Oh that my words were written

"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, - Job 19v23-26

I find this little phrase amazing, especially considering that they are in the very first book of the Bible ever written down. ‘Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that they were engraved on a rock with iron pen and lead forever!’

From the very start Job knew the importance of words being written down and recorded for posterity. While many cultures depended on storytelling and oral tradition Job knew that the key for remembering and knowing was that words be written down.

I am so grateful for Job’s prayer. It seems like he almost knewthat his trials and response to them are going to be a help for others.

How could Job have known more than 5,000 years ago that people in 2011 would need his words?

I don’t know the answers to all that, but I do know that I am glad Job prayed this prayer and that God answered it. I am glad that we can read his words of faith. I can’t imagine what trials and testings would be like if I could not turn to the book of Job and be edified by him.

‘Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.’

If Job’s word had not been written down we would not have heard of his perseverance and of God’s compassion and mercy of our God in trials.

Thanks Job!

Man’s fate

Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten. – Job 13v28

I am far from old in today’s terms. When I was in school men were only expected to live to the age of 65. Now when a baby boy is born he can expect to live about 80 years. Since I have made it to 55 chances are that if I stay healthy and avoid accidents I have at least another 25-30 years to live.

Even with that reprieve I have lived 55 years. Chances are pretty good that I have lived far longer than I will live. My body is showing some of those signs. My back aches. My knees hurt sometimes. I don’t move as quickly as I used to. Weight seems to refuse to drop off now, but it comes on quickly enough. My body is in a state of decay. It is a slow, gradual decay, but nevertheless it is decay.

It is one thing we cannot deny. We are all dying. Kind of depressing isn’t it? But we can’t escape it. Everyone is dying.

Man decays like a rotten thing. He is like a garment that is moth-eaten. His life is like a vapour. He is like a morning flower that appears for a moment, and then vanishes with the morning sun.

We all know that this is true. Despite that we still tend to live like it is not. The vast amount of our energy and resources go into investing in something that is rotting away. It is indeed investing in wood, hay, and stubble.

All the while we let the eternally important things tag along for the ride. They are they, and we pay them lip service, and may even throw a few bob that way now and then.

The stuff we can see grabs our eyes while the stuff we can’t see is ignored. The eternal, unseen stuff is ignored.

Look not on the things that can be seen. Look on the things that cannot be seen. The things we see are temporary. The things we cannot see are eternal.

Sure, we need to take care of our bodies and physical needs so that we can use them for God for those 80 or so years, but instead of lavishing our attention on a ‘rotting thing’ let’s prioritise the important eternal things.

He also shall be my salvation

He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him. – Job 13v16

Job continues his thought. You can almost hear the confidence building. Though his situation has not changed, his attitude is changing. He knows his situation is rotten, but he also has that deep abiding confidence that God is control. He will trust God even if God kills him. He may talk about his pain and grief, but that doesn’t change the fact that he knows that, when it is all said and done and his miserable life comes to its conclusion that God will be his salvation.

He knows that that salvation is not reliant on him or his circumstances. When the time comes, God’s perfect time, Job will be delivered and God will do the delivering.

I know that I can get my eyes off of that focus. I know that I can get so caught up and so consumed with my problems and difficulties and trials and fears and worries and griefs that I can forget that I do have a saviour, I do have a deliverer, I do have the One who will one day consummate my salvation.

Yes, my eternal salvation is already accomplished. And yes, I am being delivered day after day after day. But I have to say that I long for the day when my salvation will be complete. I long to see my Salvation face to face.

The race that God has called us to is a long one. It requires patience. It will often be a struggle.

But my Salvation is at the finish line. I can only imagine what it will be like when I finally see Him.

Though he slay me

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. - Job 13v15

It is clear that Job was struggling here. While he served and worshipped God he was going through all kinds of troubles. His friends seemed to think that his troubles were an indication that he was somehow in sin. I am sure that he knew he was not perfect, but he did not that he was following God to the best of his ability. He just could not figure it all out.

All through his statements though, we see him returning to his basic faith in God. He drops little hints all through this that he does hold on this this basic hope. Here we see an interesting statement.

‘Even if God kills me I will continue to trust Him!’

What a clear, solid, powerful statement of faith! ‘I am going to trust God, no matter what, even if He chooses to kill me.’

I like to think that most of us have that basic faith. I often feel badly when I don’t get what is going on because I keep wondering how strong my faith really is.

But I do trust God.

How do I reconcile that?

I think we have a clue here in the rest of the verse – ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my ways before Him.’

It is possible to hold on to that basic faith that no matter what the end result we are going to choose to trust God and at the same time talk to him about things we don’t understand.

It may be a fine line to walk, but I think it is place where most of us end up walking.

Things past finding out

He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number. – Job 9v10

And so another year draws to a close. 2010 is coming is done and dusted. This is my 56^th New Year’s Eve and my 37^th New Year’s Eve as a child of God. Every year that goes by is full of ups and downs. 2010 was no different.

I find that we have no problem understanding how the ups work out God’s plan. That is easy to see and understand God’s blessing and benefits in those times.

It is a little bit harder to understand the downs. I look at those sometimes and wonder how they can possibly be good.

Job was no different. At this stage he was in despair. Things were going so bad that he could not figure it out. Eliphaz was putting the blame on him. By the time we get to this chapter we find him trying to get his act together and get his focus back on God.

God is and mighty. He shakes the mountains; He controls the sun and the stars. He spread out the heaven and walks on the seas. He laid out the constellation. He does great things past finding out.

What motivates us to try and figure out the God’s whose ways are far above our ways? He is the one whose ways are far above our ways and whose thoughts are far above our thoughts. He is the God who sees and knows all. I am a puny man who is limited by being in this place at this moment in time. That is all I can see.

God does many things past finding out. He does wonders without number. When I try to second guess him I am making myself His equal.

Oh that I would do a better job in 2011 of realising that I am not always going to figure out what He is doing. May I simply learn to trust Him in those times.

Miserable comfort

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. - Job 5v17

A few years ago we had a situation arise that was a real blow to us and the ministry here. We had some really devastating news that seemed to wipe out the work that God had allowed us to begin here.

At the same time we had visitors staying with us. They were hardly even acquaintances, just someone visiting the country and staying with us.

When we heard this crushing news the wife had a question – ‘Is their sin in your life that you need to deal with?’

I have to say that this is not what I wanted or needed to hear at the moment. It might have been a fair question and something to consider, but it seems to presume on God and know what He is doing.

Job had his own visitors, one of whom was called Eliphaz. When he saw what Job was going through he figured that Job must have done something wrong in order to be ‘punished’ in such a way.

This reminds me of people who try to figure out the mind of God every time something bad happens to a person or a group of people. When earthquakes, storms, or other disasters happen they try to figure out why God is judging them. When someone gets sick or has a setback they figure that there must be some sin that God is dealing with.

The problem is that Eliphaz was wrong. We cannot decide what God is doing or why He is doing it when things go wrong. While there may be sin in the life of the person we are not the ones to try and judge them.

If we see sin the life of a friend then we need to deal with it. If we are just guessing then we need to just keep our mouths shut and let God deal with it.

You have strengthened

Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees; But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled. - Job 4v3-5

There is a pretty common saying that I use quite often. I mostly use it when I am dealing with something that I have been preaching or teaching about when the issue becomes personal. It goes like this – ‘It preaches easier than it lives.’

It is good to know that I am not the first one to experience this. Job’s supposed friend Eliphaz that Job had taught people, strengthened them, picked up the stumbler, and helped people along their way.

What a great thing to learn about Job, by the way. He was a great help and a blessing and an encouragement to people around him. He was a Barnabas type character. When people had problems they knew that could come to him. He was always there during the tough times that others went through.

But now Job was going through his own tough times. He seemed to forget how he had helped others. This is one thing that makes me think that despite everything Job’s friends said, they may have had the right motivation. In essence Eliphaz was just telling Job to remember what he had told others and apply them to himself.

Actually, this is a pretty good reminder for all of us who try to help others. If we give godly advice to others, it might be a good idea to remind ourselves of those truths when we are in trouble.

Trouble comes

I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes." – Job 3v26

In Job chapter 3 we find out that as good and strong and righteous and God fearing as Job was, he was not perfect. The simple truth is that none of us are.

Job struggled with his troubles just like we do. At this point he us so miserable that he wishes he had never been born. He bemoans everything about the day of his birth. ‘Why didn’t God just kill me then?’

I am not at ease. I have no peace. I have no rest. For trouble comes.

Things can be so bad at times that we can feel just like Job. Sometimes it feels like trouble follows trouble that follows trouble that follows trouble. Sometimes the bad news just comes day after day after day.

The hard thing to accept is that trouble does come. It is part of the sin cursed world we live in. People get sick. Loved ones die. Natural disasters happen. Wars and famines come. Bad stuff happens. It just does.

The great truth is that when trouble comes we have a God who is there with us. We don’t have to face it alone.

Let’s not be too harsh on Job as we work through this with him.

Ya gotta take the bad with the good

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. - Job 2v10

I think I mentioned a day or two ago that during this time of testing Job had lost everything in a matter of hours. This wasn’t quite true I suppose, he still had his health and his wife.

In the second stage of the trial he lost his health. Satan was permitted to afflict Job’s body. As a result he was afflicted with horrible oozing sores from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

One would think that his dear wife would do all she could to comfort him and help him through his troubles. One would think that she would by his side treating the sores and trying to alleviate his pain.

One would be wrong.

‘Curse God and die!’ she said.

What great comfort from the one who is supposed to be there for you.

But still Job would not be shaken. ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Can we expect only good from God and not expect bad as well?’

Even now Job did not curse God with his lips.

There is a great lesson for us. If we are going to accept the good from God, we have to expect that the bad is going to come as well. Life goes on.

He still holds fast

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause." - Job 2v3

This somewhat ties in to yesterday, but has a slightly different tack. We saw yesterday that in all of this troubles Job did not sin. But it goes deeper than that. Not only did Job not sin, but in all this he ‘held fast to his integrity.’

Jehovah and Satan met once again. The Lord asked Satan if he had seen how Job was doing. He mentioned all of the things that He said before, plus He added the words ‘he still hold fast to his integrity, even though you did everything you could to turn him against Me.’

This takes things up a notch. Job blessed God, he did not sin in all of these troubles, but even above and beyond that he ‘held fast.’

Some people give the impression that living for Christ is always moving forward, scoring victory after victory, always at the ready, onward Christian soldiers, hip hip hooray hallelujah.

There is some of that, sure. But the longer I live and serve the more I learn that much of our Christian service is just about holding on and holding on and holding on. Sometimes all we can do is dig in our heels and hold fast. The sad thing is that sometimes we don’t even do that.

I have to say that I have not always been so great at this. There are times when I fail to even hold fast. There are times when things get bad that I weaken and fail.

Sometimes I need God’s help and His strength just to hold fast.

Job did not sin

In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. – Job 1v22

Job had lost everything. It was all gone. Family, land, livestock, and possessions were wiped out in an instant.

I think about myself in situations where things go wrong. I am challenged by Job all through all of these references in this section of Job. He said ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ He did not sin. He held fast to his integrity.

For today we look at the words ‘In all this Job did not din.’

I wonder how often it could be sad of us, when hard times come, that we did not sin. This is said of Job from God’s perspective. That means that Job did not only not sin visibly, but he did not even sin in his heart.

I think the focus here is that Job did not sin, because no matter how bad it was, he did not blame God.

How do we do in times of trouble? Are we able to avoid sin in both action and attitude? Is it sad of us that, for example, ‘In all this Roger did not sin nor charge God with wrong?’

Happy Christmas to everyone! It is a beautiful snow covered White Christmas here in Naas.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." - Job 1v21

We pick up here after yesterday’s account. Satan claimed that Job only served God because he had it made. But God knew his servant so He allowed Satan to put Job to the test.

I have mixed feeling about that to be honest. It doesn’t seem right that Job had to go through all he had to go through to prove a point.

But it goes much farther than that. God lets us in on this little situation to teach us that we are not the only ones who go through hard times. When things get tough we can always look here and see that there is a purpose in what we face.

Things got really, really, really bad for Job. In one day he literally lost everything (except his wife and friends, but more on them later). His property was destroyed. His children all died. He lost his livestock. Talk about a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

So how did Job respond?

‘I came into this world with nothing. I will leave with nothing. God gives and God takes away.’

That’s great. It sounds a little fatalistic maybe, but a good attitude.

What makes it really special is what he says next – ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’

How often have you or I said ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord’ when disaster strikes? Even more telling how many of us say that with sincerity and honesty?

It’s been a little bit of a tough week. Oh for the faith to say – ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord’ at times like this!

Have you considered my servant Job?

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" – Job 1v8

This is yet another one of those Bible accounts that I don’t really understand, and will have to wait until I get to heaven to understand it. Somehow, after Satan and his minions had been about wandering the earth they came into God’s presence. It almost seems like a casual conversation from our perspective. ‘Where have you been Satan?’ the Lord asked. ‘We’ve been wandering around the earth seeing what things are like.’ Satan replied.

The question must have been for our benefit because we know that God already knew.

God carried on the conversation. ‘So, Satan, while you were out there did you notice my servant Job? You know, the one who is upright and blameless and fears Me and shuns evil?’

I am going to look at Satan’s response later. I want to look at just one aspect of this today. Notice how God described Job – ‘Have you considered my servant Job?’

I cannot imagine a greater honour than for God to call me His servant. It is a title that Paul uses for himself. To serve God is the ultimate privilege.

The rest of the book is going to be a test of Job’s servant hood. In the next part of the conversation Satan will claim that Job only served God because he had it made. We are going to find out just how much of a servant Job really is.

We like to call ourselves servants of God. We are going to learn how Job does as a servant when things go bottom up. This will be a great chance for each of us to examine our own servant hood.

Job did regularly

So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly. – Job 1v5

Chapter one of Job is packed with lessons based in Job’s character. Job was dedicated to his family. He was a spiritual leader. He was consistent and faithful in his service to the Lord.

Every time I read through this book I like Job more. And every time I read it I am more and more challenged by my own life.

As far as Job knew his family was okay. However, he was concerned that they might be harbouring sin in their hearts. He felt responsible for his family’s spiritual condition so he offered sacrifices on their behalf just in case.

Let’s remember the situation. Job knew nothing about the word of God like we do. He knew that God was holy and that sin was wicked so he did all he could to protect his family. I guess the closest thing that we can relate to this would be our responsibility to pray for our families.

It is not a matter to be taken lightly. Interceding for our families is a vital responsibility. The Bible seems to make it clear that it is the special responsibility of fathers.

Our family is the one group that we can too easily take for granted. If we are not careful we tend to only pray during crisis times or when things get really bad.

Look at the last part of the verse – ‘Thus did Job regularly.’ I think this is the most important lesson of all. It is vital that we, especially we fathers, have a responsibility to regularly pray for our family. This doesn’t stop when our kids grow up and leave home. In fact, I find that that is when the responsibility increases. When our kids are young we have some measure of control. We can make them do the right thing. They come to church because that is what we do and they really have no other choice.

But when they get to be adults and go out on their own we don’t have that anymore. They make their own choices. Even when we see them making mistakes we really can’t do anything more than offer advice.

And pray. That is one thing we can always do. We can always intercede for them. We can do this regularly like Job did.

Feared God and shunned evil

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. – Job 1v1

Although Genesis is the beginning of history and is the first book of the Bible, it is probably not the oldest. Most Bible scholars tell us that Job was the first book of the Bible to be written down.

With that we mind we enter what has become a very personal book of the Bible to me. At one point I knew about Job and could apply a couple of verses, but I really didn’t get it. Over the last few years we have been through a few experiences that have helped to understand Job just a little more than I had before.

The very first verse of the very first book of the Bible every written down introduces us to Job. He was a man from the land of Uz. His name was Job. He was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil.

What a tremendous introduction. I would love to have that kind of a testimony. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

Not only that, Job’s description is one that should characterise the people of God all through history. Though written probably 6000 or so years ago these character traits are ones that should suit us today as well.

Blameless. Upright. Fearing God. Shunning evil.

We could study each one of these words, but packed together they are quite a challenge. Any yet here we meet a man who did not have one word of the written Bible who qualified in each area.

That makes his life even more challenging. How would we do if this simple four item list was used as a measurement of our lives? Job had nothing. We have the complete revelation of God in our hands.

How are we doing?

If I perish I perish

"Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" – Esther 4v16

Once Esther decided to do right she decided it with all her heart. She was going to do what needed to be done. She and her maids would fast and she asked all the Jews in Shushan to fast for them to fast as well. Then she said – ‘I will go and violate this law about speaking to the king. And if I perish I perish.’

On a bit of a side note I think it is interesting to see how she chose to break the law. She knew how serious breaking the law was, yet she was willing to suffer the consequences.

But let’s get back to the main point. Look at Esther’s attitude toward doing the right thing. She knew in her own well-being came second to doing the right thing. She was willing to give her all to do what had to be done. If she died, she died, but she had to say something.

Her dedication reminds me of missionary Jim Eliot. In his college days he wrote something that would one day be tested. ‘He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.’

This is the attitude of total abandonment in service which should dominate our lives. Just do it. Just serve God. Our lives belong to God. He is our master. We can’t be concerned with all the here and now stuff.

This doesn’t mean we serve with foolishness. It doesn’t mean that we don’t take care of ourselves. We can’t serve if we destroy our bodies, minds, and spirits.

However, we can’t let our personal fears keep us from our service.

For such a time as this

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" – Esther 4v14

The book of Esther is an interesting story. Though God’s name is never mentioned we see His hand at work throughout the book.

Through a series of unusual circumstance Esther, a Jew, had become queen of the land. In the meantime a plot was being hatched to totally wipe out all the Jews. Political scheming was taking place. Haman was a self-aggrandising plotter who was trying to rise to a position of favour in the kingdom. He convinced the king that the Jews were enemies and that they should strike first before the Jews caused problems.

Esther’s uncle Mordecai was a noted person. At one point he refused to bow down to Haman so he was officially under his own death sentence. Certainly something had to be done.

Only one person was in a position to do anything about this and that was Queen Esther. Mordecai came to her and told her that she needed to talk to the king about this situation. Of course she was afraid to act. Who would not be?

But Haman pointed out that no one else could help. If she did not act not only was he dead, but so was the nation was in danger. He told her, ‘If you don’t do this God’s people will survive. Somehow they will be delivered.’ That was good news and it did show his faith, but he went on – ‘But who knows if God has put you in place for such a time as this.’

Esther was in a place to make a difference. Sure, God could have used someone else, but she had a unique opportunity to be the one to do it.

I wonder how often we find ourselves in a similar situation. There is always something to do. God is going to see His work done. But, like the situation with Esther, who knows if God may have put us in this place and this time to do a special work for Him? It is easy for us to sit back and wait for someone else to do it. But is that God’s plan? Who know whether or not God has put us ‘in such a time as this’ to do a work for Him?

Remember me God

and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good! – Nehemiah 13v31

If Nehemiah was anything he was faithful to his task. When the job was all said and done he remained faithful to his task and brought in his offerings. I like his last recorded words – ‘Remember me, O my God, for good.’

This reminds me of the thief on the cross who also cried out – ‘Remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

One guy did everything right. One guy, from all appearances, did everything wrong. Yet, at the end, they could both call out, ‘Lord remember me’ and the wonderful thing is that God heard both of them who called out to Him in faith.

As believers today we can always rest assured that our God remembers us. He has promised that He will not forsake us. We never have to be afraid that He will forget us. We are forever locked away in His ‘memory.’

For us, ‘remember me God’ is a done deal!

The Thanksgiving choir

The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall, - Nehemiah 12v38

I don’t have a whole lot to say this morning. I just found this account a great reminder of the importance of giving thanks. Here we find that the people of Jerusalem had a choir dedicated to thanksgiving.

I just think that is fantastic. Thanksgiving is a vital part of living for God and serving Him. The only thing that keeps us from giving thanks is a self-centred attitude, even though it runs all the way through the word of God.

The Old Testament talks about a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Time after time we have people starting their prayers with an attitude of thanksgiving. We are told to be thankful in every situation. We are told specifically that giving thanks is the will of God. Thanksgiving is the key to letting the peace of God rule in our lives.

The nation has a choir dedicated to giving thanks. Shouldn’t part of our lives be dedicated to the same?

In Your great mercy

Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful. – Nehemiah 9v31

It is only because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not all consumed by His justice and His wrath. Every sin deserves His wrath. Every time we sin we deserve to be cast off, separated, judged, and even destroyed.

He are these people who had been right with God, had done all the good work, had worshipped God, and then returned to their sin. They deserved to be wiped out and God start over again. He could have done that with Adam and Eve. He could have done it with the world of Noah’s time. He could have done it with Israel in the wilderness. He could have done it any number of times when His people turned from He didn’t. His mercy shone through.

I will admit that I don’t understand mercy. It doesn’t make any sense to me. How can a perfect, holy, righteous, and just God who cannot tolerate sin still choose to show mercy?

I don’t know, but He does. He is God, gracious and merciful.

Maybe the fact that I don’t ‘get it’ is part of the reason that it is so truly awesome.