2 Samuel 11 - David Does Evil in the Eyes of the Lord

2 Samuel 11

But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord. (verse 27b)

Message: David Does Evil in the Eyes of the Lord

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: I have been developing this habit for some time now. Every now and then I like to stop and reflect on it. The habit here is reading the Bible. Granted, in my bent towards heavy discipline I know I tend to get obsessed with making these posts each day, but the obsession is really getting into the word each day to be trained. I am seeking to be trained in Godliness and yet this simple reading and writing is the education. What I am trying to do is have these lessons transform me into living life differently and yet I know that is not automatic. I am begging the Holy Spirit to reshape me. I suppose not only this, but in other things in life, like regular involvement in online ministry or talking to others more intentionally, though I notice that at times being squandered often by the distractions of work. I also am reading more and it seems reading is a better pastime than sitting in front of the tube, though I drift back to the tube very often as it is mindless and I suppose I need that mindless activity at times. I suppose I want to make sure I am living within the margins of life, living in balance, and not too focused in any one area. 

Well, back to regular scheduled program. For the first time in my reading of I and II Samuel, I am now on a text in which I actually have substantial notes in my Bible. It seems at some point in my past Christian life of reading and study I have looked at these texts now beginning in Chapter 11. I am not sure of the time frame of these notes, but I would guess prior to 2012 and probably after 1997. So somewhere between 30 and 45. I am now 58. 

This chapter is 27 verses and in my Open Bible has the headings - "The Sin of Adultery", "Uriah Does not Sleep with Bathsheba", and "David Commands Uriah's Murder." 

The Sin of Adultery

In verse 1 it means that it is spring and this is occurring "at the time" as I have the note that only certain times would the state of the country permit the march of armies. Well, that is interesting, so marching of armies was not at any time, but at specific times. Nevertheless, David sent Joab (who is over his army) "and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah" while David "stayed at Jerusalem." The note I have is David stayed and exposed himself to the temptation of idleness. It is one thing to stop and think and ponder, but another simply to be idle and have no agenda with one's time. It is in this idleness that one is lured into temptation. 

The time is about 3pm and David got up and "walked around on the roof the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was beautiful in appearance." Something tells me this was not the first time David had seen this beautiful woman. One issue with temptation is once it is discovered in life, the tendency to return to it is very strong. Once pandora's box is opened, we know who is out there and so we return to it to repeat the feeling it gives. But at this time the text records she was bathing. Now the comment here I have is David had the right to claim unmarried women. He had wives and lots of them. It was in his power to have women. That is something to think about with the many people, including later his son Samson and that their position afforded them the opportunity to take unmarried women for himself. In essence, he wasn't breaking a law. He was going along with a prescribed advantage given him. And that advantage was now a normal occurrence in his life. 

David inquires of her and verse 3 states that from the inquiry someone said, "Is this not...the wife....?" The question was raised, but David chose to ignore the question. I think of I Corinthians 10:13 in this moment, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." David was given the way out. But he ignored it. His desire for her had been determined the moment he inquired about her. He wanted her and no response mentioned was going to change that. But he was given an opportunity and he ignored it. 

He go her, had sex, she returned home, and she became pregnant. 

Uriah Does not Sleep with Bathsheba

Moving to verse 6, I have an alternate title for this section -- David tries to hide his sin by deceiving Uriah. Once the sin has been conceived and performed, now the escape shows up. Though he has done something in his power, he did not have the power to take a married woman. And because of that sin, that known sin, he wants to find a way out from that circumstance. He wants to respond in the same way Cain responded to the Lord, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper." David is now going to seek to escape the clear consequences he knows is needed in this situation. 

David sent for Uriah. Uriah has returned from battle and David lets him know that his service is complete and tells him to return home. The pregnancy is now out and David wants to cover his tracks by having Uriah immediately go lie with with wife. He even sends him a valuable present, something a king would send. But Uriah doesn't go. He's a soldier and the soldier's responsibility is to his king. Uriah mentions something of the ark of the covenant and guarding it. His promise as a soldier is important. Now David must switch his plans so seeing Uriah's allegiance he seeks now to get him drunk so that he forgets his senses, but this doesn't work either. Darn it! This guy is ruining my plans for completing the act of deception. 

And isn't this what we do. We plan our escape route even I think, in the back of our mind, while we are performing the act of treason (toward God and ourselves) by engaging in the act of sin. Oh, that this lesson is too familiar. Oh that I have a problem with knowing about this and knowing how to document it too easily with these words. I have been guilty of the same, too often. I have followed the desire of looking away from my wife and instead fallen into the embrace of a picture that brings an enjoyment to rescue me from whatever was ailing me at the time. I sought the good feeling and got it but then planned the escape route. At times, I escape, but at other times I do not. O God, I am not a judge here, but a conspirator. 

David Commands Uriah's Murder

It is interesting in this story as to what time period this chapter encompasses. Probably something like weeks. Not sure, as verse 14 could be days or weeks later in which David writes a letter to Joab to give to Uriah to place Uriah in the line of fire. The phrase is different in verse 14 as it says, "and sent it by the hand of Uriah" which basically gives the idea that Uriah is commanding his own death sentence. David had tried to send Uriah home to be his wife, but that didn't work, so he got him drunk and send him home, but that did not work. So now he cannot be exposed. He can't let the sin simply be found out and face consequences, so he kills off the consequences. 

This is the other problem in all of this and that is the unwillingness to let consequences show up. We fear them. We like our sin and even as we plot an escape, if it doesn't work, we make sure it won't be found out. 

The reality is in this situation that the crime of adultery by a king would have been lightly pardoned, but David resorts to extreme measures rather than face the subject. Also, Joab could have refused. He knew what this was all about, so Joab, though not to blame, was not a person of nobility either. That was seen in the last chapter as well. 

So Uriah goes to the frontline and is killed. David find out about this through a messenger that Joab sends. The messenger though first talks about the battle and basically says, "Oh by the way, Uriah also died." I suppose Joab did this so that David wouldn't get reinforcement that his actions were premeditated to get Uriah killed. I guess we do this as well. Even after we seek out an escape route for our sin, we try to set it up like it isn't that bad or that we didn't actually have that horrible intention. 

The last verse concludes the episode as David brings Bathsheba to be his wife, they have the son, "But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord."

I suppose that conclusion is needed as a reminder that - this is not right. This is evil. One could say David was successful in hiding his sin, but God knew differently.  God knows. 

Summary: David does not go with kings to battle and instead in idleness sees a woman on a roof, asks her to be brought to him, lays with her, she gets pregnant and he hides his sin by eventually having the husband killed, but God knows.

Promise: God sees everything.

Prayer: Lord, it is good to remember that in life you see everything. I confess I have hidden sin and tried to make it look like I have done nothing wrong, but you see it and you know. I think at times I have received consequences as well from my sin. And at times this still doesn't make me learn or change. Let me take my sin more seriously and that it would mean something that I have sinned against you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 14:21-24 - The Indwelling of the Father and the Son

John 14:21-24

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me, and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him. 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered and said to Him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. 

Message: The Indwelling of the Father and the Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Ever since John 13:31 I have seen Jesus talking about (1) Believe, (2) Pray, (3) Love or Obey, (4) He (Holy Spirit) will help. Now I don't believe obey is necessary for salvation as I think consistently I see Jesus speaking about believing in Him and through that trust in Him alone a person will have eternal life. The idea of Him being living water is He lives in us and works through us. I believe the Bible teaches salvation by grace throughout the entire book. Others talk about ages and that God saves in different ways at different periods of time, but I think our scripture is consistent that only God saves. God definitely wants people that are obedient to Him but this is not a condition for our salvation ever but always a confirmation. And let's face it, life is better for us when we are obedient. 

In Verse 21, Jesus remarks our need to keep the commandments. Again, keeping commandments like He says, "he it is who loves Me." We love him and so we keep His commandments. But verse 21 at first is a interesting progressing -- "Keep commandments - Show your love for Jesus - if loved by Jesus you are loved by the Father - and Jesus will love you - and will disclose Himself to you." So here is this idea keeping commandments has a result of Jesus loving us. 

Now we have another disciple asking Jesus questions. Interesting - Peter, Thomas, Philip, and now Judas. I find it interesting that John is providing all of these different disciples with their questions. Judas wonders in verse 23 about the words that Jesus mentioned of disclosing Himself. I must admit, if I were there, I would probably be asking the same thing. "Disclosing seems like an interesting word." 

Jesus responds by repeating somewhat the words of verse 21 but adding a word, "Abode." The idea seems to be love Him and do His commandments and Father/Jesus will set up an abode with that person. Conversely, if you don't love Him you don't keep His words. 

It seems the onus on these words is our love for the Father. That seems to be the focus here - that we need to focus on our love for God rather than thinking it is a tit for tat: I do this, he does that. 

But when we do the commands - God's love is guaranteed and this love is both from the Father and the Son. Obedience does not result only in God's acceptance, but God and His Son's acceptance. Again, as Jesus has stated many other times, the Son and the Father are together in their mission. Prior to being obedient to the commands is the giving of the Spirit of God, so that in our obedience we have the Spirit in us. The Spirit is working in us and through us and this is our obedience as we surrender to Him. 

The disclosing of Jesus to us perhaps is an allusion to the relationship between our obedience and His operation in us. Our obedience intensifies our relationship with Him. We will know Him more as we obey Him more. 

Summary: Disciples are to love Jesus and in the process, Jesus will disclose Himself to us, the Father and the Son, growing in closeness to God. 

Promise: If we are not seeking to grow in conformity to Christ, we should not expect to grow in the deeper things of God.

Prayer: Lord God, you are great and wonderful and thank you for the privilege of knowing You better as we grow in Your word and You. How awesome that you reveal yourself to us. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

My Utmost for His Highest - June 1st - The Staggering Question

And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. - Ezekiel 37:3

    Can that sinner be turned into a saint? Can that twisted life be put right? There is only one answer: "O Lord, Thou knowest, I don't." Never trample in with religious common sense and say--"Oh, yes, with a little more Bible reading and devotion and prayer, I see how it can be done." 

    It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we mistake panic for inspiration. That is why there are so few fellow workers with God and so many workers for Him. We would far rather work for God than believe in Him. Am I quite sure that God will do what I cannot do? I despair of men in the degree in which I have never realized that God has done anything for me. Is my experience such a wonderful realization of God's power and might that I can never despair of anyone I see? Have I had any spiritual work done in me at all? The degree of panic is the degree of the lack of personal spiritual experience. 

    "Behold, O my people, I will open your graves. (Ezekiel 37:12)" When God wants to show you what human nature is like apart from Himself, He has to show it you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He only does it when His Spirit is at work), you know there is no criminal who is half so bad in actuality as you know yourself to be in possibility. My "grave" has been opened by God and "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. (Romans 7:18)" God's Spirit continually reveals what human nature is like apart from His grace. 

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

Mom's Notes

Pamela's Birthday

John 4:1-45 - Jesus Meets A Samaritan Woman

John 4:1-45

Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”  The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?” So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.

Message: Jesus Meets a Samaritan Woman

Time: John is not recorded as the author, but unanimous testimony of early Christians, like Iraneus in the 2nd century declare him the author. Plus, the eyewitness account give rise that he was one of the close knit disciples and Peter already penned through Mark (the Gospel of Mark), and James died soon after the resurrection, which leaves John. It is thought this book was written between 85 and 95 AD. The Deity of Christ is a striking quality of John's gospel.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Well, I made this entry long by referencing the entire text from this lesson and yet, it is good to see the complete story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman. When Jesus greeted her she knew that it was unusual, him being a Jew, her a Samaritan. It seems like Jesus' first response to her about 'a drink' is that the differences between Samaritans and Jews does not matter when Jesus is offering living water or eternal life. Too much of life right now is us/them and taking sides. It is election time so those sides are more prevalent. Yet, at the same time is a message of 'together' as we walk through this pandemic. So that is one point that I see in this lesson - no divisions when talking about receiving Jesus. 

I also see Jesus saying that drinking of the water from the well will always mean that we remain thirsty and need to drink again. But, when we drink the Living Water, provided by Jesus, we are complete and have everything we need. It reminds me of the prevalence of vices like alcohol, smoking pot, or popping a pill or even eating, drinking, or taking prescription drugs -- all are a reminder of things we never stop needing or feeling like we need, some give us temporary highs and some are needed to sustain life, but no matter what they are fleeting, but Jesus and His love is full and complete. 

I have been studying through Genesis a little with BSF and noticed that God always drew out people's recognition of their sin in their life by asking questions. Jesus does this here when speaking about the many husbands that this woman has had after she has stated she has no husband. It is a reminder that Jesus knows our sins and the Holy Spirit draws that sin out in our lives with our conscience speaking to us. 

I also see Jesus talking about doing the Will of the Father and how it provides to us nourishment like nothing else. 

And once we encounter Jesus, like this woman does, we cannot help but tell others about Him. 

Promise: Jesus changes everything. In this lesson is many lessons, but notable to me is we are all the same in our need for God as Jesus provides us eternal life, water that is complete. And Jesus knows our sin and yet Loves us still. 

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for seeing me and knowing me, forgiving me and loving me. There is abundant life in You. Life is complete with you and I praise You for this. Thank you for changing the way we think and helping us see that You Lord penetrate our lives like nothing else. Thank you for the peace that you bring and for saving me. Thank you for this day in which I have the honor of baptizing my oldest son Tyson. Thank you for loving him and choosing him as Yours and the joy that he is in our lives and the lives of others. 

Matthew 21:18 - The Human Nature of Christ

Matthew 21:18 - Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.

Message: The Human Nature of Christ

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria, written by Matthew, the former tax collector, and one of the 12 disciples or apostles. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this. 

What the Lord is Saying:

Overview

I am currently studying Jesus, Christ alone. Jesus, the human, is the anointed one, the Christ or the Messiah, predicted in the Old Testament as the one who would come and save the world from sin. Jesus is one person who possesses two natures, a divine nature and a human nature, as truly God and truly man. Jesus did not become divine nor did God become a man, Christ was instead the God man. 

Today's Lesson

Many passages teach the humanity of Jesus:

• Jesus is hungry - Matthew 21:18 - Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.
• Jesus slept - Mark 4:38 - Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
• Psalm 121:4 - Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
• Jesus is ignorant or lacks knowledge of an event - Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
• God is all-knowing or omniscient - Psalm 139:4 - Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all.
• Jesus is tempted - Matthew 4:1 - Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 
• James 1:13 - Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 

Thus, in this lesson today are examples of Jesus' humanity in light of the fact that God not having need of anything or being all-knowing. 

Promise: Hebrews 2:17-18 - For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for showing me clearly that Jesus is human and he can come alongside me, for he has experienced what I have experienced. Help me to remember this Spirit. Keep reminding me as you do. I feel so alone at times, but help me to be reminded of how you are like me in this way. I am not alone. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of April is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

Psalm 147:5 - Divine Infinity

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.

Message: Divine Infinity

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

The language that we use to describe God has been talked about at times in 2 different ways: affirmation and negation. Affirmation says what God is; negation says what God is not. Affirmation is cataphatic theology; negation is apophatic theology. Affirmation words are "God is good" or "God is holy." Negation words are "God is immutable" or "God is immaterial."

I think these sort of descriptions of God trouble many people because they are words that cannot be used to describe man and therefore there is a separation between man and God and man cannot completely understand a God who is always or never a certain way.

The passage here in Psalm 147:5 says (God's) His understanding is infinite or beyond measure. No matter how hard we try to think of God as being measurable, He is not. Man has limits. God is infinite. This is hard to wrap our minds together. About God, this means that He can exert His power anywhere at anytime; anywhere on this planet at anytime in our history. He also has the power to though set limits on His creation. Solomon recorded these words in Ecclesiastes 3:11 - He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. We are people of limitations. This is the way God designed it. We have limitations to our understanding of Him.

Although God has no limits there are still things he cannot do. For example, he is incapable of doing evil.

John Gill, an English Baptist Pastor who lived 1697-1771 said:

his understanding is infinite; it reaches to all things, not to the stars of heaven only, as in Psalm 147:4, but to the fowls of the air, to the beasts of the field, and cattle upon a thousand hills; to all on the surface of the earth, or in the bowels of it; and to the fishes of the sea: it reaches to all men, and to all the thoughts of their hearts, the words of their mouths, and the actions of their lives; it reaches to all things past, that have been, to everything present, and to whatsoever is to come; it includes not only the knowledge of all things that are, or certainly will be, but of all things possible, or which he could bring into being if he would; it is concerned not only with the quality and nature of things it perfectly understands, but with the quantity of them; even all things in creation and providence, which are without number and past finding out by men; and so his understanding is without number, and cannot be declared, as the word signifies.

Promise: No act of goodness or evil escapes God's notice. 

Prayer: Lord, there are things about You that I read about, understand and yet don't really comprehend how that is possible. Lord, I don't understand how you listen to my words here and then listen to all the other voices of people throughout this land and how you keep it all together. You are definitely without limits and I don't comprehend it all, but I trust You and I pray that You would help me to continue to be an ambassador for you and I would accept that I don't need to understand everything at all times. Thank you for loving me and knowing my every need. You are holy. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Mark 14:10-11 - Premeditated Betrayal

Mark 14:10-11
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. 11 They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

Message: Premeditated Betrayal

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - It is 2 days before the Passover as Jesus is headed to the cross. The religious leaders are out to get him but with the Passover many will be in town so they wonder if this is the right time. Jesus is in Bethany and visiting Simon the Leper's house and someone in the house (Mary) breaks open a bottle of perfume and pours it on Jesus' head, signifying an anointing. Jesus remarks that this act was significant. 

In the Gospel of John, at this point, Judas is already on the scene and it states he was the one that questioned the use of the perfume that Mary had poured on Jesus, though the text does not attribute it to him in the book of Mark. Judas had remarked that the money could have been better served by selling it and giving it to the poor. But, Mark did not attribute those words to Judas. Perhaps Peter (who Mark bases his book on) didn't remember it was Judas or perhaps at the time Peter did not think it was important. At this time Judas is known to have left the twelve in order to betray Jesus.

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. I am sure Judas knew, as all the disciples knew, that at this point the chief priests were looking for a way to seize Jesus. Something motivated Judas at this moment to do this act. Perhaps his faith all along was weak. The disciples questioned Jesus at various times in His ministry and Judas might have been part of those groups, wondering why Jesus would be talking about death and resurrection, as it didn't make sense given how popular he was to the people and them. Perhaps Judas was motivated by money and feeling inside that the money could be used for other purposes, like helping those in need.

Judges 17:6 remarks that people without a king, without a leader directing them, these people did what was right in his own eyes. Paul says in Romans 1:21 that people began to turn away from God and started to not give thanks and in the process became futile in their own thinking. The human condition is interesting. Often, we do things for our own best interests and not for the benefit of others. We have many scriptures that have to remind us to trust in God and thank God or people and Jesus even said we must live for others. We have to be reminded continually to not do right in our own eyes. 

They (the priests) were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time. So we have the priests that were happy to hear about the betrayal. Most scholars state that Judas had already left the area. But the verse also mentions that Judas was planning when he would betray Him further, at the right time. This betrayal is interesting. While Judas is himself responsible for his actions—his actions ultimately were part of the plan of God for Jesus to be arrested, scourged, beaten and die. That's the puzzling dichotomy at times for me - man chooses, but God uses man's choice to accomplish His purpose. I read that and understand those pieces but still don't comprehend why it is that way. Perhaps I think it is that God creates, man departs from God, their are consequences, and while God knows the events that will occur and knew that things would end up in His son dying on the cross, it was more of a coincidence that it all worked out in this way. I mean, if there was no Judas it would have happened but maybe another way? I'm not sure.

Granted, in this instance Judas is responsible. John Calvin writes, "Judas was inflamed with the desire to steal; long practice had hardened him in wickedness, and now when he meets with no other prey, he does not scruple to betray basely to death the son of God, the Author of Life, and, though restrained by a holy admonition, rushes violently forward."

Summary - Judas was there watching Mary pour the vile of perfume on Jesus. Perhaps he cringed over this waste when he saw the worth of the vile and the money that could come from it. Meanwhile, Jesus is 2 days from Passover and is preparing for death. And now it seems the Judas is involved in that death. It is something God knew all along, but we are finding out now.

Promise: When evil desires creep up in us, we can indulge in them or turn from them. Consequences will result in each choice, one glorifying Man and his ways and the other glorifying God. Choose life.

Prayer: Lord, I read and understand this scene whereby Judas betrayed you. From my vantage point money was more important to him. And Lord perhaps I don't understand completely your sovereignty and I wonder if Judas was not the one would there be something else to get this carried out. Could Judas have chosen differently? Those are questions I have God and asking You for wisdom in understanding the answer. Meanwhile, I remain yours and seek to trust in You and Your ways, to love You and love my neighbor. Help me today in this. I'm struggling with that love toward others and how in fact to put them first while being fair. Work challenges me in my faith. And I look to you for guidance. Thank you for this time in Your word.

Mark 9:38-41 - On the Side of Jesus

Mark 9:38-41
³⁸ John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. ⁴⁰ For he who is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.


Message: On the Side of Jesus

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface - Jesus continues in Capernaum and continues with the thought that as we desire to be great ourselves and also we desire to have God in our life, being there for others, serving others, and receiving little people as valued people, as no different from the powerful is what we must do.

It's interesting in this study of Mark, to see the disciples and what Mark is emphasizing repeatedly, the teaching from Jesus that is sort of the Opposite Way of how people see their lives. The disciples in their discourse thinking about who among them is the greatest means that they see themselves as a a separate or distinct group. They are unique. But, more than being unique, they think of themselves as special. And this special feeling makes them feel like they are on a higher plane than others. And the danger here now in John's words was that what Jesus is trying to teach his disciples, namely that they need to lean on God's power and trust God's power and live life in Jesus' name was reserved for the disciples. But it is not.

John said to Jesus, Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name. So the disciples saw that someone outside of their circle was attempting or trying to cast out demons in Your name. Obviously, someone had understand Jesus' teaching. In describing the scene John gets it right. What Jesus is saying to them over and over is to cast out demons and do things in His Name, in the name of Jesus. And here is someone that is doing that. 

Yet, John has a problem with this person and thinks possibly that he isn't allowed to do this because
we tried to prevent him because he was not following us. Wow. This person shouldn't be doing this because he is not one of us. The complaint was not that he "was not following you, Jesus" but that he "was not following us." And yet he was following Jesus. But, the man was clearly bearing fruit, so this is how he should be evaluated. 

Today, I think of an application in this message as to how we often will align ourselves with a denomination or type of church and then think that only those people in that church are following the Lord. And if a person is outside of that church, and therefore not part of our church, then they are not doing it correctly. But Jesus says to look at the fruit. Let the fruit of the person be the guide and not what group they are involved with. 

Thus, Jesus says, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me." If a person does something in the name of Jesus then he will be incapable of speaking evil of Him. Again, Jesus says to focus on the fruit. Is the fruit correct? Is their motivation correct? I wonder at times if people that belong to different sects that we know on a whole to be wrong are still wrong. I know in my faith there is certain terminology that I expect to hear in people and when I don't hear those words I often don't think they are true followers or followers of Jesus at all. Yet, Jesus says words that are similar to the words of James in his book when he says that faith alone, without works is a dead faith (James 2:17). Our lives of faith will have works. 

Jesus then speaks For he who is not against us is for us. Psalm 115:1 has these words that Chris Tomlin, the worship singer, crafted into a song: Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory. There are two kinds of people, those who are for Jesus and those who are not. This really is one of those teachings from Jesus that I struggle with because he is focusing on works and he is saying that if people say they are for me, then they are, they are not against me. I struggle because of the divisions us in Christendom, specifically the conservative ones view those who are more experiential in their faith. I mean, Jesus here sort of points out a bottom line thought, and that is, "are people for me? Do they act in My name? If so, they are for me and we shouldn't be trying so hard to make them out to be people who are not following after him. I think it is okay to debate over their theology, but we should not be so quick to say they are not for Jesus. 

Jesus says For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. But are there boundaries on essential matters? Yes, and yet, I don't understand sometimes followers who seem to be truly following Jesus even if the leaders of the church or organization they are in are leading them on a different course. This can be a tough lesson. 

Summary - As they continue in Capernaum, John the Apostle mentions to Jesus that someone is casting out a demon in Jesus' name and yet that person is not part of their group. Jesus calls out and says that being part of their group is not what sets people apart as followers of Him or being for him or not followers or not for Him - but instead the issue is are they doing things in Jesus' name. Are they acting in God's name? Thus, we need to look at the fruit, the people group they are in.  

Promise: I learned these words from reading the book of Numbers - Be Careful. I need to not be so quick to judge others as being wrong, focus on their works and then talk to them about their faith. But, don't quickly turn them away because they belong to the wrong group. 

Prayer: Lord, the message that you preach is a message that is an opposite way sort of message. It is different from the way I am often trained in the world and that world training includes how different religious sects train me. Lord, teach me the truth in this message. Teach me what it truly means and how I should view other people in my life. Lord, I want all people to know you and I stare often at their theology rather than their works. Help me to start with their works and then make a bridge to discuss theology. I think of the online ministry I am involved in and this is tough, because we only know from people what they share. Again, help me in what I think about others, to be true to You and Your Word.

Mark 4:26-29 - Slow and Steady Growth

Mark 4:26-29
26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. 29 But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Message: Slow and Steady Growth

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Most of chapter 4 has been dealing with the good soil, the falling of the seed and the Word of God into people's lives -- people that are called by God and then their responsibility to that calling. The Parable of the Sower showed all different kinds of surfaces the seed falls on, but upon it falling on the good soil was the remark that it was accepted and the fruit produced a large crop. And then that good soil (His called ones) have a responsibility to let their light shine and to live according to their calling. After the seed falls, the soil has the task of yielding fruit. Thus, I am a vessel or an instrument of the Lord. And I have a great responsibility as His Child.

I see a lot of part-time believers of God in life. That is not my calling. I am not to only go to church weekly and then behave as I want during the week -- seeking entertainment of every sort, working my trade or my job, raising my family, maintaining my belongings, and buying more -- those are parts of everyone's life and showing partial devotion is not my calling. I am to be equipped and run to the glory of God in all of my activities. Am I really praying, confessing my sin in detail and then offering prayers for others? Am I serving the body of Christ, serving those in need? Is my fellowship with other Christians purposeful, for His glory? My life has been bought at a cost (the Cross) and I have a responsibility to live in a different manner than all of my peers.

This new parable begins with this phrase - The kingdom of God is like. As I recall, in verse 11, in response to the disciples and followers asking Jesus for the meaning of the parables he says - To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, The disciples possess the kingdom of God. I really just stop to mention this subject of the kingdom of God and its importance. I admit, my understanding of these verses is still a work in process. I don't understand completely. But here in these verses, there is something similar here. Could these parables be more for the disciples and followers and less for the great multitude for it is talking specifically about the kingdom of God or rather the good soil? Yet, it is a parable and the parable is given earlier to those on the outside. So, not understand that completely yet.

Here is the parable: a man casts seed upon the soil and he goes to bed at night and gets up the next day and the seed sprouts and grows, yet he himself does not know how or why even as the growth has occurred while he was sleeping. This parable is given without explanation. Immediately Jesus, I believe, is calling to their attention that as he just told them that they need to be obedient to their calling to be good soil and multiply, the multiplication or fruit is something he does. We cannot force this to happen in people's lives.

It reminds me of a visitation I did one time with a leader in the church and we went to the house of woman that lived nearby that had visited the church. I was in my 20s and so the church leader led the discussion. He shared the gospel and then rather forcibly led her to a decision. He persisted and pushed and pushed her until she sort of made a decision and then he walked out of there in celebration of what God had done. I saw the reverse. I didn't see that this was led by the Spirit, but maybe he saw something I didn't. For this message, I see Jesus saying that we are to water and we can give the plants food and care for it, but ultimate God will take charge of the growing.

Each person grows to a certain height, but no parent can determine how tall a person will be. God takes care of this and in the same way we must trust the process. This means that there are no formula's in life. This can be hard at times because this happens often in our non-spiritual life as we work hard and yield results. But, God doesn't work like this and we should not question outcomes.

The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come. This could eventually be talking abut suffering (puts in the sickle) or the point in a person's life that leads them close to death for the harvest has come points possible to the end or the culmination of a person's life where the fruit is seen. Often at deaths of Christians we have a celebration of life service that helps us to stop and take a moment and look at the fruit that has come from this person's life. We are to be faithful in our work but we are also to trust God for the outcome. God will decided when the crop permits for it is different for each person.

Promise: Preach the gospel faithfully and trust God for the harvest. This will yield lasting fruit.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the way in which you work. Thank you for not putting outcomes on me. Help me to not focus on results, but focus on the presentation and depend on you for the results and trust you as well. I need this reminder continually in my life that you are always working, always growing and I can trust you for this. Thank you Lord for the way in which you want me to be involved.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 - Humility of Understanding

Ecclesiastes 11:5
Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

Message:  Humility of Understanding

Time: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. The conventional belief is that the author is indeed Solomon. The book was likely written towards the end of Solomon's reign, approximately 935 B.C. It is a book of perspective whereby the speaker reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning. He accepts that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God and advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.

What the Lord is Saying: Ecclesiastes 11 began with the message that time is short and I need to do my best each day and give my best. And life is unpredictable; as we do our best and be responsible we can trust God for his outcomes. Now, verse 5 has these words: Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 

Now, it seems like we are in the age of knowledge. I often think about right now and our lifestyles. Their is an influx of entertainment, recreation, activity, choices -- and all of these things have one thing in common: more knowledge. With more knowledge we have more choices and more options for our time. It is actually mesmerizing. 

Yet, this knowledge does not mean we have greater wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" and Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Knowledge and wisdom are found by fearing the Lord or letting God define in our lives these virtues. In God is true morality. In life, morality is blurred. Life is constantly in motion, but we need to remember where we have come from. Religion is often seen as tradition which then flies in the face of now, when knowledge is erasing tradition.

This verse would not be a popular verse of today because it states that we do not know the activity of God. In God, there is mystery, which causes us to trust. Mystery is not what we like as it is being erased with knowledge. We would much rather say that people get what they deserve (i.e. karma). Often, the only time God is brought up is when we are at a stage of helplessness or not understanding and to me, this occurs often, in the realm of sickness. In sickness, we don't see why things have occurred the way they have and so at those moments, we continue to pray and ask God for his mercy.

Creation testifies always of God's handiwork. This verse states 3 ideas:

1. We do not know the path of the wind (or spirit in other translations)
2. We do not know how bones work in the womb of a pregnant woman
3. We do no know the activity of God who makes all things.  

Man does not understand the breath of life, how it begins, when it begins, nor how it ends or when it ends. On a side note, it is interesting the obsession we have now with robots, for man desires to have control over something and so the creation of a robot is more in that control. The body is often self healing, yet sometimes it isn't. There is definite mystery in how one body works, while another does not. We do not know how bones work. And we do not understand God. Evil is present. Weather disasters it seem have increased. Man introduces these ideas of climate change or global warming as the answer to increases in natural disasters. Yet, God's timing could be a wake-up to us that he is real, that he is real and still present in lives today. And those events are startling ways in which he attempts to get our attention.

Job 11:7-9 Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.

Promise: The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Life begins with Him and knowing Him. Get to know the character of God more than the ways and means of man.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for not seeing and acknowledging You. We love our progress and our advancement. More and more we are leaning on our own understanding and with greater knowledge we become more independent of our creator. Even in our worship, we want to achieve an altered state of being in Your Presence. Bring us back to You Lord. Remind us you are the author of life. Remind us that you are in control. Remind us that you are present. Remind us continually that we need you. Lord, keep us couched in wonder and amazement, and keep reminding us we are not in control, but You are in control. You define life. Guard me Lord so that I am defined by You.

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 - Embracing our Finitude

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17
¹⁶ When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), ¹⁷ and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.

Message: Embracing our Finitude 

Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Finitude is the state of having limits or bounds. As a reminder Solomon has been called the wisest man in the world. I love verse 17 and have memorized the first part of it. Personally, I can accept that I do not know everything. I am a finite creature, with limits right now. God reveals himself in ways he deems appropriate. There are amazing ways of providence and redemption that he has displayed in my life and for those things I can trust him. There are many things I do not understand and for those I must hold on to the truth of what I do know and trust God that his plan is established. 

People everywhere are saying, "I know." But, we don't really know. No one knows it all. What people do is come up with something that feels safe to them, that makes sense within the bounds of who we are. Yet, to be a child of God is to recognize that I have limits in my understanding.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has made everything beautiful in its own time, and he has set eternity in our hearts, yet so that no man can find out the work with God has done from beginning to end." So in these verses, 16 and 17, what is it that Solomon is saying that is different from what he previously said? 

In verse 15 is the words that man has nothing better to do under the sun that to eat, drink and be merry. Verse 16 is the reason verse 15 has been stated. He is arguing now for this conclusion. 

Here are thoughts from Rev. Joseph Benson, a Methodist minister who lived to be 74, dying in 1821. Over the course of 7 years, 1811-1818 he published his notes from the Old and New Testament. He was a contemporary of John Wesley. living in Cumberland, England.

he had diligently studied wherein man’s wisdom consists, and had observed the restlessness of men’s minds and bodies in other courses; and to see the business — To observe men’s various designs and employments, and their unwearied labours about worldly things. For there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep — Having now mentioned the business which is done, or which man doth, upon earth, he further adds, as an evidence of man’s eagerness in pursuing his business, For even by day and by night he — The busy man; seeth not sleep with his eyes — He grudges himself necessary refreshments, and disquiets himself with endless cares and labours.

It is clear that I am to be a student of God's word, desire to read it and know it. But, at the same time there is a freedom in Christ, that I can trust in what God is doing. I am not to worry. I am not to fret. I am to pray if something of concern comes to mind. I am not in control. If there are things I do not understand, it is better to enjoy life than to be obsessive about uncovering those mysteries. This is what I conclude from Benson's words. Man, if left to his own devices is restless. The whole work of God cannot be grasped, so there is no reason to toil to discover it.

I found this quote from the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary published in 1871by Robert Jamieson, Andrew Robert Fausset and David Brown, who lived in Glasgow, York, and and Glasgow, respectively.

I saw that man cannot find out (the reason of) God's inscrutable dealings with the "just" and with the "wicked" here (Ec 8:14; Ec 3:11; Job 5:9; Ro 11:33); his duty is to acquiesce in them as good, because they are God's, though he sees not all the reasons for them (Ps 73:16). It is enough to know "the righteous are in God's hand" (Ec 9:1)

We simply conclude that God is good. His ways are good. We will not understand his dealings with the just and wicked, but we can conclude the righteous are in God's hand. 

Promise: We are to enjoy life and we can, because God is in control. We are to live in the comfortable enjoyment of God's blessings. I

Job 42 - Job's Repentance and Restoration

Job 42

Message: Job's Repentance and Restoration

Time: The time of Job is unclear and commonly debated. Often the language of the book can give clues. It seems to be that Job had a lifespan of close to 200 years as Job 42:16 says he lived 140 years after the events in the book.

What the Lord is Saying:

I've been studying these chapters in Job, somewhat selectively, based upon the readings of Tabletalk. It's taken me a while to get through them for the words are poetic and generally are tough for me to understand. As I saw last time, Chapter 42 concludes the book with Job answering the Lord, the Lord speaking the truth about his friends and then God restoring Job's fortunes.

There are 17 verses in this chapter.

Job's Confession
The first 6 verses Job answers the Lord and in his response he admits his error before the Lord. He has listened to the words from the Lord, like chapter 38 that I looked at, and he now understands better. He says in verse 2, I know you that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. It is a rather simple proclamation that Job makes stating that he knows that the Lord can do all things. He is omnipotent, meaning God can do anything or he has unlimited power. I can go about each day with the simple understanding that God is in control.

Job is now a humble person. I think it takes a lot to be humble these days. We are a proud and puffed up people and we think our intellect and knowledge puts us in control. Job mentions in verse 3, I have declared that which I did not understand. He admits that he has made an opinion on things that are beyond his understanding. It's one thing to talk about God through the words of a song, like Chris Tomlin does in God is incomprehensible or rather indescribable. We need this. We need to realize that God doesn't need to be described completely. We need to let there be things about God that are indescribable. We need to admit that there are things we do not know.

For me, this becomes clearer and clearer with each new day. God, I don't understand what is going on in people's lives. I don't understand why some people have and some people have not. I must admit, I am weak, in that my mind wants to ponder this and wants to examine this and figure it out, but O God, help me to turn from that and simply acknowledge that you are omnipotent and I need not understand every tit and tattle. Help me to accept the unknown. Help me to stay in what I do know. Give me wisdom in the day to day. That's where I want to live. If I don't know it, then I need to bring it before you and pray for it. This should be my calling card for life. Forgive me for being so quick to thinking that I must understand it all before I can step forward.

Lord, verse 4 of this chapter, seems to put forth this sentiment well. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask you, and You instruct me. This is how I should come before God. I come before Him praying and asking and waiting for His instruction. Help this to be all I need.

I like what Albert Barnes says here:

The most holy men may have occasion to repent of their presumptuous manner of speaking of God. We all err in the same way in which Job did. We reason about God with irreverence; we speak of his government as if we could comprehend it; we discourse of him as if he were an equal; and when we come to have any just views of him, we see that there has been much improper boldness, much self-confidence, much irreverence of thought and manner, in our estimation of the divine wisdom and plans. The bitter experience of Job should lead us to the utmost carefulness in the manner in which we speak of our Maker.

Even the most holy men have occasion to repent. 


God Displeased with Job's Friends
God speaks to Job's friends and simply says, you have not spoken of Me what is right and he asks them to repent by offer(ing) up a burnt offering for yourselves. When God confronts us, we need to repent.

O God, forgive me for thinking I know better than you. Forgive me for thinking that I know how to raise my children. Forgive me for thinking that I have it all figured out and that I even have you figured out. Help me to be on my knees more and studying Your Word and accepting of your ways. Keep me anchored in a path of not questioning. I am to father and care for my children. Show me God what this means more and more.

God Restores Job's Fortunes

Job needs to have a right understanding of God. This is what I need in my life. The Lord restored the fortunes of Job. This restoration wasn't necessarily immediate, but it was lifelong. God is more interested in my character than my wealth or social position. I must be focused here.

Job had it all, but then lost it all. He questioned God, but then had a right understanding of God. And God blessed Job. His later days were greater from his beginning. The hallmark of his life was putting his trust in God.

Lord, help me to trust you. Help me O God. Keep me focused on you. 

Promise: Expect restoration while we persist in faith and do not speak ill of the Lord. God will keep his promises.

Job 36 - Elihu's Arrogance

Job 36

Message: Elihu's Arrogance (v.1-15) and God's Power and Majesty (v. 16-33)

Time: The time of Job is unclear and commonly debated. Often the language of the book can give clues. It seems to be that Job had a lifespan of close to 200 years as Job 42:16 says he lived 140 years after the events in the book.

What the Lord is Saying:

Overview - this is an wonderful chapter and yet an intense one. To me it has 3 sections:
1. Elihu misunderstands God's ways in man (v.1-15)
2. Do not live as the wicked live (v. 16-21)
3. God is to be highly exalted (v. 22-26)
4. The mighty works of God (v. 27-33)

Elihu on the Scene
So, far, according to the commentators, each party (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar) has given 3 speeches and this has been the chosen allotment for number of speeches, although Zophar failed to reply. Here Elihu wants to say some more words after he came on the scene in chapter 32. Elihu is said to be a younger contemporary of Job and his 3 friends.

My struggle
I must say, I struggle with these passages in Job. They are some of the oldest written texts in the Bible, though that doesn't mean the time in which they occur is the oldest. I end up having to look at different commentators about these verses and yet they often do not agree with one another. Sometimes I struggle with the Bible and what I am to glean from some of the writings. All of these writers were men, like myself, though they lived in a different time and their words are regarded as more divine, I suppose, than mine. My tendency is to analyze and pick apart each word that is said. But maybe I need to get in the habit of a quicker reading of each passage. I continue to follow the TableTalk devotional, though I am now about 1 year behind. It does keep me accountable to a plan, as Tracey mentioned to me when I told him about it a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I need to be quicker about my reads.

Understanding this passage
Elihu begins with the idea of imploring the group to listen (v. 2). He mentions that these words may be different than what has been said before (v. 3a), but his goal is that they exemplify or speak to or represent or ascribe the righteousness of God (v. 3b). He begins with the idea that his words will show the mighty works of God. Elihu believes that his words are right and that he is speaking soundly; he has confidence in his speech (v. 4).

Elihu makes the statement that God is mighty and therefore God does not modify any class of people, is wholly independent and impartial in all his dealings.  He says God is mighty but does not despise (v. 5). 

For the moment, I am switching over to the Message paraphrase and look at Eugene Peterson's perspective on this passage. And what I see is a man that is comparing the wicked and righteous. Tabletalk believes that Elihu in verse 5-12 is saying the same thing that the other 3 friends have said and that is suffering is the result of a specific sin. I'm not sure if the Message is saying the same thing. The Message starts off with the idea that God doesn't bully innocent people or the idea that God doesn't allow bad things to happen to innocent people, but he does thwart the actions of the wicked. 

Job's friends and now Elihu have all done something similar in their words to Job. I wonder, are they not simply trying to bring comfort to Job. It almost seems like that is what they are trying to do. They know and have seen that Job has lived his life in a way that honors God. And now that they see something bad  happen to their friend, they seem to now think that Job must have done something bad. Maybe the idea is that in their eyes they struggle believing that a God would bring calamity to Job when Job hadn't done anything really bad. 

I think the argument the Tabletalk authors are making is that suffering is not always the result of a specific sin. This past Sunday in church we looked at Proverbs 3:11-12 which says, "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights." I think he is putting forth idea that God disciplines us often or corrects us or allows suffering to occur because it is needed in our life. That seems clear, but the idea that God would allow suffering just because is a tough one to accept. 

I guess what is hard then about that situation is to see the suffering of a child. I don't see anything wrong in what that child has done and so is it possible that suffering is the result of the bad choices in his parents? I think that is possible. But, what about my friend Bobby and the cancer he had in his body or even Tammy (Mike's wife) and the breast cancer she had which ended up costing her life. I don't know if in those situations we can connect dots to say those people's suffering were due to a need for correction. But, rather it seems that suffering occurs because we simply live in this fallen world.  

Side note -- 2 planes 
You know, sometimes it feels like there are 2 separate planes of life that are being recorded in the Bible. One there is this plane that puts forth God is great and mighty. His actions are based upon who he is and what he wants. God wills what He wills. To man he brings upon circumstances that are challenging or welcome. The way he acts is based upon on him and his nature and the outcomes he desires. Things happen often that we don't understand. And through those situations it is not for us to question God. But we are to trust Him. We are to trust our creator. 

But then there sits another plane. This is where men and women live. This plane resides with the Law of God, His commandments, our actions, our choices and within that plane we do see rewards from doing good and being obedient to God's commandments. We also see losses when we don't do things the way God has commanded. 

Our lives are then lived and we wonder how these planes intersect. On one hand, when things happen that we just don't understand, we need to trust God. I think it's okay to ask the question whether or not the outcome is the result of obeying or disobeying God's commands. There may be a change in man that is needed. But, we are never to say to God that he has made a mistake. 

Concluding thoughts on verses 1-15
Going back to verses 1-15 I see here that Elihu, in his observations, sometimes does get it right. God does tell us when we've done something wrong and tells us we need to repent. But, God doesn't promise that all will be free of problems if we just always do what God commands. Yes, we want to live in that manner because we know it is the best way to live. But, living that way doesn't mean it frees us from problems. 

Overall, Elihu gets it wrong. He paints a picture that is incorrect. In verse 15, NASB says, "“He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, and opens their ear in time of oppression." In the Message, it says, "But those who learn from their suffering, God delivers from their suffering." No. This isn't right. It doesn't work out cleanly or matter of fact. Joni has learned a lot from her suffering. She still suffers. Her response to it has changed, though. 

As I move on in my look at this passage, Elihu continues to offer explanations to Job. His desire is to make him feel better. But, it's possible his words are offered too quickly. As a person in consoling others, we still need to think before we speak. While Elihu's heart is in the right place, I'm not sure that his words are. 

Do not live as the wicked live

Here I am going to switch to the King James Version in verse 16, "Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness." Elihu mentions to Job that he could have moved from a place of being "strait" to a broad place if he head just had the right response to the calamity he was having. Once again, Elihu doesn't get it right. He has half-truths. The strait way is narrow and hard to get along where the braod table is fat and has no obstructions.

In verse 17, he says, "But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee." Albert Barnes commentary puts forth the idea that what occurred here is Elihu saying that Job was living in a manner where his response was that of a wicked person that thinks they are wicked. The wicked knows that their behavior should have bad outcomes and Elihu asserts Job is living in this way. 

Then in verse 18 and 19 is the idea that if wicked is your outcome, don't think that riches can get you out of that outcome. Job had been a rich man, but riches doesn't mean that we escape God's wrath. This is an important lesson because although sometimes the riches we receive is a result of hard work, people with more are often viewed differently in society and greater than the person with less. People with money often think they can get away with things that people without money can't. But, not in God's eyes. I must be careful to not view people the way the world views them. 

In verse 20, he states, "Do not long for the night." Night is an emblem of death and here Elihu says to Job, do not long for death thinking that by death coming Job will be able to escape God's wrath. Elihu continues with the idea that Job is living as a wicked person and in this pursuit thinks he can escape God. 

Verse 21 is almost like a proverb that Elihu states to Job, "Be careful, do not turn to evil." As people, there is a danger we have of thinking we can reason through the divine administration. It is one thing to ponder what God may be teaching me concerning a trial, but it is quite another to ask why God did what he did. Under the umbrella statement of "God is love" we end up with the feeling that God is not doing acts of love when calamity come our way. Elihu's warning is a good one: be careful that you do not become an advocacy of iniquity and evil. 

He then continues this thought in the verse by saying, "for you have preferred this to affliction."  The problem with pain and the problem with suffering is it is hard to go through. People don't like it and so they will often seek other outcomes, sinful outcomes, outcomes of rejecting God rather than living with divine will. Albert Barnes has a statement here that is appropriate:

People often prefer iniquity to affliction. They will commit crime rather than suffer the evils of poverty; they will be guilty of fraud and forgery to avoid apprehended want. They will be dishonest to their creditors rather than submit to the disgrace of bankruptcy. They will take advantage of the widow and the fatherless rather than suffer themselves.

I think that is an interesting statement. We are impatient. Sometimes I see this more clearly in the raising of a child. When life gets difficult for my kids they often choose the easy road but in the process they are not submitting to wise counsel. Even at work, I see this in myself. Rather than accept the authority of my boss, I turn to sin and gossip about him.

God is to be highly exalted
Verse 22 and 23, "Behold, God is exalted in His power; who is a teacher like Him?" Elihu now turns to the focus being on God and that Job (we) is to be submissive to Him. Can a person submit to authority and question authority at the same time? I think not. “Who has appointed Him His way, and who has said, ‘You have done wrong'? God is supreme and independent; no one has advised him, and no one has a right to counsel him. No one has a right to say to God, "You have done wrong." It is to be regarded as an indisputable point that God is always right, and that however dark his dealings with people may seem, the “reason” why they are mysterious “never is, that God is wrong.”

I think this is something that has changed over the years. I believe the Jews have continued to hold this high level of esteem for God, and reverence, and respect. But, often we as Christians do not take on the same level of respect, but instead can at times mirror the world which has so little respect for God. God is to be highly exalted and praised. This also means that God is never to be questioned. Verse 24, "“Remember that you should exalt His work, of which men have sung."

Verse 25: “All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar." Man can see God's handiwork in the creation. His majesty is seen in the sun and stars, the sky, the clouds, the storms, the lighting and the rain. We have immense distances of space that we are just now beginning to behold and yet they have always been there. We can see God from afar.  

Verse 26: “Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable. Why can't we just accept this? Why can't we just accept the fact that God and his way are not know completely? I think there is a real danger in this as it is so easy to get our eyes off of God and instead on what we can understand. 

The mighty works of God
The rest of the chapter goes on further to paint this picture of all that God is and does. 
-- Rain and dew
^{27 "}For He draws up the drops of water, they distill rain from the mist, ²⁸ which the clouds pour down, they drip upon man abundantly. Elihu first looks at the rain and the amazement of the clouds holding onto water and then water not descending like a torrent but instead in drops upon the earth or even in a morning dew. Yes, science can offer the explanation to further clarify this phenomenon and that is fine, but the motion is from the handiwork of God. Science describes what God has ordained. In this is the wisdom and power of God. Knowledge of these events and how they occur only further expands and confirms the mighty works of God. 
-- The Clouds  

^29a “Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds - the clouds roll in and roll out. Here in New Mexico it amazes me the pictures that result from a sunset in which the sun as it descends shines forth through the clouds and their setting in the sky is a sight to behold. The clouds roll into the sky and then spread out in a myriad of beautiful ways. 
-- The Thunder
^29b “the thundering of His pavilion?  The crash of thunder is one of the great illustrations of the dwelling place of God and his power upon the earth. 
-- Lightning
^30a “Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him, - he flashes light over the land and earth; this image is beautiful and graphic; it is impressive. 
-- Covers the sea with floods
^30b “Band He covers the depths of the sea. - he not only covers what we see above, but he tends to what is below and not easily seen. He is Lord over all.

All of this speaks to the wonders of God and the power he has. We often say that no one has seen God and yet we can see him clearly in each other, in the creation, and the displays that he puts forth in nature and weather. At various times the falling of rain is one of the sweetest provisions from God as it causes vegetation to grow and provides us with the nourishment that we need. It is a huge blessing. Yet, there are hurricanes and tsunami's and tornadoes that express a judgment that befalls man as well. There is blessing, but there is also punishment or discipline.
³¹ “For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance. ³² “He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark. ³³ “Its noise declares His presence; the cattle also, concerning what is coming up.

Promise:  This passage has several themes. In these verses Elihu comes to Job and asserts an idea that is improper. As he shows later in his description of the majesty of God we see that God often acts in ways through what we see in nature according to his divine appointment. There isn't always this clear cause and effect that he alludes to with Job where good decisions always merit good results and improper decisions always merit improper results. God shows us continually that he is in control. This can be a hard message to understand and accept but that is the promise illustrated through this passage.