279th Week, Job Intro - Chapter 4 (Click on Title for Video Intorduction)

Click on Title for Video Introduction

Monday, Job Introduction

Job Intro

Delores Little

THOUGHT

Job did not write the book of Job.  They say it was an Israelite, but no name was given. Sounds like whoever wrote the book of Job was moved by the Holy Spirit to put it together. 

Job is the book of suffering of a righteous man given into the hands of Satan, but not to kill him. As a tempter Satan seeks to alienate man from God. His all-consuming purpose is to drive an irremovable wedge between God and man, to effect an alienation that cannot be reconciled.

Job had 3 friends.  The 4th came along at the end of the book of Job for a few chapters, and I say if we have friends like he had, we don’t need any enemies. But can I judge them and how they answered Job?  No, because I too have been guilty doing the same thing in my walk with God.  Have you felt like God isn’t here for you, and you can’t feel Him around or hear Him as you called out to Him in prayer? This was happening to Job on top of the suffering.  He wasn’t hearing from the Lord God, but not once did he curse Him or deny Him.

Put on God’s armor as you read this book because you are going to need it. You will be tested in many ways. Keep praise on your lips and in your heart.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, teach us what You want us to get out of the book of Job. I pray for blessings to come forth as we read this book.  With the help of God may we lead a Godly life for Him. Bless everyone today in whatever they are doing and thank You for them. In Jesus Name we pray.  AMEN

Tuesday, Job Chapter 1

Job 1

Delores Little

THOUGHT

This first chapter alone has so much in it. We learned that Job lived in the land of Uz. He was a blameless, upright gentleman, and he feared God. He had 10 children, lots of sheep, camels, yoke of oxen, donkeys and many servants.  He was the greatest man among the people of the east.

His sons and daughters held feasts and celebrations.  Job always had them purified by offering a sacrifice, burnt offering for each of them, in case they had sinned or cursed God. He was quite the Dad for them.

Old wicked Satan could not stand it.  He had to go to God. I think God knew what Satan was up to.  He asked Him about Job and how no one on earth was like him. In verses 9-11 we see Satan saying to God, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have You not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.  But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

Well, God told Satan to go.  Satan was told not to touch Job.  He could touch anything else of Job’s. How would we feel if one day you had someone come and tell you everything that had happened to your herds, servants and children? Let’s be honest.  We most likely would have not handled it like Job did. We would have come apart and gotten angry. 

Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell down to the ground to WORSHIP and said, Verse 21: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Verse 22:  In all this, Job did not SIN by CHARGING God with wrongdoing.

I’m no Job, but when Willie died, I did praise and thank the Lord that he went home to God.  Willie and I said Satan may have put the cancer in him but God would get the glory.  And He did.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, how awesome You are to us.  Teach us what You have us to learn as we go through the book of Job.  Open our eyes to Your truths and see the victory in Jesus.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Wednesday, Job Chapter 2

Job 2

Verse 10

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 10:  He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

THOUGHT

I really love our Life Application Bible and what it says about this verse. Many people think that believing in God protects them from trouble, so when calamity comes, they question God’s goodness and justice. But our message here in Job is that you should not give up on God because He allows you to have bad experiences. Faith in God does not guarantee personal prosperity, and lack of faith does not guarantee troubles in this life. If this were so, people would believe in God simply to get rich. God is capable of rescuing us from suffering, but He may also allow suffering to come for reasons we cannot understand. It is Satan’s strategy to get us to doubt God at exactly this moment. This verse is where Job is speaking to his wife. She wanted him to get angry with God. Instead Job was slow to anger and thoughtful in the words that he spoke.

My Beth Moore class last night was on deliverance. She made some awesome points. I guess that is why this verse spoke to me. God gives us our faith if we ask. It is in the time of troubles that our faith grows. I know each of us have felt completely in the desert places of life. My divorce was a life changing experience. The Holy Spirit helped me to not be angry with God, but to tell Him, “Now that this has happened, please carry me through it. I will go with YOU.” What faith the Lord gave Job also. This reply in verse 10 comes from a man that truly loves the Lord.

REMEMBER

Every time you’re in a tight fist of fear or trouble, remember you’re in something much tighter, ‘The Hands of God’.  

Isaiah 49:16 says, “See, I have engraved you (cut into) on the palms of my hands.”

“The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God Loves You.” Deut. 23:5

PRAYER

Father, help us never to grow angry with You. May our faith be strengthened daily by the work of the Holy Spirit. Help us to remember that we are never alone, and You will give us the courage and confidence to look to You and witness for You. Help our hearts to remember that without the battles we would have no victories. God, continue to be our team leader. Fill the Salt Shakers with not only the Holy Spirit but make our ‘Team Spirit’ strong and supportive. In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Thursday, Job Chapter 3

Job 3

Verses 25-26

Jeanie Boldt

Verses 25-26:  What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.

THOUGHT

Our chapter finds Job cursing the night of his conception and the day of his birth. He still did not curse the Lord. Job asks the question, “Why?” seven times in this monologue. “Why?’ is an easy question to ask but a very difficult one to answer. Suppose God had told Job the reasons behind his troubles. Would that have solved his problems? After all, God’s people live on promises, not on explanations.

Job was in a very desperate state. When you hurt physically and emotionally, you are prone to lose perspective and forget the joys of the past. Times of suffering can be times of remembering God’s goodness and thanking Him for all you have received from His Hand. Psalm Chapter 77 is a great one to read right now. It shares about a time of calling out for help when we are in distress.  Do you have a great fear? Think about it. What would be the most terrible thing to have happen to you?

I praise God for two things each morning as I begin my walk. Praises for the two things I fear most about losing. “Thank You, Father, for giving me eyes to see my journey as I walk. You are my Sovereign God. You give me feet like the feet of a deer. You enable me to climb to the greatest heights.” My sight is so precious to me since I have needed corrective means since I was 10. Plus as all of you know, I have always exercised from as early as I can remember. If the Lord took my legs from me, I would need to turn to Him just as Job did in this book for strength and a renewed faith. 

If our faith is strong, we should not wonder why. We need to feed on God’s Word, His will and His Faithfulness.

PRAYER

Father God in whom I trust and love, fill us this night with Your Word, Your Will, and Your Faithfulness in our lives. Keep us from asking the question “Why?” and look to You for the support we need to rise above the circumstance. Please protect each of us. May we praise You for the blessings that You give us to take our fears from us.  In the Name of Jesus. AMEN

Friday, Job Chapter 4

Job 4

Verse 2

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 2:  Think how you have instructed man, how you have strengthened feeble hands.

THOUGHT

It is too bad that Job’s three friends listened to Job’s words instead of his feelings.  They decided to tell Job why he was suffering, but they only made his situation worse.  Suffering people need love, acceptance, and patient encouragement, not arguments and accusations.

Three friends sincerely meant to console Job, but they ended up condemning him and taking Satan’s place! Why? Because each of them saw Job’s plight from his own narrow perspective and failed to identify with Job’s perplexity and pain.

Eliphaz asked Job why he did not practice what he preached, a fine way to start encouraging a hurting friend! He told Job that sinners always reap what they sow, suggesting that it was Job’s fault that he was now poor and sick instead of being rich and healthy. Eliphaz claimed he had been given secret knowledge through a special revelation from God, and that he had learned much from personal experience. He explained to Job that he is suffering because he has sinned. He closed by telling Job to seek God and submit, and to accept His correction, then God would bless him again.

Wow, what are friends for? Have you thought about the advice that you have given loved ones and friends? Have you counseled when you should not have? Do you speak without really knowing the important details in order to help someone? The main point in the classes that I took in Stephen Ministry was to be a good listener and don’t give advice. We need to seek the Lord in prayer and ask for guidance and His presence in the person’s life. Then you must be ready just like Job. One day the tables may turn, and you will be the one that is in need of a Jesus with skin on. Be open to someone to help you.

PRAYER

Father God, help us to help others by listening with our hearts as well as our ears. Help us try not to make our own experience the only test of truth. May we realize everyone is different and needs love and support in their own special way. Help us to realize that everyone suffers. When the table is reversed, may we remember certain points of instruction that would be good for us at that time. May we love those in need as YOU LOVE. Continue to shower blessings on all of us. AMEN