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Saturday, June 5, 2010

June 5 ... Job 14 - 16 "Don't keep Family & Friends in the Courtroom"

Job14:2 -  Why even bother hauling me into court?  Do I keep my family, my friends in the courtroom for what they do to me?  
Job's friends are ruthless. Crabb says Job's friends reduced God to a traffic cop.  "Obey the speed limit and I let you drive on  to the beach."   I mean, Job just buried his 10 children!  I've seen such grief in friend's faces burying their young child, young husband---and it was only one.  Who loses 10 kids?  Yet here's Eliphaz saying that his grey hair backs up his words---aren't God's promises enough for you, Job?  "You lap up evil like water."  Makes me think about the chapter in Mere Christianity that says that we might think people are not showing much faith but their faith may not look like we think it should.  

Job 16:19 - Job replies: "There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, some Attorney who can clear my name— My Champion, my Friend.  Yes, there is One who knows your frame and the depths of your disaster".
"When the lights go out, when suffering brings despair, emptiness, futility, and misery, trust Me.  I am removing the scales from your eyes so that you will soon see My Light.  The Morning Star is visible when the darkness is deepest.  And when you see Him, you will see Me and discover yourself.  My Son is coming!"   . 66 LL. 

6 comments:

  1. "I've had all I can take of your talk.
    What a bunch of miserable comforters! Is there no end to your windbag speeches?
    What's your problem that you go on and on like this? If you were in my shoes,
    I could talk just like you. I could put together a terrific harangue
    and really let you have it. But I'd never do that. I'd console and comfort,
    make things better, not worse!"

    Job's friends self-incriminate Job. He has sinned.
    Job's wife blames God. Curse Him and die, she tells Job.

    Surrounded by these comforters, Job produces nuggets of wisdom.

    Console and comfort.
    Console and comfort.
    Console and comfort.

    Let that be the more perfect way as we see many hurting.

    This beautiful book came at great cost. I cannot imagine experiencing the loss of all.

    Job waits for the explanation.

    Why, God?
    He calls for representation, his Attorney.

    He is coming.
    One day our Attorney will clear all our names. We will hear the ruling. Condemnation will be tossed aside. We will walk in freedom for eternity.

    Paid in full!
    Restore double what the enemy has taken!
    Enter into rest!
    Well done, My good and faithful servant!

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  2. Job knew even then without the Jesus we know, that we have an advocate with the Father. An attorney who defends us with His own righteousness. Job knew His God. Without a Bible, without any history but Abraham, if the dating of the book is correct. That was enough to know his God. His faithfulness. His just ways.

    All Job asks for from his friends is a little comfort. And they fail. What does faith look like on others? Who am I to judge? Where do I get off telling someone else what I think God is up to? I did it again last evening. I told someone I love I thought God was taking another in our family to a place where he will be put God first. I do believe that, but how can I claim to have "inside information" on the unfathomable ways of God? So much prayer is needed for Wisdom. So much relationship that we can quietly know in our hearts God's ways. Quietly...know. And comfort others along the way.

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  3. One more:
    "All through these difficult days I keep hoping,waiting for the final change—for resurrection! Homesick with longing for the creature you made,you'll call—and I'll answer! You'll watch over every step I take,but you won't keep track of my missteps. My sins will be stuffed in a sack and thrown into the sea—sunk in deep ocean."

    Beautiful promises tucked in Job's heart- even as he speaks, he has a resurrection hope and a homesick longing. One Day...

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  4. Ch. 16 v. 19-21 truly jumped off the page to me this morning. I read the scripture in the NIV:

    "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high, My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."

    Job showed he had cast all his hope for any fair defense upon God in heaven. God was his entire being, and his complete purpose was to serve the Lord.

    Bev. your quote from Mere Christianity really got me thinking this morning. How I often think Christianity, faith, lifestyle should look a certain way, yet, thank you for reminding us that many times faith does not look like what I think it should.

    Have a blessed weekend.

    -Kim

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  5. Amazing at Job's revelation of Jesus as our intercessor...Attorney.

    And wondering how often we really do keep our family, friends and church family in the courtroom.

    That hurts my heart.

    I love you peeps. Just as you are and just where you are. If any of you need a friend today who weeps with you...I'm here.

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