Bible Chapter: Job 13 & 14
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
Job talked to his so-called comforters. He said they were smearing him with lies. They were worthless physicians. They made lots of noise but didn’t help. What if the tables were reversed? How would things turn out?
Job expressed his continued strong confidence in God. Even if God would slay him, he would still trust in Him. This is an amazing expression of faith and trust in the righteousness of God. Whatever would happen to him, his belief in God was so strong that God would never fail him. Job was sure God had not and would never abandon him.
Life is fleeting and full of trouble. The hope is in eternal life. Will a man live again? Job had some great insights to God’s plan for eternity. Yes there are problems, but God is in charge.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
I know that there are good encouragers for life and also those who only discourage and put people down. It seems like it is generally more fun to insult than to help and lift a person up. I want to be an encourager and not, as Job describes his companions, worthless physicians. Job expressed continued confidence in God. That is a good example to follow.
3. How can I help someone?
Keep praising God throughout life and don’t depend on circumstances. If you really trust God you will be amazed in eternity.
Bible Chapter: Job 11 & 12
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
Zophar had to get involved in proving Job’s sins and failures. He wished that God would speak and then Job would be put in his place. Job couldn’t prove his innocence with a torrent of words. His solution is that Job needed to get rid of his sins. This theme keeps on being repeated - Job has sinned and that is why he is having all of these problems. He expressed the thought that life should always be bright and happy. It would be that way for all righteous people.
Job responded with a sarcastic remark. Surely, wisdom resides in you folks. When you die wisdom will die with you. Job reminded them that true wisdom and power are found only in God. He owns understanding. God leads people and nations. We will not always understand how God is working all things for His good.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Don’t get caught up in declaring that because someone is having problems that they are being judged for their sin. There is nothing in the Bible that says anything like that. Sinners will receive the rewards of their sin. Righteous people will receive the rewards of their faithfulness. The issue is that we don’t know when that will happen. On this earth some heathen seem to live a “charmed” life. They appear to get away with everything. Some righteous people suffer. What’s going on? Keeping an eternal focus answers many questions.
3. How can I help someone?
Trust God. When you don’t know what to say in a situation, don’t say anything. When you are going through trials, talk to the Lord and seek HIM. Seek His guidance for your situation.
Bible Chapter: Job 9 & 10
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
It appears that Job is beginning to change his tune a little. He admitted that he is not perfectly righteous before God. By nature, people are sinful and selfish. He had worked hard in life to resist evil. He still struggled with the thought that God was punishing him for no reason. What Job perceived as God’s silence throughout his ordeal was very difficult for him.
Job wrestled with wondering if God still loved him. In the middle this he still trusted God and looked to Him for a solution to his situation. He continued to wrestle with the “why” of all his pain and loss. He was slowly learning that following God did not mean he would never suffer.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
It is a hard lesson to learn that trials and pain are like exercise to strengthen one’s spiritual muscles. People who live with what is seemingly a charmed life don’t generally have the ability to deal with real problems. For some the world falls apart when their luxury car won’t start. Job was in the process of learning to trust God when he couldn’t see the end. That is a good lesson for each of us to apply.
3. How can I help someone?
One of the best lessons we can learn is to look at life from an eternal perspective. How does my situation impact eternity? Will this issue matter a thousand years from now? These are good questions to ponder.
Bible Chapter: Job 7 & 8
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
Job’s friends didn’t get it. They didn’t understand what was going on and what or why Job was suffering. Job prayed. He spoke of the anguish of his spirit. He was suffering in every way he could suffer. He lost his health and wealth. His children were dead. Society was rejecting him and his friends betraying him. Possibly one of the worst things was his feeling that God had abandoned him. He was in a very difficult position. Job didn’t believe it was fair that he should be experiencing all this pain. He finally wondered if he actually had sinned, if his companions were right.
Then Bildad chimed in. He went along the same line as Eliphaz. Job had to be hiding some wickedness from them. Only because of sin would God be judging him this way. Except, he was wrong.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
We don’t always know the reasons behind what we experience. When everything is going well we can easily say that God is blessing us. It is when the world seems to be falling apart that we can’t figure it out. In this life we will always have questions. It is not a cop out to say that some times we have to wait till heaven to understand the issues of life. There our understanding will not only be clear, but we will see everything from a different perspective. In the mean time it is important to keep on trusting God.
3. How can I help someone?
When someone is facing a trial, it is important to not just come against them accusing them of being a sinner. That usually makes the person feel condemned. We simply don’t know everything. When we don’t know what to say, that is a good time to say nothing.
Bible Chapter: Job 5 & 6
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
The human wisdom continues from Job’s comforters. They think it is so wise, but it is not. God is getting the blame for all of Job’s troubles. Eliphaz expresses the thought that God always rescues righteous people from their trials. But the truth is that many Godly people have been persecuted and mistreated. God never promised that we would never have trials and troubles.
In Job’s response he said that he had never denied the words of the Holy One. He never turned on the Lord. His grief was overwhelming. If he could weigh all the sand along the sea his grief would weigh more.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Again I am reminded (and I think this reminder will come many times throughout the reading of this book) that human wisdom may sound impressive, but it is lacking. Job was striving to stay faithful to God. Yet, it was difficult considering all the trials he was experiencing. It is so easy to get sidetracked when things do go the way I want. I have to learn how to keep the right spiritual focus in the midst of anything I experience. Smaller things seem to have a greater negative impact. Note to self: don’t sweat the small stuff.
3. How can I help someone?
Don’t blame God when things don’t go right. Keep trusting Him and seeking Him. Let God carry you through all you face in life.
Bible Chapter: Job 3 & 4
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
After all of the horrible things that happened to Job, he finally began to express his thoughts. He was in a miserable state. He lost almost everything that mattered to him. He was humiliated by the loss and was also in great physical pain. All the evidence pointed to the thought that God had abandoned him. As he began to talk he expressed his honest feelings. This was not a time of great faith and power, it was a time when all seemed hopeless. The good news is that God understands our trials and frustrations.
Job said that his greatest fear had come on him. He loved the presence of God in his life and it appeared that God had rejected him and pulled away. He longed for God’s power and presence to be in his life. He thought God had forsaken him.
When Job quit talking, Eliphaz the Temanite replied. This began a cycle of comments and responses among Job’s comforters. They didn’t turn out to be much comfort. It is important to recognize that their theology was not always correct. They expressed the thoughts that if you are really a righteous person that you will always prosper and not suffer. They missed it.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
I don’t think any of us like to suffer. I have had enough experiences of physical pain and problems that I know it is never any fun. It is not fun when things don’t go right. Learning to go through these times continues to be a challenge. I especially don’t appreciate when I am treated in a manner I don’t deserve. I know that Job didn’t specifically deserve what he went through, but he learned much about God. His lessons continue to be important lessons for us all to gain from.
3. How can I help someone?
Learn to trust God. Learn to differentiate between good counsel that comes from God and that which is only some human’s thoughts of what should be. Don’t be afraid to reject bad advice.
Bible Chapter: Job 1 & 2
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
This book starts out with a description of Job that is amazing. It is a description that should be the goal of every person. It describes Job as a “man [who] was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil”. He served God for the right reasons. Satan came to God and accused Job for serving God for selfish reasons. Job was the wealthiest man in his region. God allowed Satan to take away all his wealth and kill his ten children. Yet, Job still worshiped God. Then God allowed Satan to take away Job’s health. Job realized that he served God because God deserved his worship, not just because he had a prosperous life. Suffering was a part of life as well as prospering. Job’s suffering was overwhelming. Three friends came by to share in his grief and they all sat there for seven days without saying anything because of the intensity of the situation.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Satan is the accuser. He attacks those who believe in Jesus to try to get them to walk away. The accusations are usually false. Problems come in life. These chapters talk about the fact that, in the midst of the horrible things that were happening to Job, he didn’t sin against God. None of us want any kind of suffering like Job had. We can learn from him that we must keep our trust in God and not sin or foolishly accuse God, knowing that He really does have all power and He will be with us to the end. We will see the final results some day.
3. How can I help someone?
Don’t get caught up in the thought that God’s only plan for His followers is all success and prosperity. The spiritual battle is mean. Satan is evil and his goal is your destruction. Always remember that God power is greater. Job didn’t suffer any more than God allowed. God never abandoned Job and He won’t abandon any of His children.
