283rd Week, Job Chapters 20-24 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 

Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Job Chapter 20

Job 20 

Delores Little

THOUGHT

This chapter informs us what Job’s buddy, Zophar, thinks of him. Verses 2 and 3 says, “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. I HEAR a REBUKE that dishonors ME, and MY understanding INSPIRES ME to reply.”  Notice the ME & MY in these verses? This guy in the following verses really tears Job down.  As I read this I thought he sounded like he was jealous of Job before this all happened. He just tears Job’s life apart in these verses. Then he ends the chapter with verse 29 which says, “Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.” 

My question is how many times in our lives have we done something like this? I was reading one of the Caring Bridge sites the other day, and this Mother was so upset as many had written on there that it was because of her son’s sin that he had cancer. I’m not saying we don’t sin. But as we read, it was not God who gave Job the boils. SATAN did!!  Yes, God let him, but this isn’t true in all things.

Think of the blind man in John.  They ask Jesus what sin this man or his parents committed because he was born blind. Jesus said, “Neither, God will be glorified in his healing.”

The book of Job teaches us to watch what we say, and truly we must pray that the Holy Spirit gives us the right answers.  If no answer comes, then we should do as the Lord has said, “Be still and know that I am God.”

PRAYER

Father, forgive us when we say things that are not right. Always give us the right things to say or quiet our voice. Teach us to live the way You would have us to, and be there always for all of us.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Tuesday, Job Chapter 21

Job 2l

Delores Little

THOUGHT

In this chapter Job replied, “Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, MOCK on.”

Job really lays it out in this chapter to the ones picking on him. He says it like it is. Here he has lost all his children and his livelihood.  These self-righteous people tell him what he has done wrong. They think they are living right as they still have their kids, family and all.  Job is the one who gets all the blame for the bad things in his life.  However, he does let them know just where they are with God.  Verse 34 ends the chapter by saying, “So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”

This book is teaching us the righteous affirming way that we should speak to others.  If it isn’t backed up with the word of God, it will fall to the ground as false. We are a redeemed people by the blood of Jesus. We need Him every day of our lives especially if we are to live righteously.

I have to share a beautiful thing that happened to this family on the Caring Bridge. Andrew has brain cancer, and things are not looking good for him. His parents could bring him home but needed a van and a wheelchair.  Another girl died in June from the same kind of cancer, and they had a van to sell with a wheelchair.  A fund had been started for Andrew with people giving generously for him.  In the end the van and wheelchair were no more than $5,000.  What an awesome God we have. 

Wouldn’t it have been nice if Job’s friends were that kind to him??

PRAYER

Father, forgive us of our sins as we fall short of what You would have of us. Let us be more loving and kind to others. Heal these who are ill.  Be with our service men and women overseas and here on the home land. Let us be the lights of Jesus to others. Bless our Pastors and staff and family. Thank You, Father. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN

Wednesday, Job Chapter 22

Job 22

Delores Little

THOUGHT

Today we got Job’s buddy, Eliphaz, back with some more words to set Job right.  Let’s look at verse 3, “What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would He gain if your ways were blameless?” Notice two words here that God used with Satan about Job. Job was RIGHTEOUS AND BLAMELESS, but here Eliphaz is saying it differently.  He is trying to think about what God thinks about Job. In Isaiah 55:8-9 it says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

I don’t know about any of you, but I have the wildest thoughts in the world. I have to do a lot of repenting for my thoughts alone. Thinking badly of others is a sin just like hurting them.  

In verses 4-10 Eliphaz so put Job down. Job was not guilty of these things. He also did not give Job credit for the good things that he did.  We must be prepared for this in our Christian walk also. You will have people put you down and tell lies about you.  Keep into the Word and do just what God has you do for His Kingdom here on earth. 

PRAYER

Father, help us not to put people down but lift them up in prayers every day. We ask for healing on the ones who are ill and jobs for those who need them. Please give peace of mind for the troubled, joy to fill us up, and laughter and rejoicing in You always. We pray Your Word will go forth and touch all the nations of the world. Be with Your workers in all the countries you have sent them to and open peoples’ hearts and eyes to see You are the Way and Truth and Life. Bless our families and friends and be with them. Thank You for another day. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN

Thursday, Job Chapter 23

Job 23

Verses 10-12

Delores Little

THOUGHT

In this chapter Job feels like God has deserted him but he doesn’t give up.  Verses 10-12 says, “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.”

As I read this 3 different scriptures came to mind. 

Zech. 13:8-9 says, ”In the whole land,” declares the Lord, “two thirds will be struck down and perish; Yet one-third will be left in it.  This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My Name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘they are My people.’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

This is what happened to Job, and he did come forth like gold in the end.

Psalm 37:23 says, “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm.” Notice Job’s feet are closely following God's steps. Job, through all his suffering, has kept God’s ways.  Then notice what Job says, “He has not departed from the commands of His lips.”  He treasured God’s words more than daily bread. Job not only walked the walk; he talked with God.  He followed what God said for him to do. 

In John 6:35, “Then Jesus declared, ‘I AM the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.’” Job knew his Redeemer more than we realize. He talked with Him and knew what He wanted for Job. Through this fire that Job is going through, he will come forth like Gold.

How many times have we felt like God has left us?? He will never do that even if we feel like He has. Deut. 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave or forsake you.”

That is His promise to us believers. Let us hang on to what His Word says to us every day.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for the lessons You are teaching us through this book.  We have so many prayers we can’t list them all, but You know them.  We put them on Your altar every day and say Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Heal people who are ill, those with broken marriages, families that need to be mended and churches that need to reunite. We give this day to You.  Use us as You will. Thank You for being with us at all times.  In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN

Friday, Job Chapter 24

Job 24

Heather Proehl

THOUGHT

In this chapter Job continues to talk about the prosperity of the wicked. He talks about all that the wicked do and how they get away with it. We have yet to see Job’s righteousness rewarded. 

I have to be honest. I struggled with this chapter. The thing that stuck out to me was in verses 13-17 when Job is discussing the wicked.  They all act at night in the dark. We see this discussion all throughout the Bible.  Dark=sin, and light=good or God. But it is so true. Right? 

I don’t have any statistics or numbers to throw around but it seems like a lot of bad things happen at night, from the small things to big things. I’m not here to say that night is evil. I love the night time. I find it peaceful.  However, I think it is a good analogy for good vs. evil.  It’s a good reminder that we need to be lights in this dark world. Without light, there is only darkness.

One interesting quote I found was, “You can shine a light and dispel darkness, but you cannot shine “dark” and dispel light.”  Thank goodness! It’s an interesting thought. I think it means we can beat the darkness. Go out and shine your light to the world, to the darkness, to the wicked. It reminds me of Grandma Jeanie singing “This little Light of mine” to her grandkids.

PRAYER

Lord, let us be lights in this dark world. Help us to dispel the darkness. This little light of mine, 

I’m gonna let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m gonna let it shine.    AMEN