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. 1-3
Job is saying that everyone knows what his friends are saying, but in Job's
case it is misapplied. Notice that v. 2 looks like 1 Corinthians 14:36.
Vs. 4-6
These verses show that the depth of Job's suffering just keeps on going, deeper
and deeper, every day. The verses also show a secondary effect to Job's suffering.
Others were not only mocking Job; they were laughing at everyone who sought to
live to honor God. Verse 5 is true of all of us, and we need to beware. I am
one of those who, when I hear of someone's misfortune, thinks, "What did
they do to bring this on themselves?" God is showing us in the book of Job
that while this thought might be natural to think, it is not always true.
Vs. 7-12
This is interesting. It is no accident that Job argues from nature now, and God
will use this argument against him later. Job is saying that nature will
confess that it is the God of creation who is doing this to Job. Job could see
that God Himself was ultimately responsible. But God will show that His wisdom
in creation should have taught Job to trust God when he didn't understand God.
Vs. 13-25 Notice that after the affirmation
of v. 13, Job lists what God does. Underline or circle every use of he that you find. While Job is kind of
right in all of this, because of his misunderstanding of God, he puts a dark
twist on everything. God may allow the death of the righteous, but as God says
in Psalm 116:15, Precious in the sight of the LORD is the
death of his saints.
Job 13
Vs. 1-2
Job is referring back to 12:1-3.
Vs. 3-12
After being verbally beaten by his friends, Job thinks he would rather talk to
God and plead his case. Job understands that his friends have spoken falsely of
God and he's warning them that God won't be happy. At the end of Job, God will
be mad at them and say that while they spoke falsely, Job spoke the truth.
Vs. 13-19
It would appear that God allowed Job's friends to abuse him to get Job to the
place of wanting to stand in God's presence and declare his case. These verses
show how strongly Job loved God and could not let what was happening to him
defeat what he had trusted in all of his life. Verse 15 is this undying
confidence in the love and truth of God. What a guy.
Vs. 20-22
So that Job could speak with God, Job would like two things.
Vs. 23-28
It is no news to Job that he is a sinner, but he knows that what is happening
to him doesn't "fit" the love and devotion he has for God. Why would
God do something like this to him? Job's relationship to God made sense up to
this point. The silence isn't something Job understands.
Job 14
Vs. 1-6
One of Job's thoughts here is that since all people are born in sin and sin is
our natural state, the violence being done to Job is unusual and not because of
inborn sin. Verse 5 also says that there is a time when life on earth ends.
Vs. 7-17
It appears that Job is saying that his only vindication would be on earth. In
the cases of things that get cut and grow back, a person's life is not like
that. Once we leave the earth, we are gone. Job was afraid that God's wrath
would bring him to death and he wouldn't be able to grow again once God saw he
was innocent.
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. But it doesn’t seem like Job knew that
the new life would be bigger and better than the first.
Vs. 18-22
Here Job falls back into hopelessness. God is relentless and destroys the hope
of man. That is Job's pain and grief speaking. Verse 22 shows what he was
feeling with every breath.
Job 15
The bell
rings. This begins round 2. Eliphaz enters the ring.
Vs. 2-13
Notice that these comforters have now completely lost their cool.
Vs. 4-5
They were right in sensing that Job was accusing God, but then, they had
incited Job.
Vs. 7-8
This is exactly what God will say, but they are wrong in saying this, since Job
was not being punished for any wrongdoing. It probably would have been good for
all parties to have stopped talking, but then, we wouldn't have the book of
Job.
Vs. 14-16
These are the words of Satan from Eliphaz's vision in chapter 4.
Vs. 17-35
This now is a very one-dimensional view of how God treats the wicked. This will
also get Eliphaz & Co. in trouble. God doesn't always pay on Friday and
judge those who rebel against Him immediately. God did the same to Pharaoh; He
allowed Pharaoh to become great so that He could use Him for His glory. God
humbled Pharaoh in the sight of all nations, but some rebels go to the grave
with their pride. The first twinge of humility they feel is when they stand
before God and realize they had lived in lies and committed a huge,
irredeemable mistake.
In our
reading today, Job spoke about God's wisdom and power and then applied this
rather darkly to God, who capriciously raises up and puts down. This is what
Job felt had happened to him 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. We know that God is working every day to redeem men and women on
this planet; and everything He does works toward that, whether we understand His
wisdom or not. Because of Jesus, we understand God's love and wisdom and His
constant work in the harvest of mankind. 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.
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 this passage.
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
still 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, but it also means judgment for those who don't
because 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
were no resurrection, Christianity would only be teaching about morality. Our
gospel is a universal, 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 and 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, and the Corinthians were OK with that.
Vs. 35-41
Oops! So much for "there's no stupid question." Actually, it is sort of
the way God answers Job at the end of the book.
Vs. 42-50
This is not only great teaching on the resurrection; it is our hope. Isn't it
amazing to think that our resurrected body will be infinitely better than our
physical bodies? I'm looking forward to those "six pack" abs, but
even more, I'm looking forward to fully bearing the image of Christ. I'm
working toward both now, but looking forward to the certainty of that day.
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. For
the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice
of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will rise first. (1
Thessalonians 4:16) In taking those of the church who are alive
on the planet at that moment, 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.
At the end of the Tribulation when Jesus
comes, all the righteous dead (from Adam to John the Baptist) will be raised.
His angels will gather those believers living on the earth, but those believers
will not be changed. They will live on earth with Christ in His Millennial
Kingdom.
V. 57 Our
victory is in Christ. The powers of death (gates of Hell) 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.
Proverbs 21:30-31
Amen.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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 complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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