July 10 – Proverbs 8-9

Focus before you need. . .

Today’s reading invites us to dig deeply into the nature of God’s wisdom.  In Chapter 8, wisdom is personified to highlight both its importance and its specific characteristics.  As you read this proverb, pay close attention to the foundational role wisdom plays in all of life.  In the next chapter, Solomon extends this discussion, this time underscoring the contrast between wisdom and folly by portraying each as rival young woman preparing for a feast.  Which invitation will you accept?  How do you know if one is living according to God’s wisdom?  Ask yourself these questions as you study these two proverbs carefully.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. “To fear the Lord is to hate evil” (8:13).  What do you hate?
2. What role did wisdom play in the creation of the world?  How does this proverb compare to God’s response to Job?  Read Colossians 1:15-17.  What role did Christ play in creation?
3. How does a wise man respond to correction?  How does a mocker respond? How do you respond to correction?

Application to make after you read. . .

Wisdom, according to 8:10, begins with the “fear of the Lord.”  What does it mean to fear the Lord?  Christ’s death and resurrection have made it possible for us to have reconciliation with the Father.  As Paul writes, “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:1-2).  This relationship, however, should in no way lessen our awe of and respect for God—and our total dependence upon Him for an abundant life on earth and eternal joy in heaven.  Wisdom begins with a right view of God.  Everything we do and say is a reflection of what we think about God.  Do you believe that God really loves you and has a perfect plan for your life?  Or are you “leaning on your understanding” for your future?  Do you take the study and application of God’s word seriously?  Or do you place yourself above scripture, picking and choosing which commandments to follow?

Prayer

Father, help us to understand in our minds that all wisdom comes from You.  Help us to know in our hearts that You are more precious than anything this world has to offer.  Help us to apply this knowledge to our daily actions in a way that points others to the way, the truth, and the life.

July 3 – Proverbs 7

Focus before you read. . .

Today’s proverb focuses on a father’s advice to his son to keep away from the adulteress woman.  Both the illustration and the message itself, however, can be applied to any temptation.  As you read today, try to apply the lessons of this proverb to whatever temptation you are currently facing.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. The father instructs his son to “store up” his commands and “guard” his teachings.  What do these two descriptions suggest about the purpose of instruction?
2. What strategies does the adulteress use?  How do these strategies relate to other types of temptation?
3. What are the consequences of the young man’s sin?  What did he fail to realize?

Application to make after you read. . .

Today’s proverb provides straightforward counsel on avoiding the snares of not only the adulteress woman, but temptation in general.  Here are at least three key lessons to consider:

1. “Store up” the lessons you have been taught before you face temptation.  As Paul writes in Ephesians 6, “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.”  Also, be sure to “guard” the Biblical teachings you have received from the corrupting influence of the world that may call that advice into question.
2. Don’t look for trouble or invite temptation.  The young man’s first mistake is to walk “down the street near her corner.”
3. Visualize the long-term consequences of your sin.  The young man was led astray, “little knowing it will cost him his life.”

Prayer

Father, this is my prayer:

“I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:10-11)

May 29 – Job 41-42

Focus before you read. . .

Today’s reading begins with a continuation of the Lord’s barrage of rhetorical questions to Job, then moves to Job’s humble reply, and concludes with the Lord’s restoration of Job.  In many ways, the “Epilogue” brings the narrative to a satisfying close.  God’s justice is affirmed; Job repents; God delivers the final word, rebuking Job’s three friends and rewarding Job for his faithfulness.  As you enter the text today, though, consider this question: what if God had not restored Job to his former blessings?  Would God be any less just?  Is our notion of God’s goodness dependent upon the blessings He pours into our lives and the tragedies He allows to happen?

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. What point is God making with His questions about the leviathan?

2. What sin does Job confess?

3. What steps must first occur before Job is restored?

Application to make after you read. . .

It’s easy to focus on the “Epilogue” to Job.  We rejoice with Job as he is restored, and—especially for those of us who have made it through all of the arguments in the book—we may even take some pleasure in seeing Job’s friends corrected.  But let us be careful not to overlook Job’s reply to the Lord before he is restored.  “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (42:3).  Although in a different context, David expresses a similar thought in Psalm 139: “You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too loft for me to attain.”  What Job realizes in the end is that he is not capable of understanding fully the ways of God.  While we can most certainly clearly understand the attributes of God—His omniscience, goodness, justice, etc.—through our study of the Bible, we cannot fully comprehend God.  Whatever definition of justice or goodness we can construct will always be incomplete because we lack the perspective of the Creator.  Does God’s restoration of Job prove that He is good?  Does God’s healing of our own illnesses and injustices demonstrate that He is just?  While God may certainly choose to heal and restore in our life on this earth, He may not.  Job’s faith was not dependent on his healing.  Neither was Paul’s.  As we learn from this week’s reading in 2 Corinthians, the great apostle prayed three times to have his “thorn in the flesh” removed, but the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  May each one of us find the peace that comes with this statement of faith: Lord, regardless of the circumstances of my life, your grace is sufficient for me!

 

Prayer

Lord, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  May I accept that which I cannot understand.  May I rejoice in the sufficiency of your grace.

May 22 – Job 39-40

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading God continues His questioning of Job.  His numerous questions about the animal kingdom were meant not to be answered by Job, but to demonstrate how limited Job’s knowledge really was.  “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?” the Lord demands.  “Let him who accuses God answer him!”  As you read today, pay close attention to Job’s response.  What has he learned through this experience?  Try to put yourself in Job’s shoes.  How would you feel?  How would you respond?

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1.  What do God’s questions about nature reveal about His power and His nature?

2.  What is the effect of God’s questions on Job?

3.  How has Job’s attitude changed?

 

Application to make after you read. . .

“In this life you will have trouble,” Jesus tells us.  We will all experience pain, loss, and unfair treatment.  But how should this trouble influence our view of God?  Is God really just and fair?  Consider these two views of God’s justice, taken from The Life Application Study Bible.

Wrong view

 

LAW OF FAIRNESS

 

GOD

 

There is a law of fairness or justice that is higher and more absolute than God.  It is binding even for God.  God must act in response to that law in order to be fair.  Our response is to appeal to that law.

 

 

Correct view

 

GOD

 

JUSTICE

 

God himself is the standard of justice.  He uses his power according to his moral perfection.  Thus, whatever he does is fair, even if we don’t understand it.  Our response is to appeal directly to him.

 

Which of these two views do you hold?  Let us pray that God would strengthen our faith and help us to see Him more clearly.

 

May 15 – Job 37-38

Focus before you read. . .

After thirty-seven chapters of debate, God finally enters the scene, interrupting Elihu’s discourse with some of the most dramatic lines in the Old Testament:  “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?  Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me” (18: 2-3).  As you read the close of Elihu’s defense of God and then God’s opening words “out of the storm,” pay close attention to the similarities between the two.  Why do you think God chose to enter the scene at this point?  Was he fed up with Job’s questions?  Did Elihu’s words provide just the right introduction?

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1.  What is Elihu’s attitude towards God?  How is it similar to and different from Job’s attitude?  The attitude of Job’s three friends?

2.  Read 17:23-24 again carefully.  What does Elihu suggest is the relationship between God’s justice and righteousness—and His treatment of His creation?

3.  What does it mean to have “words without knowledge”?  When have your own “words” about God been void of “knowledge”?

 

Application to make after you read. . .

Consider Eugene Peterson’s rendering of Elihu’s closing line in The Message:

“Mighty God! Far beyond our reach!
   Unsurpassable in power and justice!
   It’s unthinkable that he’d treat anyone unfairly.
   So bow to him in deep reverence, one and all!
   If you’re wise, you’ll most certainly worship him.”

While scholars differ on Elihu’s exact role in Job, few could take issue with Job’s young friend’s clear affirmation of God’s justice and power—and our ultimate response to Him.   

Wisdom, as the entire book of Job preaches and the rest of the Bible affirms, begins with bowing the knee to the Lord of all creation.  If God is capable of designing the entire universe, with all of its complexity, then we can trust Him with confidence to handle the affairs of our lives.  If God loves us enough to give us life and to sacrifice His Son for us, then we have no reason to doubt His ultimate goodness to us.  Just as God was listening in on Job’s conversation with his friends, so too does God hear our every word and know our every thought.  If He were to speak audibly to you and evaluate your words about Him, what would He say?  

 

Prayer

Father, your power is complete.  Your justice is perfect.  Your goodness is without blemish.  Forgive us for our failure to bow the knee to you in every area of our lives. 

May 8 – Job 35-36

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading Elihu continues his defense of God and his critique of Job.  Whether Elihu’s criticism of Job himself is warranted or not is open for debate.  However, his emphasis on man’s arrogance before God is worth considering.  Before you read, take a few moments to examine your own attitude towards God.  Are you more grateful for the blessings you have received or more disappointed in what you have not received?  Are you more trusting of God’s sovereignty or more trusting of your own plans?  

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. What is wrong with Job’s attitude?  

2. What are the effects of our sin?  Does our sin affect God?

3. Does God always hear our prayers?  Does he always answer our prayers?

Application to make after you read. . .

Although we may understand in our mindsthat God is sovereign and that God works for our good, we may still struggle with yielding our heartsHim.  While we may know that God does not want us to sin, we may believe that our sin does not affect anyone other than ourselves.  We may see clearly the consequences of our sin on those around us; however, we may still tend to separate our sinsfrom God.  Elihu correctly points out that “God isnot dependent on [our] behavior” (35: 8).  Our relative goodness in no way makes God better; our sin does not take away from the nature of God.  He is eternally and perfectly good.  However, we believe in a personal God, a God who knows our pain and grieves for His children.  Our God is not the impersonal force of the Deists, who believed that God created the universe and then left his creation to run on its own.  Our God hears our prayers; our God rejoices in our victories and grieves with our losses.  Our God is not a supercomputer who operates according to some master program or responds to a formula or code.  Our God is living.  He hears us; He responds to us.  He speaks to us.  May we listen to His voice.

 

Prayer

Father, we thank you for loving us and for speaking to us.  Forgive us for our arrogance toward you.  May we listen clearly to your voice and walk in obedience.

May 1 – Job 33-34

Focus before you read. . .
In today’s reading, Elihu continues his response to Job.  Last week, we first encountered Elihu as he entered the debate.  In short, Job’s friends had accused Job of harboring some sin that had caused his punishment.  Job, in return, maintained his innocence and,while not abandoning his faith in God, did at times question His actions.  Elihu, a younger man than Job’s friends, defends God’s justice and introduces a new concept to the debate: God sometimes uses suffering as a purifying influence on a wayward man, to “turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him” (33:30).  As you read today, consider the merits of Elihu’s argument.  Does God use suffering to bring us closer to Him?  Is this always the case?

Questions to ask as you read. . .
1.How, according to Elihu, does God speak to man?  Identify the different ways in 33: 14-33.
2.What is Elihu’s criticism of Job?
3.What attributes of God does Elihu emphasize?
Application to make after you read. . .
In affirming God’s goodness, Elihu claims that God speaks to us through suffering, suggesting that “man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in his bones” for the purpose of redeeming him, for the purpose of bringing an individual closer to Himself.  Do you believe this to be true?  Have you experienced this “chastening” yourself, or have you observed this process in someone else?  We live in a fallen world of sin and disease.  Most of us have or will suffer serious physical pain.  All of us, unless Christ returns in our lifetime, will die a physical death.  Few would argue that allpain is meant to chasten us.  However, we can certainly learn through all the suffering God allows into our lives.  We can certainly grow closer to God through the pain we experience.  For us to receive the blessing that often accompanies pain, though, we must be willing to ask the question “What is God trying to teach me through this?” instead of continuing to ask the question “Why did God allow this to happen?”  While we may not receive clear answers on this side of eternity, asking the right question is itself a step of faith and a sign of humility that may lead to tremendous spiritual growth.
Prayer
Father, thank you for saving us from pit.  Thank you for caring enough for us to bring suffering into our lives to remind us of our need for you, to remind us of the brevity of this life, and to remind us to fix our eyes on Heaven.

April 24 – Job 31-32

Focus before you read . . .

In today’s reading, Job finishes his long discourse. He opens with a defense of his own character, acknowledging God’s omniscience: “Does he not see my ways and count my every step?” In a thorough examination of his conscience, Job reflects on not only his conduct, but on the motivation behind his actions. As you read today, pay close attention to Job’s series of “if. . . then” statements and consider the ways in which each statement reveals something about his character and God’s own desires for our lives.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. Take note of all the time that Job refers to his “heart.” What is he emphasizing here?
2. What does Job long for in verse 35? Why?
3. Who is Elihu? What is his response to Job? How is his response different from Job’s three friends?

Application to make after you read. . .

Job’s reflections upon his own moral character bring to mind Jesus’ own teachings in his Sermon on the Mount. For instance, his “covenant with [his] eyes not to look lustfully at a girl” reminds us of Jesus’ teaching that “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27). Likewise, Job underscores his commitment to serving the poor and his refusal to put his “trust in gold,” just as Jesus would later command his followers to care for the needy and “store up treasure in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). For Job, and for Jesus, the point is simple to understand but difficult to apply: what we value and how we treat others reveals our heart. What is the condition of your heart? Ask God to continue to change your heart to conform to Christ. Remember, we can’t do this on our own. As Pastor Steve emphasized with his use of Luther’s statement, entering the day without prayer is “a boast against the Lord.”

Prayer

Lord, search our hearts and change us from the inside out so that our outward conduct will point others to You and the prayers of our own hearts will reveal our love for You.

April 17 – Job 29-30

Focus before you read. . .

“Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house,” Job laments. In today’s reading, we hear a continuation of Job’s long discourse. While last week we learned about various definitions of wisdom, this week discover another level of Job’s pain. Once the “eyes to the blind” and “a king among his troops,” Job has been reduced to the object of mockery by the dregs of society, young men “whose fathers [he] would have disdained to put with [his] sheep dogs.” As you read today, pay close attention to how Job contrasts his past and his present. Where is God in this transition?

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. How was Job regarded in his community? What was he known for?

2. What was Job’s hope for the future?

3. How has Job’s reputation changed? How has his outlook changed? Has his perspective on God changed?

Application to make after you read. . .

Job was clearly the pillar of virtue in his community, the man all turned to for counsel and for help. Having lived a good life, Job envisioned the rest of his life to be a continuation of God’s blessing: “My glory will remain fresh in me, the bow ever new in my hand” (29:20). But now, after the tragic events of his life and the ensuing rejection of those around him, Job sees his life “ebbing away” with only “days of suffering” gripping him. How do you view your remaining days on this earth? Do you have the same hopes and dreams that you once had? Or have your circumstances forced you to abandon your vision for the future? Perhaps your career hasn’t turned out the way you had hoped—you’re no longer valued in the work place. Maybe your expectations for your family—your marriage and your children—have not been fulfilled. Or perhaps health issues will prevent you from accomplishing what you had once set out to do. Whatever the case, may we remember that God’s perspective is wider than our own and that all of our days have purpose. Consider Paul’s encouraging words in Ephesians: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (2:10). Whatever our circumstances, God has given us the time and the resources to accomplish His will.

Prayer

Lord, help us to find the purpose for all of the days you have given us. Give us the faith to remember that “your grace is sufficient” and that your will is perfect.

April 10 – Job 27-28

Focus before you read. . .

“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?” These are the key questions of today’s reading in Job. Having focused last week on the majesty of God’s creation, this week we turn our attention to the source of wisdom. As you read today, think about your own definition of the term “wisdom” and see how it compares to Job’s use of the term. Also pay close attention to how our definition of wisdom reflects our attitude towards God.

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. How does Job respond to the accusations against him? What does he vow to do?

2. Does Job have a clear conscience? How can we clear our own consciences?

3. What is the true source of wisdom? Where, according to Job, do some people attempt to find wisdom?

 

Application to make after you read. . .

In chapter 28, Job describes man’s ability to mine the earth’s treasures and locate the sources of rivers. Yet, for all these successes, man has had less success in finding something more valuable than the earth’s riches: wisdom. “Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living” (28:13). Our search, Job suggests, is misguided because we try to find wisdom in the things that we can see, touch, measure, and understand. But true wisdom is something only God “alone knows where it dwells” (28:23). Consequently, our proper response is to “fear the Lord” for “that is wisdom.” While our postmodern society has certainly acquired a great deal of knowledge “in the land of the living” through its medical research and technological innovations, we still suffer the same problems as Job’s contemporaries. We fail to acknowledge and worship the only true source of wisdom. How often do we begin our search for wisdom with something other than God? While our knowledge, our experiences, and our friends may be useful, they should never be viewed as the source or the ultimate authority on wisdom. The path toward wisdom begins with a perspective of humility, to “fear of the Lord,” and our understanding deepens through our commitment to obedience, “to shun evil.”

 

Prayer

Lord, we echo the prayer of Paul and Timothy to the church at Colosse:

 

Fill us with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. We pray this in order that we may live lives worthy of You and may please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of You, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience.

(Colossians 1:9-12)