One Year Bible, August 23

JOB 8:1 - 11:20                                                                                                                    
ELIPHAZ (EMOTIONAL RESPONSE): He called Job a hypocrite. He said what he FEELS about suffering, based on EXPERIENCE. All suffering is brought on by hidden sin in our lives.

BILDAD (INTELLECTUAL OR REASONED RESPONSE):  Right off, he called Job a "wind-bag"! His arguments are based on what LOGIC tells him, based on RELIGIOUS TRADITION. Therefore, the sudden deaths of Job's children are "obviously" Divine judgment on them for sin. Then Satan whispers through Bildad, "IF you were pure and upright...."  you wouldn't be in this condition. because Job is in trouble. "God will not cast away a perfect man." Therefore, if Job would just turn to God, all would be well again.

JOB 'S REPLY:  Job believes his condition is hopeless. Why is God destroying him?  Does God really care about what happens to him?  Has God abandoned him?  Or is God stalking him as prey?  It's getting tough, but Job is not ready to curse God yet!  He wanted God to show Himself and he cried out for a mediator with God to bring reconciliation.    Job wishes he had been stillborn.  He cried out bitterly, "You KNOW that I am not wicked"...."I am in Your hands, Lord."

DEFINITION OF "DEATH": (10:22) A place of deepest darkness and chaos (without any order).

ZOPHAR'S TURN (THE WILL):  He accused Job of talking too much when he didn't know what he was talking about!   He exhorted Job to repent so he could be restored.  Now get this: Zophar told Job that his punishment is actually less than he deserved!  Zophar reaffirmed the wisdom of God in all this, and appears to be indignant on God's behalf.  If Job would just repent, he would be restored to the point where he wouldn't even remember all this torment!

RESPONSE:  These "friends" kicked Job when he was down.  Even if he HAD sinned, he deserved better "handling" than they gave him.  There is little compassion in what they have said so far.  And it doesn't get any better!  My hat is off to Job for not telling them all to get out! He is in a lot of pain, both physical and emotional.   I like Job's speeches because he is not just sitting there taking all this pain without expressing his emotions.   He does not bewail his losses, but is tormented because he seems to have lost GOD.   And it true: We can endure almost anything if we know that God is with us.  But notice this: His friends talk ABOUT God. Job talks TO God! 

I CORINTHIANS 15:1-28                                                                                                       
WHERE DO WE GO WHEN WE DIE?  IF we are born again, IF we know God (and He knows us), then we are immediately in the visible Presence of God in Heaven.  There is no such thing as "soul sleep". There is no intermediate holding place of the dead.  The Apostle Paul said that if we are "absent from the body", then we are "present with the Lord". (2 Cor 5:8) Jesus told the thief on the Cross next to Him, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise". (Luke 23:43)  And we know that when Jesus resurrected, He brought everyone with Him: "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive..." (Eph 4:8)  "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison..." (1Pet 3:19)   And in case you were wondering, we are NOT disembodied spirit either.

BOTTOM-LINE FOUNDATION:  If there is no resurrection, there is no Christianity.  If you don't believe in the resurrection, YOU ARE NOT SAVED!  If Christ had not risen, there would be no justification or salvation. (Rom 4:25; 1:4) Paul states here that a dead Jesus Christ cannot save, and we can't have communion with a Jesus who is still in death.  In fact, Paul uses OT Scripture and NT sightings of the resurrected Jesus and proves both the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of the believer.

WHAT GETS "RESURRECTED?"  Again, Paul proves that there is BODILY resurrection. The tomb is empty.  Jesus' resurrected body was touched by Thomas, had nail-prints, but still was able to move through walls! (John 20:25, 27)   If OUR BODIES are not also raised up, then Christ is not raised up (15:16).   Paul speaks of the "natural body" which is a body that is susceptible to death, pain, etc. And a "spiritual body" (NOT "spirit body") which is ruled by God, is immortal, and is free from misery and corruption, and is splendid, glorious and holy.

BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD?  We don't know what "these people" were doing or why.  Only that they were being baptized for the dead, and then saying there was no resurrection.  All Paul is saying here is, why do they bother being baptized for the dead, if the dead aren't coming back anyway?   Whoever the ones were who did not believe in the resurrection, Paul called them "evil companions" who will corrupt us through their influence.  Even though we have already sacrificed our flesh and died to ourselves, we know we are raised to newness of life in Christ Jesus.  We are not afraid to risk our lives because we know we will go on living on the other side of the veil - resurrected like Jesus.

RESPONSE:   I find that as I get older, I think about "stepping through the veil" (dying) at times. I KNOW that I will never see death. BUT...what happens if we don't know Jesus?  If we are in rebellion against God?  I believe when those people die, they go directly to judgment. Heb 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"  And after the judgment comes the Lake of Fire (Hell). This really, really bothers me, because there are people I love a great deal who are not saved.  This means that when they die, there are not any more opportunities for them to be rescued.  That they will suffer forever. This motivates me like nothing else to say something to them about Jesus.  Do you know anyone you should talk to about this?

PSALM 38:1-22                                                                                                                     
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIN AND SICKNESS: David was physically ill and overwhelmed by his own sin.  Because of his sin, he had no rest for his body.  Whatever it was, he called it "loathesome".  He is sick enough that his friends don't come around, but his enemies do!   He hasn't asked for healing, but for God not to abandon him.  Although his enemies are cruel, spiteful, hateful, accusing, railing on him, threatening, and so forth, David has held his temper and clung to God.  His only "desire" is for God Himself.  "I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin."

PROVERBS 21:28-29                                                                                                         
Lies are private, a false witness is public and usually premeditated.  The wicked are brazen.

RESPONSE: In Job's case, he was sick even though he had NOT sinned. When you are born again, the Holy Spirit won't let you sin without warning you. The guilt and the sense of impending judgment can make us sick.  Ask people who are bitter and unforgiving about their ailments, and they can give you a list!