Highlights In Today's Reading:
The humiliation and anguish of Job's present state is outlined in chapters 30 — 31. Job accepts that wisdom begins with, resides in, and ends with God. Our innocent Savior suffered humiliation and anguish for us. The younger man, Elihu gets angry and tells others what he thinks (chap. 32 — 33).
Job was still sitting in the ashes, covered from head to toe with intensely painful boils, a lonely sufferer who had been unmercifully criticized by his friends over an extended period of time. Day after day passed and his pitiful situation grew even more severe. In agony, he confessed: They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face (30:10). Spitting in the face of another was an expression of insult and great contempt (Deut. 25:7-10).
There was no end to the cruelty of his friends. Job confessed that his suffering became even more painful as they push away my feet. . . . mar my path, set forward my calamity. . . . Terrors are turned upon me (Job 30:12-15). As far as Job could determine, God was not hearing his prayers: I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and Thou regardest me not (30:20). No one in biblical history other than Christ suffered such humiliation and intense pain in body, soul, and spirit. Job's situation was an extreme opposite of his former position of wealth and respect. He once had been chief administrator of the country and dwelt as a king (29:25); he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him . . . was eyes to the blind, and feet . . . to the lame . . . a father to the poor (29:12,15-16). He had lived a godly life free from lust, lying, oppression, and neglect of the poor. He named 16 common sins that no one could accuse him of committing (chap. 31).
Job's three friends had not once expressed compassion or even a kind word because they assumed Job . . . was righteous in his own eyes (32:1). Job's understanding of the sinful nature of all mankind was remarkable. He said: Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. . . . Who can bring a clean thing out of the unclean? not one (14:1,4). As we consider Job, who at the time was the most perfect (spiritually mature) (1:8) person on earth, should we complain or be surprised when we are falsely accused or suffer?
Christ, the perfect Son of God, was shamefully slandered and abused on many occasions. He, too, was spit upon. Jesus said:
The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20).
Thought for Today:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution? . . . Nay, in all these things we are (can be) more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Rom. 8:35,37).
Christ Revealed:
Through the ridicule and affliction which Job suffered (Job 30:10-11). Christ was afflicted and spat upon. After Pilate delivered Jesus to the Roman soldiers, they flogged Him, hit Him with an open hand and spat on Him — and then they crucified Him (Mark 15:15-20; also Is. 50:6; 53:2-5; Matt. 27:26-31; John 18:22; 19:1-3).
Word Studies:
30:2 whereto how; 30:4 mallows plants of the salt marsh; 30:14 wide breaking in wide break in the wall; 30:27 My bowels boiled My heart is continually troubled; affliction prevented every day brings more suffering; 31:10 grind unto be a slave to; 31:40 cockle thorny weeds; 32:19 belly feeling in my heart.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Arabic, English, & Spanish International Shortwave Broadcasts sponsored by a family that loves Jesus • Staff: Clarence Rathbone • Government Officials: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Rep. Adam Schiff (CA) • Country: Saudi Arabia (20.9 million) on the Arabian Peninsula in southwestern Asia • Major language: Arabic • Christian worship services for foreign personnel are tolerated, but those who seek to convert Muslims to Christianity face persecution • 86% Sunni (Wahabi) Muslim; 10% Shi'ite Muslim; 1% Ismaili Muslim; 3% Others (including 600,000 Christians and some Hindus and Buddhists) • Prayer Suggestion: Wives, pray for a quiet, loving spirit to win your husband to Christ (I Pet. 3:1-2).
Optional Reading: Ephesians 5
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 7:14