August 25th One Year Bible Readings

Job 16:1-19:29 ~ 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 ~ Psalm 40:1-10 ~ Proverbs 22:1
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~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives!"  Whoo-hoo!  Awesome words from Job today in chapter 19 verse 25!  (And, conveniently enough, words from the YouTube video in yesterday's posting!)

Job chapter 19 verses 23 through 27 are some of the best known and well loved verses of the book of Job.  These verses seem to be where Job hits his high point in his understanding of his relationship with God:  "Oh, that my words could be written. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock. "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!"  How powerful are these verses??  Great stuff.  Job starts off saying that he hopes his words could be written and engraved forever - and indeed they were as we are reading them in the Bible!  Then Job makes the incredible statement that even in the midst of all of his suffering and perceived distance from God, he knows that God lives!  The closing two verses are powerful in that they actually indicated a belief in the resurrection by Job.  He says that even after his body has decayed - after his death here on this earth - he will see God with his own eyes in his own body!  How could this possibly be?  Well, only if he believed in a resurrected body after death - as we've been reading about in First Corinthians chapter 15 the past couple of days!  I've read some various commentaries on who is the "Redeemer" that Job is referring to in verse 25.  Jesus?  Could be.  But it seems like most commentaries seem to suggest Job is referring to God himself, rather than Jesus.  Though, of course Jesus is God so maybe this is a moot point!  :) Job does talk about his desire for a mediator in other parts of this book, which could be references to Jesus as well.  I found this great artwork below that was painted based on the chapter of Job 19.   Re-read the entire chapter of Job 19 again and I think you'll see the beauty of this artwork...

New Testament - We wrap up Paul's first letter to the Corinthians today!  What an amazing book!  I have been blessed immensely by it this year.  I hope you have too? I like Paul's instructions to the church in Corinth in chapter 16 verses 1 through 3 today: "Now about the money being collected for the Christians in Jerusalem: You should follow the same procedures I gave to the churches in Galatia. On every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once."  I love this last sentence!  It made me smile.  Paul knows how us humans are - back then and now - we like to procrastinate!  We like to do things at the last minute if we can.  Well, I concur with Paul that our giving to our churches should be a regular thing.  With each pay check we should "put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned."  Really, as I think about it, giving of money to our churches with each paycheck is an act of worship.  We are worshiping God with our finances.  Let us not wait to give to our churches.  Let us give faithfully and regularly with each paycheck God blesses us with!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in First Corinthians titled "Paul's Closing Words" is at this link.  Below is a great image and message from First Corinthians 16:14 -

Psalms - U2 fans out there will know that the band released a song called "40" in 1983 inspired by Psalm 40.  The band took most of the lyrics for this song straight from the early verses of this Psalm - and I quote here from the song, not the Psalm per se - "I waited patiently for the Lord, He inclined and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit; Out of the miry clay.  He set my feet upon a rock; And made my footsteps firm. Many will see; Many will see and hear."  The song also could have also been called "6" because the refrain is from Psalm 6 verse 3: "How long, O LORD, how long?"  A quote from Bono on the song is this: "'40' became the closing song at U2 shows and on hundreds of occasions, literally hundreds of thousands of people of every size and shape t-shirt have shouted back the refrain pinched from 'Psalm 6': 'How long to sing this song.' I thought of it as a nagging question - pulling at the hem of an invisible deity whose presence we glimpse only when we act in love. How long...hunger? How long...hatred? How long until creation grows up and the chaos of its precocious adolescence has been discarded? I thought it odd that the vocalising of such questions could bring such comfort; to me too."  Has anyone heard U2 play "40" in concert before?  I did twice - once back on the Joshua Tree tour way back in 1987 and once a few years ago on the Vertigo tour.  It's a beautiful song - written really by David!

Proverbs - We have a beautiful Proverb verse 1 to start off the 22nd Chapter of Proverbs!  "Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold."  Do you believe this Proverb to be true?  Which do you seek after more - a good reputation or money?  You know though, the more I think about this Proverb I have some concerns about it.  Only in that if we seek after having a good reputation, then we may really be focusing on ourselves and how other people look at us, rather than focusing on Kingdom things.  We may decide to do something because it's "popular", rather than it being "right."  We may give to the poor with blazing trumpets because this will help our reputation - but Jesus clearly said we should not do this.  Does this make sense?  I mean given the choice of a good reputation or being rich, this Proverb is clearly true.  But it's not enough.  That's why we need to read the entire Bible to get the full context of everything else that surrounds any 1 particular verse in the Bible, like this one.  One verse is not enough.  It's Truth.  But not enough.  We need the entire Bible.  Good for you for going through the One Year Bible this year!  Please do keep up your study of the entire Bible beyond just this year.  We need the entire Bible for our entire life...

Worship God: For our Job readings today just scroll on down to yesterday's posting to watch the YouTube for "My Redeemer Lives!"  Today as we're reading Psalm 40 and per my comments on this Psalm above, I'd like to share with you a live performance of U2's "40" at Red Rocks on June 5, 1983. Watch this video all the way to the end to see the crowd at Red Rocks singing "How long to sing this song?" over and over again...

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[R]

Regarding the question dealing with Proverbs 22:1

Mike the core of one’s reputation is one’s character. If you look at one’s reputation as what is left behind AFTER physical death then one’s “rep” can only be truly known after death.

Greatness and fame (which most people are seeking) are not one and the same. We will manipulate the situation, information and put a “spin” on truth when we seek to keep our reputation intact. When we do that all we have build is a false façade around who we really are. And one day, either during our life time or after our death, the truth of who we are will come forth. It’s all about thinking from an eternal perspective and not a temporal one. Fast-food is not a 20/21st Century phenomena, folks have been feeding on junk spiritual food since the beginning of time. Greatness is long term and is greater than a person’s physical life. How many people do we celebrate today that in their lifetime they were wrongfully vilified? Wasn’t Jesus vilified by all but a handful of people at his death?

[Kaz]

I just want to say thankyou for this blog! I have recently begun the oneyearbible reading plan, it in itself is such a blessing of course, but being able to read anothers insights into the readings is also encouraging and thought provoking as well. PLease keep it going!! Keep up the good work of the Lord!

[John]

Job

Like the energizer bunny rabbit, the exchanges between Job and friends go on and on and on and on..... :)
======================================================
JOB REPLIES TO ELIPHAZ

His friends are “miserable comforters”.

God has persecuted Job.

Job calls for a heavenly witness to vindicate him.

KJV (makes a little mopre sense.)
19"Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high."

20"My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God."

21"O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!"

Job acknowledges the need for an intercessor with God. (foreshadows Christ).

Job goes back to being forlorn in chapter 17.

Yet another Biblical truth is thrown out there:

Job17:3 "Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.
Who else will put up security for me?"

If sacrifices are not enough when I sin, what is it you want in "exchange". Who else will pledge oneself for me, to free me of these trials?

Indeed who else but God in the form of Christ can fulfill God's "exchange". Job does not know, but he wants to know.
======================================================
BILDAD'S TURN
Condemns Job for rejecting them.

Poetically describes the horrible fate of the wicked.

Again he is describing the fate of Job. So you have sinned, now repent.
======================================================
JOB REPLIES TO BILDAD

Why do his friends reproach and persecute him?

Job calls to God, but God does not respond.

God has stripped Job of glory and crown.

Job’s family has deserted him.

Note that in verses 23 and 24 Job wishes his words would be recorded to stand forever. God grants that request as He does other things that Job seeks.

Job claims that his redeemer will vindicate him.

Job 19:25-27
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" NIV

There is much discussion on these verses. Job has been asking for such an intercessor - now. However, these verses seem to indicate - that whatever happens - eventually Job will be redeemed and resurrected. That is Job's belief - that a redeemer exists or will exist and Job in the flesh will see God.

Where did he get this idea from? Some scholars say it is too early to have this kind of idea regarding God's plan. Really? I suggest he got the idea from Adam as it has been passed down generationally. I want to do a flashhback to Genesis - but will do it in a separate post.
======================================================
JOB SEEKS

Summary: Job seeks for -

1- Arbitrator (9:33-34)

2- a witness to testify for him (16:18)

3- a redeemer/vindicator (19:25)

4- a face to face meeting with God (13:16).

Interesting, Job seeks while his friends expound on their view of God and how it applies to Job.

Yet Job's requests of being recorded and the four listed above are all answered.

The face to face in the book of Job, the first three in Christ.

[R]

Job 16:1-19:29

What we have here is a failure to communicate; everybody is talking but no one is listening. Each has his point to get across and no one is interested in what the other person has to say, or even why they are saying it. Each charges on and on and on to get their thoughts and opinions out thinking that what they have to say is important and the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19 KJV)

Before this current reading I gave little credence to what any of Job’s friends had to say and looked for the hay to eat amongst the sticks of Job’s words. Anything between chapters 2 and 37th was just a bunch of hot air blowing around created by men who know about God but who really don’t know God. Today I realized that the behavior, the words and arguments of Job’s three friends are important in understanding our desire to justify ourselves and the words we use to accomplish that justification. Job’s three friends are us!

[John]

GOD'S WORD FROM ADAM TO JOB

There are eight references to Adam in seven verses of NT. Adam is real.

Adam is not stupid. God made Adam in his image. Adam was made to rule on earth. Adam had quickly sized up animals and named them all. Adam and Eve had communed with God, walked and talked with God in the garden. I repeat - Adam is not stupid. He is a very intelligent human that has a great memory, probably speaks well, and has had fellowship with God. My theory: Adam knew exactly what happened in the Garden, and what it symbolized.
======================================================
FLASHBACK TO GENESIS 3
(talked about this once before many many posts ago)

Some people have trouble with a talking serpant (snake) deceiving Eve in the garden. Me too, I just accepted it as something I could not understand. Then I picked up a copy of Bullinger's "Companion Bible". Bullinger breaks down Hebrew and Greek text to the minutest detail. He seems to know the forms of literature, differing styles, words and their roots, construction styles of the passages, etc. He is great on Figures of Sppech. Bullinger offers an explanation of Garden scene that seems plausible to me. Let's look at it:

Satan was not a serpent. He came to Eve as an "angel of light". Eve had communed with God. She had seen His glory and light, she was not scared or put off by a "shining being" who spoke well and engaged her in dialogue. This "shining being" deceived Eve, and got her to doubt God's Word.

Oh come on! How did Bullinger come up with this scenario?

Hebrew word for "serpent" is "nachash" and literally, yes, it means serpent or snake. But the root of the word means: "shining whisperer," "shining enchanter."
http://headcoverings-by-devorah.com/HebglossN.html

So Bullinger is saying that instead of using a literal translation of "nachash", one should look at it figuratively using the root. He gives an example of "nachash" used in Numbers 21:8. Bullinger also asserts that Gen3 is in the hebrew literary style of "Intorversion". That the cherubim in the last verse (Gen3:24) must be offset with another similar spirit being in the first verse. If your curiosity is piqued, I encourage you to read the appendix 19 from the "Companion Bible" at this link:
http://www.ovrlnd.com/Teaching/serpentofgen.html

Lest we be too quick to dismiss Bullinger as an over the top micronaalyzer, recall Pauls description of Satan in 2Cor11:14

"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

[NOTE: In Genesis 3, it is possible that nachash is used in the verbal form as a noun. If that is the case, the proper translation of hanachash in Genesis 3 would be "the Shining one." This understanding of nachash fits in very well with Paul's description of Satan appearing as an "angel of light" (II Cor. 11:14).]
http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/satan.htm

Paul was describing false apostles that were coming to the Corinthians as servents of righteousness (GOD). Do you not believe this - Satan himself masquerades as an "angel of light".

Where does Paul get this idea of an "angel of light"? It could have been a reference from Job 38:4 (morning stars). But perhaps through Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul knew the story of the Garden and it was the "shining one" before Eve.
======================================================
GETTING BACK TO ADAM

Let's assume that Bullinger is correct. If so, then Adam would have known that the "shining one" that deceived Eve was an adversary of God. A good clue was when God cursed the "shining one":).

Adam is intelligent. He would have gotten the symbolism in Gen3 concerning Eve's curse when referencing it back to the seeds of Satan and woman. Some descendant would defeat the "shining one".

Adam's relationship with God was broken, but he had hope that it would be restored due to God's Word. Even if Adam did not "get it all" in Gen3, there is nothing to say Adam did not ask God later. Remember God talked to Cain, so communication was not cut off completely.

When Eve gave birth to Cain, even his name might imply that she thought this would be the "redeemer" - the one to make things right.

Cain - Acquire; to get

Eve said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth (the) man." Gen 4:1
======================================================
ORAL TRADITION

Adam lived a long time. Cain was a disappointment, but Adam believed God. Oral tradition is a big part of the Middle East. I would like to think in Adams' travels or perhaps when descendants would visit him - Adam would recount the stroy of the Garden, and tell the people what God said in Gen3. Maybe Adam later left notes for Moses, maybe not.

I think the story of a "redeemer" was passed down by Adam through the generations - Job had heard it, and believed in a redeemer. Maybe the ressurection was not an idea of heaven, but rather an idea that when redeemed man would commune with God again (like Adam did)as God would restore the relationship with mankind.
======================================================
Ok. I will admit to some different thinking in this theory, but I do not believe it violates Scripture. Just a different way of looking at the garden scene. Just something for people, that have an interest, to chew on :)

[Vance]

I really like this meditation about finances from I Corinthians 16:

Really, as I think about it, giving of money to our churches with each paycheck is an act of worship. We are worshiping God with our finances. Let us not wait to give to our churches. Let us give faithfully and regularly with each paycheck God blesses us with.

MY COMMENT:

The question I have often heard or read is this (from people who resist giving money):
* Why does God need my money?
Or…. I have heard this exclamation stated in absolute terms:
* God doesn’t need my money!
Or…sometimes I have heard people say this:
* I want to give to the greatest charity I know—and that is me!

Of course, it is true that God has warned us against money being used as a TOOL which can be used by the enemy to DESTROY our love and passion for the Lord:

I Timothy 6 (Amplified)
9
But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing.

10
For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many [e]acute [mental] pangs.

HOWEVER, JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT MONEY CAN ALSO BE USED AS ONE TOOL TO KEEP OUR HEARTS PURE AND FOCUSED ON THE LORD:

19
Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.
20
But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;
21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

HOW WE USE OUR MONEY IS NOT ONLY AN INDICATION OF THE STATE OF OUR HEART… but how we use our money is ALSO ONE TOOL WHICH CAN ESTABLISH OUR HEARTS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS !

I Timothy 6

17
As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment.
18
[Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share [with others],
19
IN THIS WAY LAYING UP FOR THEMSELVES [THE RICHES THAT ENDURE FOREVER AS] A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE, SO THAT THEY MAY GRASP THAT WHICH IS LIFE INDEED.

~~~

There is a wonderful relationship between giving and keeping our hearts pure before the Lord, and between giving and walking in the fullest of God’s blessing:

Some emphasize GRACE who say that because we are in the age of GRACE, we do NOT need to obey God’s commandments—for He deals with us in the New Testament through GRACE

However, my question is this: Has God’s Word changed? GOD’S GRACE DOES NOT SET ASIDE THE NEED FOR OBEDIENCE out of love!

So…
* RIGHTEOUSNESS is FREE through GRACE
* BLESSING comes to us as WE OBEY in love!

One of my favorite chapters highlighting the nature of the relationship between giving and keeping our hearts pure before the Lord, and between giving and walking in the fullest of God’s blessing is 2 Corinthians 9 (NIV):

6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9
As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."
NOW HE WHO SUPPLIES SEED TO THE SOWER AND BREAD FOR FOOD WILL ALSO SUPPLY AND INCREASE YOUR STORE OF SEED AND WILL ENLARGE THE HARVEST OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
11
YOU WILL BE MADE RICH IN EVERY WAY SO THAT YOU CAN BE GENEROUS ON EVERY OCCASION, AND THROUGH US YOUR GENEROSITY WILL RESULT IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD.

The chapter that the Holy Spirit through Paul is quoting where Paul says, “It is written…” is Psalm 112. This is an EXCELLENT Psalm to quote in its entirety (NKJV):

The Blessed State of the Righteous
1
Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
2
His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3
Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4
Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5
A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.

6
Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8
His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
9
He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
10
The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.

IT NEES TO BE EMPHASIZED: That to give money just as some sort of “formula” without repentance and giving as sacrificial worship from the heart…will do no good.

Thids is what the Proverbs verse beautifully says:

PROVERBS 22:1

"Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold."

LOVING PEOPLE WITH THE LOVE OF GOD… because we want to do the right thing for the right reasons… TO ME IS THE DEFINTION OF TRUE RICHES!

But giving from the heart, joyfully—out of our hearts to God even if given to a person in need—is worship!

Jesus succinctly summarized all of this in Luke 6:31 – 36 (NKJV):

31
And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32
“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34
And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

NOTICE THIS PART OF VERSE 35:
“…But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great.”

SO, Jesus agrees with the idea that it is WRONG to give in order to expect to get from someone. However, Jesus ALSO clearly establishes the principle of giving as worship, giving in obedience and God’s blessing. Thus, though we should never “give to get”,

JESUS LETS US KNOW THAT WE CAN EXPECT GOD THE LOVING FATHER—in His own time and His own way—to BLESS our obedience of love.
Jesus summarizes all of this in Luke 6:38 (NKJV):

38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

NO MATTER WHO WE GIVE TO on a human level, WE ALWAYS GIVE IN WORSHIP AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD—the Source of all what we need! He is the Only One Who supplies what we need. There is only ONE Source, but He will use MANY instruments on earth.

And WHY DOES GOD BLESS US?

Because, as being children of Abraham by faith, we are established in the covenant of Abraham and his children:
“BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!”

Vance

[R]

I love how Vance has woven the thread of "Giving" through today's readings, that's awesome (Mike's Favorite Word).

Taking up Vance's comments regarding those who use their own mental reasoning to justify their lack of giving, Money is a neutral quantity it takes on the character of those who posses it.

Yes, God does not need our money, but what we do with our money points to what we are doing with our heart. And for those who say, "I'm not giving my money to that preacher, church, denomination, etc." then yes, you need to keep your money in your pocket. Those who have given their money to God will receive a return on their giving.

The people who gave to PTL, Jim Baker (Sorry I'm using a United States reference point) and the like received nothing back because they gave to the wrong person. Ahhh, but those who gave to God, well they were blessed.

When we give to God through one of his servants who misuses the money, then that person will have to answer to God, but when we give to a person, a ministry, etc the entity they answer to is us and perhaps the IRS (The Internal Revenue Service) and we have no rewards, or heaven and hell to put anyone in, thought the IRS may have a nice jail cell and a big fat fine. If we allow God to direct our giving, then we just have to give because God told us to. And Yes, God may direct you to give to someone who isn’t walking right, and you know what? That ain’t our business.

[Arun]

Hey R and Vance,
Greatly struck by what you shared so true. About the giving I got enlightened. Thanks a lot.

The verse that ring in my heart from Job is this verse

25"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. 26And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God[b]! 27I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

REALLY OVERWHELMING!
Its really inspiring, That Job can say amidst of all that criticisms and ridiculing these words.

Man, I wannabe like this. I wanna sing, My Redeemer Lives amidst of all the stuff that goes through...
I want this faith, after my body decays I will see Him, I wanna recount this fact in my darkest hour and take courage!

In Him,
Arun

[R]

Job 16-19:29

Things that made me go, “Hmmm,” in today’s reading of Job:

1) 16:20-21: My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. Oh, that someone would mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.

It seems to me that if your friends were scorning you then they really were not friends. A friend is someone who knows everything about you and still likes you. Job’s friends thought they knew everything about him, they operated out of assumptions and presumption, and didn’t like Job based on what they presumed.

There are friends that one hath to his own hurt; but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 JPS) That friend is Jesus.

2) 17:1-2: 1"My spirit is crushed, and I am near death. The grave is ready to receive me. 2I am surrounded by mockers. I watch how bitterly they taunt me.

This word translated “mockers” in the Hebrew means, to deride; by implication to cheat: - deal deceitfully, deceive, mock. (Strong’s number 2048). Job is battling his “friends” word for word and telling them off, to their face, but they still stick around and Job doesn’t tell them to go take a hike.

Is it good to have people around you that do not believe the things about God, His character, His attributes, the same way you do? Can this be good for your faith? Can it build you up or does in inevitable tear you down?

3) There is a saying that I had forgotten but maybe here I need to bring it out and think about it,

“Sometimes a set back is nothing but a set-up for God to make a come back.”

Whatever is happening to Job, even in the midst of his deepest, darkest despair Job has a revelation that his life consists of more than what can be lived on the earth in his body. There is a realization that life is lived outside of this flesh we call “us.. His hope that he has lost, in the material world, is moved to the spiritual. I believe this because the man who said that all he had to look forward to was the grave and worms (17:14), now proclaims something wonderful in the 19th chapter and it is the same verse that caught Arun’s imagination,

25 "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

Job suddenly understands that there is more to him that a decaying flesh and blood body, he is sprit and soul. Paul spoke of this in his letter to the Thessalonians,

Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

I Corinthians 16:1-24

The offering that Paul encouraged this church to prepare for him to take to Jerusalem, I believe was a “special” offering dedicated to the relief of those in Jerusalem, not to be confused with the regular offering needed by the local bodies to finance the work of the Gospel as well as the servants God had called to oversee His sheep.

Psalm 40:1-10

8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your law is written on my heart."

Everyday we come to this site to get the day’s reading so that in reading and studying God’s Word we will move what we have managed to understand from our heads to our heart. Thank you Mike for helping us to put God’s Word in our heart. You have also provided a place for us to come and learn how to have a relationship with God and His Son. John 1:1 states,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 KJV)

God and His Word are one, and though at times the presence of God can be felt with our five senses, our relationship with Him, Jesus and the Holy Spirit has to begin and be based on His Word.

[luciano Del Monte]

Mike,
Love the music feature you have added. Especially loved the watermission you shared and also '40' with U2. Wow!!! What can I say...Thanks for providing inspiring moments that lift me for the day.

1 corinthians 16:13,14 are tremendous verses as 'marching orders' "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all you do be done in love." Nice that he adds ""let all we do be done in love'. Maybe he knows that being alert, being firm in the faith, and being strong can come across 'tough' but we need to make sure that are convictions are 'tenderized' by His love.

[Susanne]

I am sooooo grateful for this ministry!
AMEN... we do need the whole Bible thru out each day
of every year. It is our "road map" for life and so much
more- my Lord & Saviour is speaking w/ me! In this i can trust.
Even when I continue thru this coming year...
I know that the Lord will speak to me in new ways...
and i'll be like "duh" i never saw that before/ or didn't
know YOU meant that!!! Now i can think more the
same thoughts God thinks and be helped to be in His Plan
& Will. I need help!

[Jo Anne]

Boy, am I an old foggie. Can't say I could find what you saw in the art and the appreciation for the U2 song. But I love this site. Thanks so much.

I like the info about the Serpent. I had heard it before but now I'm writing it in my Bible!

A good reputation....I think that's the only thing we leave behind.

Arun, I'm with you. I want that kind of confidence when the times come. It's almost like Job had said 'phooey' on all that he had been hearing and even on his frustration with God, and humbly went back to square one...God. No matter what He allows to happen to us, He is our only hope and place of refuge.

[ionatan]

I'm a Romanian Christian writer, a poet of Crist. I have a little In English section of Christian poetry on my blog:
http://ionatan.wordpress.com/tag/in-english/
Do you want te see it? Thank you and God bless you.

[Jenny]

I love these Job readings, we sing that at church, not the Nichole C Mullen one, but more directly taken from the psalm. "My heart it yearns within me. For the day when Jesus returns. My heart it yearns within me, for the day when Jesus shall reign. Though my flesh it be destroyed, yet with my eyes I will see God! For I know that my redeemer lives and I will stand with Him on that day". loveee that song!!
I love this Psalm. beautiful. never was a huge U2 fan, but i may have to check out Bono's mullet! haha.