Precious In His Sight - Job 25-26

Job 25:1-6 (ESV)

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“Dominion and fear are with God;

he makes peace in his high heaven.

Is there any number to his armies?

Upon whom does his light not arise?

How then can man be in the right before God?

How can he who is born of woman be pure?

Behold, even the moon is not bright,

and the stars are not pure in his eyes;

how much less man, who is a maggot,

and the son of man, who is a worm!”

This is Job’s friend, Bildad, giving his final speech.  He came to Job to comfort him.  He ends up telling Job is nothing more than a maggot and a worm.   That must have brought great comfort to Job.  Not only did he lose all of his kids and all his property and all his servants and all his reputation.  Now, his “friend” calls him a worm and maggot.   The interesting thing about Bildad’s speech is theologically he is might be on point, but he makes for a very bad counselor.     Here is what on commentary said about his speech:

(Understanding the Bible Commentary Series - Old Testament Set (18 vols.)) Bildad’s final argument is simple enough, although not new: God is exalted and firmly in control. If he rules even over the powerful heavenly beings and can call on them to enforce his will, how can mere humans resist? Since humans are by nature sinful and weak, they cannot expect to be pure before God and—as lowly maggots—they must accept God’s judgment.

He is not totally wrong. If you compare mankind to all of creation and you compare us to the rest of the universe, we are lowly creatures.  However, Bildad did forget that we are the capstone of God’s creation.  On the sixth day of creation, the final day, God made mankind.   We are the cherry on the top of all God made.   Bildad is trying to see simply say we are ONLY a created thing and what gives us (or Job) the right to question God.   On that point he is correct.   But, in reality, we are the culmination of all God created and we are the apple of His eye, since He even sent His Son to die to redeem us.  Jesus didn’t die from a maggot or a worm.   What Bildad (and his two other friends) keep failing to see (they could not know this) is that Job was so precious in God’s eyes that God ask Satan if he had considered Job.   That meant that God was putting Job on a pedestal and thought kindly toward him.  That is not a worm or maggot.  God is in complete control.  God has made the universe for His enjoyment.  Nothing is pure in God’s eyes unless it is covered by Christ blood, believed by faith.  But, mankind is not a maggot or worm in God’s eyes.  We are precious in His sight:

1 Peter 2:4 (ESV)

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

Befriend Faithfulness - Psalms 36-38

Psalms 37:3-4 (ESV)

Trust in the LORD, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Befriend “faithfulness.”   What does that mean?  In the ESV there is a note in regard to the “befriend faithfulness” words:  (ESV) “Or, and feed on faithfulness, or and find safe pasture.”   The statement might mean that we are to “be faithful” and “trust in the Lord.”  That certainly fits the contexts of the verse since that is what David, the writer, just stated.   Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit.  Those who walk in the Spirit and are being led by the Spirit will certainly see faithfulness produces in their life by the Holy Spirit.  That is a promise of God.   

However, perhaps, what David is saying is that we are to “trust in the Lord” and “befriend HIS (God’s) faithfulness.”    Notice what it says in Psalm 91, that aligns with these thoughts.  That Psalm is telling us to run for cover under God’s wings, because:

Psalms 91:4 (ESV)

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

God is faithful to us.  He is our “shield and buckler.   In Psalm 37 we are reading what David has composed as how we are to live our lives.  There is no doubt that being faithful to God is intended.   But, probably more likely we are to “dwell in the land” and “befriend” the faithfulness of God.    As much as the Holy Spirit is producing faithfulness in us, notice what Solomon said about our nature:

Proverbs 20:6 (ESV)

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Our responsibility in our walk with God is to trust and befriend His faithfulness so that He can, by the Spirit of God, produce Spirit-made faithfulness in us.  Perhaps David means to have some ambiguity in this verse.  Perhaps we are to befriend the faithfulness of God, so that He can produce faithfulness sin us by His Spirit.   

God Does Much With Little - 1 Samuel 11-15

1 Samuel 13:19-23 (ESV)

Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

The Philistines were Israel’s nemesis.   They constantly were fighting each other.  In the book of Joshua the nation was told to go out and conquer and destroy the inhabitants of the land. But, Israel failed.   In these stories in the book of 1 Samuel we read the results.   When the Philistines had the upper hand, we see the above result.  The first thing you do to an oppressed people is you disarm them.   You make sure they can’t have any weapon to destroy you.  This is what is amazing in these stories in these early chapters.   In the next chapter of the book, Jonathan (King Saul’s son) goes out and defeats an entire garrison of Philistines with one of only two swords in the entire land.  God was able to make a little do big things.  Shortly in this book we will read about a young  shepherd boy named David who will kill a giant with on a sling-shot.   Again, a great victory with a little amount.   When we have God on our side it is not the size of our armory that matters. It is the size of the faith in us using the tool God has provided us, no matter the size and amount of the weapon.   Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.  

Forgiveness, but Consequences - Genesis 48-50

Genesis 49:3-4 (ESV)
“Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
because you went up to your father's bed;
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

We reap what we sow ... but, sometimes, not until years later.  Perhaps one of the misconceptions of people is that when they do wrong and have no immediate consequences, they soon forget and move on.  That is the point of the above passage.   In his death, Israel is blessing his children.  That was a large tradition in the ancient world.   Reuben, the first born, comes forward and expects a blessing, typically something good and pleasant and rejoicing.  Instead Reuben is meet with a history lesson.     Earlier in Reuben’s life he went into one of Israel’s concubines for sexual pleasure.    This was probably forgotten by Reuben.  But was not forgotten by Israel.  This is the case with most of us.   Even believers get confused about this.  We can find relief and forgiveness for sins, but we have to remember the consequences can still linger and cause impact years later.  A teen pregnancy can be forgive by God, but you still have a baby to raise.  A wayward spouse can be forgiven by God, but the divorce and alienation from their family stands for years.  Often the past can impact the present in ways we don’t wish, but still does.  Israel is not saying he does not forgive his son. However, the consequences of Reuben’s sin was still apparent in this blessing.  That is where we find relief from God, as well, however.  We might still have the baby, but we have the God of the universe to guide us and give us strength to raise the child.   We might have failed in our marriage, but God is there to lead us and strengthen us and give us power to live.   Consequences continue, but God is there to repair and to love beyond on that. Perhaps the best example of this is the story in the book of Philemon in the New Testament. Philemon had a runaway slave (Onesimus). He was captured is placed in prison, next to Paul.  Paul led him to Christ and then sends him back to Philemon.  There is payment to be made.  He is forgiven for his sins, but he still owes Philemon a debt.  What does Paul do?  He pays Onesimus’ debt.    That is how consequences in God’s world works.  Onesimus was forgiven but the debt of his behavior still had to be paid.  But, God provided the payment via the Body of Christ.  

Faith Should Be Expressed Through Love - 1 Corinthians 7-8

1 Corinthians 7:19 (ESV)
For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Galatians 5:6 (ESV)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 6:15 (ESV)
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Colossians 3:11 (ESV) 
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

When Paul wrote his letters to Corinth, Galatia and Colossae, he was making a strong point: The outward actions of a believer mean nothing. It is the inward that matters.   Circumcision in the Old Testament teachings was a way for a person who expressed belief in Yahweh to demonstrate his faith.  It was the act of circumcision that was used to say to all that I believe in Yahweh and I am devoted to him.   When Christ died on the cross, the New Testament faith was demonstrated by water baptism.   However, there were a number of Jewish believers who thought along with faith in Christ and along with water baptism, you should also follow the circumcision laws and rules of the past.  Paul makes it very clear that this type of teaching was wrong. He makes it equally clear that the sign that goes along with my faith (that is expressed through water baptism) is love.  In this passage in 1 Corinthians the word love is not mentioned (in this passage, but clearly in other verses in the letter Paul wrote).  We are not to focus on the outward manifestation like circumcision.  We are to focus on the expression of loving our brothers.  In chapter 8, Paul talks about how to express love over a disputable social activity.   To make that truth possible, he first wants them to see that faith in Christ is not completed by circumcision acts like the Old Testament.   He wants them to know that faith in Christ is all that is needed to have a relationship with God AND that if that faith is genuine, it is expressed through love of the saints around you.   The only outward act to demonstrate faith is love for others and that is a “demonstration” of the inward faith, not a qualification to have faith.   Love naturally follows true faith.  Love does not make faith happen.  Love makes faith known.  

Satan’s Interference of the Gospel - Mark 3-4

Mark 4:13-15 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

Satan does not want people to “hear” the Gospel message.  His only purpose in existence is to make sure as many people as possible follow him straight to hell.   He wants utter destruction and death of mankind by seeing that they are separated from God for eternity.   That is the point of the above passage.  Satan never stops at his mission.  He is relentless.   He wants to blind the eyes of the unbeliever so that glory of the Gospel does not break through:

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (ESV)
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the glory of God bursting forth in our hearts.  Satan is bent on making sure that does not happen.  Our role and responsibility is to proclaim the Gospel so that that glory of Christ is seen and believed.   That is the purpose of the church and the purpose of every believer in the church.   Satan has a mission and has rallied his troops to complete it.  We have the power of the Spirit of God to enable us and to equip us to proclaim the Gospel.   Notice how Satan interfered with the Apostle Paul’s ministry.   We are to be on our knees and using God’s Word, through the Holy Spirit, as he did, to fight this demonic interference in the spread of the Gospel message:

Mark 4:13-15 (ESV)

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

Satan does not want people to “hear” the Gospel message.  His only purpose in existence is to make sure as many people as possible follow him straight to hell.   He wants utter destruction and death of mankind by seeing that they are separated from God for eternity.   That is the point of the above passage.  Satan never stops at his mission.  He is relentless.   He wants to blind the eyes of the unbeliever so that glory of the Gospel does not break through:

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (ESV)

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the glory of God bursting forth in our hearts.  Satan is bent on making sure that does not happen.  Our role and responsibility is to proclaim the Gospel so that that glory of Christ is seen and believed.   That is the purpose of the church and the purpose of every believer in the church.   Satan has a mission and has rallied his troops to complete it.  We have the power of the Spirit of God to enable us and to equip us to proclaim the Gospel.   Notice how Satan interfered with the Apostle Paul’s ministry.   We are to be on our knees and using God’s Word, through the Holy Spirit, as he did, to fight this demonic interference in the spread of the Gospel message:

1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 (ESV)

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

God Delights in Humility - Isaiah 62-66

Isaiah 66:3-4 (ESV)
“He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man;
he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck;
he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig's blood;
he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
These have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delights in their abominations;
I also will choose harsh treatment for them
and bring their fears upon them,
because when I called, no one answered,
when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did what was evil in my eyes
and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Isaiah 65:12 (ESV)
I will destine you to the sword,
and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter,
because, when I called, you did not answer;
when I spoke, you did not listen,
but you did what was evil in my eyes
and chose what I did not delight in.”

Failure to obey God does not delight Him.  When we “delight” in other things, God does not “delight” in us.      The word in the Hebrew means “to take pleasure in” something.   God created us to “take pleasure in us.”  God is on our side and wants to “delight” over us.   However, as the above passages teaches, mankind wants to delight in what makes him happy and satisfied.   When that happens we lose God’s delight in us.  God delights over those who obey Him:

Psalms 18:19 (ESV)

He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Psalms 22:8 (ESV)
“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Psalms 37:23 (ESV)
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

Psalms 51:16-19 (ESV)
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

God Vindicates - Job 23-24

Job 23:4-7 (ESV)
I would lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

Job is in a bad place.  His family, his possessions, his friendships, have all been destroyed.  The only thing we see in his life at this point is a wife who wishes he would curse God and just die and three “friends,” however their original good intents, have turned to become judge and juror.   Bildad, Zophar and Eliphaz have each taken their turn to declare that Job’s plight is due to his wickedness.  We know from chapters one and two that they are wrong.   Job knows from his life’s body of work that they are wrong.  Never-the-less, in this section Job no longer sits by while they attack him.  No, he is going on attack.  He is going to challenge them (and God). In the above passage Job is wanting to have an audience with God.  He believes if he could but talk to God he would get the justice he deserves.   This talking to judgmental men is not working for Job.   Notice how this aligns with Solomon’s words about justice:

Proverbs 29:26 (ESV)
Many seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.

Job’s friends have become his judge.   Job believes he is innocent.   In chapter 24, Job will talk about all those who abuse others and God does not judge them, at least to Job’s knowledge.    Job has reached a place where he begins to justify himself.   It was bound to happen. If you accuse someone long enough of things they did not do, it won’t take long for them to defend.  God will correct Job for this and his friends for their judgmental spirit.   But, the truth is that Job believes if he can have an audience with God that God will vindicate him.   He is correct.  That is how the book unfolds.  However, Job is wrong in that he is not innocent.  None of us are innocent.   Job should simply ignore his friends (hard to do) and put himself in the hands of a gracious God.   He is moving that way.  But, he is not yet there.  It is God who will vindicate.  

A “War Horse” is a False Hope - Psalms 33-35

Psalms 33:13-17 (ESV)
The LORD looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Imagine the view God has of us from heaven’s throne.    In the above section of Psalm 33 we read that God sits on His throne in heave and observes mankind’s ways.   Even though it is He who fashions their hearts (created them), they turn to their own strength and the strength of animals to save them.  It must have been something, back in the days of this song, for an army to be equipped with horses.   When you read about the “war horse” you are told of an animal that lacked fear, was determined in battle and gave an army a tremendous advantage in warring.   Yet, here is God, in the heavens, watching and waiting for mankind to turn to Him for their salvation and strength.   We don’t turn to horses today.  We turn to our jobs, our homes, our bank accounts, our credit cards, the size of our church building, or health insurance, etc.   God wants to be our salvation.   He created us to save us to have fellowship with us.   Yet, we turn from him to useless tools we think give us an advantage in this world.   The “war horse” is a false hope, no matter what you call it. 

The Cost of Casual Worship - 1 Samuel 6-10

1 Samuel 6:14 (ESV)
The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.

Here is a man (Joshua of Beth-shemesh) of God who knows what He is doing when it comes to Godly Worship!  Or, does he and/or his fellow citizens of Beth-shemesh):

1 Samuel 6:19 (ESV)
And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the LORD. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great blow.

The above story takes place after the Ark of the Covenant was taken captive by the Philistines.   God cursed them and their gods until they gave the Ark back to the nation of Israel.   To return the Ark they simply put it on a cart and the had it pulled by two cows.   The cows bring the cart right into the town of Beth-shemesh and to the property of a man named Joshua.   At first, he and the townspeople have great and awesome respect for the Ark.   They worship God in holy reverence.  But, at some point something happens (we don’t know how much time takes place between verse 15 and verse 19).  They suddenly become very casual with their worship and God strikes some of them dead.   Casual worship has no place for what God has done for us.   The church in Revelation called Laodacia had a worship like this and note what Christ told John, the writer of the book:

Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV)
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

God does not accept worship that is less than holy before Him.   We can’t get causal about the things of God.   

God Transforms Lives - Genesis 44-47

Genesis 47:7-12 (ESV)
Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

When Jacob meets Pharaoh something was going to happen.  Joseph was worried about. Previously (in verses 33-34), he told his father that if he is asked what his occupation was to not say that he was a “shepherd” but rather a “keeper of livestock.”   A “shepherd” was a disdained person in the eyes of the Egyptians.  Of course, when asked, Jacob (Israel) does not say a “keeper of livestock.”  He tells Pharaoh, straight up that he is a shepherd.    Joseph, being educated and ingrained with Egyptian thought, must have cringed.   Jacob is NOT impressed with Pharaoh.  It is Pharaoh that is impressed with Jacob, as the above passage shows us.  We can see that Joseph is so tainted with his society that he has lost sight of some things.  He still worshiped God and even gave God the credit for the harm that was done to him by his brothers.   But, the philosophy he has learned in Egypt did not fit his father.   Jacob even goes on to “bless” Pharaoh.    God has put Jacob in a place of honor.  This was not what we read about him in his younger years.  God can do that.  God can take a trickster like Jacob, turn him into a man of God named Israel and have him be superior to the most powerful person in the land.  That is what God does.   He transforms the shepherd into the one who blesses the pharaoh, even though the son is embarrassed by it.   

Performance Matters - 1 Corinthians 5-6

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Conduct matters to God.   The Evangelical believer will boast about justification by faith.   They should!    We are not saved by works (our performance).  We are saved from sin by the performance of Christ on the cross and via His resurrection, and our faith in that performance.   So, we have a righteousness by works, just not our works.  But, performance does matter to God.  Our performance (generated by the Holy Spirit ... another journal entry for another day) is the demonstration of the righteousness inputted to us by Christ.    The list of bad conduct (all sins) in the above passage shows that this behavior is unpleasant to God and condemned by God.  But, we were “washed, meaning “sanctified,” meaning declared holy by God.  That is why (and Paul’s point in this section of his letter to the church at Corinth) we are not to do those things.  We have been forgiven for the times we practiced these types of things and we have been set free from the power of these types of things in our lives.   We are now “justified” not by our works (performance) but in the name of Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.  We are now holy in God’s sight. Paul’s point is why would you go back to those things.  We are set free from them.  

Outcasts!! Isaiah 56-61

Isaiah 56:6-8 (ESV)
“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
and holds fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.”
The Lord GOD,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
“I will gather yet others to him
besides those already gathered.”

If you are not of Jewish descent, the above passage was written for you.   The book of Isaiah is long prophetic book about the nation of Israel, its place in the world, the condition of the world around it and the fact that it will be the source of life to all those nations.   Jesus, according to Isaiah, would be the one who comes out of the Root of Jesse (Isaiah 42) and would provide life to the “foreigner.”    Those who are not Jews who “join themselves to the Lord” (by faith in Jesus’ finish work on the cross), will be brought into God’s “holy mountain” and God will “make the joyful” in His “house of prayer” (a picture of the Church).   Those who “join themselves to the Lord,” will have their “burnt offerings and their sacrifices .. accepted” on God’s alter.    The last lines of the above verses are very precious to the Gentle.  Isaiah states: “The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel” will also “gather yet others (Gentiles) to him.”   God is bringing into His presence, through Jesus’ ministry, Gentiles who will become His children and chooses, as well.  This is a glorious thought and a wonderful truth.   We are “outcasts,” until we are not.  

Good Theology - Bad Application Round 15 - Job 22

Job 22:19-20 (ESV)
The righteous see it and are glad;
the innocent one mocks at them,
saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off,
and what they left the fire has consumed.’

It is probably dangerous to listen to a speaker and pull two lines, phrases or quotes from the speech, isolate them and analyze them.  But, never-the-less, that is what is about to happen in this entry.   The above two verses are taken from the last speech of Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends.  Like the other friends of Job, Eliphaz believes in “retribution theology.”  This theological thought is that the wicked will receive retribution from God and the righteous will receive blessing from God.   Therefore, if we see you suffering you are wicked and if we see you blessed you must be righteous.   That is the theme of Eliphaz and the other two friends of Job, Zophar and Bildad.   It is somewhat a theology of the world today, as well.  The world tends to see a “good” life indicates that you are “good” and a “bad” life indicates something “bad.”  This type of theology has no room for the “suffering of the innocent” or the “suffering of the righteous” that Jesus talked about, or the New Testament writers talk about.   In the above two verses we read that the “righteous” will look on the retribution being poured out on the wicked.  From their lofty perch they see the “fire” of God consume the wicked.  Fire in the Bible is always a reference to judgement.   Eliphaz uses fire, here.   Zophar did (20:26) and Bildad (18:15) did, as well, in their reference to Job’s situation.    The issue with their philosophy/theology is that God has already told us that Job is “righteous.” He, of course, was a sinner, but in God’s eyes (chapters 1 & 2) he was declared righteous.   So, these friends of his had the wrong theology.  Like many who make judgments about others, theology matters.   Yes, God will judge the wicked.  Yes, the righteous will look down and see that happen.  In the verses below, taken from a psalm of David, we read that Eliphaz’s words are correct in regard to thought that the righteous will see the destruction of the wicked.  However, once again, good theology, applied in the wrong way, does not comfort someone like Job. It only hurts.  Eliphaz and the others can be correct in theology, but wrong in application.  As are we, often.  

Psalms 91:7-8 (ESV)
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Love God - Psalms 30-32

Psalms 31:23-24 (ESV)
Love the LORD, all you his saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the LORD!

How do we know what we love?   Probably the easiest way to answer that question is to see where we put our money, our time and our attention.   Those who say they love their family the most but choose time at work or play over family, might be deceiving themselves.   Those who say they love spouse more than life itself (a typical Valentine Day card), but their credit card shows more that they value themselves, is completely fooled.   In the end of Psalm 31 we read the above words.  The writer of this poem/song is King David.  Apparently something is happening in his life that is not favorable.   He has numerous adversaries who are attacking him and scheming against him.   He has enemies on each side.   This is the time of life that you get focused on what is important and what you truly love and care for.   When we start loving something other than the God who redeemed us, we might find ourselves in the same place.   God tends to stripe away those things we rely upon and those things we love, when they come between Him and our love.   These last couple of verses tell us that he “preserves” those who are faithful to Him (in love), but also knows (and repays them) those who act out in the pride of their heart and love themselves more than God.   God demands our love and shows us what that looks like by sending Christ to die for us.   We know what love is.  It is sacrificing ourselves for others.   But, pride prevents that.   Loving others is setting our pride aside and giving our complete focus on God and His plan for us.   

God’s Power in our Parenting - 1 Samuel 1-5

1 Samuel 2:7-10 (ESV)
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S,
and on them he has set the world.
“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

“The pillars of the earth are the LORD’S and on them he has set the world.”  The above words are taken from the prayer of Samuel’s mom, Hannah.   Samuel was born to her as a result of great anguish and difficultly.    She prayed specifically for Samuel to be born and then, once he arrived, she dedicated Samuel back to the Lord to be his servant.  She actually brought him to the Temple and left them with the priest, Eli.   She made a covenant with God and kept the covenant.   This is her part of her prayer before she heads back home without her only son.   How could a mom do this?   It is because of what she believers about God.  Notice the power she attributes to Him:

1. It is God who controls wealth. 

2. It is God who lifts up the needy and puts them in a higher position. 

3. The entire foundation of the world is established upon God’s pillars. 

4. It is God who guards the walk and direction of those who are faithful to Him and who destroys those who are not. 

5.  It is God who judges the world and establishes the leaders of the world.   

Hannah was able to commit Samuel to God’s care because she believed that it was God who controlled the universe and the activities in the world around her.  When you have that trust in the power and sovereignty of God, you don’t worry about what is going to happen to your children.   Her parenting was not based upon her ability (although that was awesome), it was based upon her knowledge of God’s power and preeminence in her life.   

God Gifts Us for His Glory and the World‘s Needs - Genesis 40-43

Genesis 41:1-8 (ESV)

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams

After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

There was NO ONE who could interpret the dream for Pharaoh!  In the above story we have a glimpse of the incompetency of man’s knowledge.   Pharaoh’s dream was about what was going to happen in the earth for the next 14 years.   He was confused by it.  So, too, were all his wise men. Imagine if this was covered by today’s news media.  How many talking-heads would be brought on and interviewed?   Imagine the way this would have been spun in regard to what it all means.   The world struggles with understanding current events, much less events 14 years into the future.  But, God is the God of plans and purpose.  He also provided someone to give those interpretations so that the world could have some clarity.  God equips mankind with skills and talents and wisdom and gifts that allow us to be beneficial to the world around us, but for the SOLE purpose of glorifying God, who gives us those talents, gifts, skills and wisdom.   Joesph was gifted the ability he needed to navigate this world.   He did not conjure up the skills to save his life or to line his pockets or to increase his power.  He was given gifts to serve God to bring glory to the King of Kings in the midst of the most powerful human on the planet at that time.  God gifts us to serve Him and bring glory to Him in the face of the world.  

Assigned a Task, Not the Glory - 1 Corinthians 3-4

1 Corinthians 3:5 (ESV)
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.

In our society we give much honor to men who titillate us with their charm, charisma and/or eloquence.  We like to honor people who have stood above the others.   We take great pride in establishing our cultural heroes and honor them with our subservient spirit and/or our gratitude and praise.   In the days of the early church, the believers at that time were no different.   When Jesus was about to die on the cross, however, one of the most powerful examples of His message was His washing the feet of His disciples.   In the above passage we see Paul writing about something very similar to that scene of the Gospels.   In the church at Corinth, the believers were having a dispute about who lead them to Christ.   Some had the privilege of having Paul introduce them to Christ and others were brought to the cross by someone named Apollos.   Apollos is mentioned ten times in the New Testament.  Seven times in this letter to the Corinthians, twice in Acts and once in the letter to pastor Titus.   He was a strong leader in the church and a man that matched Paul’s understanding of the Scripture, but apparently could outdo Paul in eloquence (Paul was not, by his own admittance a great figure before the church).   Whatever the relationship they all had with Paul, some had the same relationship with Apollos.  That was causing a division among the church.   Paul writes to dispel that and to remind them all that they are “of Christ.”  Paul and/or Apollos did not save anyone. In fact, Paul states that they are but “servants” through whom they believed, “assigned” by Christ.   The word servant is the not the normal word for servant but rather a lessor type.  John MacArthur, in his commentary, states the term refers to a “busboy” at a restaurant.  Paul is saying that he and Apollos are not even the waiter or waitress.  He wants the church to know that they have no significance and the church should stop honoring them in a such a way that it diminishes the work of Christ and gives some glory to them.   We are all but servants of Christ and assigned to the tasks we have been given to do for Christ.  We have been equipped and empowered by the Spirit (which is a theme in the end of this letter) for the tasks we are assigned.   Make no mistake, we are assigned a task.   Paul, like we should, wants to make sure the person assigned to the task is not stealing the glory given to the One who assigns us, equips us and empowers us. 

Authority of Christ - Matthew 26-28

 Matthew 28:18 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

We have come to the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  He is about to give the disciples the “Great Commission,” sending them out to the world to preach the Gospel to all creatures.  The reason He is doing this is to provide salvation to mankind. The reason he CAN do this is that “all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him!”    The reason all authority was given Him was because He defeated death in His resurrection.   Early in His ministry, Satan wanted Him to skip the death process and falsely claimed he could give Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth.  But, Jesus knew there was only God’s way.  Note what he said to Jesus:

Matthew 4:8-10 (ESV)
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

Jesus has all the authority and He gives that authority to us, His servants.  We have power and authority to proclaim the gospel to the world around us.  There is no demon, no spiritual power, no servant of Satan, or Satan himself that has any authority over us, as God defeated all other authorities by defeating them, in Christ:

Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

We have come to the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  He is about to give the disciples the “Great Commission,” sending them out to the world to preach the Gospel to all creatures.  The reason He is doing this is to provide salvation to mankind. The reason he CAN do this is that “all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him!”    The reason all authority was given Him was because He defeated death in His resurrection.   Early in His ministry, Satan wanted Him to skip the death process and falsely claimed he could give Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth.  But, Jesus knew there was only God’s way.  Note what he said to Jesus:

Matthew 4:8-10 (ESV)

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.’”

Jesus has all the authority and He gives that authority to us, His servants.  We have power and authority to proclaim the gospel to the world around us.  There is no demon, no spiritual power, no servant of Satan, or Satan himself that has any authority over us, as God defeated all other authorities by defeating them, in Christ:

Colossians 2:13-15 (ESV)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

God’s Compassion - The Story of the Bible - Isaiah 51-55

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV)
“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

The above verses might be the most encouraging in all the passages we can read.   God wants to show us His compassion.  Because of his great love for us, He wants to show us that love by “abundantly pardon” our sin.  That is the story of the entire cannon of Scripture.   God wants to save mankind from himself.  He wants to show him compassion by giving him a full pardon for his sin and sin nature.   No one has even thought of that in man’s religious systems.  To receive this great compassion of God we must seek in (in faith) and turn from our wicked ways (again, in faith).   This is the story of the Gospels.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all tells us the story of Jesus’ walk and work on the cross.   The theme of the Epistles is the doctrinal teaching about the work Jesus did and how it applies to our hearts.  What it all boils down to is that God wants to save people from their certain destruction.   That is the Gospel and the theme of the entire story of God’s love.  

Bear With Them - Job 20-21

Job 21:1-3 (ESV)
Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper
Then Job answered and said:
“Keep listening to my words,
and let this be your comfort.
Bear with me, and I will speak,
and after I have spoken, mock on.

Have you ever tried to counsel someone?  In the Christian walk we are actually called to be counselors to other brothers and sisters in Christ.  Yes, we have abrogated that responsibility to professional counselors and to even the world of professional psychology.  More and more churches are hiring “professionals” to do the work that pastors, elders, deacons and church members did.  Perhaps the story of Job is one reason.   Job’s three friends (Zophar, Bildad and Eliphaz) have, supposedly, come to comfort him (read again Job 2:11).  In fact, they seemed to have come from a long way.  When they first saw him they sat in silence.   That didn’t last long.  They have, up to this point, dropped the pretense that they were there to comfort Job. In stead Job feels as though they have only “mocked” him.   In the above passage he once to say something to them and then he fully expects them to go on and on with their words of condemnation not their words of comfort.    The struggle with counseling others (whether professionally or simply as a friend and fellow believer) is that we often look for the results we deem necessary that match the counsel we give others.   We fail to understand the human thought of mind.  We can give someone great truth, but their application of that truth might look incredibly different than what we think.   Job’s three friends, as has been repeated multiple times in these journal entries, do not have bad doctrine.   But, their doctrine is not applied in the correct way, as Job does not fit their stereotype.   Job is suffering out of innocence and they are counseling with the premise of guild and wickedness.   Job is not wicked.  They think he is.  Counseling is not to be started with a premise other than God is the answer. If you counsel starting with a premise, you will soon lose your path.  Job asks them to “bear” with him.  The word is used in two different ways in the Old Testament.  It can mean to “bear” as an ox bears the yoke.  That would mean that Job wants them to put up with him.   But, it can also mean to support someone, or carry something or someone.  In that case Job is asking them to support him.  Maybe Job meant both.   In counseling that often happens.  We have to “put up” with the person we are counseling, but we also have to “support” the person we are counseling.   That seems to be the story with Job.  The problem is that he three friends are not doing either of these things.  They are just condemning him because they have to prove their original bias.  

Hearts Desire - Psalms 27-29

Psalms 27:7-8 (ESV)
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

What do you seek?  If that question was asked to the average person on the street they would answer “happiness, success, retirement, etc.”  We would go a long time looking for someone, anyone who would answer who David states it in the above verses.  God stated the following about David:

1 Samuel 13:14 (ESV)
But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Acts 13:22 (ESV)
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

God is looking for people who will seek Him and desire His face.  When He created Adam and placed him in the garden, God was looking for fellowship, through Adam’s worship.   By sending His Son, God restored the avenue to that worship.  Jesus told us, as well, to seek God’s face.  Our hearts desire and hearts focus should be on seeking God and His Kingdom: 

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

What Do People Say About Your Character? Ruth

Ruth 3:11 (ESV)
And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.

Ruth 2:11 (ESV)
But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.

What are you known for in the town where you live?   Everyone is known for something.  We are all known for the character of our lives, whether we recognize it or not.   When someone says your name, what do others think?   In the above passage we read about Ruth (the stranger in the land, who came back with her mother-in-law after the death of her husband) and Boaz (a near relative of Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi).   In Israel, when a man died, the man’s brother or near kinsmen had the opportunity (right, obligation?) to marry the deceased wife.   Ruth has gone to Boaz to ask if he is interested in this proposition.   Boaz’s reply is that he recognizes the character of Ruth. In fact, everyone recognizes the character of Ruth.   Ruth is a Proverbs 31 woman.   You can’t hide beauty.  You can keep quality character under cover.    People know you by your character.  Ruth was a woman who could have done a lot of bad things, having lost her husband.   She could have turned back to false gods as her sister-in-law did (who’s husband also died).  In Ruth 1:15 we read that she, unlike Ruth, went back to her people and her gods.   We read in chapter two that Naomi herself became bitter about the lost of her husband and her two sons.   Yet, Ruth stood tall in a slouching world.   Ruth was a woman who feared the Lord and that gave her a great name among a people who did not even know her and she did not know them.   That is what attracted Boaz to her.  He goes out of the way to make her welcome to the community.   He eventually marries her and she becomes the mother of Obed, who is the father of King David.    She is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel.   This is a woman of character.  You can’t hide it or fake it.  It will stand out in the community you live.   

Proverbs 22:1 (ESV)
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV)
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.

Do Good - Suffer Bad - Genesis 36-39

Genesis 37:2-4 (ESV)

These are the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

Genesis 37:12-14 (ESV)

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

Sometimes when you do good, you will suffer bad.   In the above story we read about Joseph narcing out his brothers.   At least that is what our modern day society would call what Joseph did.  In God’s world it was integrity, truth and fidelity.   God is not the father of lies, deceit and wrong.   We don’t live in that world in our heads and hearts.  Our world lives on the margins.  We like to be on the edge of truth but not exactly with truth.   We don’t want to call truth our brother.  We would rather make it a distant cousin.   Israel sent Joesph to “spy” on his brothers.  Again, that is how we would refer to what Israel did.  That is obviously what the brothers thought.  Joseph did nothing wrong and suffered for it.   Joseph is a picture of Christ, in the Old Testament.  He is the example of someone who suffers harm for doing good.   In this world, in Joseph’s day and ours, we must understand that suffering harm for doing good is a cultural normative.   No one likes a “goody-two-shoes.”   At least that is the world’s mindset.  But, in Christ we are to stand for truth, no matter the cost.  And it will cost.   Peter summed it up for those believers in his day in the following verses.   We must realize that we will suffer for doing good.  That is what Christ did.   That is what we are called to do, as well.   Holiness brings light to darkness.  We are called to be holy.  Notice also, how King David spoke about someone who wants to be like God.  Notice how Joseph demonstrates these attributes.  He will one day have his integrity challenged on a rape charge (chapter 39).   He will one day have his character challenged as he stands before Pharaoh (chapters 40-42).  Character like Gods always looks different than the world:

1 Peter 2:20-22 (ESV)

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Psalms 15 (ESV)

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

A PSALM OF DAVID.

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Wisdom of Man vs Wisdom of God - 1 Corinthians 1-2

1 Corinthians 1:22-25 (ESV)
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Mankind just does not get what Christ has done for them.   Of course, to do that, they would have to admit they need Christ to do ANYTHING for them.    Christ came to save man from sin and to make him holy so that he can have a restored relationship with God.  But, mankind does not want a restored relationship with God.  Mankind does not want anything to do with God ... until they are in trouble.   Then they cry out to God.   This is the content of the above passage.   Paul is writing about the power of the Gospel and makes the above statement.  The Gospel is hidden from Jews, because they want some additional sign that Jesus was the messiah.  Hanging on a cross as a condemned man is NOT that sign.   The Greeks are lost in their own wisdom.   Remember, at the time of this writing, we have the legacies of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle being postulated across the Roman Empire.  The Roman’s may have conquer the Greek armies, but the Greek mind was still in full control of the Roman mind.   The Greeks could not wrap their minds around the Gospel message.  They could not even imagine how God designed salvation.   It was foolishness to them.   Yet, God’s wisdom is far beyond the wisdom of mankind.  Paul, using simply comparison rhetoric, states that man’s highest wisdom can’t even compare to God’s foolishness (of course, God has no foolishness).   When we have the Gospel in our hearts we are so far beyond the wisdom of this world.   These Corinthian believers were not the wisest of sorts.   That is where Paul eventually goes.   God’s wisdom in us is profound.  Our lives without God’s salvation and wisdom in us?  Nothing:

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (ESV)
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

The Believers Hope - Matthew 24-26

Matthew 24:29-31 (ESV)
(The Coming of the Son of Man)
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

There is no event in human history that will be as dynamic and dominate as the event that is described in the above passage.   Most of us know about the great events in history.  We have at least heard about them.  We have heard about the falling of Pompeii.  We have heard of the conquest of great kings and great warriors.  We have heard of the stories of nations attempting to overtake other nations and rulers attempting to conquer the entire world, under their barbaric rule.   But, nothing compares to the description above of what will happen when the end of the world comes and Jesus finally reigns in majesty and power.  The entire book of The Revelation is written to describe what these above verses only say in summary.   The disciples wanted to know when the end of the age would be and what would be the sign of their coming.  Jesus goes one step further.  Jesus explains to them them power, majesty and domination of His finally chapter of mankind’s life, as they know it now.   Yes, there is going to be tremendous tribulation on the earth before the above verses take place.   Yes, mankind thinks they are in charge of this earth and their own destiny and do not put much thought or credence in the above verses.  Yes, it often looks bleak and hopeless in our day, even in light of the truth of these verses.  But, the believers hope is anchored in the very words that Jesus is saying.  In the end, Jesus wins.  It might look like Satan is flourishing and mankind’s sinfulness is dominating. But, the truth of these words was true when Jesus stated it.  They are still true today.   It is our hope.  

Only Christ Opens Eyes - Mark 3-4

Mark 4:30-34 (ESV)

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”  With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

The teaching of Jesus is such an amazing course to study.  However, not just what he taught (which was completely out of the mindset of those listening), but how He taught it.   Jesus taught in “parables.”  This is a great explanation of the Greek word used here:

(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) parabole (παραβολή, 3850), “a casting or placing side by side” (para, “beside,” ballo, “to throw”) with a view to comparison or resemblance, a parable, is translated “figure” in the KJV of Heb. 9:9 (RV, “a parable for the time now present”) and 11:19, where the return of Isaac was (parabolically, in the lit. sense of the term) figurative of resurrection (RV, “parable”). See No. 2 (a)

In the above text, Jesus is using the “parable” of the mustard seed to explain the amazing growth of God’s Kingdom.   It will start out with eleven disciples who believe Jesus’ words and grow to what we are seeing today around the globe.   A mustard see plant is almost impossible to uproot. It spreads and spreads and spreads.  The key to the above passage is to understand “what” Jesus is teaching (this particular truth), how He is teaching it (parables), and how ONLY He can interpret it for them.  This is the amazing part of the Gospel message.  Only Christ can give us the interpretation and explanation for His own teaching.   God uses the power of the Holy Spirit, through the mere teaching of men, to do this.   But, it is the Spirit of God who unveils our eyes.  Note what Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 4.  Only God can reveal what Satan is desperately trying to hide:

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (ESV)
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We Have Been Made Righteous; That was God’s Plan All Along - Isaiah 45-50

Isaiah 46:12-13 (ESV)
“Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from righteousness:
I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.”

What is the entire point of the Bible?  What is the entire plan of God?   Least we forget, God created the earth to be inhabited.  Note what Isaiah said in the previous chapter:

Isaiah 45:18 (ESV)
For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it empty,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the LORD, and there is no other.

God created the earth to have fellowship with mankind. But, mankind (through Adam’s sin) broke that fellowship.  But, God designed a plan to redeem man and bring to him God’s eternal salvation by restoring the relationship between Himself and mankind. That is the plan of God and the story of the Bible.   In the above verse we read God’s entire plan.  He is bringing His righteousness to mankind.   That is it!!   Man is unrighteous.   He needs to be remade and created in righteousness.  That is the new birth.   We are, as the verse states, far from righteous.  Our natures were forever stained and damaged by Adam’s sin.  But, the Plan of God was to bring us His righteousness through the Person of Christ, via the Power of the Spirit, thereby sanctifying us as holy, righteous and good.  Note these verses, which demonstrate the New Testament equivalent of the above words of Isaiah:

1. God provided us righteousness: 
Romans 3:22 (ESV)
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

2.  Jesus provided us righteousness:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

3. The Holy Spirit makes us righteous:
1 Peter 1:2 (ESV)
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Good Doctrine - Bad Application - Job 18-19

Job 18:21 (ESV)
Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
such is the place of him who knows not God.”

In probably every journal entry I have every written about Job and his friends, I have said this thought: Good doctrine has to be applied to the right situation in the right way.   There is nothing worse than good doctrine applied in a bad way.   This, however, is the plight of Job’s three friends and their counsel to Job about his problems.   In chapter 18 we have the perfect example of this flaw.  Bildad is waxing eloquent before Job.   Almost everything he states to Job could be read in other parts of Scripture.   In the above verse we read his conclusion.   From verse five to the end of the chapter he outlines the fall of the wicked.  You could read the same things he states n many of the Psalms and in most of the book of Proverbs.   Those who reject the fear of the Lord, will indeed, have the calamity that Bildad states in the proceeding verses.  His doctrine is solid.   He is telling Job that the wicked will look just like Job because of their failure to fear the Lord.   In Bildad’s mind, “if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.” Because Job’s situation and appearance and torment, looks like what God says will happen to the wicked, Bildad simply assumes Job is wicked.  Except for the fact that we all know that Job is NOT in this situation because he is wicked.   Job is in this situation because of God and Satan and God using Job to demonstrate His grace in Job to Satan.   We can have the best doctrine in the world, but if we don’t really know the facts and don’t consider what God is doing, the best doctrine (even in the hearts and hands of those who did mean good by it) can be harmful and hurtful.  Notice in the next chapter Job’s immediate response to these words of Bildad.  Let us not forget them.  Good doctrine can cause bad hurt when done in the wrong way:

Job 19:2-3 (ESV)
“How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?

Walk With God - Psalms 24-26

Psalms 25:8-10 (ESV)
Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

In Hebrew poetry the lines of the poem are connected to another line in the poem by what is referred to as parallelism.   Parallelism is referring to how one line of the Hebrew poem compares, contrast, or compliments the other line.  We can learn much about what the author (God) wants us to learn by this comparison of one line to the other.   The above portion of Psalm 25 is synthetic parallelism.   That means each line “builds” upon the previous line.   The writer (David) starts out by telling us that God is “good and upright.”    He then continues by saying, “therefore He (God) instructs inners in the way.”    King David is building on the first line by telling us “how” God is good and upright.  He is good and upright because he instructs sinners in the way.    But, David does not stop there.   He goes on to explain more about the sinner and more about the way.   We read that the sinner must be “humble” to receive this good and upright instructions from the Lord.  We then learn that this “path” that the humble sinner is on comes from the Lord, in His “steadfast love and faithfulness.”  The instruction is not only good and right, but it flows from God’s immutability (cannot change what He started or who He is).   Finally, we receive the last line where David tells exactly what a humble sinner looks like.  It is those “who keep His covenant and His testimonies.”    As we read the lines of the poem we get more and more learning as to what God (through David’s writing) wants us to learn.   God will guide and direct the obedient and humble sinner who walks in His ways because He is loving, faithful, good and upright.    We can see that the walk of the sinner is relying completely on the character of God.   Our success in life is determined by our faith in the character of God.  

Absent Authority ? - Judges 17-21

Judges 18:1 (ESV)
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.

In those days ... !  The book of Judges is about a wild time in Israel’s history.   The twelve tribes were lead into the Promise Land by Joshua.  He died and gave them a design, a plan and a direction.   In chapter 18 we have, yet, another story about the people of God doing whatever they wanted to do.  There was no king, the above verse states.  But, they did have a king.  It was God.   But, the book was written later in time when the nation did get kings.   So, the narrator is telling us that this was the spirit of the day, meaning they were living in a time with no authority.   They had God’s authority, of course.  But, they did not recognize Him or his authority or, for that matter, any authority.  These days were dark and distant from God.  Even though Joshua had set up everything the tribes needed to inherit the land.  But, they failed to do. In Judges we read the following:

Judges 17:6 (ESV)
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

When we don’t recognize the authority of God or the authorities He puts in place, we read the above. Absent an authority structure, we tend to do what we want.