed he had become to the point that he didn’t care about himself anymore. Through it all, he still didn’t curse God.
Looking into the book of Job, we learn how the book starts in the format of prose in chapters 1 and 2 and then through most of the rest of the book (3:3-42:6) it is written in poetry.
See how Job didn’t jump to conclusions or point fingers at God? Ever noticed how people can have a tendency to quickly jump to judgement from God when something bad happens or a problem arises? Ever considered that Satan doesn’t need to bother with the people who are already on his side or have already walked away from God? Ever considered that it is true believers that Satan goes after? Ever considered that the attacks are because you are doing something for God and Satan is trying to stop you or worse make you give up?
As we read through today’s chapter, we see in the words of Job the parallel of Jeremiah 20:14.
‘Cursed be the day on which I was born; Do not bless the day on which my mother gave birth to me! ‘
Job and Jeremiah have very similar expressions during their suffering and lows in their responses as we read in verse 14 earlier and then even if we move forward one verse it continues.
‘Cursed be the man who brought the news To my father, saying, “A son has been born to you!” Making him very glad. ‘
Oh the pain, the suffering, the loss that would push Job to wish that he had never been born. We see how overwhelming it was to him. To understand Job 3:5 further, we need to jump ahead a bit to learn what he means:
‘Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death], The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself , [The land] of the shadow of death, without order, And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”’
Job speaks throughout chapter 3 not only about cursing the day he was born but then even to the day he was conceived. He wants them taken off the calendar. With the pain and sorrow he is feeling, he is wanting there to be no joy to be put on that day. It is so hard at this point that Job has forgotten all the good and only remembers these last short times of loss and suffering. You can hear hopelessness in and through his words.
Job didn’t turn on God but rather his past, his birthday, his conception, and his birth. Ever noticed when people are faced with severe illnesses and great pain how then tend to act similarly to Job and question why would they have been born? Ever consider the sadness in this world where even without the severity of what Job went thru there are so many who give up without faith in God and kill themselves? We see that had it not been Job’s faith in God, he probably would have done something that radical himself.
We learn about Job’s view of death through verses 13-19:
‘For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest [in death], With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built up [now desolate] ruins for themselves; Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver. Or like a miscarriage which is hidden and put away, I would not exist, Like infants who never saw light. There [in death] the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest. There the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the taskmaster’s voice. The small and the great are there, And the servant is free from his master. ‘
But can contract that with the more complete pictures in 1 Corinthians 15:
‘Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain [useless, amounting to nothing], and your faith is also vain [imaginary, unfounded, devoid of value and benefit—not based on truth]. We are even discovered to be false witnesses [misrepresenting] God, because we testified concerning Him that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, either; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and powerless [mere delusion]; you are still in your sins [and under the control and penalty of sin]. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied. But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For since [it was] by a man that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the dead has come . For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies] at His coming. After that comes the end (completion), when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after He has made inoperative and abolished every ruler and every authority and power. For Christ must reign [as King] until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be abolished and put to an end is death. For H e (the Father) has put all things in subjection under H is (Christ’s) feet . But when He says, “All things have been put in subjection [under Christ],” it is clear that He (the Father) who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ) is excepted [since the Father is not in subjection to His own Son]. However, when all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One (the Father) who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [manifesting His glory without any opposition, the supreme indwelling and controlling factor of life]. Otherwise, what will those do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people even baptized for them? [For that matter] why are we [running such risks and putting ourselves] in danger [nearly] every hour [if there is no resurrection]? I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self]. What good has it done me if, [merely] from a human point of view, I fought with wild animals at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised [at all], let us eat and drink [enjoying ourselves now], for tomorrow we die . Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Be sober-minded [be sensible, wake up from your spiritual stupor] as you ought, and stop sinning; for some [of you] have no knowledge of God [you are disgracefully ignorant of Him, and ignore His truths]. I say this to your shame. But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body will they come?” You fool! Every time you plant seed you sow something that does not come to life [germinating, springing up and growing] unless it first dies. The seed you sow is not the body (the plant) which it is going to become, but it is a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each kind of seed a body of its own [is given]. All flesh is not the same. There is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are also heavenly bodies [sun, moon and stars] and earthly bodies [humans, animals, and plants], but the glory and beauty of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is a glory and beauty of the sun, another glory of the moon, and yet another [distinctive] glory of the stars; and one star differs from another in glory and brilliance. So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishable and mortal, it is raised imperishable and immortal. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in strength; it is sown a natural body [mortal, suited to earth], it is raised a spiritual body [immortal, suited to heaven]. As surely as there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body . So it is written [in Scripture], “The first man , Adam, became a living soul (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life]. However, the spiritual [the immortal life] is not first, but the physical [the mortal life]; then the spiritual. The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven. As is the earthly man [the man of dust], so are those who are of earth; and as is the heavenly [Man], so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly [the man of dust], we will also bear the image of the heavenly [the Man of heaven]. Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit nor be part of the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (mortal) inherit the imperishable (immortal). Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed], in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed]. For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death]. And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “D eath is swallowed up in victory (vanquished forever). O death , where is your victory ? O death , where is your sting ?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].’
‘Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life]. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [as in fact He did], even so God [in this same way—by raising them from the dead] will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For we say this to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are still alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede [into His presence] those [believers] who have fallen asleep [in death]. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words [concerning our reunion with believers who have died].’
As we look at verse 19, it is interesting too as it speaks to the fact that God is no respecter of persons for all go to either the same heaven or the same hell with no connection back to the position they once held on earth. Today we all get a choice where we will end up. We all have the choice to pick from God’s grace and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior and go to heaven or not and go to hell.
We learn through this chapter how even though Job kept asking “why”, suicide never was an option or a consideration. He questioned what it was that would have allowed God to persevere his life if it was to come down to this. We see in both the old (like here with Job) as well as in the New Testament how God’s people can ask why and yet God is not obligated to give an answer in the moment. Some New Testament examples include Matthew:
‘About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ‘
‘And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” —which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” ‘
In the midst of the pain and the sorrow, it is interesting to note that through all of Job’s lamenting, he speaks of a better place awaiting. There are people who will have it hard and miserable here on earth and yet will go from this dark world into the place where it is never dark in the presence of God in heaven. Consider the be attitudes in the New Testament:
‘ “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted]. “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied. “Blessed [content, sheltered by God’s promises] are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God. “Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God. “Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me. Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ‘
We see how Job is counting himself because of the pain and suffering as one of those who seek death. He compares himself to many others who are down and seeking death too. He understands that there is a coming day when all the pain and suffering would be gone. In our time, we have the benefit of the book of Revelation where we know too and read:
‘and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away.” ‘
Today’s study shares these points verbatim for us to consider and contemplate:
Job 3:20 “Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter [in] soul;” Wherefore giveth He light, namely, God. Often omitted reverentially (Job 24:23; Eccl. 9:9). Light, that is, life. The joyful light doesn’t suit the mourners. The grave is most in unison with their feelings. In this chapter, all the way through, Job was speaking of a better place awaiting. Those that live in abject poverty on this earth, will live in splendor in heaven. There are some who have a miserable plight on this earth. It seems, they live where there is no light, but in heaven where God dwells, there is continuous light.
Job 3:21 “Which long for death, but it [cometh] not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;” I.e., desire and pray for it with as much earnestness as men dig for treasure. But it is observable that Job did not lay violent hands upon himself, nor do anything to hasten or procure his death. But notwithstanding all his miseries and complaints, he was contented to wait all the days of his appointed time, till his change came (Job 14:14). Job counts himself among those who seek death. He was miserable in life, as the people he mentioned were miserable. He knew there was coming a day, when all pain and suffering would be done away with.
Job 3:22 “Which rejoice exceedingly, [and] are glad, when they can find the grave?” To be thus impatient of life, for the sake of the trouble we meet with, is not only unnatural in itself, but ungrateful to the Giver of life, and shows a sinful indulgence of our own passion. Let it be our great and constant care to get ready for another world: and then let us leave it to God to order the circumstances of our removal thither. Even Paul looked forward to the death of the physical body, so that he could be with the LORD. He knew it was necessary to live on this earth, until he had completed his mission. However all believers’ sin. Those in Christ are looking forward to that heavenly home, where all the sorrows of this life are done away with. Verse 22 is not speaking of suicide. It is speaking of rejoicing on that day, when we shed this physical body, and rise to heaven in our spiritual bodies.
Job 3:23 “[Why is light given] to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?” “Hedged in”: Satan spoke of a hedge of protection and blessing (1:10), whereas Job spoke of this hedge as a prison of living death. Job was speaking of himself here. He had lived in the light. He felt that God had given the Light of God to him. The Light seems to be unable to get him out of this time of being hedged in. Job felt useless to witness of that Light at this point. He felt this was from God and there was nothing he could do about it.
Job 3:24 “For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.” “Sighing … roarings”: These destroyed any appetite he might have had.
Verses 25-26: “Which I greatly feared”: Not a particular thing but a generic classification of suffering. The very worst fear that anyone could have was coming to pass in Job’s life, and he is experiencing severe anxiety, fearing more.
Job 3:25 “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” (Compare Prov. 28:14). It means that he had always had in remembrance the uncertainty and instability of earthly things, and yet he had been overtaken by a calamity that mocked his carefulness and exceeded his apprehensions. These two Scriptures (24-25), in my opinion, have been grossly misunderstood. We are told in the beginning of these lessons, that Job feared God. We are not told that he feared anything else. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. His fear of God is what he was speaking of here that had come true. Job wanted to please God in all that he did. He was careful to keep the relationship with God open. He prayed and sacrificed regularly. We know that God found no fault in Job’s fear, because it was God who told Satan that Job was perfect and upright. Job, in a verse above, knew that it was God who allowed him to be hedged in. I believe that greater than Job’s pain from the sores on his body, was a feeling in his heart that he might have in some way offended God. There was no error on Job’s part. This was an attack of Satan on a righteous man. His roarings were like a mourning. He desired that close fellowship with God he had known in the past.
Job 3:26 “I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” This cannot refer to the time of his prosperity; for he certainly then was in safety. God having set a hedge about him, so that none of his enemies, nor even Satan himself, could come at him to hurt him. “Neither had I rest, neither was I quiet”: Which also was not true of him before his afflictions, for he did then enjoy great peace, rest and quietness. He lay in his nest at ease, and in great tranquility; and thought and said he should die in such a state (see Job 29:18). Nor is the sense of these expressions that he did not take up his rest and satisfaction in outward things. And put his trust and confidence in his riches, and yet trouble came upon him. But this relates to the time of the beginning of his troubles and afflictions, from which time he was not in safety, nor had any rest and peace. There was no intermission of his sorrows; but as soon as one affliction was over, another came. “Yet trouble came”: Still one after another, there was no end of them. or, as Broughton renders it, “and now cometh a vexation”; a fresh one, a suspicion of hypocrisy; and upon this turns the whole controversy, managed and carried on between him and his friends in the following part of this book. Trials and troubles come to everyone. It is not the number or severity of the trials that come that make us different. It is the way we handle those troubles when they come. Christians are not exempt from trials. The following is what Jesus said about this very thing. John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Our peace is not because there is no tribulation. Our peace is in Christ. In the middle of terrible tribulation, we can experience His peace. I would rather be like Job, who wanted to please God in whatever circumstance he was in. If I were not experiencing any hardships, I would be concerned that Satan did not find me a threat to him.
We need to trust God more than our situation. We need to trust God more than our circumstances. We need to know that we are not alone and that He will never leave us nor abandon us. We need to put on the full armor of God. We need to stand firm and when he attacks again stand again. We need to resist the devil and trust in God so that Satan will flee. We need to lean not on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge God.
We need to stand up for our family and friends. We need to stand with our family and friends. We need to speak life and love into and over our family and friends. We need to come together because where 2 or 3 come together in Jesus’s name, He is with us. We need to stand with our friends keeping God in the center, so they are not alone and we can take hold of the promises of Ecclesiastes 4 that say:
‘Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up. Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ‘
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
‘Again there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan (adversary, accuser) also came among them to present himself before the Lord . The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord , “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God]. And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.” Satan answered the Lord , “ Skin for skin! Yes, a man will give all he has for his life. But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh [and severely afflict him]; and he will curse You to Your face.” So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, only spare his life.”
So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome boils and agonizingly painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And Job took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself, and he sat [down] among the ashes (rubbish heaps).
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him. When they looked from a distance and did not recognize him [because of his disfigurement], they raised their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe [in grief] and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky [in sorrow]. So they sat down on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.’
We saw how that first attempt by the devil didn’t work to get Job to curse God. We see as today’s reading begins how Satan is back in front of God like he was in the first chapter. We see how he was still out and about the earth looking for victims to assault. We see how Satan just like the angels had to do a regular check in with God to give an account of what they have been doing. In today’s study I learned about how Satan was an archangel like Michael and Gabriel and how each of them seemed to rule over a third of the angels. We need to live out lives prepared and aware of what the devil, Satan is up to:
‘Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. ‘
We see from God’s response how Job had won round 1. We see how Satan isn’t ready to admin he was wrong. This time the focus went from Job’s stuff to Job himself. We even see how Satan tried to misrepresent the first trial as Job sacrificing his children, animals, and servants in order to save his own life which isn’t/wasn’t true when he said “skin for skin”. We see how even though the devil/Satan keeps accusing that God points out how Job continued to live with integrity and that Satan’s accusations were false and without cause. God calls out how it isn’t Job that is not the guilty party but rather the one that suffered disaster without fault. We learn how it was more of a conflict between God and Satan than anything to do with Job. We learn how in the heavenly God makes it clear that none of this had anything to do with punishment for what Job had done. Unlike what some may think or believe, suffering doesn’t always mean it is a punishment for something but can rather be for a divine heavenly purpose that we don’t know or can’t understand. We learn how Job stood firm, not wavering in his character nor his trust in God, in the midst of the loss caused by Satan of God’s material blessings on Job’s life.
In today’s reading we see how the devil moves it to the next level in order to afflict and affect Job’s health. We learn about the God allowed the devil to afflict Job’s health but wouldn’t allow him to kill him. We learn that the affliction that Satan gave Job was hateful · detestable · abhorrent · repulsive · odious · repugnant · repellent · disgusting · revolting · sickening · nauseating · abominable · despicable · contemptible · reprehensible · execrable · damnable · hideous · ghastly · vile · horrible · nasty · frightful · obnoxious · gross · foul · offensive · disagreeable · horrid · yucky · bogging · noisome boils. We learn that the affliction of these boils were excruciating · harrowing · racking · painful · acute · severe · intense · extreme · grievous · hellish · killing · searing · torturous · tormenting · piercing · insufferable · unbearable · unendurable · more than one can bear · more than flesh and blood can stand · exquisite. We also learn how they were significant enough that they were visible to others. We also learn how they were all over his body. Satan figured that if he got to affect Job’s physical well being that he would be able to proved how Job would turn against God. We see how the devil believes that man would give up everything in order to save his own life. Satan’s attacks are brutal if he is given permission to turn loose and have his own way. Satan wanted to push Job to that tipping point to prove his point. Satan knew that people can get shaken up if and when their are health issues and even more so if they come with pain. God limited Satan’s power so that he would not and could not kill Job. So in and through all of this trial from Satan, Job would not die from it.
From the description of the boils they sound similar to what afflicted the Egyptians back in the book of Exodus in chapter 9. To Job, the disease wasn’t just painful but life threatening. We see Job’s response to the attack was to take some broken pottery to scrape the boils and then to mourn again sitting in ashes and rubbish heaps. We learn throughout the story of Job the trauma that the boils caused him ( 2:13; 3:24; 7:5, 14; 13:28; 16:8; 19:17; 30:17, 30; 33:21). Imagine having to deal with that pain and trauma without the medical advantages we would have today to treat not only the boils but the pain too. We also learn how once Satan got permission that he probably rushed out to try and get started before Job had time to finish morning his losses. The study shares how Job went to where the lepers go outside the city and scraping the boils, possibly in hopes of releasing the infection.
We next learn about Job’s wife’s response to this affliction to Job. She seems to be leaning towards what Satan had predicted more than what God had predicted of Job’s actual response. We read how she asks him why he is keeping his integrity, his faith and trust in God, rather than just cursing God and dying. She probably didn’t realize that she was pushing Job to do what Satan the accuser was trying to get him to do. Ever heard of mercy killings and how some believe that it is better to kill/die than to suffer? It is possible that in this case it was what she believed. Interestingly enough Job’s wife didn’t say anything during the first attacks by Satan but this time, she realized that this was personal and going after him. Satan will try to use anything and everything and everyone in order to try and get his way. We see here how Job’s wife became an instrument to try and get Job to curse God and die. Satan will look for the weakest link and usually one that is closest to us in order to cause the most damage.
We see how Job responds to her though in keeping his faith and trust in God. We see how he says: “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” We see how he didn’t speak any such thing that would caused him to miss the mark and sin. We see how Job not only stood firm on his faith but also corrected his wife for her suggestions and ideas.
We next learn about three of Job’s friends who learned of Job’s situation and decided to come and morn and comfort him during this time. We learn about how they all traveled to be with their friend. We learn how they all decided to sit and mourn with him without saying a word for an entire week. Thru the study, I learned:
“Eliphaz” seems to have been the eldest and most prominent. He was from Teman, a well-known Edomite city where wise men lived (Jer. 49:20; Obad. Chapters 8 and 9). “Bildad the Shuhite” lived in the same general area inhabited by the descendants of Shuah, one of Abraham’s sons by Keturah (Gen. 25:1-2). “Zophar” also lived nearby in the area of Naamath.
We see how their intentions were good in our reading from chapter 2 but our opinions may changes as we read further into the book of Job. Today’s study notes also point to how their response to the severe devastation of the situation.
“Eliphaz … Bildad … and Zophar” were three sages who shared Job’s faith in God and whose initial intentions, to come “together” and “mourn with him” were the right ones. The intensity of their mourning, from the moment they saw Job and during “seven days” of silence, was appropriate for the devastation he had experience (Gen. 50:10; Rom. 12:15).
Job 2:11 “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.” “Temanite”: Most likely Teman was a city of Edom (Gen. 36:4, 11; Jer. 49:7, 20; Ezek. 25:13; Amos 1:12; Obad. 8 and 9). “Shuhite”: The Shuhites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Gen. 25:2, 6). “Naamathite”: A resident of an unknown location probably in Edom or Arabia, although some have suggested Naamah on the Edomite border (Joshua 15:41). True friends come to the aid of a friend in need. A good friend will pray with you, when there is trouble. A good friend will know the kind of person you are, and will not attack you like the rest of the world. These three men that came to Job, were friends of long standing. It appears, they were used to all getting together, and each helping the other decide what to do about problems. Distance is not a problem with true friends. All of these came from a long way to be with Job. These three men were friends of Job, because they were wise men. He honored their opinion. They came to comfort him and to mourn with him. “Eliphaz” means struggle against. “Bildad” means son of contention. “Zophar” means chatterer. It appears, these three friends came from different lands and met at Job’s dwelling.
Job 2:12 “And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.” “When they lifted up their eyes afar off “: Namely, at some convenient distance from him; whom they found sitting upon the ground, probably in the open air. “And knew him not”: His countenance being so dreadfully changed and disfigured by the sores. “They lifted up their voice and wept”: Through their sympathy with him, and great grief for his heavy affliction. “And they rent every one his mantle”: As it was usual for people to do in great and sudden calamities. “And sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven”: Either on the upper part of their heads toward heaven, or threw it up into the air, so that it fell upon their heads, and showed the confusion they were in. All which things were marks of great grief and affliction, and were the usual ways of expressing sorrow in those days. The boils covered his body so completely, that they did not even recognize Job when they saw him. Job was seated in a bed of ashes outside of his home. The friends could see him sitting there, but could not recognize his body covered in sores. When they saw him and knew it was Job, their grief overcame them. They tore their clothes, and threw ashes on their heads in extreme grief for the fate of their friend.
Job 2:13 “So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that [his] grief was very great.” “His grief was very great”: The expression actually meant that his disease produced pain that was still increasing. The agony was so great, his friends were speechless for a week. Sometimes, a person’s grief is so great that it is better not to speak to them. At those times, there is comfort in the presence of good friends. The seven days is questioned by many scholars, but I believe the time to be literal. The friends could have been fed, while they sat there. They could have wrapped up in their outer garments, and slept there with Job. It is possible that they fasted for this time, but probably they didn’t, since it was not mentioned.
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
Today’s reading will conclude Job 1 with Satan receiving permission to test Job:
‘Now there was a day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and swooped down on them and took away the animals. They also killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and have taken them away and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly, a great wind came from across the desert, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head [in mourning for the children], and he fell to the ground and worshiped [God]. He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord .” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.’
We learn how in this test God gave Satan permission to attack all that Job has. God didn’t order or direct Satan to test Job but rather permits it. Satan can only work within the confines of God’s control. Unlike God who has unlimited power, Satan’s power and authority is limited. We need to take hold of the fact that Satan has no power over Job that God hasn’t allowed him to have. As Christians, we need to remember this and take hold of this truth that we are under the same protection from God. Satan won’t be able to attack us as believers unless God allows it. We know God’s plans are for good and not for evil, to give us a hope and a future, and so we know that what Satan plans for evil, God is able to turn around and use for good. We see how Job’s trial/test was to be able to demonstrate his loyalty to God in contradiction to what Satan was saying. The trials are to make us strong in the Lord as believers! Like we read in James on the subject of considering it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds, it is with purpose and for purpose.
We now see the destruction that took place in Job’s life and delivered by many messengers. We see how the trials and attacks came through other people like the Sabeans and the Chaldeans as well as through natural disasters like fire/lightning and wind and Satan’s power was behind it all. Looking into the Sabeans, we can find out that they were a nomadic Bedouin tribe known for treachery and cruelty, plundering others in order to survive. Looking into the Chaldeans, we can find that they too were nomadic marauders who at one time conquered Babylon. We see from the reading that on that one day and through all of the attacks and destruction through human and natural forces, only 4 of the hundreds of Job’s servants survived in order to come and give a report. Could you imagine standing in Job’s position and as each bearer of bad news came to let him know and finished the next person showed up with more bad news? Imagine the tragedy of that day and the impact on Job. Remember all that Job had when the chapter started? We learn thru this first attack how Job lost his livestock, his servants, and his children.
As we consider the first incident we see how the livestock with out in the fields working when the Sabeans showed up taking all the livestock and killing all the servants but the one who escaped to give Job the bad news.
As we consider the second incident we learn about how a severe lightning storm struck and killed the sheep and the servants, except for the one who escaped to report the bad news to Job.
As we consider the third incident we learn about how the Chaldeans took the camels and killed all the servants except for the one who escaped and was able to deliver the bad news to Job.
As we consider the fourth incident at the older son’s home and birthday party based on yesterday’s verses, and so it went from a time of celebration and joy to one of somberness, sadness, and loss. We learn about a wind storm, like a cyclone, that came thru and caused the house to collapse and kill everyone inside except for the one messenger who survived to deliver the message to Job. The loss of all his stuff is one thing but even more traumatic would be the loss of all his children. He lost all seven sons and all three daughters.
Satan wasn’t slow to act or doing it piecemeal, instead he took all the authority he had received and enacted it on the same day. He wanted to make an impact and prove his point that it was only because of God’s hedge of protection and God’s blessings that Job served God. He figured his plan would definitely cause Job to turn on God.
BUT, Satan was wrong as we continue to read the closing verses from Job 1:20-22.
‘Then Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head [in mourning for the children], and he fell to the ground and worshiped [God]. He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord .” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.’
We see that God doesn’t turn against God but instead turns to God at this time of loss and pain and suffering. We see rather than cursing God and blaming Him, we see Job surrender himself to God as he mourned the loss. We see the reality and the realization of what happened and in and through it all Job blessed God. We learn how Job didn’t blame God and didn’t do anything that would have got him out of line or off track from God’s ways and sinning.
We see how deeply impacted Job was in how he tore his robe and shaved his head. We see where Job finds his strength through it all in how he then starts to worship God. Job proved God right and Satan wrong in that Job worshiped God in the midst of the loss rather than cursing and blaming Him like Satan had accused.
Tragedy tends to bring out the reality in us. If that had been you would good have come out of you – from the overflow of your heart the mouth speaks. If that had been you how would you have responded to the evil that had occurred to you? Would you allow vengeance to belong to the Lord? Would you repay evil with good and make it like ashes being poured on the other persons head? Death is a very powerful experience and can bring out what the inside is holding onto. I remember when my grandfather past away in my youth/young adult life and how I went out in my suit in a need to get away from the funeral and headed to a bar/club with the idea that if someone said “what’s up with the suit, did someone die?” I was prepared to say “yes, my grandfather” and then deck him. Fortunately for me, God didn’t allow that encounter to happen and He protected me from myself, even though I wasn’t walking with Him at that point in my life.
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
In today’s study we will work through Job chapter 1. We start with an introduction of who Job is and his character when we read:
‘ There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God [with reverence] and abstained from and turned away from evil [because he honored God]. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. He also possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke (pairs) of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great number of servants, so that this man was the greatest [and wealthiest and most respected] of all the men of the east (northern Arabia). His sons used to go [in turn] and feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of their feasting were over, Job would send [for them] and consecrate them, rising early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did this at all [such] times. Now there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan (adversary, accuser) also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord , “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].” Then Satan answered the Lord , “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power, only do not put your hand on the man himself.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord .
We learn how Job loves God. We learn how Job’s character was such that he was blameless and upright. We learn how Job stood out from the rest of the crowd. We learn how Job was a believer in God and lived his life in a way to demonstrate it. We learn how Job knew the difference between right and wrong and turned away from evil and doing evil because of his reverence and desire to honor God.
Job was from Uz, a walled and gated city. Job had a position of great respect. We learn that the city was in northern Arabia adjacent to Midian where Moses lived for 40 years. We learn how Job was rich and had a large family with 7 sons and 3 daughters. We learn how Job was a good man, a family man, a rich man, and a widely known man. Job wasn’t without sin as we know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but we do read how He put His trust in God’s redemptive power and lived out his life faithfully lived a life that honored God. We learn about how he lived out his life with integrity and consistency in his personal life, his marital life, and his parenting life.
We learn about Job’s possessions including livestock which were status symbols of wealth in his day. We know that he was blessed by God through getting children which are a reward and gift from God. We even see symbolism in the numbers of the children with 7 boys/sons (7 means spiritually complete) and 3 girls/daughters (3 is a number of the God head) pointing us to the fact that he had the perfect family. In Job 1 we also get the first example of a godly family with God honoring parents and God fearing children. With 7 sons it we learn how they took turns having the family over each day for dinner demonstrating their love for one another and the harmony in which they lived. We also learn how on each of their birthdays they would have a big celebration with everyone coming together too.
In order to put a hedge of protection over his family after the festivities, we learn how he would sacrifice to God as the family priest just in case any of his children had sinned and wanted to ensure they were all covered. Job was sensitive to the heart of God. It kept him aware of the consequences of sin and the need to sacrifice in order to cover them. Job as the father, the head of the home, and the family priest would sanctify his children not because of any known sin they may have committed but to cover them just in case so that they would all remain right with God.
We learn how the Satan regularly goes before God to accuse people. We can see a parallel in this description between Satan and the angels before God and Judas and the rest of the disciples before Jesus. The devil is an adversary of God. We see how even though Satan was a fallen angel, he still has access to God. Satan was sure that in the same way he was able to trick and trip up Adam, he was going to be able to trip up Job too. We learn how the devil has been through the ages and continues to be an adversary and accuser of the righteous. Satan is our accuser before God. The devil isn’t any of the omnis like God but instead is on the prowl like a lion around the earth looking for those who he can devour. The devil (Satan) only has limited access to God though. Satan is finite and as such not omnipresent. We also learn how he is only able to do what God allows or gives him permission to do.
We learn from this heavenly encounter how God gave Satan Job to test.
Ever considered the motives? Are you serving God to get something? Are you serving God as long as the blessings flow? The devil questions Job’s motives before God.
God knows our motives. God knows Satan’s motives too. Satan is trying to destroy as many as he can and yet God sent Jesus so that everyone has the opportunity and ability to be saved.
We learn how God had to bring up Job as it appears that Satan wasn’t able to find any faults in him. We see how Job is one of a few who got singled out by God. Another example we see in the bible is Noah. God was proud of Job’s faithfulness.
Satan, the accuser we read asserts that believers only remain faithful as long as the blessings keep flowing and they prosper. Ever heard or seen where people try to profit by peddling that exact message and getting people to give in order to receive? Where is your heart today? Are you giving out of your life from a pure heart and mind? Are you giving out of reverence and honor rather than in hopes of getting back?
We see how Satan, the deceiver tries to trick people into believing that salvation isn’t permanent. He tries to deceive people into believing that saving faith can be broken. He tries to deceive people into believing that those who belong to God can become his. We see this theme repeated in the new testament too when Satan confronts Jesus, Peter, and Paul.
God speaks and promises the other through His Word where He speaks to sustaining the faith of His children. (for Old Testament Psalms 37:23, 28, 97:10; 121:4-7; for New Testament texts, compare Luke 22:31-32; Jude 24)
We learn about how Satan acknowledges God’s characterization of Job. We see how Satan challenges Job’s motives. If our motives are pure we will learn into God harder when suffering happens. If our motives are not then we will turn away from God. We learn about the hedge of protection God has positioned around Job and the godly in order that he and we are protected and making us nearly invincible till God is finished with us.
Ever heard people saying they will play the devil’s advocate? Ever realized that aligns with the devil’s strategy of attacking with questions?
Consider how Satan challenged Eve in the garden with the question “did God say …”. We see in our reading today he even tried it on God when he questioned God about Job trying to cause doubt. Unlike God, Satan is the center or lifeblood of selfishness and pride.
We learn how God’s hedge of protection protects from the devil and people who may try to harm the godly. It surrounds the godly with love, with power, and providence from God.
We learn how the devil made many statements about how God blessed Job. We learn how Job had been faithful to God and how God had blessed him as a righteous man.
We see as we close our reading today how God took down the hedge that protected everything and limited the devil that he would not be able to kill Job.
We will continue tomorrow with Satan being allowed to test Job and see what happens next.
Where are you at today? What do you believe? What is your motivation?
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
As my daily devotional of reading through the Bible in a year completed, I contemplated what’s next. I prayed and asked what should I do next. The answer I received was to study the book of Job. It was revealed to me through the book of James 5 where it says:
‘We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.’
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved by their righteousness.
As I looked for a devotional or study, I cam across some some background on the book of Job for context as I start to jump in. It got broken out into sections like the title of the book, the author of the book, and then the purpose or interpretation of the book. Let’s consider these before we jump into the book of Job.
The Title
We find that our book is named after the primary character of the book. We learn how the name might have been derived from either Hebrew or Arabic words. The Hebrew word (אִיּוֹב) from which Job would be derived is the word for persecuted, hated. The Arabic word (أيّوب) from which Job would be derived is the word for repent or repentant one.
The Author
No author is named. Based on the heavenly events it is unlikely to have been Job. It could have been Moses as he lived in the land of Uz which was adjacent to Midian where he had lived for 40 years and could have obtained the record of the story. It could have been Solomon because of the similarities to the book of Ecclesiastes as well as the fact that Solomon had written the other Wisdom books in the Bible.
The interpretation or purpose
We may never know the specific reason for our suffering, but we must trust in the Sovereign God.
We may never in our own human reason be able to account for the suffering of the innocent.
Suffering isn’t a contradiction to God’s goodness nor His sovereignty.
We need to lean not on our own understanding but rather we need to trust and depend on God’s goodness and working things out for our good.
‘ THERE WAS a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who [reverently] feared God and abstained from and shunned evil [because it was wrong]. And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great body of servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East. His sons used to go and feast in the house of each on his day (birthday) in turn, and they invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them. [Gen. 21:8; 40:20.] And when the days of their feasting were over, Job sent for them to purify and hallow them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed or disowned God in their hearts. Thus did Job at all [such] times. Now there was a day when the sons (the angels) of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and accuser) also came among them. [Rev. 12:10.] And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face. And the Lord said to Satan (the adversary and the accuser), Behold, all that he has is in your power, only upon the man himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. And there was a day when [Job’s] sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house [on his birthday], And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, And the Sabeans swooped down upon them and took away [the animals]. Indeed, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The Chaldeans divided into three bands and made a raid upon the camels and have taken them away, yes, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, And behold, there came a great [whirlwind] from the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you. Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped And said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.’
Tomorrow, we will look into Job 1 but as we close, consider how God loves and has a shield about you? Consider the torment and destruction the devil is trying to cause in order for you to give up on God and curse God so that you would be separated from God for all of eternity. Consider the saying “when it rains it pours” and all the bad news Job was receiving. Don’t lose hope because you get bad news. Don’t lose hope because you are struggling. Don’t lose hope because bad things are happening. Put your hope and your trust in God! Praise God like Job did after all these calamities were reported to Him. Show the devil your true character and resist him and his temptations so that he will flee. Remember God is taking what the devil has planned for evil and turning it around and going to use it for good! Let’s take hold of what we first learned in James which speaks of suffering, trials, patience, and perseverance where we read:
‘ Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.’
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
Today is the last day of my reading through the Bible in the a year plan. Tomorrow is a new day and will be something new. What will the new day bring? What will today bring? Today’s just starting and we need to live through today before we can consider what’s next. Today is the present from God, so let’s celebrate and rejoice in today because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring and there is no point worrying about it since we can’t do anything about tomorrow anyways. There is no point worrying about tomorrow because today will have enough things of its own. What is today going to bring? What is today going to be like? What if today were the last day, how would that change things? What if today were the last day and the only people left were the people left behind because they had rejected God’s offer of love and grace? What if today were the last day with only people who rejected God or didn’t really believe in Jesus?
Will you be a part of the remnant left on earth? Will you be part of the ones called into heaven to spend eternity with God? If you are reading this and had to make a choice today, what would you choose? What if this is it? Your last chance to avoid the tribulation? Would you accept Jesus and press thru the tribulation or would you decide before the tribulation and skip that part of the painful time on earth? The choice is yours! The choice is personal! The choice has to be made individually! So choose wisely!
Would you go out of your way to be present in the life of someone else? What if there was a surgery and they needed your help? What if they would be alone and they needed your presence? What if they needed your sacrifice to send someone? Would you do it?
This is it – we see in our reading from Esther as the Jews who were going to get killed found victory. What the Haman had planned for evil, God turned around and used it for good.
This is it – will you remember and celebrate what God is and has done in your life? Will you rejoice and be glad today because it is the day the Lord has made? Will you pass it along?
How will you respond to God’s blessing on your life? How will you serve the people God has put in authority over you to extend that blessing?
Will you use God’s Word to determine what is good and what is evil?
Malachi 3 – speaks of how Jesus is coming! This is it! Let’s do what we are to do for the orphans and widows! Return to God! Give to God what is God’s! Allow God’s test to cause an overflow! Remember God’s Word! Remember God’s Promises! Choose to be a part of the remnant that will be spared of the tribulation!
Acts 28 – Paul shares God’s truth and the love of Jesus while in chains so that God’s plan for his life could be fulfilled. Will you understand? Will you see? Will you hear? Will you accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ?
God’s Word is trustworthy and true!
‘“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”’
We are to only worship God! Not people! Not things! Only God!
The time is near so take hold of all the readings from the Word of God – the Bible! Take hold of the truth shared through Revelation before it is too late!
‘“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”’
‘“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”’
‘The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.’
Turn to God! This is it! Turn to His Word and receive His truth, His hope, His love, and His plan for your life! Obey what is in the book of God! The Bible!
Today’s reading concludes the book of Revelation in our reading plan. This is it!
Let’s mediate on the last part of today’s reading today that comes through Psalms 150:
‘Praise the Lord ! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord ! Praise the Lord !’
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
What if you found out there was just one more day? Would it change how you live out your today? Would it change where you would go? Would it change what you would do? Would it change what you would say? Would it make any difference at all to you? Would it matter what you only had 1 more day of? Would it matter what it was the end of?
What if it was the end of a series? What if it was the end of a relationship? What if it was the end of a season? What if it was the end of a reading? What if it was the end of time? What if it was the end of your time? Would it make a difference to what you would do and how you would do it?
What if it was going to be the day Jesus comes back? What if you knew that on that day all the believers would be taken away and there would some left behind to live through the tribulation? What if you knew it was the last chance you were going to have to share Jesus with the people around you so that they wouldn’t be left behind but would be able to spend eternity with you in heaven with God? What if you knew the pain and the suffering that will take place through the tribulation, would that change how you live out your today? What if you finished reading the book of Revelation and know what it says? What if you had read the Old Testament prophets and you know what it says? How would this knowledge change how you live out that last day?
For me, tomorrow is the last day of my reading through the Bible using the devotional “Read the Bible for Life 4 + 1 Plan“. Today is day 311 of 312. When I look at what is in today’s reading and how my reading this time through concludes in the book of Revelation in comparison to when I started blogging back in 2005 and Revelation was the start of my reading plan, it causes me to wonder. Every year when I have gotten to the book of Revelation I felt like the time was drawing closer and closer. Every year when I read the book of Revelation, it causes me joy to know that Jesus is victorious and sadness that there are people who even up until that point who will continue to reject Jesus and not get to spend eternity with God. As I consider that tomorrow is the end of this time through the God’s Word that is alive and speaks to me daily, it makes me wonder, what if as I finish the reading the trumpet sounds and the Christians are all drawn up into heaven, is there something I can do today to make a difference or impact the lives of anyone who could be left behind in order to change their mind and have them come along or leave them a message, like a message in a bottle so that they would know not to lose hope but to receive Jesus before the end of the story, it will be hard, really really hard during the tribulation, but to call on Jesus and be a part of the remnant who will get to experience heaven for eternity.
Are there family members? Are there friends? Are there neighbors? Are there co-workers? Are there strangers? How to pour into things that will last rather than have a bunch of things that will will rust and lead to nothing? How to live out today as if tomorrow is the end? How to share God’s love with everyone? How to share God’s hope with everyone? How to make a difference in the lives of every person who crosses my path?
What if it was the end of a season in your career? What if it was the end of a season in your org? What if it was the end of a season in your team? Would any of these cause you to live out your today any differently?
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Let’s pray:
^^^^^^^^^^^Will you be willing to put your name there today?
Been knocked down? Been pushed over? Been overlooked? Been misled? Get back up. Fallen over? Fallen down? Slipped up? Get back up again! Do you lose your way? It’s never too late to get back up again! Get up! Shine!
Toby Mac – Get Back Up
As I get up this morning I prepare for my day by turning to God’s Word to learn what He has to tell me today. His Word never returns void even when I have slipped up, lost my way, or even feel like I have fallen too far, but His Word reminds me that His Love never fails and it is never too late to get back up again and get back in sync with Him and His way!
It’s time to face the the king in order to accomplish God’s will for you.
It’s time to pursue what God’s calling for your life.
It’s time to finish strong what God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish.
Even when others are trying to put you down or drag you through the mud, God can exalt you and lift you up, so don’t stay down but instead make your cares be know to God!
Turn to God and invite Jesus into your heart to clean you up from the inside out as the overflow of the lips comes from the mouth.
Just because something bad happens doesn’t mean we are cursed or bad or wrong as we saw in today’s reading with Paul, so don’t let other people’s judgement define you or knock you down to stay. Get back up again! Walk out your faith in Jesus and allow your hope and love and light to shine into this dark and fallen world.
Ever imagined what heaven might look like? Imagine this description:
‘The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.’
Will you choose to receive the gift of grace from God and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and invite Him into your heart? Will you give God all the praise, the honor, and the glory for what He has already done for you and wanting you to decided and be saved?
Let’s make today be a day when our lives are living sacrifices to God that will bring Him praise in all the things we think, say, and do.
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
Don’t allow fear to creep around in the dark robing others of the joy they could have by living in the light of Jesus! Don’t allow fears to overwhelm you, instead compare them to how great and big God is so that the reality of how small they are so that you can shine bright! Don’t be afraid! Fear Not Just Believe! Stand tall and shine bright! So let’s show everyone how we aren’t afraid by letting our lights shine! Don’t be scared! Let your light shine!
Why not start today with some joy by listening to this short video?
So as we start this day will you be a conduit of light into this dark world around us? Will you let your light shine in and through everything you do in life? Will your light shine so bright that people will notice?
Will you allow God to bring calm to the storm? Will you allow God to bring peace in the midst of the trials? Will you allow God’s light to shine on you in the midst of the darkness? Will you allow God’s love to fill your heart to overflowing? Will you allow God into your heart that He will be with you to lead and guide, direct and correct? Will you put your hope and trust in God and then walk out your steps following His narrow path and into His presence? Let His light shine down on you! Fear not the darkness but rather receive Jesus and allow His light to shine down on you!
Will you let your light shine? Will you let God’s light shine thru you?
Ever been faced with an awkward moment where if you didn’t do something there was going to be trouble?
Ever been faced with a situation where you had to come out and share something personal about yourself?
How did you do it? How did you get the courage? How did you know it was the right thing to do? How did you know it was the right time to do it?
Would you be able to come out and tell people that you are a Christian?
Would you be able to come out and tell people that you are a follower of the one true God?
Would you be able to shine so bright that others will know that Jesus is your Lord and Savior?
Imagine the pressure on Esther. Imagine the potential outcome of inaction. Imagine the position she was in and the impact and influence that could yield. Imagine the risk of sharing who she was to her life and the lives of those she cared for. Imagine what it would take to build up the faith, the courage, and the boldness to go through with it.
Would you consider fasting about it?
Would you consider asking your trusted friends to pray with you about it?
Would you step up and step out to do it?
Wold you let your light shine so brightly that it could let everyone know what you believe in?
Do you realize that if you don’t answer the call you have been given that you will miss the window and God will raise up someone else to get it done. How would you respond to the message that you will be … or you will be nothing? I know it didn’t sit well with me when it happened. We see in today’s reading that Esther didn’t like the other option either and called for a 3 day prayer and fasting in preparation of stepping out and letting her light shine before the king.
You don’t want others to be lost or left behind right? So let your light shine and point them in the right way back to God!
You don’t want others to be lead astray right? So let your light shine so that people will know the truth and the truth will set them free!
You want people to hear of Jesus before it is too late and that they will receive Him so that when He returns they won’t be left behind, have to deal with the trials and tribulations, or even worse end up being thrown into the fiery pit right where they will be mourning and screaming and spend eternity apart from God right?
You don’t anyone to be loss right? So help them to know the spiritual food they need to eat in order to not die.
Consider Paul’s situation and how he wanted to save the people’s lives:
‘About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.’
Let’s let the light of God shine through us that nobody would be in the darkness but would know there is light and love and hope.
Let’s let our light shine and praise God!
Let’s let our light shine and reach out to the brokenhearted!
Let’s let our light shine in the darkness just light the stars bring light into the night darknes!
Let’s shine the light of God by sharing God’s Word and God’s love with the world around us!
Let’s make it happen before it is too late!
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
What do you believe? Do you believe something that is true or just believed to be? Do you believe something that has been proven or something that is temporary? Do you believe something that will last the test of time or something that continues to change? Consider the science we took in school and what parts of it have been disproven and now there are new facts? Consider the Word of God which remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow – now people may come up with different translations or paraphrases but the source hasn’t changed. Consider what is right and what is wrong, yes there are absolutes. Consider what is good and what is bad, yes there are absolutes. Is what you believe a truth or an opinion? Is what you believe a truth or a feeling? Is what you believe a truth or a myth? We need to make sure what we believe is a solid foundation rather than shifting sands that the wind and waves can wash away. We need to make sure what we believe is aligned with the cornerstone of life which is Jesus so that we stay on track. Consider the 10 commandments, Jesus didn’t make them go away but rather to accomplish them, He called us to a higher standard in order to be able to raise the bar. We need to take a stand so that the average doesn’t keep going down but instead can start going up. We need to take a stand so that love is poured out all around us. We need to take a stand so that people around us can have hope. We need to take a stand so that faith can abound and there will be renewing and rejuvenating of lives and relationships.
So what do you believe? Will you stand up for what you believe? Would you give your life for what you believe?
Are you ready to step up? Are you ready to become who God is calling you to be? Are you ready to be who God created you to be? Are you ready to go beyond your comfort zone in order to be who God is calling you to be?
Are you keeping your truth a secret out of obedience or fear?
Is your safe place really safe or something that will be torn down?
Will you walk with God as your helper? Will you take hold of His promises which are good and true? Are you walking in freedom that has been purchased through Jesus or walking in bondage to sin and the temptations of the devil?
Let’s close reading today’s psalm together:
‘Praise the Lord ! Let all that I am praise the Lord . I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations. Praise the Lord !’
So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.
