My Daily Bible study - Job

[Frances]

Job 23 + 24

What did I learn of God? - He is available. He takes heed of those who pray to Him and are honest with Him. He knows what I am doing. He tests those who are true to Him, until he sees His reflection in them. He is unique. He allows His people to go through hardship. He knows all things.

What did I learn of myself? - Am I in pain? Am I greatly distressed? Do I apply myself to learn more of God and His Ways? Do I talk to Him? Do I understand what He says to me? The Lord knows where I am and what I'm doing. He allows difficult people and occurrences in my life to encourage me to be like a reflection of Himself. Do I faithfully follow Him? Do I treasure His Word? Do I always do what He tells me? I will face more difficulties in this life. Earthly wealth and power are no protection against difficulties. Do I rely on the security God has given me? or on Him?

What did I praise God for? - the security He gives those who trust Him.

What did I pray for? - to be faithful to Him at all times.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Job recognises that the difficulties he faces are to encourage him to not only be faithful to God under severe trials, but also to become more like Him.

[Frances]

Job 25

Quote:- (Lawrence O. Richards) "Bildad . . . made a significant statement. God was so pure that He can really have nothing to do with man, 'who is but a maggot'. This statement was true, but distorted. Man is fallen, and in his sinful state 'only a worm'. Yet man was made in God's image, and God's Grace reaches down to transform worms into the very image of God's own Son. . . . God does not view us as worthless. And He does care when we honour Him by doing what is right."

Quote:- (David Pawson) “We must bear in mind one acute difference between a Jewish understanding of this book (Job) and a Christian one. The Jew . . . felt the Justice of God must be seen in this life, since good and bad people went to the same destination – sheol. Christians have a totally different perspective on present suffering. In the light of Christ’s Work they see the bigger picture of Heaven. Suffering in this world is small compared to the life that will be enjoyed in Heaven.”

[Frances]

Job 26 + 27

What did I learn of God? - "he hung the Earth on nothing" (how did Job know that Earth is suspended in space unless God revealed it to him?) He controls the weather. He has Mighty Power. He is Alive, and enables Life.

What did I learn of myself? - Do I help the powerless and weak? Do I tell others God's advise is stupidity? Am I filled with the Holy Spirit? or another spirit? I cannot comprehend God's limitless Power. Do I say what is not true? Is my conscience clear? Do I delight in the Lord? I can speak to God at any time of day or night. Do I live to please God? or to please myself/others? Am I aware that I am very important to God?

What did I praise God for? - always watching over me.

What did I pray for? - to always be able to help those in need.

What is this saying in one sentence? - God's Power, mankind's frailty and Job's integrity.

Quote:- (Angela of Foligno) "Our condition is most noble, being so beloved of the Most High God that He was willing o die for our sake, which He would not have done if man had not been a most noble creature, and of great worth."

[Frances]

Job 28

What did I learn of God? - He, alone, is truly wise. He Created the 'Laws of nature'.

What did I learn of myself? - Do I fear/respect God? if so I am being wise. Do I reject all evil? if so I demonstrate understanding of God.

What did I praise God for? - His Wisdom.

What did I pray for? - Greater knowledge of all that displeases God and wisdom to keep away from those things.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Although mankind has known how to mine metals and precious stones for thousands of years, the only way they can be truly wise is to fear/respect God and reject all evil.

[Frances]

Job 29 + 30

What did I learn of God? - He watches over, and Guides, those who submit their lives to Him.

What did I learn of myself? - The Lord takes care of me. Do I heed His Guidance? Do I fully appreciate the Blessings I experience? Do I recognise other people's needs? Do I help to make their burdens lighter? Am I clothed in Christ's Righteousness? If so, is it evident to others? Do I comfort those who mourn? Am I always honest? Do I look down on anyone, considering them inferior to myself?

What did I praise God for? - All I have received from Him in the past.

What did I pray for? - to recognise the needs other people have that He wants me to fulfill.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Job summarises his former life.

[Frances]

Job 31

What did I learn of God? - He has the right to destroy what He has Created. He is Magnificent. He knows everything. He has made clear that He will punish those who do not abide by His Rules. He answers prayer.

What did I learn of myself? - Am I deceitful? Am I known for integrity? Do I please God or myself? Do I fornicate? Am I faithful to my spouse? Am I an adulterer? Am I fair to those I employ? Do I do all I’m able to help those in need? Do I fear God's Wrath? Do I put my confidence in wealth? Do I secretly worship anything other than Almighty God? If I covet anything that belongs to another it may well lead to my destruction. Do I recognise God's Answers to my prayers?

What did I praise God for? - enabling me to help others.

What did I pray for? - to be aware of anything that needs my repentance.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Job considers the good things he's done for others.

[Frances]

Job 32 + 33

What did I learn of God? - He gives life and understanding. He doesn't approve of flattery. He creates and gives life. He is far greater than mankind who He Created. He makes His ways known in various ways, eg. in dreams, visions and pain. He has provided a Mediator - Jesus Christ. He does not want anyone to end up in the place He prepared for the Devil.

What did I learn of myself? - God has Created me and given me life. Is everything I say true? Do I argue with God? Do I recognise God's Voice? Do I heed what He says in His Word to everyone, and what He says to me individually? Is the pain I experience the result of my stupidity, a test or punishment? Jesus Christ is my Mediator. He offers me His Righteousness. Do I recognise all the ways I displease Him? Do I repent?

What did I praise God for? - His offer of Redemption.

What did I pray for? - that I never miss anything He says to me.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Elihu speaks, first to Bildad and Eliphaz, then to Job.

[Frances]

Job 34

What did I learn of God? - He never does any wrrong. He treats people as they deserve. He never twists Justice. he created the world and it is in his Care. He, alone, gives life. he is committed to Justice because He is Just. He knows everything.

What did I learn of myself? - Do I always try to please God? Do my friends, or family, lead me away from God? My life and death are in God's Hands. He knows all my thoughts and actions. He hears when I call to Him; His Peace is not dependant on my circumstances. God will Judge me according to His knowledge of me, not according to my view of myself. Do I speak about what I don't know first hand? Does what I say lack insight? Do I rebel against God?

What did I praise God for? - His Justice.

What did I pray for? - to know, in advance, if anything I intend to do or say does not please Him, so I'm able to correct those things.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Elihu proclaims his idea of God's Justice.

[Frances]

Job 35

What did I learn of God? - No one can increase, or diminish, His stature. He is the Creator. He pays no attention to 'empty talk'. He is Mighty, and His Understanding is unsurpassed. He is Powerful, Exalted, Mighty and Righteous.

What did I learn of myself? - Do I claim to be righteous? Why? I can only give God what He has first given to me. Do I offer everything back to Him? Pride in my own ability can drive a wedge between me and the Lord. Do I obey God? Am I a hypocrite? Do I only consider God's Judgment / Justice and overlook His Love and Compassion? Do I need to see my personal suffering in the context of God's Love and His Purpose for me Redemptive and Compassionate? Scientific understanding of the weather does nothing to diminish the awesome Power that Created the scientific principles in the first place.

What did I praise God for? - His Provision, Love and Compassion.

What did I pray for? - to know, without a doubt, what He requires from me.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Elihu condemns self-righteousness and proclaims God's Goodness.

[Frances]

Job 38

What did I learn of God? - He speaks clearly. He asks questions. , the answers of which are revealing. He created the world after deciding every detail of it, He determined it's size and components, how it would spin in space, the exact amount of gravity needed for mankind to live here, the amount of sea and dry land, the days and nights, the life and death of it's inhabitants, the formation of snow and hail, how light and darkness started, how dew and rain would come to refresh the earth, how and why water freezes. He created the Universe and spun each heavenly body in place and decided what influence they would have on the earth. He gives wisdom and understanding to mankind.

What did I learn of myself? - My inability to do anything of worth without Him. The limits of my understanding.

What did I praise God for? - His Omnipotence.

What did I pray for? - that He will constantly repeat what I need to take heed of.

What is this saying in one sentence? - God helped Job to realise his own limited understanding in relation to God's Wisdom and Power

[Frances]

Job 39 - 41

What did I learn of God? - He Created all things and gave them a variety of characteristics. No one knows anything better than Him. No one was alive before Him. Everything in the Universe belongs to Him. There is no limit to His Knowledge and Ability.

What did I learn of myself? - My knowledge and ability is very limited. I would lose every argument with God, so I'd be wise not to start one.

What did I praise God for? - His Wisdom, Power and Ability.

What did I pray for? - to realise the true limit of my ability, wisdom and knowledge.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Job is challenged by God.

[Frances]

Job 42

What did I learn of God? - He can do everything. He does whatever He proposes to. He accepts folk of integrity. He gave Job twice as much as he'd had formerly.

What did I learn of myself? - Do I fully realise God's great Power and Ability? Do I speak of things I don't really understand? Do I repent of all wrongful thoughts regarding God? One day I will see God face to face - does that knowledge please or terrify me? Do I do all things the Lord tells me to? I must trust God completely. I must not use my knowledge of God as a club against others. It is futile to ask why I suffer; I must remember God knows why, and trust Him.

What did I praise God for? - His willingness to Forgive in answer to prayer.

What did I pray for? –forgiveness for those who have said things that have hurt me - either directly or indirectly.

What is this saying in one sentence? - Job's Repentance and God's Forgiveness of his friends after Job prayed for them - then Job aquired twice what he'd lost.

Note:- Job only had the same number of living children because those who no longer live on earth are not Dead.

Quote:- (Lawrence O. Richards) "Through the experience of suffering Job had at last come to know that God was his Friend . . . Christians can offer no satisfactory intellectual answer to the mystery of innocent suffering; but through Christ God offers us the assurance we can face, and be victorious, in our pain."