Category: Job

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Read Peter’s advice in 1 Peter 5:6. This is just what Job does. He finds no answers, but he does find the Lord again! Job is told to pray for his three friends. They are to repent of their wrong assessment of God and of Job. Elihu is not even mentioned! This is no oversight, but a very pointed lesson.

SJA Notes

* God Almighty, there is only You, You and You alone. We serve You and no other, for we cannot serve two masters.

“Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

We come to the end of the book of Job. A book that opens up a window into the heavenly realities, alongside a clear example of us-humanity wrestling with why bad things happen.

God tells Job’s friends that they were wrong. Big hard stop.

Job had given to God the glory. Job had hallowed God’s Name in his arguments.

And yet – Why then did God speak the way He did to Job out of the whirlwind?

Job tried to argue with his own wisdom! He darkened counsel by words without knowledge.

We all do this!

How often it is that we are confronted with the reality of this life and instead of turning to God and His word, trusting in His purposes – Instead we pursue our own reasoning, gazing at our own navels.

Job is a book of much encouragement for us, as well as conviction.

Job points us to the awesome majesty of God, His absolute sovereignty, His working out His purposes of love for His people.

And in this it shows us who we are, why we need God.

We cannot save ourselves! Only God can save us.

* God Above,

Thank You that as Father You save us by Your grace.

Thank You that as Son You save us by Your righteousness, death, blood and life.

Thank You that as Spirit You save us by Your illumination, Your renovation and Your preservation.

Thank You for saving us!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Lord humbles Job using two examples of huge animals – both land and sea. Behemoth and Leviathan sound like dinosaurs on a straight reading. No hippo or crocodile matches this description. Nature humbles us when we experience its force and might.

SJA Notes

* Holy and Righteous One, You tell us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, because where our treasure is so our heart is also – Please help us today to lay up treasure in heaven.

“Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.”

God speaks again, there is a cycle here, a repetition in the opening phrases/intent.

Job argued his case to God, and God called on him to gird up his loins – To put his big boy pants on, get ready for God’s response as He speaks from the whirlwind.

If the first portion of God’s answer shows us the reality of who He is, the heavenly Creator and Sustainer perspective – How much further does this second portion!

We see the folly of man putting ourselves in the place of God,

“Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?”

More. God has put within creation itself great lessons of humility.

Look at the two creatures, created by God – Behemoth and Leviathan.

They laugh at man.

Let us get our perspective right!

Job’s response show the change (in his perspective),

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?”

May the Lord teach us this humility, this right-thinking, right-sight, right-viewpoint.

* Almighty God,

You are the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing, all-everywhere God – We praise You!

Please help us wrestle with our own pride, and to come to a right and true understanding of our place in this world.

That we find our identity grounded in You, in what You have done for us, in what You have given and what You have promised.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Job 38:2 refers to all five men! But Job knows that it refers to him. The Lord is dealing with him face to face! God does not answer Job question as to why this has happened. What God does is reveal His glory, wonder and goodness to Job through the natural creation.

SJA Notes

* Dear God Above, help us to be humble and not self-serving today, help us to serve You without worrying about being seen by others.

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.”

Here we are. We have read through thirty-five chapters of debate, and here God enters the court room!

God doesn’t really enter the debate.

The answer that God provides is so alien to man’s understanding that we can find ourselves not comprehending the gravity of His words.

“Where were you …””

These are deep and lasting truths that God speaks here.

ONE – We see who God is.

TWO – We see who we are.

God has shut in the sea with doors. We have not.

God has commanded the morning since the days began. We have not.

God has determined the measurements of the earth, laid its foundation, sunk it bases and laid its cornerstone. We have not!

These are truths that should drive us to Jesus.

These are truths that should strengthen our trust in our God, striking deep at our pride and arrogance, our selfish desires.

Remember the first chapter of Job. The heavenly council, the realities that sit apart from our perception.

This is a God who rules both heaven and earth! He was there when the morning stars sang together, and He is our God, working for us!

These chapters are a trove of humbling knowledge and insight into who God is, and who we are (and our need for Him).

* Creator God,

Please show us today from Your word what You want us to know.

Please humble us today, in the light of Your magnitude and power.

You are God. We are Your people.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.