Sunday, January 24, 2010

January 9 Reading

Job 8 - 14. In chapter 8, one of Job's friends there for support, Bildad, speaks up. Bildad discusses God's justice to dealing with men according to their works. As he continues, he speaks of how our lives are so short, "because our days upon earth are a shadow" (8:9), we need to be cautious to not become hypocritical (8:13). He ends by offering encouraging words to Job that God would not "cast away a perfect man, neither will He help the evil doers:" (8:20).

Chapter 9 tells how Job acknowledges God's justice and admits that there is no advantage/rightness to contend with God, because of who He is (9:32).

In chapter 10, Job really starts complaining about his afflictions, which, at this point, are many. He complains of life and simply wants a little ease from pain before he dies. I think verses 15-16 noteworthy of quoting, "If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; For it increaseth...". I am confident in saying that everyone reading this has, at some time, been "full of confusion". But, notice what Job does as he admits his confusion; he immediately asks God to see it, because it's getting almost too hard to bear. Can we honestly say that we do this? If not, we should! It never hurts to beseech God and ask for a little help.

Chapter 11 begins with Job's final friend, Zophar, speaking. He reproves Job for justifying himself; believing he's a good man, that he does what's right, that he's not wicked, that he's done nothing to his knowledge to deserve any of this, etc. Zophar announces that God's wisdom is unsearchable and assures Job that blessings come with repentence. Additionally, just to show how much grace God gives to those of us who believe, in verse 6, Zophar wisely says, "Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.". Verse 13 offers sound advice, "If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward Him...". How true this sage reasoning is for us today! We should pray for God to help us prepare our own hearts and to help us to reach toward Him. Verses 14-20 are just beautiful! Zophar expounds on how much peace can come from repentence.

In chapter 12, Job responds to the messages that Zophar had just given to him. He continues to maintain his innocence and righteousness now agaist all three of his friends. Job acknowledges God's omnipotency. A couple of Scriptures jumped out of me, verses 9 and 10, "Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?". We must take care to not forget that our existence is in God's hands... and our protection.

In chapter 13, Job reproves his friends once again and professes his confidence to God. He yearns to be able to know his own sins and to learn God's purpose for him as He allows him to be afflicted. One of the verses (15) is one of my favorite old hymns, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him". Job asks two things of his friends: 1) Go far away from him at this time, and 2) Don't let their dread make him afraid (verses 20-21). He pleads with himself, them, and God to show him his sins (verse 23).

Job asks God for favor in chapter 14; the favor being the shortness of his life. He seems to be in a hopeless dilemma, having lost everything, but despite his circumstances, he still waits for a change to come his way. Job hangs on by a thread, but he hangs on!

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