August 26th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Job 20:1-22:30 ~ 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Psalm 40:11-17 ~ Proverbs 22:2-4

Old Testament - Today in Job chapter 21 verses 7 through 13 we read these words of Job - ""The truth is that the wicked live to a good old age. They grow old and wealthy. They live to see their children grow to maturity, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them. Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves without miscarriage. Their children skip about like lambs in a flock of sheep. They sing with tambourine and harp. They make merry to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in prosperity; then they go down to the grave in peace."   How do these words of Job speak to you?  Is there truth in these words?   If the wicked go to the grave in peace, what happens to them after the grave?  Honestly, I'm not so sure about the wicked living to a good old age and going to the grave in peace...  I personally would not take this chance.  I think living a wicked life leads to inner conflict and an unhealthy life and potentially an early grave.  I understand why Job said these words in his circumstances, but I personally would not bet on a wicked life delivering a long lifetime of wealth or peace...

New Testament - Today we begin Paul's Second Letter to the church in Corinth!  Below is "The Apostle Paul", by the artist Rembrandt van Ryn, 1657 - Widener Collection -

~ Second Corinthians ~
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Ephesus
Date: A.D. 57
Content: Paul’s earlier letter to the Corinthians had not settled all of the problems. It had some good effect upon them but much more remained to be done. In particular, Paul had to settle the problem concerning his own authority. Deep suspicions had been aroused concerning him, for what reasons we do not fully understand. But in great anguish Paul writes to reestablish his own apostolic authority. He also attempts to deal with some more practical matters, like supporting the poor believers elsewhere.
Theme: Triumph over adversity is seen throughout this letter. It is a very personal one, written by one who loved his people but had been deeply wronged by them. As Paul catalogs the experiences of his life and the nature of the Christian ministry, it is possible to see the grace of God at work bringing good from evil. Satan is active, seeking to destroy God’s work, but God is greater still, establishing those who trust in him. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 25)

More commentary on Second Corinthians is at these 3 links –
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1203
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1830
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1831

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Second Corinthians chapter 1 titled "Why Bad things happen to God's people" is at this link.

Psalms - Today Psalm 40 verse 16 stood out to me for it's pure joy and praise - "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!""  Does this verse resonate with you today?  Have you searched for God in your life?  Are you filled with joy and gladness because of that search?  Do you love God's salvation?  Do you shout praises to God for all he has done for you?

Maybe if verse 16 does not resonate for you today, hopefully verse 17 can encourage you - "As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now. You are my helper and my savior. Do not delay, O my God."  Do you believe that God is thinking about you right now?  Do you believe that God is your helper and your savior?

Proverbs - Proverbs 22 verse 2 is a great reminder that our wealth or status does not affect who we are in God's eyes or in God's very hands - "The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD made them both."  As we are all created by God, we should not ever consider ourselves better than anyone - nor lesser than anyone - because someone else has a different set of finances than we do.  If you think about it, every single person you meet has a different set of finances than you do.  Some are richer, some are poorer.  And yet we all have this in common - God made us.  How might this affect how you view others in this world?  Do you literally and consciously realize that God made each and every one of us?  Below is Michelangelo's "Creation" from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, circa 1505-1513 -

What verses or insights jumped out for you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Vance Brown]

JOB 21

12
They sing with tambourine and harp. They make merry to the sound of the flute.
13
They spend their days in prosperity; then they go down to the grave in peace.
14
All this, even though they say to God, `Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.
15
Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us if we pray?'
16
But their prosperity is not of their own doing, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.

29
But I tell you to ask those who have been around, and they can tell you the truth. 30Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape.
31
No one rebukes them openly. No one repays them for what they have done.
32
When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
33
A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest and the earth gives sweet repose.
34
"How can you comfort me? All your explanations are wrong!"

I notice what Job said in verse 16:
But their prosperity is not of their own doing, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.

Sometimes the wicked do prosper and do very well. The answer is, even if those who reject God and reject Christ seem to do exceedingly well and seem to have a “good” life, there is accountability in the next life.

Hell is not a tool to use to “scare” people or “hit people over the head with”. It is the reality that nothing goes unnoticed or unaccounted for...even if it may seem that way.

Luke 16 (NKJV)

25
But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27
“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,
28
for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
29
Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
30
And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31
But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

2 CORINTHIANS 1

3
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source[b] of every mercy and the God who comforts us.
4
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
5
You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

THANK GOD FOR THE NEARNESS OF THE PRESENCE AND REALITY OF CHRIST!

PSALM 40

16
But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"

Do we— do I —experience the reality of Jesus, His Presence, and His joy? The “Joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

The world does not care how much we know.
People want to know how much we care… and how much we having a living, vital faith.

John 15

7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Vance

[Ramona]

Job 20-22:30

Mike I will attempt to give a brief answer to your question about Job’s perspective on the wicked. The problem with Job’s observation is just that, it is his observation and his own conclusion. Since we look at things with our own eyes, we have our perspective not God’s. People can witness the same accident, and depending on where they are standing, whether their view is obstructed, and throw into this mix, partiality, we will testify on a stack of bibles that what we have seen is true, but each saw things differently.

Job is experiencing internally the pain of what happened to him, his three friends are observing from the outside and making their own conclusion of the cause, all four are wrong because none has God’s point of view and none understands that it was not God that brought Job down, albeit, temporarily but it was Satan, though God allowed it.

Several things have crossed my mind as I read this, Job’s three “friends” are judging him by what they see and judge themselves by their intentions. That is something we do. They have set themselves “higher” then Job, thus they believe they have the “right” to make judgments against Job by saying he must have sinned because of his state, so they are unable to hear Job’s rebuke of them. They consider themselves wiser than Job because Job is destitute and they are not. There are those who believe their wealth, multiple degrees, etc. make them smarter, wiser and above reproach, so they can give advice, ungodly advice, to everyone they deem beneath them.

Job and his friends see the same things, yet hold differing views because each has a different perspective; however, seeing “effects” and then judging what they think is the “cause,” sin, is dangerous business

What I also find in this by all four men are a lot of truth in their speech with a little bit of untruth mixed in. So trying to ascertain which part of their speech is true and/or false, with some assumptions thrown in is kind of like trying to remove the cup of saltwater that has been mixed in with a barrel full of fresh water, impossible. The whole barrel must be emptied and then filled with fresh water again, sans the seawater.
II Corinthians 1:1-11

Interesting how the trial Job is experiencing is dealt with by Paul. If Paul’s words had been available to Job while he was experiencing this “test”, Job might have had a brighter disposition. However, we today are able to read Paul’s words so we need to stop murmuring and complaining every time something doesn’t go our way.

3 All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort.

Psalm 40:11-17

The 16th verse is the one that caught my attention just like it did to Mike and Vance.

But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"

Usually we shout Amen, Hallelujah and the Lord is great when something wonderful happens but even if something bad happens the Lord is Still Great! When a natural disaster comes upon the earth and tens of thousands die, the Lord is Great. When we lose our job, the Lord is Great. God’s greatness doesn’t depend on us having a great day, God is great because He IS Great! Great is part of His Character.

Proverbs 22:2-4

2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.

Another verse in God’s Word that proves no one’s wealth seats them in a higher position or place in life as far as God is concerned. Man is the one who operates in a “class” system. We all want to think we are better than someone else is. Even the poorest of the poor, the lowest on man’s social scale, will observe someone’s behavior and say, “Even I don’t do that,” as if they, me, I, we, set the High Mark for righteousness and social decorum. God have mercy.

Grace and peace,
Ramona