King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 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.]
Date: Mon-Thur, January 09, 2023
Chapters: JOB 18-21
Study: My Redeemer Lives!
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
Even at our best, we could never do enough good to save ourselves from death and hell. Thank God we do not have to because Jesus paid the price for us, and will save all who come to Him in faith. Our salvation, contrary to what so many religions believe, is not depended upon what how good we are because everyone’s level of good is not the same. It is solely dependent upon our faith in one mans work, who by the way, said it was finished the second He was about to die on the cross, and that is Jesus Christ, [John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.]
Good works have never sent one soul to heaven, but one sin does send every unsaved soul to hell, and no matter how much good we do, we could never escape that punishment on our own, we need a Redeemer if we want to avoid that judgment. There is also a false assumption among the religious that if bad things happen to you, then you have some sin in your life and God is judging you for it. When the truth comes out and every true believer stands before Christ, we shall see both God and our Redeemer because He lives, [Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.]
As we continue in the reading of Job, these three friends of his were sure that the reason all these bad things happened to him was the result of some wicked life he was living that no one knew about. This was their second go around to convince Job of that. Now, Bildad, speaks out a second time, flat out telling him that his justifying himself is proving himself to be guilty and he is walking into his own snare because of it.
[Job 18:2,5-8,13-15,21 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak. 5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. 6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. 7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. 8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. 13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. 14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. 15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.]
[For he is cast into a net by his own feet,] It is no doubt that the wicked do get caught up in their own net of wickedness as they try to cover up one act after another in an attempt to hide what they have done, and they do eventually die in their sin if they do not repent. However, there is no sin that is not pardonable under the blood of Christ, [1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.]
[Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,] This was not righteous judgment as we could expect from faithful Christians who see a person living in sin and help them understand their sin. This is a down right utter slander of Job’s character. Job, has never once shown himself to be nothing more than an honorable man and yet Bildad, goes on to suggest that he does not even know God. Of course, we sin, and need to confess our sins because quite frankly, our minds and mouths get us into more trouble than our hands, but God knows who are His. Jesus, will never put His Light out of anyone who receives Him as their Saviour, [1 John 1:5,7-9 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.]
As we walk with Christ, we literally do conform into something resembling His likeness, and that scares people, especially those who are envious of us. This is what seemed to be the case with Job’s three friends, they were not willing to admit that they envied him for the life he lived. So, when the news got out of all that happened to him, they just knew he was not as righteous as he appeared to be and had to find out what he was guilty of. At this point, Job feels all alone, and that everyone, including his family, are like strangers to him.
[Job 19:2-8,22-24 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? 3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me. 4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. 5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: 6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. 7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. 22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!]
[mine error remaineth with myself.] God is our judge, and no one else, if we are guilty of something, then it will be God that we deal with, and if we have erred in some way, then that is on us, and we will deal with it. This is not about known sin, and the righteous judgment that we would receive, this is about falsely accusing and judging someone without just cause, [But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. – Romans 14:10-13]
[Oh that my words were now written!] I point this out every year, if only Job realized that his testimony would be written in the greatest and only living book known to man. All believers, by they way, have their words printed in a book, more important, their names are written in a special book, it is called, the Book of Life, and the only names written in it are the ones who are saved, [Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.]
I do not believe that any true believer of Christ that has received Him could ever turn from their faith as Christ Himself is the one who holds on to them. I do believe that those who do fall away from Christ did have some faith in Him for a time, but never accepted Him. This is why we will all stand before Jesus and give an account to our faith. At this point, Job did not care what they thought about him, and even though he could not see God, he knew that he would stand before Him and live. There are some people in this world that appear to know more about God than God does, and that He somehow reveals the secret sins of others in an attempt to get them to feel guilt and repent that instant. This is what Zophar does as he lashes out at Job.
[Job 20:2-5,8,12,18 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. 3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. 4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; 18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.]
[and for this I make haste.] There is one thing that we must never do and that is speak on a matter before we had time to think about it, [Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.]
[according to his substance shall the restitution be,] Again, he is saying that Job is getting what he deserved. Okay, I will tell you this, the more you walk with Christ, the more Holy Spirit does show you that suffering is coming to someone because of their sin, and you will see it coming because you see how their own behavior changes toward God afflicting them. Zophar, goes on to suggest that he is receiving from God pretty much what he sowed.
[Job 20:23,26-29 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. 26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.]
[This is the portion of a wicked man from God,] Really? Do you know how many babies are born with some kind of defect? Do you know how many are born into a very unhealthy environment? None of this is because the babies are wicked from birth, nor the one who gave birth to them, even if they turn out to be. God, uses every opportunity, even on the unsaved to bring them to Christ, even natural evils like cancer, blindness, deaf, and other handicaps, [John 9:2-4 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.]
Sometimes, it seems the longer we walk with Christ the more affliction we face because we will not succumb to those who are at dead set on their judgment of us. And if we are honest with ourselves we often wonder why some people who live wickedly are blessed while we continue to suffer. As Job responds, he too wonders why.
[Job 21:4-9,13-14 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.]
[why should not my spirit be troubled?] We try so hard to keep our spirits up when bad things happen, but it gets very hard when they seem to be endless. There is not one faithful Christian that does not see an unfaithful Christian and wonder why they are getting everything while you struggle. And there is not one faithful Christian who does not question why the wicked get everything while you have to beg God for a piece of bread at times. However, every faithful Christian will come to the point that they understand that the wicked already have their reward, [2 Peter 2:12-13 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;]
[for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.] Right now those who truly are wicked bask in the riches of the world, they care less about God because quite frankly they think they do not need God. Well, it is not God who is blessing them, this is Satan, he will do anything to keep people from turning to Christ, [2 Corinthians 11:14-15 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.]
The worldly, the immoral, the politically correct, and the religious, are some of the most wealthiest people in the world yet the most corrupt. They love to falsely accuse us, mock us, and try to stop and destroy our faith, and they care less about God, or the people they claim to be standing up for. They shall indeed have their reward, and Job figured out too that their reward will be their own destruction.
[Job 21:17-20,27-30 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.]
[Behold, I know your thoughts,] When God promises to give us salvation through our faith in His Son, He promises that He will never leave nor forsake us, but He did not promise that every day would be pain free. And suffering does not mean that we do not know God, or that He is punishing us for some wrong we have done. It is a well known truth that faithful Christians will suffer much tribulation, not only from the world, but friends and family as well. Do not think for one moment that God has not heard them or seen what they have done to us, He will recompense tribulation upon them and they will suffer much more than we ever will.
[2 Thessalonians 1:5-8 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem me, I know I am not saved by any good that I do of my own, but by my faith and trust alone in what He did for me. Because I am redeemed I know that You are always with me, but sometimes I feel like You are no where to be found. I catch myself trying to handle my troubles on my own instead of asking You for help and I, like Job, start to lose hope that things will change for me. Lord, give me Your power to always see past my troubles and look to You, as I do my part, by faith. For I know my Redeemer lives, and I will see Him in the latter days. I ask this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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