Job 35-38

I really like Elihu's worship (ch37), and yet it is not pleasing to God: even though the statemnts are true. Elihu doesn't find favour in worship because his heart is not right towards God's servant. We must be careful in our attitude to each other: "who are (we) to judge another man's servant?"

Since writing this, I have revised my opinion of Elihu. God does not single out Elihu for opprobrium unlike Job's other friends, neither does He require Job to intercede for Elihu. It is implicit that Elihu has not spoken wrong. Indeed, his speech is God-centred and worshipful, and prophesies the coming of the Messiah: the mediator who delivers us from the pit.

Job 31-34

23 “If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’;


Jesus.

Job 27-30

24 For He looks to the ends of the earth... To establish a weight for the wind,

Selah!

16 I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know.

This challenges me. Job actively seeks out injustice. Ignorance is no excuse.

2 Chronicles 13-16

(13v18) 'The men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers' The true followers of God prevail because they rely upon the God of the covenant - the One who remains faithful to His promises. To forsake God is to go to war against Him (13v10-12), a war which can only have one victor - The Lord.

2 Chronicles 9-12

(12v1)'...he abandoned the law of the Lord...' Rehoboam turns away from following the Lord, and is overrun by the Egyptians, the enemies of God. Our enemy waits 'like a stalking lion', ready to take our blessings and bring a degree of sin's oppression back into our lives. Let us not allow grace to make us complacent about 'the law of the Lord' and holy living.

Job 23-26

Job 26: Profound worship from Job's lips. Crushed flowers release perfume.

"He hangs the earth on nothing." That is a selah moment!

2 Chronicles 5-8

As Solomon dedicates the temple, he prays by pleading the promises of God. We do this when we pray 'in the name of the Lord'. We plead the promises fulfilled by Christ, that have opened a 'new and living way' to approach the Father - the fulfilment testified to by the Father when He raised Jesus from the dead.

2 Chronicles 1-4

God is pleased when Solomon asks for wisdom. It is a sign of the fear of the Lord - that Solomon recognises God as creator, and therefore definer, of all things. If you are to look for wisdom anywhere, look to the Lord - and assess the wisdom of others by how close they are to the Lord.

Job 19-22

I love the contrast between Job's comforter's theology about God, and Job's direct address to God.

Its also shocking how increasingly blunt the accusations against Job become.

Job 15-18

4 Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God.

Job's friends accuse hm with a simplistic theology: you need to pray or else bad things will happen to you. Fear keeps you prayerful, they imply, and at one time, Job (with his regular sacrifices in case his kids sinned) would've agreed. But it didn't work for Job and it doesn't work for us. Fear paves the way for the Devil. Faith invites the Lord's intervention.

Job 11-14

23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.

Job meditates on God's sovereignty, and speaks these words:

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

Wow. That is humble faith. And God answered this prayer:

20 “Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

Job 7-10

What can be said to Job? Just be there with Him I guess....

Job 2-6

25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Fear is an entrance point for the enemy. When we spend our lives anxious or fearful of some particular thing, it limits us and conquers our joy, and even precipitates that very thing. For the believer lives by faith in God's provison and protection. When we lose our faith, stop trusting, and begin to fear, that which we fear is made far more likely to happen, because we've taken our eye off the bronze serpent. God spoke to Jeremiah and send don't be afraid of the people or I will allow you to be terrified before them. We have to live lives of fearless confidence in God's undeserved blessing, not struggle and strive for it as Job did: offering sacrifices for his kids every day in fear they might have sinned.

Est 8- Job 1

17 And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.

When the enemy comes in; like a flood the Lord raises up a standard. Never fear the enemy. God is Sovereign. Ultimately He will work out His purposes.

Est 4-7

I am struck by Esther's initial response to Mordecai's fasting. She wants to cover up his passionate display, and when he seeks to involve her, she tries to excuse herself. Mordecai has to appeal to her self-interest before she responds. Can a parallel be drawn with the Church today? Is the west the "Esther" church, almost embarassed by the unsophisticated practices of the "Mordecai" church in Africa, China and the Americas, that fast often and pray throughout the night, and who wear their faith publicly? Will we receive Mordecai's challenge today?

Est 1-3

Knowing the end of the story, I love that Haman gets his evil plan signed sealed stamped and sent out by th Kings hand, an irrevocable decree of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked....except by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He rules and reigns in the affairs of men and there is no situation, no sickness no strategy of man that cannot be overuled and transformed by Him!!

neh 13

5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests.

What is occupying the place of God's provision? What is our heart full of?

neh 9-12

43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

1 Chronicles 25-29

(29v19) "...and give my son Solomon a loyal heart..." If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask for? Money, power, popularity? David knew what was more valuable than anything else in the world - a heart that was loyal to the Lord.

Neh 4-8

19 Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Makes me think of Cornelius.

17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

Just makes me think.

Nehemiah 1-4

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

1 Chronicles 21-24

(22v5) "Solomon, my son, is young and inexperienced..."
(22v19) "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary..."
The heart must build the man before the man can build the sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 17-20

(17v12) "...I will establish his throne forever..." Then go to Luke 1v32, 33 - "...and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David...and of His kingdom there shall be no end" God's promise to David finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus, as King, must rule over every area of our lives.

1 Chronicles 13-16

(15v12, 13) "...because we did not consult Him about the proper order" If we want to get it right, particularly in churches, we must ask God first. Since the beginning of time, God speaks and creation responds. Decisions we make as a church must be in response to what God has already said to us, in accordance with His Word.

Ezra 7-10

What strikes me is how Ezra values the priests. He puts a high priority on men set apart to minister to the Lord as their primary purpose.

Ezra 2-6

They started to rebuild the temple. Opposition arose. The prophetic word gave the courage to start again.

2 Chronicles 34-Ezra 1

God speaks to and through Pharaoh Necho and Cyrus King of Babylon, both of whom rule occult military regimes. I think that is cool. God is on the throne, and speaks his judgements through whoever He chooses.

1 Chronicles 9-12

Some fantastic tales of the Mighty Men in chapter 11, especially Eleazar, who defends a barley field while others run away. But notice, he is not hailed as the victor - 'The Lord saved them by a great victory'. (11v14)

1 Chronicles 5-8

(5v20) 'He granted their plea, because they trusted in Him'. The valiant men secure victory not through strength but through faith. They call on the Lord, who enables them to win.

2 Chronicles 30-33

27Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

What we bless on earth is blessed by Heaven when we walk in His ways!

I was also really encouraged by the Chronicles account of Mannassah. Kings has him as the worst of the Kings of Judah, but in Chronicles we learn that he humbled himself before the Lord and repented. There is hope for the very worst of sinners!

1 Chronicles 1-4

The obvious guy who sticks out here is Jabez. Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for 'pain'. It's clear that this was on his mind alot - born in pain (4v9) and then pain stays with him because of his name. But he reminds us of something important in his prayer 'Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' God gives us our identity - He is able to release us from being defined by the events of the past and the shadows that haunt us now, and tell us who we really are, and what we one day will be.

2 Chronicles 26-29

Uzziah sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God

...as long as he'd sought the LORD, God had made him prosper.

2 Chronicles 22-25

I am horrified that Joash had no respect for the man who mentored him and raised him up. I am disgusted that he murdered Jehoida's son.

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9 Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?" The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that."

I like that.

2 Kings 21-25

Amidst all the kings who do evil and worship false gods, we find Josiah, who strives to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. We see a man who first finds the Law of God, then finds the heart of God.

2 Kings 17-20

Wow - as expected, May has been an incredibly busy month, with three sundays preaching, two mid-week meetings and plenty of other jobs to get done. Hence, very few posts. However, it's now June, and time to get back to the blog! Hope you had a good time in Florida, John. I'll give you a ring nearer the weekend.

In 2 Kings 17, we learn something about the fear of the Lord. God's people are told not to fear other gods, but to fear 'the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm' and who 'will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies'. This fear is not presented as a threat, but as a comfort. As Christians, we are not called to be scared of God. The fear of the Lord is a response to God within a covenant relationship where we have peace with God. It is a response that causes us to exalt, obey and adore the Lord. God gave His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us so that we might be saved, and not be scared.

2 Chronicles 18-21

20.22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Praise is warfare! Praise defeats the enemy! Praise Jesus and enjoy the victory! Sing even in the prison and watch the chains come off! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!

Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!!!!!!!!!