Job 23-27
What is
kind of interesting to see is that as a result of this conflict with his
friends, Job is getting clearer in his thinking. It's almost like he is coming
closer to understanding God in what is happening to him. When God makes His
statements to Job at the end, some of what He says sounds like some of what Job
is beginning to say. This is all to suggest that there is even wisdom in God
allowing these friends to misunderstand Job the way they did. When God finally
speaks, Job has almost come to the place of solving the mystery for himself.
Job 23
Vs. 1-7 In
spite of his suffering, Job is very positive about the reception he would have
from God. Job is confident that if he were to present his case to God, he would
be acquitted. He is right in that, but wrong in the reason for this trial.
Vs. 8-12
Job couldn't see God, but he knew God could see him. And Job himself was confident
that he had not strayed from God and that God knew it. It is interesting that
Job felt that if tried by God, God would pronounce him "pure" as gold. He didn't consider that God was
trying him to drive out impurities (not sins) in his thinking, so that Job
would be refined and become as pure as gold.
Vs. 13-17
Though some light is breaking through here, Job still considers God to be hard
and mad at him.
Job 24
Vs. 1-9
This is what the wicked do to others. Job knows the wicked will be judged. But
this entire ordeal has made him wonder why God delays. The answer to this will
be the same answer as to why Job is suffering: Trust in God's wisdom and
goodness.
Vs. 10-12
As a result of the way the wicked treat the poor, this is what happens to the
poor. Verse 12 is a pretty strong statement by Job, but it makes more sense if
you understand him as saying that God doesn't execute judgment immediately.
Vs. 13-17
This is still the mystery of how the Lord works with the wicked. It seems that
everything they plan works out for them, but having read Esther, we know that
isn't true. And, eighty years on this planet is less than a scratch on the
timeline of eternity.
Vs. 18-20
Job is quoting his friends and their black and white idea of God's judgment.
Vs. 21-25
So, why does God allow this at all? Job seems to be beginning to understand
that that mystery is tied together with his own mystery. Verse 25 is a
challenge to his friends to prove him wrong. Obviously they can't, and with
that, they are running out of ways to beat Job.
Job 25
Bildad
gives the best speech of all the friends because it is not only the shortest
speech, but also because it is their final speech.
Vs. 1- 6
Notice that what he says here, and what all Job's friends have said, is hinged
on these words which they heard from a spirit. Actually, the words and vision
from Satan confirmed what they already believed. They believed in total
depravity from conception on. But the full truth is more than that. As we saw
in the garden when Satan spoke with Eve, he dealt in lies that were framed in
half-truths. The minute God promised Adam and Eve that one of their offspring
would crush the serpent's head, God was declaring there was a way for man to
stand righteously before Him. Knowing God through His Word and through the love
of Christ, we have the correct answer. Job knew that a future righteousness
existed in the promise of God to Adam and to Noah and he held to this in his
heart because he knew God.
V. 6 There
is no reason for us to be proud, but I'm not sure that this kind of
self-effacement is honoring to God either. We need to see ourselves in Christ.
Job 26
From here
to chapter 31 are Job's closing words of argument. This part of Job's argument
seems to show that God's power and ways are deeper than our understanding. That
will be good for Job to remember in a few chapters.
Vs. 1-4 It
seems that Job is showing them that they have helped no one by what they have
said. Even though it was God who gave them breath, whose breath actually came
out of their mouths?
Vs. 5-14
As Job described God's ways and showed his accusers that he knew a lot about
God, Job failed to apply God's wisdom to his own situation. In describing God's
power like this, Job was not giving God the trust He deserved. His power is
irresistible and beyond our understanding, but His character of love doesn't
change.
Vs. 13 and
14 continue the theme of God's breath, by mentioning both wind and whisper.
Job 27
Vs. 1-6
Job still thought he got a raw deal from God. Notice that the theme of breath
from 26:4 is still being developed. Job said that as long as he had breath, he
would continue to follow God in integrity and hold to his own innocence.
Vs. 7-10
This is a warning to his friends. They accused him of being wicked; now Job
says that their behavior toward him defined them as being wicked.
Notice will in vs. 9-10. Job is defining a
godly person. He cries to God, delights in the Almighty and calls upon God at
all times. That is a very interesting definition of the righteous, virtually
hidden in the text.
Vs. 11-12
Now Job will tell them about the wicked.
Vs. 13-23
But Job acknowledges that the wicked eventually are judged. He just doesn't
include himself with the wicked. He is still thinking along the old lines:
"The wicked get judged, the righteous get blessed. I'm righteous and have
incurred judgment, so God made a mistake." God will correct this wrong
thinking in a few chapters.
As we
think of our work in the harvest, we need to remember that there is judgment
coming for all who do not turn to Christ as their Savior. While God is showing
us something important behind the events of Job's life and the pruning He is
doing in Job's life, the storm of God's judgment is on the horizon of the field
of harvest. We need to submit to our Lord and follow Him, making disciples, who
make disciples.
2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11
2
Corinthians 1:12-24
V. 12 Paul
is gently defending himself here. His mention of conscience, simplicity,
sincerity, etc., shows that he's dealing with criticism. Notice that the
mention of earthly wisdom is sort of
what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1.
Vs. 13-14
Paul had no hidden agenda or ulterior motives as he worked in the harvest.
Especially in the case of Corinth, he didn't allow them to help him
financially. It must have been apparent that they didn't trust him. In
accepting the message that Paul brought; however, they acknowledged Paul as a
servant of Christ. Paul hoped that when they were glorified before Christ, that
they would be proud of knowing Paul as the servant the Lord sent to them.
Vs. 15-24
What you notice in this section is Paul's outpouring of heart to show the
Corinthians that he loved them and was working for their good. This will be
typical of the letter up to chapter 9. This gentleness and expression of how
God soothed Paul's own heart will explain some of his digressions. It is sad
that Paul had to live under this tension and suspicion, but as a result God
tempered his heart; and we have this letter and what Paul taught about the Lord
and leading His people.
V. 17 I
think the best way to understand this is as follows. At the end of 1
Corinthians, Paul mentioned that neither he nor Apollos would be able to visit
them. The Corinthians apparently had deep issues that needed an authority
figure. It seems that Paul made an unplanned visit to Corinth, and it was a
real showdown with a group or an individual. Whatever it was, it was hard. He
planned to go again; but instead of risking another confrontation, he decided
to send a very strong letter suggesting that the church or churches of Corinth
should follow the Lord and exercise discipline. The fact that Paul decided to
forgo this second visit was used by his critics to show that Paul was
insincere.
Vs. 18-22
Paul is motivated by the glory of God and the work of Christ, not politics. His
only interest was in their growth in Christ. Instead of looking at people and
motives, they needed to look at the "non-vacillating" effect of the
power of Christ among them. They came to know Christ who fulfills all of the
promises of God. Not only did they find the power and working of Christ, Paul
pointed to the faithful workers of God among them. They should have felt
honored because of the heartfelt love of men like Silvanus, Timothy, Paul and
others. God would faithfully continue working with them, and they should have
been thankful for all the effort being made on their behalf. Both Paul's
conscience and God bore witness to Paul's sincere intentions and pure handling
of this matter.
Vs. 23-24
Do you see how Paul was trying to answer their suspicions and still express his
love? Paul didn't "lord it over them," but worked with them, even
taking their immaturity into account.
2
Corinthians 2:1-11
V. 1 After
sending 1 Corinthians, Paul made an unplanned visit; and it was a hard one.
Vs. 2-4
Apparently Paul found his "soft side." Actually, what you see is Paul
letting them into his reasoning and his heart in making these decisions. These
aren't "rabbit trails," but instead he is opening up to show them the
process of his thinking. He is trying to describe the influence of his
affection for them in making these decisions. Verse 4 is very strong and
passionate. I don't think the super-apostles had this same heart for the
people.
Vs. 5-11
It seems likely that this letter was sent to reprimand someone who was creating
dissension against his authority. This guy and Paul probably had it out. Rather
than Paul going back to confront this person, he wrote the letter to tell the
church to correct this man before Paul returned. This action showed their
spiritual maturity in standing for Paul and following the Word. Paul reminded
the church to show love and forgiveness to this repentant person.
Just as a
side note here, look at these things that Paul wrote regarding conflict in the
church.
2
Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant
must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring
evil, 25correcting his
opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a
knowledge of the truth, 26and
they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after
being captured by him to do his will.
And the following was actually written from
Corinth when Paul made his scheduled visit over the winter. I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles
contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (Romans 16:17)
I once
spoke to a member of a search committee who expressed a major problem with
someone on the church's board. My advice to him was to take care of the problem
before they hired a pastor. It amazes me that some groups that have problems
won't deal with them but expect someone totally new and unsuspecting to move
his family, relocate, enter a situation, and then find the church is built over
a cesspool of problems and dishonesty. And we wonder why the harvest gets
neglected. Paul's simplicity needs to be modeled in following Christ. To follow
Him in the harvest, the group needs to be honest, and behavior needs to reflect
love and obedience to Christ. Ignoring problems makes it impossible to move
forward in love, and the harvest is forgotten.
Psalm 41
Earlier in
the year when we read this psalm, I mentioned that it could have been written
when David was running from Absalom, and the friend in v. 9 could have been
Ahithophel. That could be. On the other hand, when David began to run from Saul
he was certainly betrayed by many "friends," and his situation looked
hopeless. Imagine, David had all of the army of Israel searching for him.
Vs. 1-4 It
appears that David considered himself to be this poor man. When he was running
from Saul for those ten years, living in caves and on the open fields in the
wilderness, he was certainly poor. David's sin could have been because of the
priests who were killed, because of his lying, or because David sought refuge
with the Philistines rather than going to God.
Vs. 5-9
Doesn't this sound like Job? It seems that David is still running from Saul,
but having seen God save him in many small ways, his faith was strong. He was
suffering, but he still believed. If this wasn't Ahithophel in v. 9, it could
have been any of the fighting men, including Abner, who turned on David when
Saul declared his hatred for David.
Notice that v. 9 is prophetically referring
to Jesus. I am
not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will
be fulfilled, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” (John 13:18)
Vs. 10-13
Notice how David says, but you. God
saved David from the intent of his enemies and upheld him, because he sought to
live according to what he knew was the true, loving character of the Lord. This
is just like Job. David fell, but what made him a man after God's own heart was
that he rose and followed the Lord.
Proverbs 22:5-6
V. 5 I
think it is safe to assume that this is generally how God does things, but
Job's friends were telling Job that this is what had happened to Job because of
his sin.
V. 6 This
is every believing parent's prayer and hope.
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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