Job 28:1–30:31
We now draw near to Job’s closing “argument.” He mentions the mysteries of the deep things of creation as it pertains to the wisdom of God.
Can you imagine the wisdom required to make the universe? How awesome it would be to know the details on how life “works.” That’s wisdom. But where can wisdom be found? It doesn’t originate with men, and it cannot be bought (Job 28:18).
The truth is, wisdom can only be given to us from God (Job 28:23). If we want to get a good start on this, we should begin with a healthy fear of the Lord.
Job 28:28 (NKJV) “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’”
Job reminisces on how it was just months ago (Job 29:2) when he was well respected in the community, how he used to help the orphan, and the widow, and the poor. Job was someone people listened to, he was like a chief, even a king (Job 29:25).
But now, the people mocked him, they taunted him, they hated him, they didn’t hesitate to spit in his face (Job 30:10). Job blamed it on God.
Job 30:11 (NKJV) “Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me, they have cast off restraint before me.”
Job poured out his heart – he just didn’t understand the depth of the affliction and pain. It seemed to him that Go was not only silent, but absent.
Job 30:20 (NLT) “I cry to You, O God, but You don’t answer. I stand before You, but You don’t even look.”
Job felt that God didn’t care, that He wasn’t even there, or aware – but He was…every step of the way. The same is true for us. The Devil does his thing, but he can only go as far as God allows Him. Friend, if God allows the pain and heartache, just know that somehow, someway He will work it all together for good. We will see this beautifully illustrated for us in the life of Job.
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Paul cared for the Corinthian church – he loved them with God’s love. He sent a corrective letter with Titus and he was anxious for their response. Paul was so concerned about this, that when there was an open door for him to preach in Troas, he didn’t preach. He left with that longing to meet up with Titus and find out what happened in Corinth. We’re not going to read that too often – Paul the Apostle passing up an opportunity to preach? That’s how pressing it was for him to find out the response of the Corinthians…that’s how much he loved them!
In the midst of this, Paul reminds u sof the fact that God always leads us in Triumph (isn’t that a great promise?). Paul used the practice of the day to illustrate a Spiritual truth. When the Roman General and his army returned to Rome after victories in war, the official parade would emanate the incense of the priest. For the Romans it was the smell of victory, for the prisoners it was an aroma of death. When we share the Gospel – for those who believe it promises life, for those who reject it promises death.
As a Christian I hope you have that healthy sensitivity and can smell the sent of victory in Christ…this is the hope of Paul’s correspondence. We care, we’re concerned, we love, we might even borderline worry, but I hope we know – in Christ, we are being led in triumph!
Paul knew he was being led victoriously, largely because the accusations against him weren’t true. He wasn’t a peddler of the Word, he preached it out of sincerity…he really did love the people.
Psalm 42:1-11
This Psalm was probably written when David was distant from the tabernacle. We know David was away and on the run from King Saul for close to 10 years. It may have been written during this time. He longed for the day when he could return to God’s prescribed presence and time at the tabernacle.
It had been tough for David – he was desperately thirsty of God.
Psalm 42:1–3 (NKJV) “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
David was down, depressed, and disquieted (Psalm 42:5, 11) but he encouraged himself with the rope of hope and clung tightly in prayer, believing that he would return one day to the tabernacle. David was confident about God’s love.
Psalm 42:8 (NKJV) “The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life.”
Proverbs 22:7
Proverbs 22:7 (NKJV) “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
The Proverb is advising us to be careful with our finances, in taking out large loans. We may end up like a slave, in bondage to all those high interest bills and bill collectors.
I love what Matthew Henry said, “Sell not your liberty to gratify your luxury.”
Romans 13:8a (NKJV) “Owe no one anything except to love one another…”
If you have any questions or comments on today’s reading, or you’d like to share something the Lord showed you, feel free to leave a reply below. I’d love to hear from you as we grow forward in 2021.
Thank you for my daily teaching!!