Archives for June 2017

OVERVIEW: The contrast between the “blessed man” and the “ungodly man;” a prophecy of Christ and His request for the heathen as His inheritance; David cries out to God for help and deliverance from his enemies; the Lord’s name is magnified and David wonders with amazement why God is even mindful of sinful man.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The word “psalm” means “hymn” or “praise.” This Old Testament book was the national “hymn book,” as it were, for the Israelites. The Psalms reveal many varied emotions and experiences of God’s people: adoration, joy, faith, grace, mercy, suffering, hope, etc. In just the 11 Psalms in today’s reading, we see David writing about his emotions and experiences:

• During his son, Absalom’s, rebellion. (Psalms 3–6)
• During the persecution he experienced at the hands of Saul. (Psalm 7)
• During his time as a shepherd. (Psalm 8) And…
• During his reign as the king of Israel. (Psalms 9 and 11)

Because of the number of Psalms in today’s reading, for the sake of space and time, we will focus our attention on only one particular psalm – Psalm 1. In this psalm, God contrasts for us the “blessed man,” (1:1–3) and the “ungodly man.” (1:4–6) Note, first of all, that the “blessed man” is one that is separated from the world! (1:1) “He WALKETH not in the counsel of the ungodly!” Recognize that the Bible consistently refers to the actual lives we live on a daily basis as our “walk.” (See Eph. 4:1, 5:2) Our “walk” begins with trusting Christ alone for our salvation and yet, continues with our faithful obedience to God’s Word. The psalmist reveals that the man God “blesses” makes progress in His “walk” by three things that he is extremely careful NOT to do!

1. The “blessed man” does not WALK in the COUNSEL of the UNGODLY. (1:1a)
In other words, he is very specific about who he allows to have a voice in his life!
2. The “blessed man” does not STAND in the WAY of SINNERS. (1:1b)
In other words, he is very careful about where he actually positions himself in the course of his daily life!
3. The “blessed man” does not SIT in the SEAT of the SCORNFUL. (1:1c)
In other words, he is very particular about those with whom he chooses to associate!

Notice from 1:1, that the “blessed man” is very mindful of three groups of people who are negatively seeking to influence his life: the UNGODLY, SINNERS, and the SCORNFUL. Also notice that he recognizes the downward spiral of their influence: First, we begin to WALK according to their COUNSEL; which leads to our STANDING, or just observing their WAY of life; and before we know it, we find ourselves SITTING with them, participating with them in a way of life that SCORNS the very truth that God says in His Word is to characterize our lives!

Then, notice the contrast introduced in 1:2, with the word, “But.” After identifying the negative things the “blessed man” makes certain are NOT a part of his life in verse 1, the psalmist carefully identifies the contrasting positive things that DO characterize the life of the “blessed man.” Note, several positive things here:

1. The “blessed man” DELIGHTS in the Word of God. (1:2a)
It brings him joy; it brings him refreshment; it brings him pleasure and satisfaction; because he LOVES it! (Psa.119:47)
2. The “blessed man” MEDITATES on the Word of God. (1:2b) All of the DAY and all of the NIGHT, the Word of God is what completely saturates and permeates his thoughts and controls his mind. Note that MEDITATION is to the SOUL what DIGESTION is to the BODY. (Jer. 15:16)
3. The “blessed man” PLANTS his life in the Word of God. (1:3)
The decision to “delight” and to “meditate” in the Word of God results in the development of a strong biblical root system that bears “fruit that remains” (John 15:16), causing him to continuously “prosper” spiritually.

Note also, that the perfect example of this “blessed man” is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself! (John 14:6) He is the WAY (Psa 1:1), the TRUTH (Psa. 1:2), and the LIFE! (Psa. 1:3)

Then, in 1:4–6, the psalmist gives us a biblical description of the “ungodly man.” In stark contrast to the “blessed man,” the first thing we learn about “the ungodly” is that they “are not so.” That is, they are nothing like the “blessed man!” While the “godly”, or “blessed man” is compared to a tree that is strong, beautiful, and fruitful, the “ungodly man” is compared to chaff that even the slightest wind blows away because it has no roots! Paul used a similar metaphor in Ephesians 4 when he talked about how spiritual children are “tossed to and fro, and carried about” with every wind of doctrine” that blows by. (Eph. 4:14) Note also that 1:5 clearly teaches that there is a coming “judgment” that is prepared for “the ungodly,” at which they will fall on their knees (i.e. they “shall not stand”) and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Phi. 2:10–11)

In 1:6, the psalmist presents the “two WAYS” that are set before each of us: “the WAY of the RIGHTEOUS,” and “the WAY of the UNGODLY.” In Matthew 7:13–14, Jesus also talked about these “two WAYS.” Comparing the two passages, Psalm 1 and Matthew 7:13–14 (1 Cor 2:13), we learn that “the UNGODLY” have chosen the “BROAD WAY, that leadeth to DESTRUCTION,” whereas “the RIGHTEOUS” have chosen the “NARROW WAY, that leadeth unto LIFE.” Note that “the ungodly” take heed to “the counsel of the ungodly” (1:11) as opposed to “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) and chooses “the friendship of the world” (Jam. 4:4), rather than the friendships found in “the congregation of the righteous.” (Psa. 1: 5b)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As THE SON – Psalm 2:12. We’re told in Psalm 2:10–12 to “be wise NOW” and “KISS the Son” because “blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” (Eph. 1:12–14)

OVERVIEW: The continuation of God’s questions to Job; God’s great power reviewed; Job’s submission to God; Job’s prayer for his friends; God’s double blessing upon Job.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we completed chapter 38 yesterday, God was in the midst of answering Job’s questions with a series of questions that brought all of Job’s questions to a screeching halt! God’s questions had to do with creationism, and appear to be totally unrelated and disconnected from Job’s situation, until you realize that Job had gotten to the place that his focus had become directed solely onto his personal problems. God attempts to redirect Job’s focus to help him to see the “big picture”. Namely, to show Job that his problems aren’t as big as he thought! His problems are not the center of the universe; God is!

Having laid down a series of cosmological and naturalistic questions in chapter 38, God now asks Job questions about animals. In fact, from Job 38 to 41, God mentions 14 animals. Jeff Adams reminds us, “Seven is God’s number of completion, the number associated with his perfect works, just as in the seven days of creation. Two is the number of witness, or confirmation. We are considering a list of 14 animals for whatever reason. Could it be that God wants to confirm the perfection of His work to Job?  Is there valuable truth to be learned from God’s zoo?”

Of particular interest are the two animals mentioned in chapters 40 and 41, “Behemoth” and “Leviathan”, respectively. A few things to consider, first of all, concerning “Behemoth”. The word “behemoth” is not a translation of a Hebrew word, but rather a “transliteration”. In other words, because the word has no English equivalent, it cannot be translated. So, when the translators came to this particular Hebrew word, it was simply given an English spelling and pronunciation. While some speculate that “behemoth” is an elephant, hippopotamus, or a water ox, the word simply means “beast” or “animal”. What’s interesting, however, is that it is a plural form of the word, and yet, all of the pronouns in the passage concerning this animal are singular. So, either God uses some really bad grammar or there’s something else going on here!

Can you think of any other place in the Bible where a single “animal”, is actually a composite of different “animals” (plural)? How about “the beast” (i.e. animal) in Rev. 13:1–2? We know, of course that “the beast” is the antichrist. Yet, “the beast” (singular) is actually described as a composite of several beasts (plural): the leopard, the bear, and the lion. When we see who “behemoth” actually is (the antichrist), we find that God is, in a sense, actually answering the question of Job’s suffering by pointing him to the source! The same spiritual power that was behind Job’s “tribulation”, will be the mastermind behind the worldwide “Tribulation” in the very near future! None other than “Satan incarnate”! Wow!

“Leviathan” in chapter 41 is likewise intriguing. He, too, is speculated by “scholars” to be some sort of animal or sea creature; either a whale, a crocodile, a sea monster, or perhaps even a mythological beast. Comparing scripture with scripture, however, it reveals a very interesting description of “leviathan”! Psalm 74:14 lets us know that whatever a “leviathan” is, it has more than one head! Isaiah 27:1 specifically identifies “leviathan” as a “serpent” and a “dragon.” Hmmmm. Can you think of any creature in the Bible that has more than one head, and is specifically identified as both a serpent and a dragon? How about Revelation 12:3?! It talks about a great “DRAGON, having seven heads,” and verse 9 of that same chapter says, “And the great DRAGON was cast out, that old SERPENT, called the DEVIL, and SATAN”! Once again, we see by comparing scripture with scripture, that God was, in fact, answering Job’s questions pointing him to the one who was responsible for his “tribulation.”  Again, none other than Satan himself! Wow! What a Book! What a God!

To summarize our study of Job, allow me to “borrow” from Jeff Adams’ summary in his commentary on this Book, which I have already mentioned, and highly recommend:

1. Some questions will never be answered in this life, if ever; God owes us no explanations.
2. Some believers suffer for no reason of their own making.
3. We are but a small part of an immense spiritual war that has been raging since the fall of Lucifer; a war of which we have little understanding.
4. Unless we exercise great caution and discernment, even our best intentions to minister to those who suffer can be easily seized by the enemy to use to his advantage in this spiritual war.
5. An abundance of facts about God does not necessarily qualify anyone to understand God’s purposes, especially to diagnose His workings in the life of another.
6. Our need is not just for more information about God; our need is to know God.
7. When baffled and overwhelmed by trials that are not of our own creation, we should lift up our eyes to see the big picture of God’s plan for the universe. We should simply stand in awe of God’s great power, and simply let Him be God.
8. All trials for righteousness’ sake ultimately lead to new beginnings.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through Job’s praying for his friends — Job 42:10 (Christ both modeled for us and instructed us to pray for those who falsely accuse us – Luke 6:28; 23:34)

OVERVIEW: Elihu’s continued accusations against Job; God’s questions to Job.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we pick up in today’s reading, youthful, knowledgeable, well-meaning Elihu is still running his mouth. (Somebody please pass me the muzzle!) He still has a lot more to say to Job, “in the name of the Lord”, of course! He has even convinced himself, and is trying to convince Job, that he has received his insight by inspiration of God. While Job’s other “counselors” continuously pointed to some “secret sin” in Job’s life as the source of his heartache and suffering, Elihu claims that he even knows what the specific sin is! Wow! Hello, Holy Spirit! He says that Job’s problem is the fact that he hasn’t really submitted himself to the sovereignty of God, and is bumping himself up against God’s working in his life. Compare this “godly insight and inspiration” with God’s own words concerning Job in chapter 1, verse 8: “There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil!” So much for Elihu’s insight and inspiration! Oh, how careful we must be about throwing God’s name over the top of our own opinions and conclusions in dealing with people! We must be certain that we have a chapter and verse to support our counsel, and we must be certain that the verse means what we are passing it off to mean in its context. Job’s “counselors” show us how easily we can deceive, and be deceived!

It is interesting that throughout Elihu’s entire rampage, it would be impossible to fault the correctness of what he says. The problem, however, is that he is operating under a basic assumption that is false. When our basic conclusion is off base, it doesn’t matter how many correct facts are hung on it to make it look and or sound “godly”, it is still just flat out wrong! Sadly, this is the problem with many discussions about spiritual matters and religion in these dark last days.

Finally, Elihu has gotten what he felt he “just had to say” off his chest, and can now shut his mouth. Hallelujah! These four men have all had their shots at questioning Job. The “ministry” of Job’s “friends” has so worn him down that now he has actually begun to question God himself. It’s interesting, that when God finally speaks, He does so by actually “declaring” nothing. He rather “answers” Job’s questions by asking questions Himself! He asks a series of at least 35 questions, depending on how you divide them. They are all designed to show man, and in this case, Job in particular, that he really knows nothing about anything! The breakdown of chapter 38 is as follows:

• Questions about words without knowledge. (38:1–3)
• Questions about creation. (38:4–7)
• Questions about the waters. (38:8–11)
• Questions about the sun’s light. (38:12–15)
• Questions about strange places. (38:16–21)
• Questions about the weather. (38:22–30)
• Questions about the heavens. (38:31–33)
• Questions in general. (38:34–41)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE WHO WATCHES how we live and all we do — Job 34:21. (The Lord keeps His eyes on the righteous – 1 Pet. 3:12)

OVERVIEW: Job’s recollection of days gone by; Job’s proclamation of his righteousness and integrity; Elihu’s accusations.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we enter Job 29, we find Job looking back over his shoulder, reflecting on how good life “used to be.” We call them “the good ‘ole days.” For most of us, it’s not really that “the good ole days” were really that good, it’s just that our memory is so bad, and/or so selective, that we don’t remember all of the things that made life difficult during those times! Job’s case, however, is different. He really did have a better life in days gone by!

Job 29:1 reminds us that this is the continuation of a parable. Biblically, a parable is something that is used to give instruction to believers, but hide truth from the skeptic. (See Mat. 13:11)

After walking back through “the good ‘ole days” in chapter 29, in chapter 30, Job is brought back to the reality of his present condition. He describes the misery of his terrible state. While it tells the tale of Job’s horror historically, it also, once again, paints an unbelievable picture of Christ’s plight on the cross, the Jew in the Tribulation, and the lost man in hell. Note that Job 30 has the same “feel” as Isaiah 53, the classic Old Testament passage prophesying the details of our Lord’s crucifixion.

In chapter 31, the tone changes rather abruptly. Job somehow digs himself up out of the depths of despair mentally, and causes us to stand in awe of this incredible man’s ability to hold tenaciously to his integrity after being pulverized relentlessly both physically (from the devil), and psychologically (from his friends)!  Beginning in verse 5 of chapter 31, Job fires off a series of questions regarding his personal testimony. Each is marked by the word “if,” which is found 20 times in the passage! In effect, Job is saying, “If I’m guilty of any of the things you guys have accused me of, I’m ready to receive the judgment of God for it.” Job ends his argument in 31:40, and the reality is, no one actually won the debate. Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have all simply become more entrenched in their own position. It teaches us a great lesson about debating “spiritual” matters. No one ever really wins. Everybody simply holds firm to their own convictions, while no communication is really taking place, because no one is actually listening. One person is just waiting for the other’s lips to stop moving so they can say what they want to say.

As chapter 32 begins, all four men have run out of steam, and now, no one is talking. But don’t forget, there has been one other person present throughout this whole episode with Job and his three friends! He has listened intently to everything that has been said. Because he was younger than the other men, out of respect, to this point he’s kept his mouth closed. But Job has brought him to his boiling point! He feels he must open his mouth and “defend God,” as it were. His name is Elihu. Like Job’s three friends, he thinks he’s speaking for God out of a pure heart and pure motives. Once again, you would never be able to convince him otherwise! What he says proves that he is very knowledgeable, but knowing what we know about why Job has encountered these trials reveals that while Elihu has knowledge, he, just like Job’s three other “friends”, definitely lacks wisdom and understanding. Everything Elihu says in chapter 32 and 33 is completely accurate in terms of truthfulness, and is right smack dab on the bull’s eye. The only problem is, the bull’s eye is on the wrong target! As we have said throughout our overview of Job, we must allow the Lord to teach us through the negative example of Job’s friends, lest we also demoralize, discourage, and defeat our brothers and sisters with knowledge, but no wisdom and understanding. God help us!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through JOB’S COMPASSION for others — Job 29:15–17, 21–25 (Mat. 4:14; 15:30–39)

Through the RIDICULE AND AFFLICTION which Job endured — Job 30:10–11 (Mark 15:15–20; Isa. 50:6; 53:2–5; Mat. 27:26– 30; John 19:1–3)

OVERVIEW: Eliphaz’s scathing accusations against Job; Job’s desire to plead his case before God; Bildad’s attack on Job; Job’s desperate seeking for God.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we continue today in the Book of Job, we find that Job’s counselors, called “friends,” are increasingly losing control of their emotions in this “discussion” they’re having with Job. Up to this point, they have twisted words and circumstances to fit their own ideas and agendas, but in chapter 22, Eliphaz enters into the realm of just blatantly saying things that are not true. Notice that in the list that Colossians 3:8–9 tell us to “put off,” that there is a progression: “But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” That progression can most certainly be followed with Job’s friends. They first became “angry” with Job’s refusal to confess his “secret sin,” and now they have worked themselves up through “wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy, communication out of their mouth,” and now, through Eliphaz, “lying!” Take note of this progression the next time you allow “anger” to move back into your being. Deal with it immediately, lest you find yourself in the vortex described in Col. 3:8–9!

As we begin chapter 22, we enter into the third and final round of this bout with Job and his three friends who came with the intention of confronting and counseling him through his time of trial. There is a great overriding lesson to be learned through the “ministry” of Job’s counselors. They remind us that even those of us who seek to minister the Word of God to others with the absolute best possible intentions, can be guilty of breaking people to pieces with our words, even while we think we’re doing what God would have us do, and thinking we’re saying what God would have us say. Job’s friends had all of their theological “i’s” dotted just right, and all of their doctrinal “t’s” crossed to perfection, they just didn’t have a clue about how to apply them. We must allow their negative example to cause us to totally depend upon God’s grace to help us to learn to listen as we counsel those in need, and to be sure that we actually understand the biblical meaning of the words that can, at times, so easily roll off of our lips.

After Eliphaz delivers his scathing address in chapter 22, Job is so incredibly low that he has nowhere else to look, but up. All he can do is desperately seek for God. As tough as that is, it’s actually not a bad place to be in the light of Deuteronomy 4:29, the theme verse of our 365 Days of Pursuit! In chapters 23 and 24, Job does just that; he desperately seeks God.

In chapter 25, Bildad re-enters the ring. He opens his final remarks by declaring an indisputable truth, followed by a leading question, which leads to a series of questions that form his conclusion. In response, Job will ask some questions of his own in chapter 26. He fires back six questions that Job’s friends absolutely cannot answer. It is interesting to consider these same questions as questions that could and may be asked each of us at the Judgment Seat of Christ! After firing out these questions in 26:1–4, the remainder of the chapter is an unbelievable cosmological discourse that has proven to be several years ahead of “modern” science.

As we move into chapters 27 and 28, we are able to get a glimpse of Job’s incredible spirit. As you read through his “speech,” ask yourself whether you could maintain the integrity of your heart the way Job has. It is sobering to think that every one of us makes the choice of whether or not we will offer our absolute surrender to Christ every single day of our life. Let’s all make that surrender this day.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through JOB’S FAITHFULNESS to God through his suffering — Job 23:1–12 (Christ’s faithfulness to the Father is seen as He prayed for the Father’s will to be done – Luke 22:42)

OVERVIEW: The continuation of Job’s defense of himself; Bildad’s continued accusations; Job’s response to Bildad; Zophar’s accusation that Job is a wicked man; Job’s response to Zophar.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As yesterday’s reading came to a close in chapter 16, we saw that Job’s expression of what he was going through speaks prophetically of what was taking place in the heart and mind of our Lord Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross.  As Job continues his speech in chapter 17, the picture also continues. When Job says in verse 7, “Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow,” we see a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ consumed with the weight of our sin. “The innocent” in verse 8, who “shall stir up himself against the hypocrite,” is obviously a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom Job’s innocence is simply foreshadowing. Christ is the innocent Savior who died for the guilty.

Note that chapter 17 is also a great reminder of one of the great paradoxes of life: winners don’t always win and losers don’t always lose. Many times the godly suffer, while the wicked prosper.

In chapter 18, Bildad presents his second “sermon” to convince Job that there must be some secret sin that has been the cause of his intense persecution and suffering. As only God’s supernatural Book has the ability to do, God’s record of Bildad’s words provide us unbelievable information about the antichrist and the time of Tribulation. The subject of the passage appears for the first time in verse 5, as reference is made to “the wicked.”  The reference to “the wicked” in the Book of Job is a prophetic foreshadowing of “that Wicked” (the antichrist) whom Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2:8. Verse 21 of this 18^th chapter looks to the coming antichrist, and to his ultimate destination in hell: “Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.”

Chapter 19 opens with Job’s response to Bildad’s discourse. Job’s words are like a triple-exposure picture pointing to Christ’s suffering on the cross, the Jew suffering in the Tribulation, and the lost man suffering in hell. The common denominator shared by these three pictures is the fact that they are all the objects of God’s wrath. (19:11–12) The three-fold imagery is further seen in 19:13–19, as:

• It points to ISRAEL as a proverb and a by-word of reproach.
• It points to CHRIST counted as an enemy by the armies of God as He hung on the cross.
• It points to the LOST MAN forever separated from everyone he knows and loves in hell.

Verses 25–27 of chapter 19 are the spiritual climax of the Book. Job’s words in these verses comprise one of the greatest confessions of faith in the entire Bible. He declares that the Redeemer is alive and well; that He will physically be present on the earth in “the latter day”, and that the believer will live in a new physical body! That’s some pretty awesome theology for a guy who didn’t have a single page of the Bible!

In chapter 20, it’s Zophar’s turn to take his shots at Job. Once again, the record of his words give us greater insight into the coming antichrist, “that wicked”.

In chapter 21, Job has been brought to a place of utter frustration with his counselors. His words point to the future judgment and conquest of the antichrist’s false system by the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As “THE INNOCENT” — Job 17:8 (Christ is the innocent Savior who died for the guilty – Mat. 27:4)

Through JOB as the one whom God’s WRATH was presumably kindled against – Job 19:11 (2 Cor. 5:21)

As the REDEEMER – Job 19:25 (Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:14; Rev. 5:9)

OVERVIEW: Job’s affirmation of faith in God’s wisdom; Job’s defense of his righteous testimony; Eliphaz’s intensified accusations and condemnation; Job’s complaint of God’s dealing with him.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As yesterday’s reading ended in chapter 11, Zophar had just completed his scathing accusations against Job. As Job’s three friends have all taken their turn to pound him, Job has been so overcome with grief he hasn’t actually addressed the attacks they’ve hurled against him. That changes in chapter 12. He’s had just about all of their pious, “godly counsel” he could stand! Something in our humanness says, “Go, Job! Put ’em in their place!” Job tells his friends, in effect, that their problem is that they have a whole lot of knowledge, they just don’t have a whole lot of wisdom and understanding. Nothing could be more descriptive of many (or shall we go as far as to say most?) believers in the 21^st century!

In chapters 13 and 14, Job continues his answer to his critics, who see themselves as his self-appointed counselors. Job is finally collecting his thoughts and verbalizing them with much greater boldness, as he defends the righteousness of his testimony. In 13:9–12, Job hurls some accusations of his own. He accuses his three friends of mocking God, of secretly being “respecters of persons”, of not fearing God, and failing to remember that they are also mortal bodies of clay that will ultimately return to ashes.

By the time we come to verses 20–22 of chapter 13, Job presents God with two ultimatums: “Knock off the tribulation. Let’s talk!  Either You ask me, or allow me to ask You, what in the world is going on?!”

Recognizing that God hadn’t seen fit to take away his trials, Job decides that he’ll ask God a series of four questions that he wants Him to answer. (13:23-25)

As we move into chapter 14, Job is still addressing God, not his human “counselors.” In chapter 15, however, Eliphaz throws his hat back into the ring. He begins with a series of questions for Job, along with a few carefully placed and spaced “digs.” Basically, Eliphaz tells Job that he has a heart problem, and that it can even be detected in his eyes. He tells Job that his spirit is in rebellion against God, and the proof of it is in the words that he has spoken. May God spare us from ever being so judgmental of people, especially when we don’t know all of the facts, and especially since we never really know how God is actually working in a person’s life!

As we begin chapter 16, Job begins to unload his frustration. From an historical standpoint, he is simply sharing what he is going through. It is, however, an incredible chapter from a prophetic standpoint. Chapter 16 is one of six chapters in the Old Testament that show us what was taking place in the heart and mind of the Lord Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross. The other chapters are Job 30, Isaiah 50, 52, and 53, and Psalm 22. In this chapter, Job is a picture of Christ, deserted by the Father, and hanging on the cross in our place.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through the SMITING OF JOB — Job 16:10 (Christ was also struck by His accusers — Mat. 27:29–44; John 18:22–33; Psa. 22:7–8; 109:25; Isa. 53)

Through JOB SUFFERING NOT FOR HIS OWN SIN – Job 16:17 (2 Cor. 5:21)

OVERVIEW: Job continues his response to Eliphaz: Job reproaches his friends; Bildad’s theory about Job’s tribulation; Job’s response to Bildad; Zophar’s accusations against Job.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we saw in yesterday’s reading, Eliphaz was the first of Job’s friends to offer his “counsel.” (Job 3-4) In chapter 6, Job responds to Eliphaz’s speech. As we move into chapter 7 today, Job is in the midst of continuing his response. It’s as if he opens his soul and cries out, “If there is a set time for man to be upon the earth, surely my time is about up!” (7:1) Through all that has befallen Job, he has been brought to the total depths of despair. He feels there’s nothing left to look forward to in life but long, empty days and sleepless nights. (7:3–4) On one hand, he’s afraid his life is over, and on the other hand, he’s afraid that maybe it isn’t! In the midst of it all, however, Job has no clue that the things that have happened to him were actually the result of how blessed God was with Job’s godly character and pure heart. Job simply assumes that because all of these horrific things happened to him, for some unknown reason, God must have been displeased with him. As we read of Job’s awful plight, certainly our hearts go out to him. If we put ourselves in Job’s situation, we certainly have no problem understanding why he is so distraught. As Job brings his response to Elizphaz to a conclusion at the end of chapter 7, he readily admits that he is a sinner like everybody else, but holds tenaciously to the fact that his “tribulation” is not because of some secret sin in his life that he is refusing to confess.

Then in chapter 8, Bildad, the second of Job’s friends begins his “counsel”. Whereas Eliphaz at least made an attempt to grace his accusation that Job must be guilty of some secret sin, Bildad goes right for Job’s spiritual jugular. In effect, he tells Job that he’s sick of listening to his excuses, and that he’s full of hot air. If that weren’t assaulting enough, he even has the audacity to tell Job that his 10 children also had to be guilty of sin, and that they had gotten from God’s hand exactly what they deserved. Wow! With friends like Bildad who needs enemies?! Do be aware, however, that there are “Bildads” in every church. They are typically well-intentioned, but they are majorly misinformed! The typical problem with these people, however, just as in Bildad’s case, is that it is impossible to convince them of that. Basically, Bildad points the finger at Job and tells him that if he would simply pray and earnestly seek God, all of his “tribulation” would go away. As our wealth of biblical knowledge increases, we must be very careful that we don’t turn into a bunch of “Bildads”! We must guard against the pride that causes us to think that we know why every person goes through the things they go through. As Job can tell us, that arrogant and judgmental attitude can be extremely hurtful. Like Bildad, we can also be very wrong!

In chapter 9, Job responds to Bildad’s accusations. Though there were many things he could have said to defend himself, much of what Job chose to do was admit the truth of Bildad’s words. Do note that most of the things that all three of Job’s friends said to him were actually true. They all possessed a great deal of information about God and His ways. They were simply off in their timing and their application of that truth.

Note the seven “IF’s” in chapter 9:  the 1^st “IF” – (9:16–18); the 2^nd “IF” – (9:19); the 3^rd  “IF” – (9:20a); the 4^th “IF” – (9:20b–26); the 5^th “IF” – (9:27–28); the 6^th “IF” – (9:29); the 7^th “IF” – (9:30–35).

As chapter 10 begins, Job sets forth a series of questions for God. Job wants to know how God could understand the sufferings of a man, since He had never been one. Obviously, Job could say that in his day. But no one in the world has been able to register that complaint against God for the past 2000 years, because God has since become a man. We now have a God who is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb. 4:15a) because He became one of us, and was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15b) Because of that, Paul tells us in Hebrews 4:16, that we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help him in time of need.”

In chapter 11, Zophar, the third of Job’s friends begins to offer his “loving counsel.” He, too, comes on with both feet, saying, in effect, “Job, I’m not going to let you get by with all of your meaningless talk and lies!” (11:2–3) Like Bildad and Eliphaz, he also tells Job that it’s obvious that what he needs to do is repent, get his heart right with God, and everything would be all right.

Have you ever been an Eliphaz, Bildad, or Zophar, all up in somebody’s face, thinking you knew what they needed, when what they really needed was someone to simply be a loving friend to them? Maybe there’s someone you need to contact today, seeking their forgiveness for your haughty spirit and judgmental attitude.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through JOB’S SORROWFUL CONDITION — Job 7:1–6 (Christ is called “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” — Isa. 53:3; Mark 15:34)

Through the “DAYSMAN” (mediator) Job longed for — Job 9:33 (The Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator (daysman) between holy God and sinful men —  2 Tim. 2:5.)

OVERVIEW: Job’s godly character and wealth; the dialogue between God and Satan; Satan permitted to afflict Job; the negative counsel of Job’s wife; Job’s three friends come to visit; the first speech of Eliphaz; Job’s response.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Job is one of the most incredible men in the entire Bible! In fact, he was of such impeccable character that God Himself used the sacrifice, service, and surrender of Job to get in Satan’s face in Job chapter 1. As God and Satan dialogue concerning him, Satan basically told God that the only reason Job did the things he did, and was the man he was, was because of all the good things God had done for him. In other words, Satan accused God of “buying” Job’s affection. Satan tells God, “You take all of your blessing away, and see how worthy Job thinks You are of his follow-ship and service!”

God tells Satan to go ahead and do whatever he wanted to do to Job, without harming Job’s physical condition. And boy, did he! In one day, Job gets word that all of his oxen and donkeys had been killed, along with all of his servants who kept them; that fire had fallen from the sky and burned up all the sheep, along with those who tended them; and that all of his camels had been stolen, and his servants who kept them had been murdered. His entire fortune had been lost in only a few hours! But then to make the news of all of those dreadful things seem rather trivial and somewhat insignificant, he gets word that all of his sons and daughters had been at the eldest brother’s house for a family gathering when a tornado hit the house, killing every last one of them!

What would your response to God be if all of these things had befallen you? Would God still be God to you? Would you still consider Him good? Would He be worthy of your follow-ship? Would you, or could you praise Him?

Note also, a few practical things it will be important for us to glean from these chapters:  Concerning Satan: Satan is extremely powerful, but not all-powerful. Though he “goes to and fro in the earth…walking up and down in it,” the Book of Job lets us know he is actually on God’s leash! He can only go as far as God permits him. That lets us know that everything that takes place in our lives is either APPOINTED by God, or ALLOWED of God. Take heart!

Concerning Suffering: Suffering is not a matter of misfortune or bad luck, nor is it always chastisement from God for some wrong that we have refused to remove out of our lives. Sometimes we suffer for doing what is right. God’s own testimony of Job was that he “was perfect and upright and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” (1:1)

Concerning People: As well-meaning as people can sometimes be, they can also be used by Satan, as in the case of Job’s “friends”, to criticize, accuse, and condemn, thinking they have everything all figured out, when they don’t really know all of the facts, and are functioning off of human reasoning, temporal values, and half-truths.

Some of the things in the Book of Job that are not as easily seen as some of those practical gleanings just listed, have been laid out in one of the most incredible commentaries I have ever read. The commentary is entitled: Job: Adventures in the Land of Uz! and was written by Pastor Jeff Adams. (It can be obtained through realitylivingpublishing.com)

Jeff writes,

“In Job, God gives us an incredible illustration of believers in tribulation. If ever anyone qualified for enduring tribulation it was Job! Remember that the next major event on God’s prophetic calendar is a seven-year period we often call the “Tribulation” which will fall upon this earth. Some of the prophecies in the Book of Revelation are incredible and probe the limits of our imagination. To help us understand, God has given us the story of a man named Job. More than a simple story about his trials, Job is a wonderful picture of the coming time of Tribulation, and helps us to better understand the future.

“As you approach the Book of Job, consider the picture that is drawn. The parallels between what happened to Job and the prophecies of the coming time of Tribulation are too many to be mere coincidence…

“The story of Job takes place in the land of Uz, exactly where the faithful remnant of Jews will be hidden during the Tribulation. Uz always has a connection with Edom in the Bible, and the famous “Petra” (from the Greek word for “rock”) is in Edom, the refuge God has prepared for His people…

“Job sits in his misery for seven days, while his friends look on speechless. In the coming Tribulation, the Jews will suffer at the hands of the antichrist for a seven-year period. The world will be powerless to help, and most will genuinely believe that they are only getting what they deserve. Don’t think that World War II did away with antiSemitism.

“Actually, the “Great Tribulation” is the last half of the seven years, though we often apply the word “Tribulation” to the entire period. The first three and a half years are a time of false peace, when the antichrist comes into power through a brilliant series of treaties that brings peace to the Middle East, and structures a disarmament. (Daniel 8:11-14, 25, 9:27; Isaiah 28:18)

“At midpoint of this seven-year period the antichrist breaks his treaty with Israel, and in the reconstructed Jewish temple, declares himself to be God. This is the abomination spoken of by Daniel. (Daniel 9:27; 8:13-14; 11:31; Matthew 24:15) These last three and a half years are of world war and great destruction. The Book of Revelation counts it as a period of 42 months. (Revelation 11:2) Chapter divisions in the Bible were not added until several hundred years ago, and most people may not believe that God had anything to do with it.  But it is interesting to notice that Job has 42 chapters…

“Very few people can boast that the devil himself has personally persecuted them, but Job could. He was the direct target of Satan. This is also a figure of what will happen to Israel in the time of Tribulation. Israel will be attacked by the very devil…

“At the end of the book of Job, Job’s captivity is turned, and he receives double all that he lost. In similar way, the captivity of Israel will be turned around after the purging of the Tribulation, and will be restored to the position of blessing.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the dialogue between God and Satan — Job 1:6–12 (Through it we can understand the meaning of Christ’s statement to Peter, that Satan desired to “sift [him] as wheat” — Luke 22:31.)

OVERVIEW: King Ahasuerus issues another decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies; the Jews defeat and destroy their enemies; the feast of Purim is instituted to commemorate this victory; Mordecai’s prosperity and promotion.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

To this point in our overview of the Book of Esther, our emphasis has primarily been on the storyline, or the “historical” application. What an intriguing story it is! It is literally packed full of all the things that typically hold our interest as humans when reading a story: a villain, a hero, hatred, love, danger, and romance. While all of these things have been recorded in the Book of Esther with precise historical accuracy, it is important to note that in the “doctrinal” or “prophetic” application, this story is actually an incredible picture of the unfolding daily “drama” of the Christian life as “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” (Gal. 5:17)

From the perspective of the “doctrinal/prophetic” application (i.e. what a verse, passage, chapter, or book of the Bible is actually “teaching” us through the “real-life” illustrations in pictures and types):

• King Ahasuerus is a picture of the human soul, and particularly our will. (Where DECISIONS are made, POLICIES are determined, and DECREES are put into motion.)
• Vashti is a picture of the fallen human spirit, representing our “old” or “fallen” nature.
• Esther is a picture of the human spirit, revived by the Holy Spirit, representing our “new” nature.
• Mordecai is a picture of the Holy Spirit.
• Haman is a picture of the flesh.

With these pictures in mind, understand that it is a monumental thing when Ahasuerus gives his ring to Haman in chapter 3:10, for whoever has possession of the king’s ring has the “power” or, is “in control.” Chapter 3 becomes, then, a perfect picture of the flesh (Haman) in control, “lusting against the Spirit (Mordecai)”, and chapter 4 becomes a perfect picture of the “Spirit (Mordecai) lusting against the flesh (Haman).”

Note also in chapter 4, that when the flesh (Haman) is in control, the Spirit (Mordecai) is “grieved.” What an incredibly graphic and horribly sad glimpse of what actually takes place in “the midst of our city,” (or, on the inside of us) when the flesh is “wearing the ring,” or, is “in control” of our lives. We “grieve” the Holy Spirit of God within us! (Eph. 4:30) Oh, what a difference it would make if we could only see and hear what Esther 4:1 describes through the picture of Mordecai, as the Holy Spirit in us is wearing “sackcloth and ashes,” and weeping with a “loud and bitter cry!” God help us.

Notice also in today’s reading in Chapter 8, that because of the law of the Medes and Persians (8:8), the king could not cancel the decree that had been written to put the Jews to death. The only way to prevent the execution demanded by the old law was to institute and implement a new law. It is a perfect picture of what Paul revealed to us in Romans chapter 8. The law of sin and death (the Old Testament) is binding and in effect. “The wages of sin” is most certainly “death.” (Rom. 6:23a) There is no reversing that. The only remedy is the institution and implementation of the new law provided in and through our Lord Jesus Christ that supersedes the old law, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!” (Rom. 8:2) Hallelujah!

In light of these incredible pictures, Esther 8:8 also becomes a beautiful verse that pictures for us the New Testament teaching of the “eternal security of the believer.” As pictured in the law of the Medes and Persians, once something had received the “sealing” of the king, no man had the ability to reverse it, not even the king himself! In the New Testament, Ephesians 1:12–14 and 4:30 teach us that the moment we called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone for our salvation, He “sealed” us with His own Spirit! Ephesians 1:14 even calls this “sealing” the “earnest” (or “down payment,” and literally, “engagement ring!”), guaranteeing our complete redemption, and the inheritance of eternal life. May we not only rejoice, but rest in the fact that when the King of creation and salvation seals us with His Holy Spirit, we are secure in Him for all of eternity! (Also see Daniel 6:17.)

Esther 8:10–14 is a beautiful picture of the urgency of taking the life and death message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Observe how the scribes hurriedly wrote the message and the official ambassadors quickly took the “good news” to the four corners of the kingdom. Likewise, we have become the King’s “ambassadors,” commissioned to take the message of “good news” to the four corners of the globe while we still have time! Note also, that when the Jews received the message of “good news”, namely, that the OLD law ensuring DEATH had been superseded by a NEW law ensuring LIFE, it not only provided deliverance, but incredible rejoicing!

In chapter 9, note that the Jews avenged themselves of their enemies, trusting God to destroy them all; all 75,810 of them! (75,000 in 9:16; 500 in 9:6; 300 in 9:15; and the 10 sons of Haman in 9:13.) Note also in chapter 9, while comprehending the actual history of what actually was happening in Esther’s day, at least six powerful New Testament principles concerning the Christian life that apply directly to believers in our day:

Principle #1: What I do to ensure victory TODAY, is the same thing I must do to ensure victory TOMORROW.  (9:12–13)

The middle of verse 13 says, “…Do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree.” The victory in the Christian life is simply a matter of reckoning our death to self and Christ’s life within us on a daily basis. (Rom. 6:11; 2 Cor. 4:10–11; 1 Cor. 15:31)

Principle #2: Even though my flesh is already dead, I must take it out daily and nail it to the cross. (9:13–14)

The end of verse 13 says, “…And let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.”  Notice that the ten sons of Haman were already dead, but they still took them out and hanged them the next day. (See Romans 6:11–15)

Principle #3: In order to attain and sustain victory in my spiritual walk, my motives must be free of self-interests. (9:10b, 15b,16b)

Verse 10 says, “…but on the spoil laid they not their hand.” Verse 15 says, “…but on the prey they laid not their hand.” Verse 16 says, “…but they laid not their hands on the prey.”

See 1 Corinthians 6:19–20.

Principle #4: As I walk in the victory of the fullness and power of the Spirit, God’s love will be shed abroad through me causing me to fulfill the “one another” commands of scripture toward my brothers and sisters, and causing me to express compassion for the poor. (9:22)

See Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love…” See Romans 5:5, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” See the New Testament “one another” commands. (John 13:34; Rom. 12:5, 10, 16; 13:8; 14:13, 19; 15:5, 7, 14; 16:16; 1 Cor. 4:6; 6:7; 11:33; 12:25; 16:20; Gal. 5:13, 15, 26; Eph. 4:2, 25, 32; 5:21; Col. 3:9, 13, 16; 1 Thes. 3:12; 4:18; 5:11; 1 Tim. 5:21; Heb. 13:13; 10:24-25; Jam. 4:11; 5:9, 16; 1 Pet. 1:22; 3:8; 4:9-10; 5:5, 14; 1 John 1:7; 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11.)

See Galatians 2:10, “…remember the poor.”

Principle #5: There is a memorial feast that I am to celebrate in remembrance of the day God turned my inevitable destruction into deliverance and salvation. (9:17–32)

See 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.

Principle #6: I must constantly remember that God’s Spirit (Mordecai) will not override my will (King Ahasuerus), and only through yielding my will to Him will I ever experience the spiritual wealth and peace of the Spirit in the kingdom I call my life. (10:1–3)

See Romans 6:13–22.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through MORDECAI — Esther 10:3. He became “next unto the king” after delivering God’s people from sure destruction. Jesus “sat down on the right hand of God” after delivering us all from sure destruction. (Heb. 10:12–14)