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What do I have to humbly repent of?

Readings:

Job 40

Job 41

Job 42

I love David Guzik’s simplifying Spurgeon’s sermon on this:

What did Job have to repent of? In his sermon, Job Among the Ashes, Charles Spurgeon suggested several things:

Job repented of the terrible curse he had pronounced upon the day of his birth.
Job repented of his desire to die.
Job repented of his complaints against and challenges to God.
Job repented of his despair.
Job repented that his statements had been a “darkening of wisdom by words without knowledge”; that he spoke beyond his knowledge and ability to know.


One might say that these words of Job — words of humble repentance and submission before God for sins that were greatly provoked, sins that come from the godly and not from the wicked — these words that contain no curse of God whatsoever — these words ended the contest between God and Satan and demonstrated that the victory belonged to God and to Job.

And David says this about God’s response to Job’s friends:

The friends of Job spoke many general principles that, in their setting, have great wisdom. The problem was that in Job’s circumstance, their principles of wisdom did not apply. They presented God as angry and judgmental against Job, when He was not. This displeased God…
God’s rebuke of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar was at the same time an explicit vindication of Job. It was true that in his frustration, stubbornness, and misery Job said things that he had to repent of. Yet God could still say of him, “as My servant Job has,” putting forth Job as an example of one who spoke what is right.

It doesn’t just matter if the statement we pull from the Word of God is factually or quotably accurate — even Satan in His tempting Jesus quotes scripture, and even the religious leaders who Jesus condemns in Matthew 23.

It is not the knowing and quoting, but the proper application. In fact, improper application of the Word of God is more of a breach of the true heart of the third commandment (Exodus 20:7, Deut 5:11) than any use of vulgarity.

And this is why the convicting statements of James 3:11 are important to those who might think it their calling to proudly teach from their own wisdom (which is actually foolishness) instead of sitting at the feet of the One Teacher, being humbled, applying it by abiding in Spirit, and sharing crumbs for anyone who is also hungry.


It is Satan who attacks the weak and downtrodden and vulnerable in their compromised state with wrong application aimed at them like poisonous arrows (like we see with Job and even Jesus in the wilderness).

It is wrong application that has religious leaders wrongly accusing, trying and sending Jesus to the cross. It is wrong application that Satan has used since the beginning with Adam and Eve.

So it is so very high in importance that we who are Students of God are also Students WITH God. If we only know the Theology and the Apologetics, we can speak factually but not necessarily with accurate application. So we don’t just worship scripture. Because sola scripture without Christ, without Holy Spirit, without Father God’s touch upon us can be a weapon used against the hurting and the lost — instead of a welcoming lighthouse to keep their ships from crashing on the rocks.

Lord, guide my application and pronouncement of your Word and of what is wise. Help me to not aim things at others or to do harm, especially when I am hurting and may be tempted to lash out. But when I eventually fail, and I nip at those trying to help me (like a hurt puppy), help me to be quick to repent when corrected — and use this teachable moment for your glory and honor. Amen.

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Little ant, why did you bite me?

Readings:

Job 35

Job 36

Job 37

Isn’t it wonderful how even once science can explain all of the molecular and chemical makeup of the world, and physics and mathematics can measure and calculate the forces and interactions, that there is so much beyond the reach of mere men to understand — let alone architect such a wonderful, complex, perfect and stunning design, build out, maintain it, etc.

What is an ant in the yard of a man that decides to bite the man’s foot? Will the man ask the ant why he has done this or simply crush the ant and move on to whatever he was doing (and never remember the ant again once any hint of the sting has left). In fact, the ant itself isn’t what is remembered, but the sting. And how much higher is God above man than man is above ant? Yet, He doesn’t just toss us or Job aside.

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Ah, Youth

Readings:

Job 32

Job 33

Job 34

Job 32:6-10 NLT
Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, “I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think. I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice. So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think.

I’m reminded of the snowman from the stop motion Christmas classic “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” when he replied “Ah youth” after Rudolph’s friend Fireball talks eagerly about showing off in front of the does at the reindeer games.

I wonder how often in my youth,  I waited for the opportunity to prove my teachers wrong — to puff my chest and show off my intelligence — to have the “last word”.

It isn’t lost on me that Job had just before this described how people used to listen when he spoke,  and here this young one is coming right behind him expecting to speak last and leave everyone quiet.

Job 29:21-23 NLT
“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.

But in just a few chapters when this young Elihu finishes his rant,  we will see who has the last word. And it won’t be Elihu, or Job, or Job’s friends.  It will be who always has the final word in such things,  God.

Too often in life, I want to tell what I think. And even after plenty of correction and discipline from the Lord on this matter,  it can still prove to be a challenge. It doesn’t matter what I think; it matters what His Word says.

I’ll say that again

It doesn’t matter what I think; it matters what His Word says.

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It is a War

Readings:
Job 29
Job 30
Job 31

I love how Job 29 and 30 are Job’s testimony of what has happened after the conversation between God and Satan in Job 1, but Satan is proved a liarvyet again:

Job 1:10-11 NLT
You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

Job describes to us what a life of walking in The Way and in communion with God looks like in Job 29 — and he contrasts this with what demonic oppression is like for a faithful, righteous man of God who suffers for the glory of God (not as a normal, consequence of his own sin).

Job is not a different man and is not living any different spiritually in chapter 29 than he is in chapter 30. Yet, his mockers are influenced by the darkness to mock him,  to oppose him, to discourage him, to despise him, to taunt him — all of these things rising up from what Galatians 5 tells us are demonic. It is not just these men that were his “friends” attacking him, they’re were demonic forces attacking him through people all around him, every day.

As a Christian, walking with God and fearing God, and valuing wisdom is going to produce things on our lives that are good. But there is an adversary, and there is an enemy. Now, we don’t need to fear that enemy when it comes to eternity if we fear God and love God. But that enemy is here to test us, to tempt us, to put us through the refining fires. So the book of Job is a great reminder and crash course on Spiritual Warfare. Are we proud enough to mock and criticize Job for how he handled this situation,  as if we would do better ourselves. Be careful, lest God point us out as His faithful servant and the hedge of protection is removed in our lives so that we know and can testify that spiritual warfare and demonic oppression is very real.

I honestly don’t even know whether it is better to hope to be faithful like Job for the glory of God and be humbled greatly — maybe as a warning to others? But I can say from personal experience that any bit of the motivation that I had for becoming “a great man of God” that came from a place of pride was crushed by going through a genuine experience of demonic oppression myself. And it made me realize and appreciate what it truly means to say to God, “Send me” before truly counting the cost.

So I hear you, Job. I can almost see the faces of these demons you are testifying about as you are calling out these things, these spiritual principalities, these thieves after God’s children,  these enemies of God’s Kingdom spreading their destruction. I can almost smell the sulfur and rot and canker of their presence as I hear Job — not complaining against God Himself — but speaking out against those things that are darkness, that are unjust, those things that are being done away with and that will go into the pit.l because they have no place in heaven (or in the New earth).

When we are in this place of attack, we may first assume that it is coquette of some particular sin. We may seek our normal confession and repentance and drawing close to God. But when head to Jacob’s ladder but an army of darkness stands between us (where there was once protection) — we gave the reality that Job is facing here. He can remember and recall clearly what it was like,  and he knows that He must get to the place of mercy and protection he knows in God — yet something stands in the way of the gate!

Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who stand in the way of the gate by making it more difficult for people to enter into the mercy gate. And that is what the enemy does, and is what they do here through Job’s religiously educated “friends”.

So we shouldn’t be surprised when we find friends, family, respected religious leaders opposing us, faithful servants of God. Repent, turn to God, and if the darkness stands in the way,  put on the full armor of God and do battle. We too will learn how to recognize and call out these enemies by name,  my friends. Amen.

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A Time for War

Readings:

Job 24

Job 25

Job 26

Job 27

Job 28

Job 24:1 NLT
“Why doesn’t the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment? Why must the godly wait for him in vain?

These readings remind me,

Psalms of Lamentation, Job’s words, the cries of the martyrs, and prayers of intercession that require true wrestling with God — these can all sound like grumbling against God or wallowing in one’s feelings. But they serve a very real and very powerful purpose. They rejoice in the holiness, righteousness and justice of God, and don’t just praise Him for His mercy.  When sin and injustice and pain grow to the level that we are at the end of ourselves, our cries call out to the heart of God and He hears us.

Yes, He hears and knows all, but we can see that there is something unique and special and intimate between those who know God so personally that they will enter into His courts with praise about who He is and very heartfelt struggles with why the things related to sin and the enemy have been given room to proliferate. When Hagar’s baby cries out in the wilderness facing death, God hears. When David sings psalms of Lament, God hears. When Christ prays tears of blood in Gethsemane, God hears. Even when the souls of the martyrs in heaven cry out for justice, God hears.

God’s judgement and vengeance is perched and waiting to cleanse this world, and it is not stirred by happy praise and worship from a body of believers content with how the world is in the hands of the “prince and power of the air” and “ruler of this world”. It is intercessory prayer that opposes those principalities and powers and brings our grievances to God to be heard where the wrestling and wrangling of the saints and the martyrs is done, where light is brought into the dark places, and where the Kingdom progresses on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Lord, help us to see clearly the contrast between who you are in holiness, righteousness and vengeance — versus this world, polluted and plundered by sin and your enemies. Help us to care and intercede with our heartfelt cries against the darkness — on behalf of your glory. Help us to carry light into those dark places and for our cries for justice to shake the foundations of what has been built up by the enemies of God. May the dark powers and the demons who oppose you be reminded yet again that their time is short. May hearts and minds and lives be turned away from darkness and death to know you and love you. There is so much beautiful, yet there is so much pain, suffering, wickedness and foolishness in this world. Help us to set our eyes in you alone. Amen.

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Do we want a part in God’s ways?

When Job talks about the wicked wanting no part in God’s ways:

Job 21:14 NLT
And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.

I’m reminded of Amos 5 where God says He wants no part of the people who are saying they long for the day of the Lord and who are outwardly religious with the hypocrisy and show:

Amos 5:18, 21-23 NLT
What sorrow awaits you who say, “If only the day of the Lord were here!” You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light.
“I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

And then reminded of Matthew 7:

Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

In Job 21, Job speaks truths about how God does allow the wicked to prosper in this life, then Eliohaz makes personal accusations of Job. Job doesn’t have to be a prophet to know that these “friends of his” aren’t there to comfort him but to mock him:

Job 21:2-3 NLT
“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me. Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

And that’s exactly what happens:

Job 22:4-7 NLT
Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you? No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins. “For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone. You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry.

Accusations and casting stones at a suffering, grieving and devastated man because he isn’t putting on a show of public religion, offerings, and noisy praise but he’s being real about his situation.

What strikes me as fearful in this whole transaction isn’t anything truthful Job has said about God but how Eliahaz makes the mistake of presuming about God by essentially saying “If you do _____, God WILL  do ______.”

Job 22:29 NLT
If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them.

This is such a wrong and frightening perspective and misunderstanding of God. We cannot use the Word of God to pin God into doing what we want — He is not our genie to command. It is not us who command things into existence from nothing. We are not witches, trying to figure out the right combination of words, potions, or actions we can take that will give us our intended results. God does as He pleases.

Psalms 115:3 NLT
Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.

Job is clearly aware of this truth, even as he seeks an opportunity to wrestle with God who he loves so deadly and has walked with his whole life:

Job 23:12-14 NLT
I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.

You see,  Job knows that even walking close with God does not guarantee that we will not suffer, that we will not grieve,  that we will not face mocking and ridicule. In fact,  Jesus tells us that such things in the Kingdom of God are where the blessings are:

Matthew 5:3-12 NLT
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. [8] God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Even a child can answer in their heart whether it would be a better to get that you and love their mother or lose the toy but have mother there to hold them and make it better. If we know this to be true about our earthly mother, we should definitely learn this lesson about our heavenly Father as well.

In all of this Job is not turning his back on God and dying (like his foolish wife suggested he do), but He is seeking God. In fact,  He knows that God’s testing in this life refines us:

Job 23:2-10 NLT
“My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. I would lay out my case and present my arguments. Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

Isn’t it wild how loud our flesh can scream out at us to avoid the refining fires? Even how strongly Jesus’s flesh cried out to Him in  Gethsemane:

Luke 22:41-44 NLT
He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

When we are at these points of the story,  Job arguing with his friends. Jesus in Gethsemane, a mother burying her dead child, a husband and wife hearing the word “cancer” from a doctor, a person dealing with chronic illness, a person struggling deeply with mental illness — do we seek God to wrestle with Him, or do we curse Him and  die?

Do we wisely want a part in God’s ways, or do we foolishly expect He will play a part in ours?

The only way is surrender, is turning to Him.

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Polishing with Suffering and Lament

Readings:

Job 17

Job 18

Job 19

Job 20

In all of Job’s mourning, in his deep suffering — no one would actually listen to him and consider that his words could be true. Not one of them had even considered that God had removed the hedge of protection around Job, or that God might call Satan’s attention to Job to be purified by the refining fires of true, deep suffering.

Look at the examples of so many who walk with God who have faced levels of suffering that would leave those who do not know God saying, “He has sinned and God is punishing him” or similar. But have they not heard Jesus’s preaching from the mount that teaches about what real blessing looks like — do they not hear the call for us to share in the suffering of Christ — so they not know the example Christ and the Apostles and the martyrs have set before us?

Or are everyone’s eyes set upon chasing happiness and fulfillment and being honored in this life?

How often have I foolishly thought easy was best — rather than remembering that broad is the way that leads to real destruction.

I’m grateful for the book of Job and the Psalms of lament like Psalm 6, Psalm 38, Psalm 10, Psalm 42, Psalm 43, and Psalm 130 — and even in Jesus’s words of Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 where He recites the words from Psalm 22: “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?”

We should not be surprised that suffering and lament are tools the potter uses like sand and grit to polish a fine finish on his vessels.

Thank you Jesus.

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Recognizing a Fools Errors while Ignoring Their Pain

Readings:

Job 14

Job 15

Job 16

When someone who is hurting lashes out about God or about us, I wonder how often like Job’s friends we are quicker to correct them than to encourage them?

Truly and deeply hurt people are in no position to be argued against — is like the fable of the Tiger arguing with the donkey over something clearly wrong the foolish donkey said. And the Tiger brings his dispute before the Lion king. And the Lion kings punishes the Tiger because he should know better than to argue with a foolish donkey when he is a tiger — not the donkey for being wrong.

I’m reminded of the intense need and deep grief that Job was in. I can not fault him for being genuine and transparent about his pain and his very real suffering.

Isn’t it better to be the man who screams out and curses God in the midst of great pain, than to pour salt in the wounds of hurting man?

Wouldn’t it be better to carry the hurt man however you must, even if it is too cut through a roof to get him to Jesus — rather than argue to prove yourself more right and less wrong than him?

Being able to see and point out the errors of another fool doesn’t make us wise.

Proverbs 9:7-8 ESV

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 29:9 ESV

If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

In contrast,  the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalms 34:18), He comforts those who mourn (Matthew 54), He gives rest for our weary souls (Matthew 11:28-30). He will wipe every tear from their eyes (Revelation 21:4). We are called to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15).

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Do you Love Me Enough to Fight?

Readings:

Job 10

Job 11

Job 12

Job 13

Excuse my harsh words,  but all of this “happy wife,  happy life” stuff is crap and lies. If a spouse of either gender needs to cower and placate and dance around the other one,  that is NOT happy, healthy, or sustainable.

When most people date,  they try to project a better image of what they think the other person wants than they actually are — this is because there is no relationship,  there is no commitment, there is no covenant yet. Even in the honeymoon phase, unless abuse is part of the picture,  people will rarely get as “real” with their spouse about their true frustrations as Job does here with God. It takes going through some battles together in a relationship before we know that we can be “real” and know they won’t either walk away or respond with abuse.
I see how Job talks with God and it doesn’t strike fear in me on his behalf like it used to when I read these passages years ago. Now, it stirs a respect for the relationship that He and God clearly have. Now God still has to respond to Job’s challenging words, no doubt. But it reminds me of how my wife and I can have arguments, or pick at each other, or even blow off steam — all the time loving each other, committed to each other,  and frustrated all at the same time.

Real relationships have depth and are so entangled with everything around us both that the words we are saying aren’t even just about “this thing” — but involve every argument we’ve had in the past, every set moment we’ve had, how our day has been, how much time we’ve spent together getting on each other’s nerves, and how much time we’ve been apart missing each other. All of these things are a part of our conversations that someone standing nearby can’t see, hear or experience themselves — but that we are both very intimately aware of when we’re being “real” with each other.

And it’s the same with God. He doesn’t need us repeating some words over our food to check the box of speaking at him today. He’s ready for us to grow closer and closer in relationship with Him so that in the good times and in the bad,  we are in it together. And He isn’t going anywhere when we say out loud the truth about our doubts,  our fears, our frustrations,  our anger,  etc. He already knows what’s in our hearts and what we are going to say before we even think it! So why do we hide behind our proverbial fig leaves instead of running back into His open arms?

Do we love and trust Him enough to wrestle — like all intimate, close relationships do?

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The Quiet Blessings of Long Suffering and Calamity?

Readings:

Job 6

Job 7

Job 8

Job 9

I love how Job is being real with his “friends” about his suffering even in the midst of their “religious reasonings, justifications, and judgements” while he just needs someone to be a mediator on his behalf with God and a friend beside him in his suffering:

Job 6:4-5 NLT
For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God’s terrors are lined up against me. Don’t I have a right to complain? Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food?

I love how Job’s response starts with :

Job 9:1-2 NLT
Then Job spoke again: “Yes, I know all this is true in principle…

It’s like so many times when people are genuinely suffering or grieving and someone “tells them something about God”, quotes a scripture, or says “I’ll pray for you” yet never actually wrestles with God on their behalf over the pain their “friend” is going through.

It is in this place where Job points out what he truly needs — and unknowingly prophesies about the coming Messiah Jesus and the Holy Spirit. His great need and heart suffering cuts through any confusion or distraction and paints such a clear picture of exactly what is needed — and explains why men need a comforter, a guide and a teacher, who can pray on our behalf when we do not have words (the Holy Spirit):

Job 9:32-35 NLT
“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.

In this upside down Kingdom of God, it seems that deep suffering here and now in this life can be a great blessing in the grand scheme of eternity — because it cuts through the distractions and temptations to set our eyes in the only direction left (towards God).

It seems harsh and unkind if we only have eyes to see and consider the worthless things of this life (that will all eventually waste away) or we love our own lives (not realizing that our whole life is just a speck and blink of the eye in comparison to all of history and eternity).

So whether it is long suffering where our only option is to cry out to God (because no one else can help us) — or whether it is that moment of calamity (where we are definitely facing the possibility of our own destruction and our body and mind jump into high gear — where time seems to slow so much that we are in that quiet place with no distractions for possibly the last time) — will we turn to God in that moment and be real about our heart?