August 24, Reading Notes

Job 12-15

There are tons of things you can see in these chapters: individual truths, Job's rebuttal of his friends, Job's pain. It's all here. I'll highlight a few things that stand out to me.

Job 12

Vs. 4-5 These verses show that the depth of Job's suffering just keeps on going, deeper and deeper, everyday.

V. 9 Job couldn't be fooled. He knew that ultimately God had allowed this.

Vs. 13-25 Notice that after the affirmation of verse 13, Job lists what God does. Underline or circle all the "He's" you find.

When I read all of what God does, what He gives and takes, I thought of "Blessed Be Your Name," by Matt Redman. I'll post that video at the end of today's notes on Job, but it is a video with a message.

Job 13

Vs. 4-11 This seems to be Job warning his friends that God won't be happy with them.

V. 24 Job's relationship to God made sense up to this point. The silence isn't something Job understands.

Job 14

V. 13 This looks like Job understood something about death and resurrection. Most places in this chapter Job is speaking of dying, as being removed from life on the earth. Here it seems he knows where you wait after you die and that eventually you will be raised (remembered) by God.

Job 15

The bell rings. This begins round two. Eliphaz enters the ring.

Vs. 2-13 Notice that these comforters have now completely lost their cool.

Vs. 14-16 These are the words of Satan from Eliphaz's vision in chapter four.

In our reading today, Job spoke about God's wisdom and power and then applied this rather darkly to God raising up and putting down, etc…. This is what had happened to Job himself in losing everything. Job couldn't yet see that God's actions are motivated by more than punishment for sin and blessing for obedience. While God's works are always done in justice and wisdom and love, it doesn't mean that we'll understand what He does or understand what He allows to happen to us. Because of Jesus, we understand God's love and wisdom. In fact, read Isaiah 53 and you'll see how some of what happened to Jesus, sounds like Job. Through God's Word and through Jesus, the love of God incarnate, we know Him and we know we can praise Him in circumstances we don't understand. He is enough and we can bless His name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUtFV127i-s&feature=related

1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Vs. 29-34 Paul / the Spirit uses a couple of "common sense" arguments, and then Paul really rebukes the Corinthians. The Resurrection is a "red letter" doctrine and not something to be ignorant about. If you read this out loud you can feel Paul in here.

V. 29 This is an argument from general human consciousness. Almost everyone, even an unbeliever, thinks there is an "after life." Pagans even had rites for the dead, believing they were alive in another world. This would also be like saying that the demonic exists as evidenced in the unbelieving public's interest in the occult and horror movies. They may be unbelieving, but they sense that these forces exist.

Ironically, some people in this church didn't get what unbelievers knew to be true. The dead are raised.

Vs. 30-32 The resurrection makes the gospel absolute. The resurrection not only means life for those who know Christ, it means judgment and that every person must bow to Christ. It makes Jesus the only Savior and the only saving message on the planet. This is what put Paul in danger. If there was no resurrection, Christianity was only teaching, not an irresistible global reality. When Paul spoke of the resurrection and all that is inherent in the resurrection, it made his message one that called for a decision, not simply benign assent.

V. 32 is actually a quote from Isaiah 22:13. Maybe that's where the Epicureans got it. It means the same thing in both cases. If there is no resurrection and life with God, there is no judgment, there is no basis for morality, there is no necessity, there is no point.

Vs. 33-34 This is a very stinging rebuke to this super church with all the gifts. They had people among them who were either unsaved or incredibly spiritually immature.

Vs. 35-41 So much for "there's no stupid question."

Vs. 42-50 This is not only great teaching on the resurrection, it is our hope.

Vs. 51-57 More great Scripture.

V. 51 belongs in every church nursery.

Basically this is saying that the only exception to the process of death and resurrection will be those who are present when Christ returns before the Tribulation to take the church. In that taking of the church, there will be an instant translation of the body from physical to spiritual. This also means that at the rapture, all who have died in Christ, from the death of Jesus until that time, will be raised.

V. 57 Our victory is in Christ. The powers of death (gates of Hades) cannot defeat us.

V. 58 So then, we should be willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Christ in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

Psalm 39

What a great psalm.

Vs. 1-3 This looks like a very weary David struggling to wait on the Lord.

Vs. 4-6 Just like Moses in Psalm 90, "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Understanding our place in life, on this earth, in this time should make us focused in following Christ in the harvest.

Vs. 7-11 Our hope is in Christ.

Vs. 12-13 A cry for restoration.

I wonder if David's song would have sounded like this? I wonder how many hundreds of times I've listened to this song? If there had been mp3 players back then, it might have been in the thousands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGV1RMuFTG0

Proverbs 21:30-31

Amen.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.