Job 28-30
At this point in Job the temptation is to go, "Whatever!" or "Oh, be quiet." But let's not be like his friends. There is still some fun to be had. As you go through these chapters, do some exercise. "You mean like do 25 pushups and 25 squats after each chapter?" Good thought. I should probably take your advice, but no, Bible study exercise. Underline words that are repeated and look for organization in the arguments. These chapters work out well for that.
Job 28
First, read the chapter through and see if you can figure out where Job is going. Look for key verses where Job takes his "search" one step further.
If you've done that, or just want a shortcut, then read these verses one after the next and you'll understand the organization. Verses 1, 12, 20, 23, 28. Wasn't that fun? That's what you begin to notice if you read your Bible year after year.
Job 29
Job is not only mourning the good ol' days, but he is also recounting, honestly, that he was really a very cool guy and a helper of many.
The word to guide you here is probably "I." Follow it and you'll follow Job through his photo album.
Job 30
Vs. 1-18 Now look for "now."
Vs. 19-23 This change will be pretty obvious to you because Job starts saying "you."
Vs. 24-31 Job now seems to be summing up the past three chapters, lamenting how life has totally crashed in on him.
If you were in a discipleship group, you'd be discussing what you found in these chapters.
I know it is hard to be patient with all of Job's lament, but there is something for us in this as disciples. There is deep suffering on this planet and as we follow Christ; for example, as Paul did, there are seasons of darkness. What proves spiritual maturity and understanding of God more clearly, than following Him through "pitch black" life and still embracing the love of Christ and the wisdom of God? Anyone can follow or sound spiritual when everything is great and you're on your way to Applebee's. For most people on this planet, life resembles Job more than it does Applebee's. How do you really tell someone to hang on in the storm unless you've hung on in the storm? How do you learn how to hang on in the storm? You go through the storm and love and trust Christ, and make Him totally enough. Oh, and it really helps to read Job.
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
This is a very short reading today, but very important for a few reasons.
Vs. 12-13 This is Paul completing the story of his inner conflict with this situation in Corinth. He has a father's heart for this church and was unable to find rest.
Two things are interesting here. First, God didn't give Paul rest. He couldn't settle his own heart even though he was a very spiritual guy. Second, there was a door for ministry opened to him, but Paul still couldn't rest. What kind of minister was Paul to let his inner conflict ruin his chance to have an impact on these people? He was normal.
Vs. 14-17 Now this is Paul explaining what he learned in all of that unrest and conflicting feelings. This is also how Paul dealt with walking away from an open door. We would not have these verses if he had not followed the Lord through this storm in his life. Actually, this entire description of what Paul learned will continue until 7:5, where Paul will begin talking about meeting Titus. To me this is amazing. Paul is telling us firsthand what he learned in the storm, making sense of the problem in Corinth and the unrest in Asia and in his own heart.
V. 14 There was turmoil and not knowing what to do, but what Paul learned was that even in this confusion of heart, God leads. That's pretty cool.
Vs. 14-16 And what about that open door that Paul had to leave? Even for that brief moment, He saw how Christ used him in the harvest. Although his mind was not at peace, in Christ, the presence of Paul & Co. and their sincerity still attracted some and repelled others. God still used them, involuntarily. Paul was amazed. (By the way, Paul came back to Troas later.)
V. 17 This confirmed the truth, for Paul, against all the accusations (peddlers of God's Word). Note that there is a connection of words here with those in 1:12. God, Paul and the others because they sincerely followed Christ in the harvest. It was not based on their cunning, market research, wisdom or strength. They loved Christ, followed Him in the harvest, and God did the rest.
Can God really use us when we're confused and broken? Do we have an appearance to keep up? In a moment, God humbled Paul more than he was already humbled. Paul was already broken, but God made the crack bigger and more fragrance came out. So now Paul is amazed and praising God. That's pretty cool.
All this talk about fragrance made this song come to mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP2kZCigZKE&feature=related
Psalm 42
So, this is the second time this year you've read Psalm 42. Does it have any different sense for you now since we're reading Job and 2 Corinthians. In a way, it seems to me that all of the emotions of waiting and hope and suffering roll together through all these books. In a way, it intensifies the message of hope and deliverance.
V. 10 Notice the mention of "bones." Then check out Job 30:16 & 30. In my Bible they are all on opposite pages so I can circle each one and connect them with a line.
This psalm is really about someone who is depressed and holding on. There are probably hundreds of pages of videos on line about this psalm, many of them surprisingly coming from Holland.
How can you do Psalm 42 without including this song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nrXkM-4VAM&playnext=1&list=PL533B3AC3DBEF22D0
The video links below emphasize the whole message of the psalm. On the second video, if you just want the song, move the time bar to two minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eTRaHYbD0Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_pMMQhQRco&list=PLCC630016C26CA8FD&index=6&feature=plpp
Proverbs 22:7
Is this saying to stay out of debt or not to get poor? Humanly speaking, I guess this is true, but it is good to know that the Lord is Lord of them all. To me, working in the harvest as disciples makes being rich on earth very irrelevant.
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.
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