One Year Bible, August 22

JOB 4:1 - 7:21                                                                                                                     
CAN WE SAY SOMETHING?  The first three "friends" represent our own emotions (Eliphaz), mind (Bildad), and will (Zophar).  They have incomplete information and are actually giving their opinions.   These friends represent our FLESH, or even well-meaning, walking-in-the-flesh friends in the Church.   Each gives three speeches.  Their "theories" are too narrow, but even may be correct, but they don't apply to Job.  Remember, God had NO CAUSE AGAINST JOB. (2:3)

ELIPHAZ (EMOTIONAL RESPONSE):  He flat-out called Job a hypocrite! (4:5 - You can talk, but not walk.) In HIS observation and experience, all suffering is brought on by hidden sin in our lives. (5:17)  V.8 he said, "If I were you, I'd repent!" But his theology and "revelation" are LEGALISM, the "law of sin and death".   And Yes! A man can be "made pure" before his Maker (because of Jesus).

JOB'S REPLY:  "I am so miserable that I want to die!" His reasoning and his strength have come to an end and they should feel sorry for him instead of passing judgment!   But they think he sinned, and that if they offered him comfort they would be participating in his sin.   And to God, Job said: "I won't shut up!  I am so sick and wounded that people can't stand to look at me! I am afraid of suicide. God, what have I done to You?  Please just leave me alone and let me die!"

RESPONSE:  I know a lot of people that think God ALWAYS prospers the righteous and ALWAYS punishes the wicked.  Therefore, if you are suffering, you much be WICKED.  But it's NOT always the wicked who suffer, neither do the wicked always suffer.  Mat 5:45 says that "the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike".   What do we do when our experience does not line up with our established beliefs?  The smart thing to do would be to go back to the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit for help.  Job didn't have a Bible, of course.  He had to go directly to God and trust Him no matter what it looked like!  Sometimes we just have to GROW UP!  Quit thinking like a child (1 Cor).  There may be no discernable reason for your suffering. Of course, we know from Scripture that God may be using us to prove something to the creatures in the heavenlies (Eph 3:10-11).

1 CORINTHIANS 14:18-40                                                                                                  
PEACE! PEACE!  Peace is the result of ORDER.  The word "order" means "by rank and appointment".  The word "decently" means "with elegance and extravagance" - "excellently".   Go one at a time, giving preference to the elders or those who are appointed to lead.   Do it with "class" - don't be rude or interrupting.  Everyone will eventually get their turn.

THE "WOMAN QUESTION":  Let's establish something right here and now: (1) The Apostle Paul NEVER advocated the silence of women in church.   (2) He NEVER said that women couldn't teach men. (Apollos had Priscilla for a teacher and mentor.) (Acts 18:24-26)  (3)The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:19-22) never mentioned any "law" concerning women. Nowhere is there any Bible reference to women being silent, or shamed if she speaks!  Paul would never put anyone under Jewish law anyway.  (4) (14:34-35) is a quote from a letter sent to Paul - Paul does not believe or teach what it says.  (5) In fact, v.36-40 refute these statements. He had just said, (11:5) "WHEN women pray or prophesy..." He also said in Gal 3:27-29 that in the Church, in Christ - there is no GENDER, RACE OR CLASS DISTINCTION.  Just like there are no special rules if you are poor, or not white, neither are there special rules for being a woman. The problem Paul combats here may have been caused by Judaizers in Corinth.   (6)Women were not silent on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out.  They were not silent at the Tomb on Resurrection Day, neither was the Samaritan woman silent when Jesus saved her (John 4:28).   So Paul asks, "Did the Word of God come FROM men only? Or go out TO men only?" The answer is "of course not!"

RESPONSE:   When I get to 1 Timothy, I will give you "Round 2" about women!   What does this have to do with spiritual maturity?  It is spiritually immature to capitalize on division in the Body of Christ.   A body depends on relationships to keep it together, not LAW.

PSALM 37:30-40                                                                                                                 
"MARK ("watch") THE PERFECT MAN":  He is "blameless, not sinless."  He is "without guile, having integrity."  Because his "end" (in the end) is "PEACE" - "SHALOM".  "Safety, health, and wholeness, with nothing missing, nothing broken".  How do I know a "perfect man" when I see him?  In other words, whom should I be watching?  This Scripture connects him with being the opposite of a "transgressor" and the "wicked".   Transgressors are those who rebel against and cross the boundaries that separate us from sin and indulgence. The wicked are destroyers and are marked with inner chaos and restlessness.   So then a "perfect man" is submissive and obedient to God's Word. He is spiritually mature, totally dependent on and trusting in the Lord.

PROVERBS 21:27                                                                                                            
Some people bring a "sacrifice" (money, volunteer work, etc.) because they have already sinned!   They think they can atone for their lifestyle through good works or charity.  What is so terribly evil about their thinking is that they not only put too cheap a price on their transgressions, but they indirectly make God a minister of sin!

RESPONSE:   It makes me nervous to think that someone might be watching me.  It's only a matter of time before I disappoint them.  If you want to "ring my bells", just say that self-justifying, excuse-making, phrase: "Nobody's perfect!"  Those people are just ignorant! The Bible says that we are what we are because of FAITH in Jesus - not anything we've done! And Jesus IS perfect.  Perfect is not sinless - it is blameless. Thanks to Jesus, I am blameless. He took my blame on Himself.