Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Job 31 - Job's Defense

LINK: Job 31

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
Job gives his defense -- He has been morally upright, guarding his heart against lust, deceit, and adultery. He has treated his servants well, cared for the needy, remained faithful to God (not trusting gold or idols), and has even taken good care of his land. "I am not guilty!" Job insists. "Let God answer me."

REFLECTION

Can any man declare himself perfectly innocent before God? Job was a righteous man -- God said so himself (remember the beginning of the book?), but he's not a sinless man. So, will his defense hold up in God's court?

Did he live an upright life for nothing, or was it of value? Satan argued that Job was righteous only because God rewarded him. Job's "friends" argue that Job has committed some serious sin to deserve this suffering. Both Satan and the "friends" are wrong, but is Job right? Will God vindicate him?

PRAYER
Lord, give us a right view of ourselves before you. Let us not become proud, but boast only in the work of Jesus in our lives. Only you can make us holy, upright, righteous. And only you are the ultimate judge of our lives. May your Holy Spirit work in our lives to make us holy. Amen.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Job 30 - Despondent Job

LINK: Job 30

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
In this chapter, Job talks about how those who used to honor him now mock him. The lowest of society, whom he used to help, now taunt him. Everyone has turned against him. He cries out to God, but God doesn't answer. God turns a deaf ear to Job and persecutes him instead. Although he has grieved with and helped the needy, now that he is needy all he gets is evil, no relief. He is a tortured man! He is constantly afflicted, cannot relax, and receives no comfort.

REFLECTION

Job is feeling utterly despondent. And in light of that hopeless feeling, this hymn came to my mind, especially the first verse and refrain.


Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.


Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.


His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.


PRAYER
Lord, when we are weary and troubled, and all we can see is darkness, give us enough light to see you. Be our comfort. Amen.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Job 23-24 - "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

LINK: Job 23 & 24

by Katrina

BACKGROUND

Job 23:1-12 - Job wants to talk to God, but he can't seem to find him. He knows that before his suffering began, he was upright before God, keeping His word. And Job knows that "when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job knows he's in the furnace by God's hand, and that he will come out on the other side purified and a better man.

Job 23:13-17 - Job recognizes God's sovereignty and that God can do whatever he wants with Job. So being in the presence of Almighty God is a frightening idea.

Job 24:1-17 - Job says that it seems like God is unjust, because He permits such wrongdoing in this world without punishing the one who is the criminal, abuser, cheater, liar, violent, adulterer, thief, etc.

Job 24:18-24 - Job pronounces a curse, or malediction, on the wicked. May they vanish and be forgotten. May they have no heirs, and may their sense of security and success be destroyed.

Job 24:25 - Job says to his friends, "Now just try to prove me wrong!"

These chapters reflect the frustration Job is feeling. He is confused about his situation and has some real questions. He doesn't understand what God is doing. His suffering might be more bearable if he only knew why he was suffering. He would repent if he knew the charges against him. He is hurt by his friends' condemnation. He tries to make them understand that God, justice, life, etc., aren't all so cut-and-dried as they think they are. He wants to talk with God, yet is afraid to be in God's presence. He wants God to clear his name and explain why all of this has happened to him. He had to be experiencing a great deal of turmoil in his heart and churning in his stomach.

PRAYER


Lord, you know our doubts, and you remind us that you will never leave us or forsake us. You understand our pain, because you suffered greatly. We don't understand your ways, but you assure us they are higher than our own. You know that we are weak, yet it's in our weakness, that your power may dwell. We don't like to be in the refining fire, Lord, but purify us, and when you have tried us, we will come forth as gold. Amen.


Monday, January 19, 2009

Job 22 - Round Three Begins with Eliphaz

LINK: Job 22

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
Eliphaz began the third round of "debate" with the same accusation as the previous two times. Eliphaz insisted that Job would not be having these troubles unless God was punishing him for some sin. He began with a series of sarcastic rhetorical questions (vs 1-5) ending with, "Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end?" Then, he suggested several sins that maybe Job had committed (vs 6-11) and accused him of thinking he could hide his sin from God (vs 12-20). He concluded by urging Job to repent, and God would hear and forgive him (vs 21-30).

REFLECTION

It is true that repentance brings forgiveness, but Job hadn't done anything! Imagine how frustrated Job must have been feeling by this time. His friends were not comforting him at all, only condemning him. And he had no idea why he was suffering such loss. God seems to be unreachable, and the only people who will talk to him keep insisting that he must have done something terrible to deserve this suffering.

APPLICATION
If you were in Job's shoes, how would you respond to Eliphaz?

PRAYER
Father, give us hearts that are tender toward others, not accusing but understanding, not condemning but comforting, not assuming but allowing others to share their hearts. Let us learn to bring your comfort to those who are hurting. Amen.



Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Job 15 - Eliphaz, Round 2

LINK: Job 15

BACKGROUND
Just a little note -- I'm finding that as I read this book, I understand it better when I read it out loud.

Eliphaz is even harsher than before in this speech, but he's saying the same things again. (His first speech was chapters 4-5.) He said that the wisdom of ancestors is better than what Job things, and that Job's suffering could only be brought on by his own sin.

He calls Job a windbag and says he will condemn himself with his own words. "Do you think you are wise?" "What do you know that we don't know?" "Who do you think you are, saying that you haven't sinned?" (vs. 1-16).

Eliphaz says, "Listen to me, and I will share wisdom with you" (my paraphrase of vs. 17-18).

Then Eliphaz presents arguments against Job's claims. Job said that the wicked prosper (12:6), and Eliphaz says the wicked suffer pain, calamity, anguish, premature death, and loss of descendants (15:20-35). Eliphaz isn't speaking in generalities here; he is saying that these things are happening to Job because Job is wicked.

REFLECTION

Let's look at some New Testament passages that refute what Eliphaz is saying:

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-8).

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17).

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you (1 Peter 5:10).

APPLICATION

Whether we are currently suffering or receiving blessing, the purpose of this life doesn't change -- All things are to bring about the glory of God. Satan is trying to dishonor God by proving that Job is righteous only because God blesses him. Job and his friends don't know about that "behind the scenes" encounter between God and Satan, but Eliphaz is playing right along with Satan.

PRAYER
Let us remember that the sufferings of this life can't even compare with the glory that is to be revealed to us in the next life, for you will glorify us (Romans 8:18, 30). Let us look to you, always, Lord, and seek your glory. Amen

Monday, January 12, 2009

Job 13 & 14

LINK: Job 13 & 14

BACKGROUND
Job continues talking to his friends and tells them that what they have told him is worthless. They think they speak for God, but they don't and God will reprove them for it.

Then he speaks to God and asks him to remove his oppressive hand and give Job some relief. Then he asks God to meet him and tell him why he has to suffer so.

In chapter 14, Job speaks of his hopelessness. Even a tree that is cut down has more hope of survival than Job does!

REFLECTION

Generally, when we suffer intense grief or pain, we have a human tendency toward hopelessness. True hope can only come from God, not man's philosophies. Poor Job, did not have all the revelation of God that we have today.

When Paul was suffering affliction he wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians, "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ" (2 Cor 1:5). He went on to say:

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us (2 Cor 1:8-10)

APPLICATION

1 Peter 1:13 says, "Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Now that's something to put our hope in!

PRAYER
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Romans 15:13)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Job 8 - Bildad Speaks

LINK: Job 8

BACKGROUND
Now Job's second friend, Bildad, has some things to say. Basically, he says the same thing Eliphaz said, "you're suffering because you have sinned," but he is more blunt about it. He focuses on the righteousness of God and tells Job that if he will just confess his sin, God will surely restore him.

Then he gives three examples -- the papyrus, the spider, and the garden plant -- to illustrate his point. If the papyrus plant doesn't get enough water, it withers and dies. And likewise, Job has turned from God and will perish. And the spider's web cannot support anything, no matter how confidently you believe it will. Likewise, Job's confidence will eventually break and he will fall. And the garden plant -- nobody pulls up a perfectly good plant, because that will kill it. So, Job must not be good since God has uprooted him.

No, Bildad concludes, God wouldn't have brought calamity upon you if you were a man of integrity. You have done something terrible to deserve it.

REFLECTION

God IS righteous and holy and just and will not tolerate sin. However, Bildad has left out the facts that God is also love and shows mercy and forgiveness. We mustn't forget that either -- for ourselves or for our friends who may be suffering

APPLICATION

I am convinced that if God is discipining his child (you or me) for sin, then we *know* it in our heart. God disciplines us in love, not out of vindictiveness. So, if you're wondering if God is punishing you for something, then he isn't. Yes, God is a God of justice, but he is very longsuffering and most justice will not take place until the final judgment day. He gives many opportunities for repentance, because he is love. It is a lie of Satan that God is always "out to get us," and Satan has been using that lie on mankind since the Garden of Eden. Job was confident that he was not being punished by God for a particular sin. We know that there is suffering in this life, but we don't always have a direct cause-effect correlation.

PRAYER
Lord, we know that suffering is often a part of this life. We don't always understand it, and we are often confused about what role you play in our suffering. Help us not to lose heart, but to come to you daily and allow you to work in our hearts for the eternal benefit you offer. Because you are the all-loving, all-wise, ever-sovereign God, Amen.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Job 7 - Job "Vents" to God

LINK: Job 7

BACKGROUND
In this chapter, Job addresses God. He speaks of the futility of his life now and how quickly it is coming to an end. He still maintains that he has done nothing to deserve such poor treatment from God. He asks God, "Have I sinned?" And asks for forgiveness if he has.

REFLECTION
/APPLICATION
Basically, Job is venting his frustration here. He feels he is being punished but didn't do anything wrong. He doesn't understand why God would make him a target and give him so much attention. There have been times in my life when I just couldn't figure out what God was doing. If you're in that kind of spot now, I encourage you to be honest with God. He can handle it. ;) I have found that some of David's psalms express my heart well, because he struggled with the same kind of difficulties. He was being hunted when he had done nothing wrong. He had to live on the run for years. It's often through the tough times in life that God works in our hearts. As this story unfolds, we'll see later what God said to Job. But first his "friends" have more to say to him.

PRAYER
Lord, let us seek you rather than turn from you in the tough times of life. Amen.