Month: June 2013

Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful? Their children are established while they are still alive, and their descendants, before their eyes. Their homes are secure and free of fear; no rod from God strikes them. Job 19:25-27 HCSB

I enjoy playing board games. One of my favorites is Backgammon. When serving as the student pastor at First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas we took four or five charter buses of students skiing each year. To be on the safe side we took a medical doctor with us. He enjoyed playing backgammon and the two of us would create our own personal Backgammon tournament on the bus while traveling to and from the ski area. Backgammon is a game of strategy and luck. It requires careful observation and planning each move.

In general, we like to to have a plan and strategy for life. Job seemed to have everything in order and life was going well but then came the loss of all of his children, servants, crops, livestock, and his health. In these verses Job is complaining about how the wicked seem to be blessed while he was experiencing the discipline of God. Life is not always fair, but there will someday be a day of judgment when every person will give an account for his actions (See Revelation 20:11-15)

Challenge: Life is not fair. We never can predict what is going to happen in this life. There will always be people who seem to get all of the breaks while others seem to have incredible difficulties that are seemingly undeserved. Christians are not immune from problems. Trust God and ask Him to help you face life and its many problems with a positive attitude.

But I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last. Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh. I will see Him myself; my eyes will look at Him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me. Job 19:25-27 HCSB

There have been several songs and hymns based on Job 19:25. Both Samuel Medley and Charles Wesley have written versions of “I Know My Redeemer Lives”. Nicole C. Mullen sings a more modern version of “My Redeemer Lives.” These songs reflect the words of Job while facing relentless persecution. He still had great faith in God.

Job faced many difficulties but continued to express his strong faith in the Lord. He affirmed his confidence in God even though he felt that he had been punished by God. In ancient times, the Israelites would be familiar with the concept of the “kinsman redeemer.” A kinsman redeemer was one who would serve as a protector or legal guardian for a close relative who needed it. Job saw God as his protector. Despite numerous challenges, he never abandoned his faith in God.

Challenge: Know that your Redeemer lives. Even when problems come your way, do not allow your faith and confidence in God to wain. Express your confidence in God and His ability to protect you and take care of you at all times. Listen to the song “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C. Mullen on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fktj1yOQ2nQ

If you really want to appear superior to me and would use my disgrace as evidence against me; then understand that it is God who has wronged me. Job 19:5-6 HCSB

Early in the investigation, there were four innocent people accused of being responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings. Because of a knee-jerk, information-hungry media, four people were falsely accused as being suspects.

In these verses God is falsely accused as being the enemy of Job. It was Satan who was Job’s enemy. The facts show that God was actually a friend of Job. He admired Job. Job was pointing his finger and blaming God for his misgivings and problems. It was common for people to think that both good and bad came from God. They also thought that people were responsible for the problems that came into their lives. The evil that is in our world is responsible for the majority of the pain and suffering that people experience.

Challenge: It is easy to blame God when difficulties come your way. Remember that all evil comes from Satan and that God is a God of love and compassion. He desires only the best for you. Thank God in both the good and bad times of life. Be careful not to falsely accuse others. Make sure you are pointing your accusing finger at the appropriate person(s).

Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is in the heights! Job 16:19 HCSB

In a court of law the person who takes the stand to testify is a witness. He is someone who has actually seen what happened and is telling the court what he knows about the situation or the individual on trial. The person who has been charged with a crime usually has a lawyer who is an advocate for the person on trial. The lawyer will speak up and defend the person who has been accused of the crime.

In this verse Job clarifies that God in heaven is his witness and his advocate. God knew the truth about Job and the situation. Therefore, He could testify that Job had done nothing wrong. God could also defend Job because He knew why Job was suffering and being tested by Satan.

Challenge: Jesus is your witness and advocate. As a believer, you can be assured that someday Jesus will come to your defense at the final judgment. He will pay the price for your sins and give you freedom. Jesus has also promised to take our concerns to the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). Therefore, pray to the Lord and He will lift your needs up to the Father.

Your iniquity teaches you what to say, and you choose the language of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, not I; your own lips testify against you. Job 13:23-24 HCSB

We have all been taught that 1+1 = 2 and A + B = C. We were also taught in physics that for each and every motion there is an opposite motion or force. As a child we learn that when we choose to participate in certain activities and behaviors that we will face some discipline. There are consequences for our sins.

Eliphaz responded to Job’s response by pressing the argument further. Eliphaz was rude and even went as far as saying that Job’s words were crafty, implying that Job was just like the serpent in Genesis who was crafty and told lies. He accused Job of being a liar. He then restated that Job’s suffering had to be a result of some type of sin in his life. He believed that it was as simple as 1+1=2. If a person sinned then he would naturally suffer the consequences of his sin. Eliphaz misjudged Job’s response to be one that was deceptive and arrogant.

Challenge: Be careful not to jump to conclusions and misjudge people and their responses. Give people the benefit of doubt. Listen to people even when you think you are right and have the correct answer for a situation.

How many iniquities and sins have I committed? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? Job 13:23-24 HCSB

There have been several times in my life when I have had the feeling that God had abandoned me or I wondered why God was allowing something to happen. I remember being in Louisville, Kentucky at a conference when I received a call from my wife telling me that our youngest daughter had been involved in a very serious car accident and they were loading her into the ambulance to take her to the hospital. I immediately got in my car and starting driving to Murfreesboro, Tennessee where we lived. As I drove I questioned why God was allowing this to happen. I was even angry with God for allowing such a terrible thing to happen to my child. I felt betrayed by God.

In these two verses Job is expressing the same type of thoughts and complaints to God. He is basically saying, “What have I done to deserve this?” He also felt that God was hiding from him and that he was an enemy of God. This shows that even the righteous sometimes feel that God is hiding and are puzzled by His silence. It also indicates that we can express our true feelings and emotions to God.

Challenge: Do not be surprised when difficulties come your way that you do not understand. You may feel that God is not present and does not care about your situation. Trust Him and His sovereignty and know He is ever-present and loves you even when you express anger or disappointment to Him.

But you coat the truth with lies, you are all worthless doctors. Job 13:4 HCSB

It is easy to judge and condemn others because they are not like us; they may be from a different socioeconomic class, have a different skin color, live on the other side of town, or have a tattoo. The list is endless of the many prejudices people have. Often we tend to judge and condemn people because of their past or present life circumstances. Perhaps they were addicted to drugs or alcohol or have been through a divorce or just do not seem like the church-going type. Too often we judge and condemn people by appearances or station in life.

In this verse, Job is telling his three friends that they are no better than a doctor who does not know what he is doing. Many of their thoughts and ideas about God were correct but they were incorrectly applied to Job’s life. The three friends had come to help Job, but actually accused him of being a sinner who needed to repent and turn to God. Job’s friends were telling the truth about God but they had a superior attitude and were quick to condemn Job for his sins, even though they had no direct knowledge that Job had done anything sinful.

Challenge: Be careful and compassionate when applying Biblical condemnation to others. Be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Know that God loves you and has forgiven you. You should do the same with others.

As for you, if you redirect your heart and lift up your hands to Him in prayer – if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it, and don’t allow injustice to dwell in your tents – then you will hold your head high, free from fault. You will be firmly established and unafraid. Job 11:13-15 HCSB

Clarksville, Tennessee sponsors a festival called Rivers and Spires each year. There are bands playing, booths selling items, and an abundance of refreshments. First Baptist Church helps sponsor this festival. The Kids Zone is usually on the church parking lot. The church is provided with some booth space in several different areas. One booth is used as an “evangelism booth”. Its purpose is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. At this booth a variety of methods are used to engage people in a spiritual conversation about their salvation. One method is to encourage people to read a poster with the words, “A bird in hand is is worth two in the bush.” Most people will usually skip over the second “is” and not notice it, at which point the person is asked, “Are you sure?” Most will look at it again and then say, “Yes”. We would then slowly read the poster pointing out the double word “is”. This would allow us to say, “Often we think we are right, when we are actually wrong. We may
think we are going to heaven because we are good enough, but God’s Word gives us specific instructions about how we can be forgiven and receive eternal life.”

What Zophar, one of Job’s friends, suggested to Job in these verses seemed to be right and correct, but in Job’s case this was not correct. Zophar suggested that Job had sinned and done something against God. He assumed that Job’s suffering was the result of sin in his life. This was a wrong assumption. It seemed right but it was wrong.

Challenge: We sometimes jump to conclusions that are not correct. We can not use logic to explain human suffering. It does not fit every situation. Be careful that you are not deceived and that you know the truth.

Since your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion. But if you earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy, if you are pure and upright, then He will move even now on your behalf and restore the home where your righteousness dwells. Job 8:4-6 HCSB

We were traveling to Florida for vacation with our four young children in our full size conversion van. Luggage, toys, stuffed animals, cassette tapes, video tapes, and pillows filled the van. As with most families there were times when tensions raised between our four children. There were squabbles and even some pushing and shoving. Of course I was not pleased and needed to discipline them. Even though I was not happy with their behavior, I still loved them and would do anything for them. They were my children, and I wanted only the best for them.

Bildad gave Job some bad advice. First he told Job that his children were rebelling against God and that is the reason they were killed. Then he made the suggestion that if Job would seek God and live a good life that God would bless him. Bildad was wrong when he believed that God’s love moved up and down with man’s behavior. God’s love is constant and never changes. He loves all people the same. God is not pleased when people sin and disobey His laws, but He still loves them regardless of their actions.

Challenge: Be careful who you select as your counselor and to whom you listen when you are seeking wisdom and direction. Be assured that God loves you and His love never changes. You can not do anything that will cause God to stop loving you.

Consider: who has perished when he was innocent? Where have the honest been destroyed? Job 4:7 HCSB

On September 11, 2001 America was attacked by a radical religious group when they commandeered planes and crashed them into the Twin Tower buildings in New York and into the Pentagon in Washington DC. Over 3,000 people lost their lives that day, many of whom were first responders. Some people have questioned, “Where was God on 911?” or “Why would God allow innocent people to suffer?”

This was the same attitude of Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends. His words in the verse listed above to Job suggested that innocent people did not suffer and that if someone was suffering, his pain was God’s punishment. God does punish sin and sin usually causes suffering. But not all suffering is a punishment for sin. Our imperfect world is filled with sin, pain, and suffering. Even though we do not understand, God sometimes allows suffering because He has set in motion a world that has freedom of choice. People often make bad choices that cause pain and suffering. The radical religious group had the freedom of choice to do what they did. Because they made wrong choices, they caused pain, suffering, and death. God can take the bad choices of our world and turn them into something good when we trust Him with everything in our lives.
Challenge: People who are suffering and in pain need your acceptance and understanding instead of judgment and accusations. Pray for and seek ways to minister to those who are suffering around you. You can be the hands and feet of Jesus when you help those who are hurting.