King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, January 10, 2024
Chapters: Job 22-26
Message: Job: Come Forth As Gold
Hello My Friend,
Every faithful, saved, born again Christian struggles with some kind of sin whether it be a bad habit, pride, envy, or some other kind of sin nature sin, and we surely do not want anyone to know about it because it would reflect bad on us. So whenever affliction comes and prolongs not only do the questions by others start to come out, we start questioning ourselves, going down a list of things that could be the source of the problem. I mean we can understand God’s judgments when we are living in sin, but not so much when we are not. So, how do we cope and what do we do? Think about something James said.
[James 5:11-13 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.]
We can also think about something Peter said, [1 Peter 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.]
The word reproach means, to censure, upbraid, or find fault with someone and since we are all sinners if we look long and hard enough we can find fault in everyone. This is why we are to one; work out our own salvation with Christ, two; use righteous judgment, and three; be careful with our words. We need to approach people like Jesus, yes, He got angry and spoke what was on His mind a time or two, but He was diplomatic about it. Now, as we continue in the reading of Job, it had been quite some time since Job had been face with such tragic events, then to add insult to injury three of his friends kept reproaching him. It did not matter what he said, they would not believe that he had not done anything so bad for all this to befall him. Eliphaz, speaks out a third time, this time attacking his integrity.
[Job 22:1-7,10 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? 4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? 5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? 6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;]
Now, the accusations are getting ridiculous, even suggesting that Job has oppressed people and that is how he made his money, pledge, meaning that he took advantage of the needy in order to make himself wealthy. Eliphaz, does go on to suggest that God would never oppress those who are righteous, and even goes on to remind him that the wicked were overthrown by the flood.
[Job 22:15-21 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: 17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. 20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. 21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.]
God, promises us two things, salvation through our faith in His Son and that He will never leave nor forsake us, He did not promise us wealth, prosperity, or an escape from affliction. While it is a good thing to reflect on the errors of our forefathers and how God dealt with their sin, we must never rejoice of His judgments. God’s judgments are just and the majority of the time used so that we might learn to fear Him, but those who find joy in seeing others suffering in God’s judgments are in danger of God sending judgment upon them, [Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.]
God, is not a respecter of persons so to say that we are blessed because we have somehow escaped His judgment while other suffer also puts us in danger as doing so makes it look as though God picks and chooses who to bless. God, does not nor ever has compensated us for doing what we ought to be doing in the first place, but Eliphaz seems to think so and goes on to suggest to Job that all he has to do is repent.
[Job 22:23-29 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.]
While God certainly is merciful to not only forgive us of our sin when we come to Him in confession and there is something about being humble that gets His attention. We must understand that God owes us nothing for being obedient to Him. Why? Jesus said it this way, [Luke 17:7-10 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.]
There is a difference between laboring for what we have need of and being appreciative or arrogant about it. Sometimes we do work hard and are treated unjustly, but it all works itself out in the end. At my job we are only allotted twenty minutes in a store, but often go past that and are not compensated for it, but there are some stores that I am only in there ten minutes so it all works itself out so at the end of the week I still have forty hours. Now, Eliphaz, believed that every time Job spoke he only made things worse on himself, and that if he would just repent, then he would come forth as gold. Well, Job responds to this.
[Job 23:1-6 Then Job answered and said, 2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! 4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.]
There are times in our lives when we know we have not been our very best and can see God’s hand of mercy. There are times when we have done our very best and can see God’s hand of protection. There are times when we have done our very best, and everything is falling apart and no matter where we turn we cannot see God. Well, it is really the times when we do not see Him that He is doing His best work in us. Job, may not have been able to see God’s reason behind all this, but he did know that His hand was in it and would have just cause to plead his case to Him.
[Job 23:8-13 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.]
Gold has a lot of impurities in it when it is first found, and in order to remove the impurities it needs to be melted and cooled over and over again. This is how gold gets that shiny finish to it, and that is actually what God does to us through the trials that we face, He removes the impurities so that we can be a reflection of His Son. If we do not understand what is going on, it is best to trust God and let Him bring it all to light, we somehow find His hand of grace as we discover that everything we went through was all appointed. This is what Job concluded.
[Job 24:1,5,12-13,24-25 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. 13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?]
The longer we walk with Christ the more we wonder if the life we are living will ever come close to reflecting Him, but He does know the way that we take, and while it may not be perfect, it is one that leads to eternal life. Before Christ came here in the flesh they did not have a physical person to point to, they literally walked by faith unseen. This is what Job is trying to literate to them, and at this point, he is beside himself, wondering how the wicked can just ignore God and be blessed while he is having to deal with this. Now, Bildad, takes his third go around, questioning Job when he said that he knew he would be justified.
[Job 25:1-6 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2 Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. 3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise? 4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. 6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?]
This was another foolish statement, little did he know that one can be justified with God, you just need to know the right person. There is only one way to be justified before God, and that is through our faith in Jesus Christ, [Romans 3:22-24 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:]
I have no doubt that we suffer for sin well before will stand before Jesus, but I also have no doubt that because I am justified I will stand before God spotless. Although Job felt like God had taken away his understanding of what was going on he knew that the Spirit of God was with him. And he was not about to let any of these men tell him otherwise.
[Job 26:1-6,11-14 But Job answered and said, 2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? 3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? 4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee? 5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. 11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. 6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. 12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. 13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. 14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?]
God, blesses all of His people, He knows exactly what we need, what we can handle, and what we are capable of. So while the one who is a millionaire may seem more blessed than the one who has lost everything they ever possessed that is simply not the case. That is why Jesus said this, [Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.]
There are many things of God that we are never meant to understand, otherwise we would not be living by faith. There are things that even science cannot explain, such as bones forming in the womb and pearls forming inside oysters. God, does not want us to know everything otherwise we would one; abuse that power and two; not depend on Him, which by the way, is all God wants is for us. When we learn to trust Him and live our lives in a way that shows that we trust Him then we will not question Him at all, [Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for sending Your Son to save me, my faith in Him alone qualifies me to be justified before you. Since I trust Him to save my soul it ought to be easy to trust You with everything, even the afflictions that I face. Although it may take me some time at times, I do come to my senses when I realize that Your hand is in all of it. You know the way that I take, and while I know I mess up a lot, You are always faithful and just to forgive me when I come to You in sincere repentance. Lord, keep me humble, keep me faithful, and keep me praying for those who wrong and falsely accuse me. Even when I want to give up, You give me the strength I need to rise up. I love You, and pray this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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