Thanks heaps for the wee party you put on for me! was wonderful!!
Todays reading is quite an exciting reading, Job is beginning to get some revelation for God about life and death, and also getting sick of his friends with what they are saying.
To begin with Job and his friends had very simpl ideas about life and death, and how God punished bad people and rewarded good people. But in chapter 18-19 we begin to see that Jobs ideas are changing and God is revealing some things to him: (here is an exert from the commentary I am reading)
These verses (19v25-27) may be the most important verses in the Book of Job. Elsewhere Job explained his troubles, fears and doubts. But in these verses, Job explained the reasons why he still had hope.
Elsewhere Job had been doubtful whether he could ever prove himself innocent. He prayed. But he was not sure that God would ever help him. But in these verses, Job felt confident again.
Elsewhere, Job argued that death would be the end of everything. He did not think that a dead person could ever live again. But in these verses, Job was sure that God could make a dead person live again. And Job believed that he himself would meet God.
These are very important verses. But they are not easy verses to translate. Bible students are unsure about the exact meaning of many phrases.
But we understand enough to be confident about Job’s main ideas here:
· Firstly, Job was developing his thoughts in Job 16:19-21. There, Job said that somebody in heaven was helping him. He described that person as a lawyer or a friend. Job probably meant God himself. With our knowledge of the whole Bible, we can add that these passages describe Jesus well.
· In Job 14:7-9, Job remembered about trees. A tree that seems dead can often live again. And in Job 14:13-17, Job prayed that this would happen to Job himself. Here in chapter 19, Job seems confident that God will answer that prayer.
· Job used a special word in verse 25. In the original language of the book (called Hebrew) this word is GOEL. A GOEL frees someone by either of two particular methods. Either the GOEL may pay a debt for that person. Or the GOEL may fight to free the person. The English word for GOEL is a redeemer. So:
(1) In the Book of Ruth, Boaz freed Ruth. He loved her. So he paid her debts and he married her. He was her redeemer or GOEL.
(2) God is often called a GOEL or redeemer. For example, Psalm 19:14 and Isaiah 63:16.
(3) The Bible teaches that Jesus is our redeemer (1 Peter 1:18-19). When he died for us, he freed us from the devil’s power. The price for our freedom was Jesus’ death.
(4) In Job 19:25, Job uses this special word to describe God. At last, Job trusts God completely. God will rescue Job, even if God has to take Job from the grave to save him. God will rescue Job, even if God must pay to rescue him. And God will rescue Job even if God must fight for Job.
· Job realised that his body would die. But Job now knew that death would not be the end. In verse 26, the words ‘in my body’ might mean ‘without my body’. The translation is difficult but the meaning of Job’s words seems clear. After Job’s death, Job would see God. And Job desired that day, like Paul in Philippians 1:21-23.
I believe this can relate to us, so many people including ourselves may have traditional or wrong views or understandings about christianity and how things are that can bind us into fear or unbelief about things, but If we pray and seek God like Job did He can begin to reveal things to you that maybe you dont even understand.. And also Praying for your friends who have false Ideas about christianity that will stop them getting into church, because the media and everyone out there portrays christianity so different that what it really is people just dont wanna touch it. But we all know the reality that God is awesome and He just wants us to love us.
Action key: Pray for both yourself and your friends that God would reveal and open your eyes to things that may be holding you back or confusing you.
The other thing I want to take from this passage today was Jobs rightous anger at his friends...Job was sitting there for days/weeks listening to his friends tell him he was evil and God was punishing him for it and talking smack about his children and his life. Job in chapters 18-19 gets angry at his friends and sick of what they are saying because he knows that what they are saying cant be right.
Sometimes we sit and take crap from our friends and family about our lives or they say things over and over we know are not right or from God, and we dont have to take that, If we know Gods word and what is reality you dont have to take crap from other people. Doesnt mean you can yell at them and get all snarky but it is ok to say hey, what your saying isnt cool, or right and I don't appreciate it. especially if there words are attacking you or your family.
Jaana shared on the power of words a few weeks ago and this is where it fits, Know what God has told and promiced you, know what He thinks of you and etc...Dont let anyone speak out otherwise.
Words have power and my mother always said if what your saying is not uplifting or encouraging to someone dont speak...
So be encouraged, dont take crap, pray for things to be revealed.
And like was said last night if you simply have a willing heart, that can be key to break through
PRAY!!
Abz
xox
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