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Bible Pathways 06/19/2003


June 19

Read Job 17 -- 20

In Today's Reading:

Job's appeal to God; Bildad's cruel accusation; Job's reaffirmation of faith; Zophar refers to Job as a wicked man

Job assumed all hope of recovery was gone and that he would soon die. God wants us to see, through the outcome of Job, that we have no valid excuse for complaining about our suffering, material loss, or being misunderstood by others (Job 17:1,7,11).

Our hearts are deeply stirred with compassion as this pitiful, lonely, suffering saint was interrupted by Bildad with scathing words that were even more cruel and critical than his first speech. He continued to assume that Job's sufferings exposed him as a hypocrite who was hopelessly condemned because of his hidden sins (18:8,18). Bildad was convinced that Job had no relationship with God (18:21). In striking contrast, Job, with great spiritual discernment and without hesitation, was confident that, after death, he would be vindicated and received by His Redeemer (19:25-27). This mistaken accusation from Job's "friend" must have been a bitter blow. Although Job was facing death and misjudged as a hypocrite, he was confident that he had an eternal Redeemer because his heart was right with God (19:25).

According to the Law, a redeemer was the next of kin who was responsible for redeeming (buying back) an enslaved kinsman or his lost inheritance (Leviticus 25:25). The kinsman-redeemer foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior-Redeemer. The continuous harassment that Job suffered only drove him closer to the Lord. This revelation of life after death (Job 19:25-27) is one of the greatest in the Old Testament and has blessed millions of suffering people throughout the ages.

In contrast to Job, there are some today with a negative outlook who, when things go wrong, think that nothing good ever happens to them. They continue to focus on themselves and their "bad luck," but fail to recognize that God is sovereign and wants us to recognize that He is preparing us for eternity with Him and our loved ones (Psalm 34:22).

Christ Revealed:

As the Redeemer (Job 19:25). Christ, our Redeemer, has bought us with His own blood on the cross. By His death, Jesus provided the required sacrifice to purchase salvation for mankind (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:14; Revelation 5:9).

Word Studies:

17:1 breath means spirit; 17:6 a tabret = an object of contempt, ridicule; 17:14 corruption = decay; 17:16 rest = burial; 18:9 gin = snare, trap; 18:20 day = fate; 19:3 strange = alien; 19:14 familiar = close; 19:17 strange = repulsive; 19:19 inward = dearest, intimate; 19:27 reins = heart.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for Youth With A Mission and Jaime Araujo · BPM Staff: Clarence Rathbone · Government Officials: Rep. Jim Cooper (TN), Rep. Trent Franks (AZ), and Rep. James Walsh (NY) · Country: Germany (82 million) in north-central Europe · Major language: German · Religious freedom · 37% Protestant; 36% Roman Catholic; 3% Muslim; .7% Greek/Serbian/Russian Orthodox · Prayer Suggestion: Pray for (not against) your enemies (Luke 6:28).

Optional Reading: Ephesians 2

Memory Verse for the Week: II Timothy 3:17



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