JOB 16:1 - 19:29
THE ANSWER TO INSINUATIONS: Job insists that he is not guilty, and that God can do what He pleases. And right now, God is acting like Job's enemy. Job's friends are "miserable comforters". If they were to trade places with him, Job would try to encourage, comfort and strengthen them.
BILDAD'S SECOND ATTEMPT: "Do you expect the world to stop for you, Job?" Bildad depends on how things ALWAYS were - he says that longstanding tradition doesn't change just because your circumstances don't line up (true, but not true about Job). Bildad focuses on outward appearances - and is harsh and frightening. He assumes Job's guilt and tries to scare him into repentance (ever been there?) Bildad is taken up with the prosperity message. Sharing in Christ's sufferings are completely foreign to Bildad!
AUDACIOUS FAITH: A really grand chapter, coming from the depths of despair to the heights of faith. Job feels utterly forsaken by God. Yes, even God turned on him. (He didn't realize that he was actually under God's microscope - the center of God's attention at that very moment!) Job is wounded, shamed, insulted, humiliated, and in despair. "The hand of God hath touched (smitten, struck) me." BUT!!!! "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth..." Job is CERTAIN of vindication, even now. This speech is spectacular when viewed in CONTEXT. Job has no idea why God is acting so "out of character". The one thing he knows is that God is responsible for all his circumstances. His friends talked of nets and traps, but Job believed himself to be in God's net! Job is a loathsome wreck, the offscouring of all things (1Co 4:13), yet he ENDURED. Yes, it is possible to lose everything and everyone, and still cling to God as your salvation and deliverance.
RESPONSE: Obviously Job believed in the resurrection from the dead. His Vindicator is living! Job knew by faith that he would see God face-to-face one day and would be vindicated. He is totally surrendered and sacrificed to God as far as he was concerned. And God had accepted his sacrifice and even though Job's body may be destroyed, he would rise again! His faith in God was not shaken!
1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-24
OFFERINGS: The Christians of Jerusalem were greatly persecuted and probably not allowed to work, so it had become the custom for the other churches to help support the Jerusalem Church. In order to keep from giving even the APPEARANCE of any evil, Paul wasn't going to carry that offering himself, but rather send it on with people from Corinth. Paul plans to stay awhile in Ephesus because there are numerous opportunities to minister AND because there are "many adversaries". He planned to prolong his stay there in order to confront the opposition.
"QUIT YOU LIKE MEN!" Part of being spiritual as opposed to being carnal is to be on guard and live accurately and circumspectly. We don't live carelessly and without thought. Be immovable in your faith and be brave. Bravery comes from inside and works its way out, and is rooted in the Presence of God in us. It is the empowerment of the Life of God in us. We are to act powerful and forcefully, but WITH LOVE.
RESPONSE: Paul dictated his letters, then authenticated them in his own handwriting at the end. He reiterated that he loved them. We know from other accounts that when he actually got to Corinth, they treated him so shabbily, that he had to leave town! Then there is a missing tear-stained letter he wrote, followed by 2 Corinthians. This was no easy church! It is a real battle for some people to become spiritually mature. Or even to think like a spiritual person. When we compartmentalize our lives, we oppose the Holy Spirit. God wants us to know Him in the context of our daily lives. This means that everything has to change!
PSALM 40:1-10
PREPARATION TO DO THE WILL OF GOD: Hebrews 10:5-9 (quoting Psa 40:6-9), is speaking about JESUS:
" Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."
Hebrews is our NT commentary on Psa 40. There we discover that Psa 40 is about the BODY of Christ (not just the infant body in Mary's womb, but the many-membered Body). Psa 40, instead of "BODY", says "Mine ears hast thou opened". This is speaking of the custom of piercing the ears of life-long voluntary bondslaves. This is done because he "delights to do thy will...." I aggressively pursue giving God satisfaction from my life. Now we are the fulfillment of this Psalm - as part of His Body, his bondslaves.
OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY: The "miry clay" is found at the bottom of the pit. God lifted me from a hopeless life with no purpose, and "established my going" - gave me a purposeful, fulfilling life that is going somewhere! Relationship with God is what gives life meaning.
PROVERBS 22:1
Character is greater than riches because it lasts longer, byt its loss is fatal.
RESPONSE: My mother used to say, "you are only as good as your word." For this reason, lying was punished the same as foul language, because lying gives you a bad name. Once you have a bad name, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to overcome it. As believers, we trust God with our reputations. Just don't make people mistrust you because of character flaws!
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