ListenDaily - 28 July 2009: Unrecognizeable
Greetings from Merci Mission, NC! The readings this week may be short and sporadic, I am on a mission trip and get pc access when I can!
When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Job 2:11-13 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him."
How bad was Job's condition, that his friends could hardly recognize him? They were going to his home, they knew where he was, and yet his condition was such that he looked like a stranger to them. Granted, his physical condition was terrible -- and that was a significant part of the problem.
But I think there was more...Job's suffering had caused a change in his countenance. We admire Job for not cursing God, but there is no record, thus far, of him crying out to God for help. After his 'first test' we are told that Job fell to the ground in worship. There is no similar response after his 'second test'. What might have been different if Job not only refused to curse God, but continued to worship?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts? 2.How does this passage make you feel? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"God, who foresaw your tribulation,
has specially armed you to go through it,
not without pain but without stain."
C.S.Lewis
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
ListenDaily - 27 July 2009: Bad theology; good practice
ListenDaily - 27 July 2009: Bad theology; good practice
Greetings from Merci Mission, NC! The readings this week may be short and sporadic, I am on a mission trip and get pc access when I can!
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:7-11 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job was unaware of the repeated discourse between God and Satan. He did not know that Satan was directly the cause of his troubles; therefore attributed them to God. True, God allowed Satan to act, but nothing evil comes from God.
"In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." And yet, with his misunderstanding, he did right.
We may have misunderstandings in some of the finer points of theology; yet God is always right, always loving us -- so let us not sin in what we say or do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts? 2.How does this passage make you feel? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"God, who foresaw your tribulation,
has specially armed you to go through it,
not without pain but without stain."
C.S.Lewis
Greetings from Merci Mission, NC! The readings this week may be short and sporadic, I am on a mission trip and get pc access when I can!
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:7-11 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job was unaware of the repeated discourse between God and Satan. He did not know that Satan was directly the cause of his troubles; therefore attributed them to God. True, God allowed Satan to act, but nothing evil comes from God.
"In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." And yet, with his misunderstanding, he did right.
We may have misunderstandings in some of the finer points of theology; yet God is always right, always loving us -- so let us not sin in what we say or do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts? 2.How does this passage make you feel? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"God, who foresaw your tribulation,
has specially armed you to go through it,
not without pain but without stain."
C.S.Lewis
Friday, July 24, 2009
ListenDaily - 24 July 2009: Who suffers?
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life." Job 2:1-5 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As we read what happens to Job, it is tempting to see God's action here as cruel. Then I think of the account in Luke 22, where Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift through the disciples "as wheat" , which God also allows, and it could almost reinforce that notion.
But then I think of Jesus; then I think of you - and of me.
"For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son" for you - and for me. And how it must have hurt Him to send Jesus to suffer the abuse, humiliation, agony, and death - for you and for me. He loves us so much that He accepted that pain.
I don't understand why God allowed Satan to torment Job, but this I do know; as much as Job suffered, God suffered more. And my guess is that the whole reason Satan goes after any of us is to hurt our Father. Whatever we go through, the pain is magnified for Him. And when we choose to sin, how much that must pain God and please the enemy.
This stuff in Job gets pretty intense, and difficult to understand. But you know something? A three year old child does not comprehend why reaching up to touch a hot stove might result in a swat on the behind. And in that moment, he is being denied something he wants terribly, has received what he perceives to be devastating pain, and in his mind this does not add up to love.
But we know better.
And God, our loving Father, knows better than we do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts? 2.How does this passage make you feel? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"God, who foresaw your tribulation,
has specially armed you to go through it,
not without pain but without stain."
C.S.Lewis
The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life." Job 2:1-5 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As we read what happens to Job, it is tempting to see God's action here as cruel. Then I think of the account in Luke 22, where Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift through the disciples "as wheat" , which God also allows, and it could almost reinforce that notion.
But then I think of Jesus; then I think of you - and of me.
"For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son" for you - and for me. And how it must have hurt Him to send Jesus to suffer the abuse, humiliation, agony, and death - for you and for me. He loves us so much that He accepted that pain.
I don't understand why God allowed Satan to torment Job, but this I do know; as much as Job suffered, God suffered more. And my guess is that the whole reason Satan goes after any of us is to hurt our Father. Whatever we go through, the pain is magnified for Him. And when we choose to sin, how much that must pain God and please the enemy.
This stuff in Job gets pretty intense, and difficult to understand. But you know something? A three year old child does not comprehend why reaching up to touch a hot stove might result in a swat on the behind. And in that moment, he is being denied something he wants terribly, has received what he perceives to be devastating pain, and in his mind this does not add up to love.
But we know better.
And God, our loving Father, knows better than we do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts? 2.How does this passage make you feel? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"God, who foresaw your tribulation,
has specially armed you to go through it,
not without pain but without stain."
C.S.Lewis
Thursday, July 23, 2009
ListenDaily - 23 July 2009: Skin for skin? e
ListenDaily - 23 July 2009: Skin for skin?
Job's Second Test
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." Job 2:1-5 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As I read this encounter,, I am trying, with great difficulty, to imagine all the 'skin for skin' -- all the times man has been stricken in his flesh and bones.
Every case of Alzheimer's.
Every child that ever starved to death..
Every person who has died in war.
Every act of street violence.
Every spouse ever abused.
Every disease.
Every injury.
All caused by Satan who wishes to ruin us for no reason.
Should that not send us all running into the loving arms of God?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts? 2. How do you see the war against our 'flesh and bones'? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Job's Second Test
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." Job 2:1-5 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As I read this encounter,, I am trying, with great difficulty, to imagine all the 'skin for skin' -- all the times man has been stricken in his flesh and bones.
Every case of Alzheimer's.
Every child that ever starved to death..
Every person who has died in war.
Every act of street violence.
Every spouse ever abused.
Every disease.
Every injury.
All caused by Satan who wishes to ruin us for no reason.
Should that not send us all running into the loving arms of God?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts? 2. How do you see the war against our 'flesh and bones'? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
ListenDaily - 21 July 2009: Attain and maintain
ListenDaily - 21 July 2009: Attain and maintain
Wow, sorry for the gap in readings; we opened our new building for worship on Sunday, and the preparations kept me very busy all week. Next week I'll be gone on another mission trip, and I am unsure at this point if I'll have internet access.
Job's Second Test
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." Job 2:1-4 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And he still maintains his integrity..."
Of all human actions recorded in the Bible, this is as significant as any. Faced with as much tragedy as anyone ever, Job maintained his integrity.
Without this, the book of Job need not have been written.
Without this, Job would not have been a worthy example for us.
Without this, Job would not have survived further attack. Through his continued integrity, Job was able to continually receive God's strength to stand. And this is a lesson for us. We must attain and maintain an accurate vision of who God is. Without that, how can we ever receive the strength He makes available to us? God never forces anything upon us. We must continually seek Him, and allow Him to give to us.
"May the name of the LORD be praised."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What enabled Job to maintain? 2. How do you respond to bad news? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Wow, sorry for the gap in readings; we opened our new building for worship on Sunday, and the preparations kept me very busy all week. Next week I'll be gone on another mission trip, and I am unsure at this point if I'll have internet access.
Job's Second Test
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." Job 2:1-4 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And he still maintains his integrity..."
Of all human actions recorded in the Bible, this is as significant as any. Faced with as much tragedy as anyone ever, Job maintained his integrity.
Without this, the book of Job need not have been written.
Without this, Job would not have been a worthy example for us.
Without this, Job would not have survived further attack. Through his continued integrity, Job was able to continually receive God's strength to stand. And this is a lesson for us. We must attain and maintain an accurate vision of who God is. Without that, how can we ever receive the strength He makes available to us? God never forces anything upon us. We must continually seek Him, and allow Him to give to us.
"May the name of the LORD be praised."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What enabled Job to maintain? 2. How do you respond to bad news? 3. Who is God to you?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Friday, July 10, 2009
ListenDaily - 10 July 2009: Is it God's fault?
ListenDaily - 10 July 2009: Is it God's fault?
Job's First Test
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:22 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you can, please read chapter 2 for next week.
"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."
"In all this..." was pretty big. Job lost all of his livestock, all but three of his servants, and all of his children. We know that he was attacked by Satan, but what did Job know? He did not have the book that bears his name to get that information.
But remember, Job was a man who "...was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil...." Whatever he knew, or did not know, he knew that evil could not come from God. So that left him with two choices: 1) These were not acts of evil, however they appeared, or 2) God was not responsible.
We should have that perspective on everything! God cannot do evil, everything He does is good. We may not know which applies to a given circumstance, as Job may not have known. But this perspective allows us to say, along with Job:
"May the name of the LORD be praised."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on Job's responses as recorded here? 2. How do you respond to bad news? 3. How might that be different if your first response was worship, and your second to praise?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Job's First Test
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:22 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you can, please read chapter 2 for next week.
"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."
"In all this..." was pretty big. Job lost all of his livestock, all but three of his servants, and all of his children. We know that he was attacked by Satan, but what did Job know? He did not have the book that bears his name to get that information.
But remember, Job was a man who "...was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil...." Whatever he knew, or did not know, he knew that evil could not come from God. So that left him with two choices: 1) These were not acts of evil, however they appeared, or 2) God was not responsible.
We should have that perspective on everything! God cannot do evil, everything He does is good. We may not know which applies to a given circumstance, as Job may not have known. But this perspective allows us to say, along with Job:
"May the name of the LORD be praised."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on Job's responses as recorded here? 2. How do you respond to bad news? 3. How might that be different if your first response was worship, and your second to praise?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Thursday, July 9, 2009
ListenDaily - 09 July 2009: He is worthy!
ListenDaily - 09 July 2009: He is worthy!
Job's First Test
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
Job 1:20-21 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you can, please read chapter 2, which we'll cover over the next few days. I am beginning to see the book of Job as a study in preparation and response to hardships. Job may not have been planning on difficulty with intent, but he was "blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil" which is as good preparation as one can have. Now let us look at his response, including and going beyond his worship.
"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head." These were the signs of grieving; and Job was grieving. Now whether he did this as an emotional response, or because it was the societal norm, or both, we do not know. But we do know that he was truly grieving.
"Then he fell to the ground in worship..." We covered this last time, but it bears repeating that in the midst of what we can only imagine as the most intense grief, that Job fell to his knees and worshiped God. Now, I don't want to state that which I do not know, but I find it interesting that it does not say that Job 'knelt down to worship', or that he 'lay down to worship', but that he "fell to the ground". I believe that Job's preparation, his constant seeking after God before these disasters, left him teetering at the edge of the only place he could go for help. He was so ever in the presence of God before this, that he simply collapsed into God's arms -- into worship.
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
"...and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart." Whatever Job's theology or doctrine or understanding about eternity were, he understood this basic truth; we don't bring anything into this world, and whatever material possessions we gain, we cannot take them with us.
"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away..." One might argue that it was not God who 'took away' from Job, that it was Satan's doing. And one might counter that it was all done with God's permission. What is clearly evident, however, is that Job sees his place here, as steward, not owner..
"...may the name of the LORD be praised." This is a message we all need. God is to be praised regardless of our circumstances. God is worthy of worship, and worthy of praise...always. In the midst of good times and bad, He is to be praised. And it is not that God has some ego that He insists upon us stroking, no, the worthiness of God is the essential truth of the universe.
And...by praising Him and worshiping Him, we are more quickly brought into the place where we can be relieved, renewed, refreshed, and re-strengthened.
"May the name of the LORD be praised."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on Job's responses as recorded here? 2. How do you respond to bad news? 3. How might that be different if your first response was worship, and your second to praise?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Job's First Test
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
Job 1:20-21 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you can, please read chapter 2, which we'll cover over the next few days. I am beginning to see the book of Job as a study in preparation and response to hardships. Job may not have been planning on difficulty with intent, but he was "blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil" which is as good preparation as one can have. Now let us look at his response, including and going beyond his worship.
"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head." These were the signs of grieving; and Job was grieving. Now whether he did this as an emotional response, or because it was the societal norm, or both, we do not know. But we do know that he was truly grieving.
"Then he fell to the ground in worship..." We covered this last time, but it bears repeating that in the midst of what we can only imagine as the most intense grief, that Job fell to his knees and worshiped God. Now, I don't want to state that which I do not know, but I find it interesting that it does not say that Job 'knelt down to worship', or that he 'lay down to worship', but that he "fell to the ground". I believe that Job's preparation, his constant seeking after God before these disasters, left him teetering at the edge of the only place he could go for help. He was so ever in the presence of God before this, that he simply collapsed into God's arms -- into worship.
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
"...and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart." Whatever Job's theology or doctrine or understanding about eternity were, he understood this basic truth; we don't bring anything into this world, and whatever material possessions we gain, we cannot take them with us.
"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away..." One might argue that it was not God who 'took away' from Job, that it was Satan's doing. And one might counter that it was all done with God's permission. What is clearly evident, however, is that Job sees his place here, as steward, not owner..
"...may the name of the LORD be praised." This is a message we all need. God is to be praised regardless of our circumstances. God is worthy of worship, and worthy of praise...always. In the midst of good times and bad, He is to be praised. And it is not that God has some ego that He insists upon us stroking, no, the worthiness of God is the essential truth of the universe.
And...by praising Him and worshiping Him, we are more quickly brought into the place where we can be relieved, renewed, refreshed, and re-strengthened.
"May the name of the LORD be praised."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on Job's responses as recorded here? 2. How do you respond to bad news? 3. How might that be different if your first response was worship, and your second to praise?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
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