relationships (Job 38:1-39:30) Receiving Feedback

(Job 38:1-41)   Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,

2  “Who is this who darkens the divine plan
     By words without knowledge?
3   Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man,
     And I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
4   Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
     Tell Me, if you have understanding,
5   Who set its measurements? Since you know.
     Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
6   On what were its bases sunk?
     Or who laid its cornerstone,
7   When the morning stars sang together
     And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8  “Or who enclosed the sea with doors 
     When it went out from the womb, bursting forth;
9   When I made a cloud its garment,
     And thick darkness its swaddling bands,
10 And I placed boundaries on it 
     And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther;
     And here your proud waves shall stop’?

12 “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
     And made the dawn know its place,
13 So that it would take hold of the ends of the earth,
     And the wicked would be shaken off from it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal;
     And they stand out like a garment.
15 Their light is withheld from the wicked,
     And the uplifted arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea,
     And walked in the depth of the ocean?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
     And have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18 Have you understood the expanse of the earth?
     Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
     And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you would take it to its territory,
     And discern the paths to its home?
21 You know, for you were born then,
     And the number of your days is great!
22 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
     And have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved for a time of distress,
     For a day of war and battle?
24 Where is the way that the light is divided,
     And the east wind scattered on the earth?

25 “Who has split open a channel for the flood,
     And a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring rain on a land without people,
     On a desert without a person in it,
27 To satisfy the waste and desolate land,
     And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?
28 Does the rain have a father?
     Or who has fathered the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb has come the ice?
     And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 Water becomes hard like stone,
     And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.

31 “Can you tie up the chains of the Pleiades,
     Or untie the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring out a constellation in its season,
     And guide the Bear with her satellites?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens,
     Or do you establish their rule over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds,
     So that an abundance of water will cover you?
35 Can you send flashes of lightning, so that they may go
     And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the innermost being,
     Or given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
     And pour out the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass 
     And the clods stick together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness,
     Or satisfy the appetite of young lions,
40 When they crouch in their hiding places,
     And lie in wait in their lair?
41 Who prepares feed for the raven 
     When its young cry to God,
     And wander about without food?

(Job 39:1-30) 

1  “Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth?
     Do you observe the calving of the deer?
2   Can you count the months they fulfill,
     Or do you know the time they give birth?
3   They kneel down, they deliver their young,
     They get rid of their labor pains.
4   Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field;
     They leave and do not return to them.

5  “Who sent the wild donkey out free?
     And who opened the bonds of the swift donkey,
6   To whom I gave the wilderness as his home,
     And the salt land as his dwelling place?
7   He laughs at the turmoil of the city,
     He does not hear the shouting of the taskmaster.
8   He explores the mountains of his pasture,
     And searches after every green thing.
9   Will the wild bull be willing to serve you,
     Or will he spend the night at your feeding trough?
10 Can you tie down the wild bull in a furrow with ropes,
     Or will he plow the valleys after you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great,
     And leave your labor to him?
12 Will you have faith in him that he will return your grain 
     And gather it from your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyously,
     With the pinion and feathers of love,
14 For she abandons her eggs to the earth 
     And warms them in the dust,
15 And she forgets that a foot may crush them,
     Or that a wild animal may trample them.
16 She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers;
     Though her labor is for nothing, she is unconcerned,
17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,
     And has not given her a share of understanding.
18 When she rushes away on high,
     She laughs at the horse and his rider.

19 “Do you give the horse his might?
     Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 Do you make him leap like locusts?
     His majestic snorting is frightening.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
     He goes out to meet the battle.
22 He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
     And he does not turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him,
     The flashing spear and javelin.
24 He races over the ground with a roar and fury,
     And he does not stand still when he hears the sound of the trumpet.
25 As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’
     And he senses the battle from afar,
     And the thunder of the captains and the war cry.

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
     Stretching his wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle flies high,
     And makes his nest on high?
28 He dwells and spends his nights on the cliff,
     On the rocky cliff, an inaccessible place.
29 From there he tracks food;
     His eyes look at it from afar.
30 His young ones also lick up blood greedily;
     And where the slain are, there he is.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Okay, here we go!!!  God had allowed Job to be tested, and Job had decided to talk a "big talk"; so right at the start of this conversation, the Lord did not molly-coddle Job.  And notice that God only addressed Job.  We must keep in  mind that God disciplines those He loves.  And sometimes the "schooling" can seem harsh, so Job was told to tighten his belt.  Like - get ready!  If you think you're so smart...

As God goes into His questions for Job, we can see right away that our IQ is NOTHING compared to God's, and our power is NOTHING compared to God's...  And as these questions continue, we will keep on saying, very humbly, "Oh... yeeeaaah..."  While it can be humbling, receiving feedback is very helpful, when it comes from those who know and have helpful information.  How much better when it comes from the Lord who knows all things?!

I had been working on a project which required simple dimensions to be within certain parameters - and struggled with THAT!!!  So in times like those, when I get feedback from someone who hasn't done anything like that before, and they say, "Well, just do this and that..."  I'm like, "Nope!  That will not work."  I know it will not work because I have tried that many times before.  I understand more than the other person, yet I still struggled to make that very tiny project work.  

Meanwhile, with His word, God created the universe and all that it contains, with structure and purpose, everything fitting together in a way that is mind-blowing.  This really puts everything into perspective!  We need God!!!  Why would we not want to be on God's side, and have Him save us and guide us?  This sovereign God desires that everyone come to know Him, personally.  He came in flesh to suffer and die, to pay the price for all sin, so that anyone who chooses to believe in Him, can have a personal relationship with Him for all eternity!

relationships (Job 32:1-37:24) Speaking For God

(Job 32:1-22)   Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned because he justified himself before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his anger burned.

6   So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said,

     “I am young in years and you are old;
     Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.
7   I thought age should speak,
     And increased years should teach wisdom.
8   But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
     And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9   The abundant in years may not be wise,
     Nor may elders understand justice.
10 So I say, ‘Listen to me,
     I too will tell what I think.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
     I listened to your skillful speech,
     While you pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
     But indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
     Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
     ‘We have found wisdom:
     God will defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
     Nor will I reply to him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
     Words have failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
     Because they have stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will give my share of answers;
     I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
     The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
     Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
     Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me be partial to no one,
     Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
     Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.

(Job 33:1-33) 

     “However, please hear my speech, Job,
     And listen to all my words.
2   Behold now, I open my mouth,
     My tongue in my mouth speaks.
3   My words are from the integrity of my heart,
     And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.
4   The Spirit of God has made me,
     And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5   Refute me if you can;
     Line up against me, take your stand.
6   Behold, I belong to God, like you;
     I too have been formed out of the clay.
7   Behold, no fear of me should terrify you,
     Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

8  “You have in fact spoken while I listened,
     And I heard the sound of your words:
9   ‘I am pure, without wrongdoing;
     I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.
10 Behold, He invents criticisms against me;
     He counts me as His enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks;
     He watches all my paths.’
12 Behold, let me respond to you, you are not right in this,
     For God is greater than mankind.

13 “Why do you complain to Him
     That He does not give an account of all His doings?
14 Indeed God speaks once,
     Or twice, yet no one notices it.
15 In a dream, a vision of the night,
     When deep sleep falls on people,
     While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then He opens the ears of people,
     And horrifies them with warnings,
17 So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct,
     And keep a man from pride;
18 He keeps his soul back from the pit,
     And his life from perishing by the spear.

19 “A person is also rebuked by pain in his bed,
     And with constant complaint in his bones,
20 So that his life loathes bread,
     And his soul, food that he should crave.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
     And his bones, which were not seen, stick out.
22 Then his soul comes near to the pit,
     And his life to those who bring death.

23 “If there is an interceding angel for him,
     One out of a thousand,
     To remind a person of what is right for him,
24 And he is gracious to him, and says,
     ‘Free him from going down to the pit,
     I have found a ransom’;
25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
     Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
26 Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him,
     So that he may see His face with joy,
     And He will restore His righteousness to that person.
27 He will sing to people and say,
     ‘I have sinned and perverted what is right,
     And it is not proper for me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,
     And my life will see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these things for a man two or three times,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit,
     So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
     Keep silent, and let me speak.
32 Then if you have anything to say, answer me;
     Speak, for I would take pleasure in justifying you.
33 If not, listen to me;
     Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

(Job 34:1-37)  Then Elihu continued and said,

2  “Hear my words, you wise men,
     And listen to me, you who understand.
3   For the ear tests words
     As the palate tastes food.
4   Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
     Let us understand among ourselves what is good.
5   For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
     But God has taken away my right;
6   Should I lie about my right?
     My wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’
7   What man is like Job,
     Who drinks up derision like water,
8   Who goes in company with the workers of injustice,
     And walks with wicked people?
9   For he has said, ‘It is of no use to a man
     When he becomes friends with God.’

10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
     Far be it from God to do evil,
     And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For He repays a person for his work,
     And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s behavior.
12 God certainly will not act wickedly,
     And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him authority over the earth?
     And who has placed the whole world on Him?
14 If He were to determine to do so,
     If He were to gather His spirit and His breath to Himself,
15 Humanity would perish together,
     And mankind would return to dust.

16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
     Listen to the sound of my words.
17 Shall one who hates justice rule?
     And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’
     To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
19 Who shows no partiality to the prominent,
     Nor regards the rich as above the poor,
     Since they are all the work of His hands?
20 In a moment they die, and at midnight
     People are shaken and pass away,
     And the powerful are taken away without a hand.

21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a person,
     And He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness or deep shadow
     Where the workers of injustice can hide themselves.
23 For He does not need to consider a person further,
     That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces the mighty without investigation,
     And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their deeds,
     And He overthrows them in the night,
     And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them like the wicked
     In a public place,
27 Because they turned aside from following Him,
     And had no regard for any of His ways,
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
     And that He would hear the cry of the afflicted—
29 When He keeps quiet, who can condemn?
     And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him,
     That is, regarding both nation and a person?—
30 So that godless people would not rule,
     Nor be snares for the people.

31 “For has anyone said to God,
     ‘I have endured punishment;
     I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
     If I have done wrong,
     I will not do it again’?
33 Shall God repay on your terms, because you have rejected His?
     For you must choose, and not I;
     Therefore declare what you know.
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
     And a wise man who hears me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,
     And his words are without wisdom.
36 Oh that Job were tested to the limit,
     Because he answers like sinners.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
     He claps his hands among us,
     And multiplies his words against God.’”

(Job 35:1-16)  Then Elihu continued and said,

2  “Do you think this is in accordance with justice?
     Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3   For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You?
     What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4   I will answer you,
     And your friends with you.
5   Look at the heavens and see;
     And look at the clouds—they are higher than you.
6   If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him?
     And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him?
7   If you are righteous, what do you give to Him,
     Or what does He receive from your hand?
8   Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,
     And your righteousness is for a son of man.

9  “Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
     They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
     Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth
     And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There they cry out, but He does not answer
     Because of the pride of evil people.
13 God certainly will not listen to an empty cry,
     Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say you do not look at Him,
     The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
     Nor has He acknowledged wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
     He multiplies words without knowledge.”

(Job 36:1-33)  Then Elihu continued and said,

2  “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
     That there is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
3   I will bring my knowledge from afar,
     And ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4   For truly my words are not false;
     One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5   Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone;
     He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6   He does not keep the wicked alive,
     But gives justice to the afflicted.
7   He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
     But with kings on the throne
     He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8   And if they are bound in shackles,
     And are caught in the snares of misery,
9   Then He declares to them their work
     And their wrongdoings, that they have been arrogant.
10 He opens their ears to instruction,
     And commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
     They will end their days in prosperity,
     And their years in happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword,
     And die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
     They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 They die in youth,
     And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in their misery,
     And opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
     And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
     And your table was full of rich food.

17 “But you were full of judgment on the wicked;
     Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that wrath does not entice you to mockery;
     And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
     Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for the night,
     When people vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do not turn to evil,
     For you preferred this to misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
     Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
     And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?

24 “Remember that you are to exalt His work,
     Of which people have sung.
25 All people have seen it;
     Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
     The number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For He draws up the drops of water;
     They distill rain from its celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
     They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
     The thundering of His pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him,
     And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He judges peoples;
     He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the lightning,
     And commands it to strike the target.
33 Its thundering voice declares His presence;
     The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.

(Job 37:1-24)   

1  “At this also my heart trembles,
     And leaps from its place.
2   Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
     And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3   Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
     And His lightning travels to the ends of the earth.
4   After it, a voice roars;
     He thunders with His majestic voice,
     And He does not restrain the lightning when His voice is heard.
5   God thunders wondrously with His voice,
     Doing great things which we do not comprehend.
6   For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
     And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7   He seals the hand of every person,
     So that all people may know His work.
8   Then the animal goes into its lair
     And remains in its den.
9   From the south comes the storm,
     And from the north wind the cold.
10 From the breath of God ice is made,
     And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 He also loads the clouds with moisture;
     He disperses the cloud of His lightning.
12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
     That it may do whatever He commands it
     On the face of the inhabited earth.
13 Whether for correction, or for His earth,
     Or for goodness, He causes it to happen.

14 “Listen to this, Job;
     Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 Do you know how God establishes them,
     And makes the lightning of His clouds to shine?
16 Do you know about the hovering of the clouds,
     The wonders of One who is perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot
     When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,
     Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we are to say to Him;
     We cannot present our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
     Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

21 “Now people do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
     But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 From the north comes golden splendor;
     Around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
     He is exalted in power 
     And He will not violate justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Therefore people fear Him;
     He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

So a new character now jumps into the fray.  At least he respected his elders and kept quiet and listened until they were all talked out.  I too would have been angry with the three friends for condemning a person without cause, but I think I would have not been as angry with Job.  Again, not to excuse the behavior, but when you are in misery and pain, it is extra difficult to remain composed.   

It is interesting that Elihu's intentions were not to just repeat what the three friends had just said, but he did that anyway.  All to often, when a discussion (debate) comes up, we are too busy thinking of what we want to say, instead of actually listening to what the others are saying.  As with the others, Elihu did make a few statements that were correct.

In verse 32:8, Elihu pointed out that God gives understanding.  Not sure of his wording, but as believers, we do have the Holy Spirit within us.  And still, we have a choice to either quench the Holy Spirit, or to ask for His guidance and understanding.  And then in 32:18, Elihu mentioned that the spirit within compelled him to speak.  My only question is - were his words actually from the Holy Spirit (within) - or were they from a demonic spirit who was lurking about?

Since God allowed Satan to set all of this in motion in the first place, Satan might have still been present, "whispering" absurd suggestions, as well as twisting God's truths.  Satan wants believers to feel guilt, shame and condemnation, in place of God's inner peace and assurance.  Satan wants believers to feel anger and impatience, in place of God's joy and grace.  Satan wants believers to tear down and destroy, in place of God's encouragement and unity. 

Again, in 33:6 - Elihu pointed out the truth - that all believers have the Holy Spirit of God within us.  We should never assume that God is only moving within "me", or that "I" am the only one listening to God, or that "I" am the only one who has all the answers.  As believers, we should always keep in mind that, although we have eternal security, we will still sin and get things wrong.

Therefore, we must be continually asking the Holy Spirit for understanding, clarity and guidance as we are consistently studying God's words so that we will speak God's truths correctly, as well as know when others are speaking God's truths correctly or not.  It's not that we would speak for God, but when we speak God's words correctly from the Bible - these ARE God's words!

relationships (Job 29:1-31:40) Finding Inner Peace

(Job 29:1-25)  Job again took up his discourse and said,

2  “Oh that I were as in months gone by,
     As in the days when God watched over me;
3   When His lamp shone over my head,
     And by His light I walked through darkness;
4   Just as I was in the days of my youth,
     When the protection of God was over my tent;
5   When the Almighty was still with me,
     And my children were around me;
6   When my steps were bathed in cream,
     And the rock poured out streams of oil for me!
7   When I went out to the gate of the city,
     When I took my seat in the public square,
8   The young men saw me and hid themselves,
     And the old men arose and stood.
9   The leaders stopped talking
     And put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voices of the prominent people were hushed,
     And their tongues stuck to their palates.
11 For when an ear heard, it called me blessed,
     And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me,
12 Because I saved the poor who cried for help,
     And the orphan who had no helper.
13 The blessing of the one who was about to perish came upon me,
     And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
     My justice was like a robe and a headband.
15 I was eyes to those who were blind,
     And feet to those who could not walk.
16 I was a father to the poor,
     And I investigated the case which I did not know.
17 I broke the jaws of the wicked
     And rescued the prey from his teeth.
18 Then I thought, ‘I will die with my family,
     And I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters,
     And dew lies on my branch all night.
20 My glory is ever new with me,
     And my bow is renewed in my hand.’

21 “To me they listened and waited,
     And they kept silent for my advice.
22 After my words they did not speak again,
     And my speech dropped on them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
     And opened their mouths as for the late rain.
24 I smiled at them when they did not believe,
     And they did not look at my kindness ungraciously.
25 I chose a way for them and sat as chief,
     And lived as a king among the troops,
     As one who comforted the mourners.

(Job 30:1-31) 

1  “But now those who are younger than I mock me,
     Whose fathers I refused to put with the dogs of my flock.
2   Indeed, what good was the strength of their hands to me?
     Vigor had perished from them.
3   From poverty and famine they are gaunt,
     They who gnaw at the dry ground by night in waste and desolation,
4   Who pluck saltweed by the bushes,
     And whose food is the root of the broom shrub.
5   They are driven from the community;
     They shout against them as against a thief,
6   So that they live on the slopes of ravines,
     In holes in the ground and among the rocks.
7   Among the bushes they cry out;
     Under the weeds they are gathered together.
8   Worthless fellows, even those without a name,
     They were cast out from the land.

9  “And now I have become their taunt,
     And I have become a byword to them.
10 They loathe me and stand aloof from me,
     And they do not refrain from spitting in my face.
11 Because He has undone my bowstring and afflicted me,
     They have cast off the bridle before me.
12 On the right hand their mob arises;
     They push aside my feet and pile up their ways of destruction against me.
13 They break up my path,
     They promote my destruction;
     No one restrains them.
14 As through a wide gap they come,
     Amid the storm they roll on.
15 Sudden terrors are turned upon me;
     They chase away my dignity like the wind,
     And my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.

16 “And now my soul is poured out within me;
     Days of misery have seized me.
17 At night it pierces my bones within me,
     And my gnawing pains do not rest.
18 By a great force my garment is distorted;
     It ties me up like the collar of my coat.
19 He has thrown me into the mire,
     And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me;
     I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me.
21 You have become cruel to me;
     With the strength of Your hand You persecute me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and make me ride it;
     And You dissolve me in a storm.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
     And to the house of meeting for all living.

24 “Yet does one in a heap of ruins not reach out with his hand,
     Or in his disaster does he not cry out for help?
25 Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard?
     Was my soul not grieved for the needy?
26 When I expected good, evil came;
     When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 I am seething within and cannot rest;
     Days of misery confront me.
28 I go about mourning without comfort;
     I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 I have become a brother to jackals,
     And a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin turns black on me,
     And my bones burn with fever.
31 Therefore my harp is turned to mourning,
     And my flute to the sound of those who weep.

(Job 31:1-40) 

1   “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
     How then could I look at a virgin?
2   And what is the portion of God from above,
     Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3   Is it not disaster to the criminal,
     And misfortune to those who practice injustice?
4   Does He not see my ways,
     And count all my steps?

5  “If I have walked with deception,
     And my foot has hurried after deceit,
6   Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
     And let God know my integrity.
7   If my step has turned from the way,
     Or my heart followed my eyes,
     Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,
8   Let me sow and another eat,
     And let my crops be uprooted.

9  “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
     Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,
10 May my wife grind grain for another,
     And let others kneel down over her.
11 For that would be a lustful crime;
     Moreover, it would be wrongdoing punishable by judges.
12 For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
     And would uproot all my increase.

13 “If I have rejected the claim of my male or female slaves
     When they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then could I do when God arises?
     And when He calls me to account, how am I to answer Him?
15 Did He who made me in the womb not make him,
     And the same one create us in the womb?

16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
     Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or have eaten my morsel alone,
     And the orphan has not shared it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
     And from my infancy I guided her),
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
     Or that the needy had no covering,
20 If his waist has not thanked me,
     And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan,
     Because I saw I had support in the gate,
22 May my shoulder fall from its socket,
     And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
23 For disaster from God is a terror to me,
     And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

24 “If I have put my confidence in gold,
     And called fine gold my trust,
25 If I have gloated because my wealth was great,
     And because my hand had obtained so much;
26 If I have looked at the sun when it shone,
     Or the moon going in splendor,
27 And my heart was secretly enticed,
     And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment,
     For I would have denied God above.

29 “Have I rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy,
     Or become excited when evil found him?
30 No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
     By asking for his life in a curse.
31 Have the people of my tent not said,
     ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’?
32 The stranger has not spent the night outside,
     For I have opened my doors to the traveler.
33 Have I covered my wrongdoings like a man,
     By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket,
34 Because I feared the great multitude
     And the contempt of families terrified me,
     And I kept silent and did not go out of doors?
35 Oh that I had one to hear me!
     Here is my signature;
     Let the Almighty answer me!
     And the indictment which my adversary has written,
36 I would certainly carry it on my shoulder,
     I would tie it to myself like a garland.
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
     Like a prince, I would approach Him.

38 “If my land cries out against me,
     And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten its fruit without money,
     Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
40 May the thorn-bush grow instead of wheat,
     And stinkweed instead of barley.”

     The words of Job are ended.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verse 29:24 has excellent advice for us to always be kind when sharing the gospel with others.  And even when people choose not to believe, we should never hound or nag them.  We are not responsible for anyone's faith or salvation.  We cannot argue the points until they see the light.  Even with family members!  We should share when we have opportunities, but then, let it be and let the Holy Spirit work on convicting them.  Meanwhile, we are to love and pray!  And we are to be living as shining examples of Jesus' love, for them to observe.

We can also be a great testimony to others while we are going through struggles.  Therefore, we should realize that while we might be going through a test, the test for ourselves might also be a test for someone else.  Job had once appreciated the respect of people, but now that he was the one suffering, he no longer had that.  While Job experienced public humiliation, it was the people who didn't respect him who had to realize their own sins and confess them.  But as one cannot control what others do, one has to figure out how to react and respond with forgiveness, love and grace, and move forward.  

Following Jesus requires just that - moving forward.  So, fondly thinking back to the "good" old days is one thing, but longing for the "good" old days is wrong.  As Job wallowed in his loss, he now used the excuse that he had called out to God but God did not answer;  and so, Job continued to "mourn without comfort".  But even though we don't feel God, doesn't mean that He is not there.  He is omnipresent.  He is here, and He is at work!

To move forward and have God's inner peace, comfort and joy, we must be continually worshiping God and praising Him.  Even in miserable situations, if we work on having a better attitude, this will help.  Think of the good that God has already done in our lives, and then understand that He will still bring about good in the future.  We certainly cannot judge God based on evil things that happen, or on people's words and actions.  And we cannot judge God with our own scorecards, since God's standards are way beyond ours.  

Our personal righteousness will fail every time.  This is why we need the salvation of Jesus.  And as Job mentions in verse 29:14 - this is why we always need to cloth ourselves with the righteousness of Jesus.  This is what and Who will help us in every circumstance!

relationships (Job 25:1-28:28) Finding Hope and Wisdom

(Job 25:1-5) Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,

2  “Dominion and awe belong to Him 
     Who makes peace in His heights.
3   Is there any number to His troops?
     And upon whom does His light not rise?
4   How then can mankind be righteous with God?
     Or how can anyone who is born of woman be pure?
5   If even the moon has no brightness
     And the stars are not pure in His sight,
6   How much less man, that maggot,
     And a son of man, that worm!”

(Job 26:1-14)  Then Job responded,

2  “What a help you are to the weak!
     You have saved the arm without strength!
3   What advice you have given to one without wisdom!
     What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!
4   To whom have you uttered words?
     And whose spirit was expressed through you?

5  “The departed spirits are made to tremble
     Under the waters and their inhabitants.
6   Sheol is naked before Him,
     And Abaddon has no covering.
7   He stretches out the north over empty space
     And hangs the earth on nothing.
8   He wraps up the waters in His clouds,
     And the cloud does not burst under them.
9   He obscures the face of the full moon
     And spreads His cloud over it.
10 He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters
     At the boundary of light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble
     And are amazed at His rebuke.
12 With His power He quieted the sea,
     And by His understanding He shattered Rahab.
13 By His breath the heavens are cleared;
     His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent.
14 Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
     And how faint a word we hear of Him!
     But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”

(Job 27:1-23) Job again took up his discourse and said,

2  “As God lives, who has taken away my right,
     And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,
3   For as long as life is in me,
     And the breath of God is in my nostrils,
4   My lips certainly will not speak unjustly,
     Nor will my tongue mutter deceit.
5   Far be it from me that I should declare you right;
     Until I die, I will not give up my integrity.
6   I have kept hold of my righteousness and will not let it go.
     My heart does not rebuke any of my days.

7  “May my enemy be as the wicked,
     And my opponent as the criminal.
8   For what is the hope of the godless when he makes an end of life,
     When God requires his life?
9   Will God hear his cry
     When distress comes upon him?
10 Or will he take pleasure in the Almighty?
     Will he call on God at all times?
11 I will instruct you in the power of God;
     What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Behold, all of you have seen it;
     Why then do you talk of nothing?

13 “This is the portion of a wicked person from God,
     And the inheritance which tyrants receive from the Almighty:
14 Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword;
     And his descendants will not be satisfied with bread.
15 His survivors will be buried because of the plague,
     And their widows will not be able to weep.
16 Though he piles up silver like dust,
     And prepares garments as plentiful as the clay,
17 He may prepare it, but the righteous will wear it
     And the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He has built his house like the spider’s web,
     Or a hut which the watchman has made.
19 He lies down rich, but never again;
     He opens his eyes, and it no longer exists.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood;
     A storm steals him away in the night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;
     For it sweeps him away from his place.
22 For it will hurl at him without mercy;
     He will certainly try to flee from its power.
23 People will clap their hands at him,
     And will whistle at him from their places.

(Job 28:1-28) 

1  “Certainly there is a mine for silver
     And a place for refining gold.
2   Iron is taken from the dust,
     And copper is smelted from rock.
3   Man puts an end to darkness,
     And to the farthest limit he searches out
     The rock in gloom and deep shadow.
4   He sinks a shaft away from inhabited areas,
     Forgotten by the foot;
     They hang and swing, away from people.
5   From the earth comes food,
     And underneath, it is turned over like fire.
6   Its rocks are the source of sapphires,
     And its dust contains gold.
7   No bird of prey knows the path,
     Nor has the falcon’s eye caught sight of it.
8   The proud animals have not trodden it,
     Nor has the lion passed over it.
9   He puts his hand on the flint;
     He overturns the mountains at the base.
10 He carves out channels through the rocks,
     And his eye sees anything precious.
11 He dams up the streams from flowing,
     And brings to light what is hidden.

12 “But where can wisdom be found?
     And where is the place of understanding?
13 Mankind does not know its value,
     Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The ocean depth says, ‘It is not in me’;
     And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,
     Nor can silver be weighed as its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
     In precious onyx, or sapphire.
17 Gold or glass cannot equal it,
     Nor can it be exchanged for articles of pure gold.
18 Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned;
     And the acquisition of wisdom is more valuable than pearls.
19 The topaz of Cush cannot equal it,
     Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 Where then does wisdom come from?
     And where is this place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living creature,
     And concealed from the birds of the sky.
22 Abaddon and Death say,
     ‘With our ears we have heard a report of it.’

23 “God understands its way,
     And He knows its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth;
     He sees everything under the heavens.
25 When He imparted weight to the wind,
     And assessed the waters by measure,
26 When He made a limit for the rain,
     And a course for the thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw it and declared it;
     He established it and also searched it out.
28 And to mankind He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
     And to turn away from evil is understanding.’” 

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Bildad's speech, although short, was not sweet.  His viewpoint suddenly became a bunch of questions, which lacked hope or wisdom.  But within Job's rant, at least he hit on some Godly truths.  

When we realize that God sees and knows everything, we can understand that - God - is - wisdom.  Therefore, the answers and solutions are short and sweet!  When we choose to fear and seek after God in our personal relationship with Him, we will find hope and wisdom!

relationships (Job 22:1-24:25) When Others Unfairly Judge Us

(Job 22:1-30)  Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

2  “Can a strong man be of use to God,
     Or a wise one be useful to himself?
3   Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous,
     Or gain if you make your ways blameless?
4   Is it because of your reverence that He punishes you,
     That He enters into judgment against you?
5   Is your wickedness not abundant,
     And is there no end to your guilty deeds?
6   For you have seized pledges from your brothers without cause,
     And stripped people naked.
7   You have given the weary no water to drink,
     And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8   But the earth belongs to the powerful man,
     And the one who is honorable dwells on it.
9   You have sent widows away empty,
     And the strength of orphans has been crushed.
10 Therefore traps surround you,
     And sudden dread terrifies you,
11 Or darkness, so that you cannot see,
     And a flood of water covers you.

12 “Is God not in the height of heaven?
     Look also at the highest stars, how high they are!
13 But you say, ‘What does God know?
     Can He judge through the thick darkness?
14 Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see;
     And He walks on the vault of heaven.’
15 Will you keep to the ancient path
     Which wicked people have walked,
16 Who were snatched away before their time,
     Whose foundations were washed away by a river?
17 They said to God, ‘Go away from us!’
     And ‘What can the Almighty do to them?’
18 Yet He filled their houses with good things;
     But the advice of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous see and are glad,
     And the innocent mock them, saying,
20 ‘Truly our enemies are eliminated,
     And fire has consumed their abundance.’

21 “Be reconciled with Him, and be at peace;
     Thereby good will come to you.
22 Please receive instruction from His mouth,
     And put His words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored;
     If you remove injustice far from your tent,
24 And put your gold in the dust,
     And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
25 Then the Almighty will be your gold
     And abundant silver to you.
26 For then you will take pleasure in the Almighty 
     And lift up your face to God.
27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you;
     And you will pay your vows.
28 You will also decide something, and it will be established for you;
     And light will shine on your ways.
29 When they have brought you low, you will speak with confidence,
     And He will save the humble person.
30 He will rescue one who is not innocent,
     And he will be rescued due to the cleanness of your hands.”

(Job 23:1-17)  Then Job responded,

2  “Even today my complaint is rebellion;
     His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3   Oh that I knew how to find Him,
     That I might come to His home!
4   I would present my case before Him
     And fill my mouth with arguments.
5   I would learn the words which He would answer,
     And perceive what He would tell me.
6   Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
     No, surely He would pay attention to me.
7   There the upright would argue with Him;
     And I would be free of my Judge forever.

8  “Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
     And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9   When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him;
     He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the way I take;
     When He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold.
11 My foot has held on to His path;
     I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not failed the command of His lips;
     I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But He is unique, and who can make Him turn?
     Whatever His soul desires, He does it.
14 For He carries out what is destined for me,
     And many such destinies are with Him.
15 Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence;
     When I consider this, I am frightened of Him.
16 It is God who has made my heart faint,
     And the Almighty who has terrified me,
17 But I am not destroyed by darkness,
     Nor by deep gloom which covers me.

(Job 24:1-25) 

1  “Why are times not stored up by the Almighty,
     And why do those who know Him not see His days?
2   People remove landmarks;
     They seize and devour flocks.
3   They drive away the donkeys of orphans;
     They seize the widow’s ox as a pledge.
4   They push the needy aside from the road;
     The poor of the land have to hide themselves together.
5   Behold, like wild donkeys in the wilderness
     They go out scavenging for food in their activity,
     As bread for their children in the desert.
6   They harvest their feed in the field
     And glean the vineyard of the wicked.
7   They spend the night naked, without clothing,
     And have no covering against the cold.
8   They are wet from the mountain rains,
     And they hug the rock for lack of a shelter.
9   Others snatch an orphan from the breast,
     And they seize it as a pledge against the poor.
10 The poor move about naked without clothing,
     And they carry sheaves, while going hungry.
11 Within the walls they produce oil;
     They tread wine presses but go thirsty.
12 From the city people groan,
     And the souls of the wounded cry for help;
     Yet God does not pay attention to the offensiveness.

13 “Others have been with those who rebel against the light;
     They do not want to know its ways
     Nor stay in its paths.
14 The murderer arises at dawn;
     He kills the poor and the needy,
     And at night he is like a thief.
15 The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight,
     Saying, ‘No eye will see me.’
     And he disguises his face.
16 In the darkness they dig into houses,
     They shut themselves up by day;
     They do not know the light.
17 For the morning is the same to him as thick darkness,
     For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness.

18 “They are insignificant on the surface of the water;
     Their plot of land on the earth is cursed.
     They do not turn toward the vineyards.
19 Dryness and heat snatch away the snow waters,
     As Sheol snatches those who have sinned.
20 A mother will forget him;
     The maggot feeds sweetly until he is no longer remembered.
     And injustice will be broken like a tree.
21 He wrongs the infertile woman,
     And does no good for the widow.
22 But He drags off the mighty by His power;
     He rises, but no one has assurance of life.
23 He provides them with security, and they are supported;
     And His eyes are on their ways.
24 They are exalted a little while, then they are gone;
     Moreover, they are brought low, and like everything they are gathered up;
     Like the heads of grain they wither.
25 Now if it is not so, who can prove me a liar,
     And make my speech worthless?”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This conversation continues to unravel.  Like a conversation I recently had with a friend who is not a believer.  She had lashed out and unfairly judged my heart based on twisted assumptions, and even quoted a Bible verse to me (all because I have a few different opinions and approaches to life than her).  There are people who will use God's words out of context in order to manipulate others and make them feel guilt and shame.  Satan wants believers to feel guilty, unworthy and hopeless.  He wants believers to feel like God doesn't care, and feel like God is against us.  But remember - feelings are not truth.

We have all been born into sin, which separates us from the Lord.  But we can be reconciled with God when we are born again (spiritually), through Jesus' work on the cross.  Then we receive the Holy Spirit of promise who seals us for all eternity!  

Will we still sin even when we try not to?  Yes, of course.  But God will not punish His children, because He has forgiven all our sins and has chosen to not remember them (or keep an account of them).  Although, because He loves and cares for us, He will discipline us when we have sinned, and allow consequences into our lives so that we will realize our need to return to living in His will, and walking closely with Him.

Sin does impede our prayers - until we confess these to the Lord.  But because of God's amazing grace, we cannot lose our salvation, and we are to continue running back to Him.  And as with Job, even though we are suffering through something, it might not be a result of our own sin.  Therefore, all the accusations from his friends are pointless, unfair and abusive.

Like in verse 22:4, Eliphaz is wrong in his question, "Is it because of your reverence that He punishes you?"  He is assuming that God is punishing Job.  But from the very first two chapters of the book, we are given extra insight into the facts, that God said Job was righteous, and that He allowed Job to be tested.  Now, as Job gets further into the testing period, his heart is certainly struggling.  And his friends are definitely not helping!  His friends should have asked God for guidance in how they should have approached this entire situation!

And as Job has done, always be searching our hearts for where we might be wrong, then confess, reconcile and change... And if we have searched our hearts and we cannot recognize any sins to confess, then continue following the Lord.  We should not be daunted when others judge us unfairly.  They too struggle with sin, and God, who is holy, righteous and all-knowing, is our Judge, and He is faithful to forgive.  So once we confess, we no longer have to feel remorse, guilt, shame or fear!  We CAN move on in God's strength, peace, comfort and joy, no matter what is going on around us or what we are going through.