Job’s Friends
Scripture reading for August 20: Job 16:1-2 “Then Job answered and said: “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all. Shall windy words have and end? Or what provokes you that you answer?” Job 16:20-21 “My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God that He would argue the case of a man with God, as as a son of man does with his neighbor.”
Revelation 12:10-11 “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
As we walk with God through times of sickness, often our friends and even our family think that they are encouraging us with their blunt analysis of our condition and the reasons behind it. Job’s friends were no different. They suggested that Job was hiding some unknown sin and God was punishing him. One suggested that he was even getting far less than he deserved. Friends like this became for Job (and us!) miserable comforters. They test our faith and become tools of the accuser, Satan. Job longed for one like a “Son of Man” to intervene for him and plead his case. His longing was answered by God in the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ.
John, in Revelation 12, saw that the accuser of the brothers had been cast down to earth. Those trusting in God and His Mediator, Jesus Christ, had an advocate Who would defend them. They overcame the accuser and his accusations by pleading the shed blood of Jesus and testified to their faith in God’s mercy through Him. They stood firm in their faith against all accusations, even becoming martyrs for their stand of faith.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending one like a “son of man” in Your Son Jesus to be our advocate for us in heaven. We love You and have committed to a stand of faith, even unto death. Amen!
Living by God’s Word
Scripture reading for August 19: Job 23:10-12 “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.”
Matthew 4:4 “But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Job’s trial of extreme loss and then sickness approaching death was allowed by God to prove that Job served God for Who He was, not just for the benefits God gives those who trust Him. God knows everything about us, including the genuineness of our faith. We don’t have all the inside information of why God allows these tests, but they bring out of us amazing faith and confessions. Job confessed that God knew all about his walk of faith. Job was confident that when the test was over, he would come out like gold from the fire–free from impurities.
He had sought to walk closely with God and to keep His commandments. He stated that he treasured God’s Word more than his portion of food. This reminds us of Jesus’ confession when Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread after a forty day fast. Jesus stated that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) (Deuteronomy 8:3) Faith also comes by hearing God’s Word. (Romans 10:17) Job was revealing where his faith came from and how he knew his faith was genuine.
As we go through various trials, Peter tells us to rejoice in the testing of our faith. Faith is more precious than gold that is perishing as it is part of creation. Faith in God leads to eternal life and eternal joy–kept in heaven for us and soon revealed in Jesus’ return. “Come, Lord Jesus!” is the last prayer of the church recorded in Scripture! (Revelation 22:17, 20) Amen!
“I Know My Redeemer Lives”
Scripture reading for August 18: Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me.”
John 11:25-6 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Over two thousand years separate the faith confession of Job and the truth Jesus declared to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. Job was in the midst of a trial of sickness that he felt could take his life. Satan had obtained permission to test his faith and God had agreed. Satan threw his worst attack on Job’s health and faith through accusations from his wife and friends as well. Job maintained his integrity and did not blame God or curse Him.
But God was at work behind the scenes as well. Job’s faith was maintained through revelation knowledge of the unseen world. God had revealed a Redeemer Who would one day stand upon the earth and be made visible to those of faith. Job had a revelation that even if he died and his flesh and skin was destroyed, yet he would behold this Redeemer for himself and his own eyes would see Him. The only way Job could know this was if God revealed it to him. This has been God’s mercy towards those who humbly seek Him and trust in Him.
Jesus Christ stood at Lazarus’ grave and declared that He was the resurrection and the life. He was that Redeemer, that whoever believed on Him would live, even if dead. Those that lived and believed would never die! What amazing revelation knowledge revealed by Jesus, Son of God! The real question for us all, “Do you believe this?”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your great mercy in revealing Jesus Christ, Your Son, as the way to live forever and find assurance that even in death, we will be made alive in Him! With Job of old, ‘How my heart burns within me!’ Amen.
Our Witness in Heaven!
Scripture reading for August 17: Job 16:19-21 “Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He Who testifies for me is on high. My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God, that He would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great High Priest Who passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Job next testifies of his faith in God’s ability to help him by a Witness in heaven. Just like a son of man would vouch for his neighbor, so God would provide a Mediator to argue Job’s case in heaven. Job’s neighbors and friends were not helping him as they should. Satan was using them to bring scorn and accusation against Job that he had hidden sins and deserved more punishment than he was getting. They were ‘miserable comforters’ to Job. But Job again focused on the unseen realm of Heaven and God’s justice for those trusting in Him.
The writer of Hebrews mirrors Job’s statement of trust under the New Covenant of grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ became all believers great “High Priest” and the only Mediator between God and man. He had identified with sinful man and experienced all our temptations and weaknesses, but without sin. We can come boldly with confidence to God’s throne to find grace to help us in any time of need. Our ‘Witness’, one like a Son of Man, the Son of God, is in heaven seated at God’s right hand and interceding for those who believe!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for showing us mercy through Jesus Christ our Great High Priest. I come confidently today because Jesus is my Mediator and has argued my case successfully. He testifies that His blood has redeemed me and by His stripes I am healed. (1 Peter 2:24) Amen.
Declaring Hope in God’s Goodness
Scripture reading for August 14: Job 13:15-17 “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him; yet I will argue my ways to His face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before Him. Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in Your ears.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
True faith and trust in God is not based on what we can see in the natural realm. As Job went through this physical trial where he experienced severe affliction and accusations from family and friends, his anchor was in the goodness of God. Even though he did not understand why this affliction was happening to him, he refused to blame or curse God. He also refused to blame himself and repent for something he did not do just to please his friends. In fact, he declared his faith in God in the face of what was happening to him in the natural realm. He kept his confession of hope in God and prayed trusting that God would hear him.
In the New Testament, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul made a similar statement of hope in God in the midst of affliction and suffering. He encouraged himself and the Corinthian believers with a statement of faith in God’s goodness to work suffering and affliction for eternal good and glory. In order to truly grasp this, Paul explained that his focus was not on what was happening in the natural realm. Instead he focused on the unseen realities of God’s eternal purposes and power to work all things for good to those who love Him. He knew that the present afflictions and suffering were light and momentary, transient and passing away. He knew that God’s eternal promises were the ultimate reality and those who trusted in them would triumph by faith.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Holy Spirit to help me today to declare Your unseen realities which are eternal. Deliver me from fear and slavery to my senses and flesh. Even when my body is wasting away, I know You are working eternal glory for me. Amen.
Responding to Sickness
Scripture reading for August 13: Job 2:7-10 “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
The story of Job in Scripture gives us insight into the unseen world of spiritual conflict between Satan, the accuser of the brothers, and Job, a man who loved and trusted God. God had allowed Satan to take Job’s health from him in order to prove that Job served God with integrity, not just for benefits God bestows on those who trust him. Job was afflicted with open sores all over his body. His response was to sit in ashes, a sign of mourning and repentance. He also took a piece of broken pottery and scraped the sores to get some relief. The broken pottery likely reflects how Job was feeling after this terrible attack on his body.
But even worse, Satan used his wife to bring the attack to a new level. She questioned how her husband could maintain his integrity of trusting God when God would allow something like this to happen. Her suggestion to “Curse God and die” was a path to eternal destruction and Satan was behind it. The term for ‘curse’ was the same word used for ‘bless’ in the Hebrew. She was suggesting that Job’s ‘blessing’ of God would not keep him from death. He should just do whatever he felt like.
But Job did maintain his integrity and rebuked his wife for her foolish advice. Job knew that the righteous path was to trust God in good times and in bad times. God would work things out for his good. He kept a good confession with his lips, although the temptation to loose it and turn to accusation of God and self-pity was certainly strong.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for keeping Job through faith in Your justice and goodness. Help me during trials of sickness to trust You to work everything out for good! (Romans 8:28) Keep me from sin with my lips. Amen.
Unseen Accusations!
Scripture reading for August 12: Job 2:3-6 “And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse You to Your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, only spare his life.”
We come to the ancient book of Job and the story of Job’s life and trust in God in the days before Abraham. The story reveals a conflict between God the Father and Satan, the fallen angel. This conflict was during a gathering of the ‘Sons of God’ and Satan came along with them. The ‘Sons of God’ is a term used to describe created heavenly beings who serve God and do His will. Satan was once part of that group until iniquity was found in him and he was removed from his position of authority under God. His name, Satan, (‘hassatan’ in Hebrew) means ‘adversary’ or ‘prosecutor’ or ‘accuser’ and is a title rather than a name. Although cast out of the heavenly angelic band, he was still given access to God’s throne on occasion.
In this passage, we find God speaking to Satan and bringing to his attention His servant Job a second time. God’s assessment of Job was that he stood alone among those on earth as blameless and upright and fearing God. Job had passed the first test of keeping steadfast faith in God as sovereign even after losing his flocks, servants and even his children and their families. Now Satan accused God of protecting Job’s health as he had of his wealth the first time. Satan’s accusation was that if Job’s life was threatened, he would curse God. God allowed Satan to take Job’s health, just not his life. God was confident that Job would remain true to Him.
As we learn from Scripture to trust God in all circumstances, we can learn from Job’s example and the unseen and unknown accusations behind the health circumstance. There are forces of evil trying to destroy us and our faith. But our Lord Jesus has power to sustain those committed to Him. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Humbly Seek His Face!
Scripture reading for August 10: 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 “Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My Name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.”
According to Jesus, in this world, we will have trouble. We are told to be of good cheer and live in peace, for He has overcome the world and it’s ultimate trouble, sin and death. (John 16:33) Time and chance happen to all people, including God’s people. Bad things happen, sickness strikes, and habits of the flesh bring consequences. But God made provision for His people in dealing with this trouble. They must come with a sacrifice to His house and humbly seek His face.
In the Old Covenant, God called His people who were experiencing troubles related to sin, either their own or that of the people of the world, to come to Him in prayer. He encouraged them to come humbly confessing sins and needs and seeking His face for forgiveness and healing. God gives grace to the humble but He opposes the proud and rebellious. This famous passage from 2 Chronicles 7:14 was God’s response to Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple. God promised to hear their humble prayers, confessions of sin, and to bring healing to them and their land. Sin affects people but also the land. Drought, famine, and pestilence are all related judgments of God that are consequences of sin. God is the only source of rain, multiplication of seeds sown, and deliverance from insects and pests.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ has perfectly obeyed the Law of God and offered His own body and blood as the perfect and final sacrifice. He prayed “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Believers in Jesus can come with confidence before God’s throne and find grace and help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) What a Savior and Lord! Amen!
Priest and Ark!
Scripture reading for August 7: 2 Chronicles 6:40-42 “Now, O my God, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer of this place. “And now arise, O Lord God, and go to the ark of Your might. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in Your goodness. O Lord God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember Your steadfast love for David Your servant.”
This passage is taken from Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple he had built to house the ark of God. He had asked that God would always have His eyes and ears attentive to the prayers of His people as they prayed there before Him. Even when they had been taken captive and would pray towards that place, he asked God to pay attention and act. Solomon closed by inviting God to arise and dwell in the ark in the midst of His people. He asked that His priests would be clothed with salvation and that all the saints would rejoice in God’s amazing goodness and love that endures forever! Solomon asked for himself that God would not turn away His Face from him as his anointed one to lead His people.
This prayer was given by Solomon around one thousand years before Christ under the Old Covenant of Law. But today under the New Covenant, we have something much better. As believers in Jesus, we have been told to ask for anything in His Name and He would do it. (John 14:13-14) This is because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has anointed us as His priests. He has purchased our salvation through His final sacrifice. We can now rejoice in His goodness as His saints, set apart for His glory and purposes. We are now the ‘Holy of Holies’ where God’s presence dwells through the Holy Spirit. We do not need to go to a ‘temple’ or turn towards a location on earth. Not only do we have what we ask for, but eternal life and joy unspeakable are ours!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for opening heaven’s door through Jesus Christ for salvation, healing, and relationship with joy. Help me to ask You in faith for every need and wisdom to walk with You indwelling me. Amen.