August 25, Reading Notes

Job 16-19

I really wonder if Job would have said some of this if his friends hadn't accused him. It seems to me that Job's friends were the greatest challenge that Satan threw at him. In defense of his friends, they had been mobilized by a lying vision and so they thought they were on a mission. But, if they had known God as deeply as Job did, they would have known, too, that Job wasn't guilty and that something else was going on. In that case, their only recourse would have been to comfort Job and strengthen him until God spoke.

Job 16

V. 5 The irony of how they were treating Job is that he was a champion of the weak and knew how to encourage them. Job would have treated them with kindness.

V. 7 It isn't God who is wearing out Job, it is Job's friends. But wait, the fact that God is allowing this, means that God is involved. But, for what purpose?

V. 9 Job is suffering in pain and grief and now he has Moe, Larry and Curly entertaining him, so we should go easy on him. Still, he is wrongly accusing God of motives like hate. Job has something to learn.

V. 17 sounds like Isaiah 53:9.

V. 19 This verse hints to Job holding some knowledge of God that told him there was still hope.

Job 17

Vs. 6-8 Notice the reaction of the righteous to Job. They are appalled and naturally assume that Job has hidden, unconfessed sin. Otherwise this wouldn't happen to him, right?

Job 18

This is like tag-team wrestling, except Job is alone and there are three of them fighting against Job. Now Bildad enters the ring.

If you look at what Bildad says, he is basically saying, "This is what happens to the wicked. Oh look, it's just what happened to you. Any questions?"

Job 19

This is a very strong chapter.

V. 2 They were destroying Job with their misapplied righteousness.

Vs. 13-19 Can you imagine this? Everyone was condemning Job because of what had happened to him: everyone he had helped, his family, the entire community. That is a lot of rejection.

V. 21 What a sincere cry for help and compassion.

V. 25 Job doesn't understand what has happened to him, but there is something he knows because of knowing God. He knows that there will be a fair, final judgment and in that judgment he will be vindicated.

Vs. 28-29 Job knows his friends will be judged for what they are doing.

1 Corinthians 16

V. 1 Notice that Paul says this is the same thing he directed the churches in Galatia to do. We've seen this reminder to the Corinthians ever since the first chapter. Paul tells the Corinthians that he is giving them the same teaching and directives that he gives everywhere in every church.

This "encouragement" for them to help the church in Jerusalem will continue into 2 Corinthians and be complete when Paul writes Romans, which is actually written from Corinth just before Paul heads to Jerusalem with this gift.

Vs. 5-14 I think these verses comprise a unit, because the Corinthians need help now, but the help they thought they needed wasn't available.

Vs. 5-9 Paul was busy in Ephesus.

Vs. 10-11 Timothy was probably returning with the letter, but it is clear from chapter 4 that some people didn't respect him. He would probably be a help to those who were really following Christ, but not the critics.

V. 12 Apollos wasn't in a hurry to visit Corinth.

Vs. 13-14 Therefore Paul tells them to stand strong in the Lord.

Vs. 15-18 And Paul tells them to look to the servants / leaders among them. Stephanas and his family had devoted themselves to the service of the saints. They might not have been "super" apostles, but they were worth following. Paul urges them to receive the recognition of the church. Notice that Paul talked about people being recognized or not recognized at the end of chapter 14. I was reading this morning of Jesus teaching His disciples that the humble servant would be the greatest among them. Looking at Corinth, I don't think they were looking for that kind of leader. 2 Corinthians will show that they enjoyed the forceful kind. I think this is why Timothy was scorned and why they didn't appear to value Stephanas.

Vs. 21-24 This is one of Paul's stronger endings. Notice the mention of any who do not love the Lord being accursed.

So what does it mean to love the Lord? We all love Jesus. Right? People who guard the truth to the destruction of a church love Jesus. Right? I think it would be better to define love as doing what Jesus said to do: following Him in the harvest, reaching out to the lost, making disciples who make disciples. As shown in this letter, the church can be full of people who do church and use their gifts for themselves, and really don't love their Lord. Jesus Himself said that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Psalm 40:1-10

Another wonderful psalm. This is the first year that I've felt the connection between reading Job and reading these psalms.

Vs. 1-5 This was not only David's experience, but it became Job's experience too. Waiting on the Lord is worth it and out of it you get a new song and a heart of praise.

To me the verses that stand out are verses 9-10….I have told, I have not restrained my lips, I have not hidden, I have spoken, I have not concealed. In the harvest, when in doubt as to what to say, just tell people what the Lord is doing in you.

Since we don't know what these psalms sounded like put to music, we really don't know which were kind of bouncy and happy and which sounded sad. This song by NEWSONG, about this psalm, is bouncy and happy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZQ2R2FEmHM

Proverbs 22:1

Maybe this is the same as saying that being approved by God is the best thing on this planet.

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.