Job 20 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 20.  Zophar is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/20/1/s_456001

Meditate on verses 14 and 16.

 

His food in his stomach is changed to

the venom of cobras within him.

He sucks the poison of cobras;

the viper's tongue slays him.

 

It is unbelievable the way Zophar speaks to Job.  This is the same friend who made the memorable quote: “An idiot will become intelligent when the foal of a wild donkey is born a man” (Job 11:12).

 

Now, he is obsessed with cobras.  Let’s nickname him Zophar the Zoologist.  So far, we have Bildad the Blunt and Zophar the Zoologist.  It will be fun to nickname Eliphaz in the next few days to help us remember these “friends” and how not to behave and what not to say in the presence of those who are suffering.  As Christians, the goal would be not to even think such things about others.  “Oh, LORD, forgive me and help this blunt zoologist think, speak, and act like You!”

 

Use the words from Job 20:2-3, praying to be a more Godly, faithful, and prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, Your Word disquiets my thoughts,

and I respond because of inward agitation with:

‘LORD, forgive me!’

Help me listen to reproof even when it insults me. 

Help me answer with Your Spirit of understanding.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

Job 19 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 19.  Job is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/19/1/s_455001

Meditate on verses 25-27.

 

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and

at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh

 I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold,

and whom my eyes will see and not another.

My heart faints within me!

 

What an amazing statement of faith!  Job is in the midst of:

 

·      Darkness (v. 8)

·      Stripped honor (v. 9)

·      Brokenness (v. 10)

·      Uprooted hope (v. 10)

·      Estrangement from brothers and acquaintances (v. 13)

·      Forgotten by intimate friends (v. 14)

·      A stranger in his own house (v. 15)

·      Offensive to his wife (v. 17)

·      Despised by young children (v. 18)

·      Bones cling to his skin (v. 20)

·      Feels persecuted by God (v. 22)

 

Yet, despite the fact his heart faints, Job has confidence in his living Redeemer.  He knows the day will come when the difficulties of this life will end, and he will see God.

 

Do you have that same assurance?  Job’s statement of faith can be yours, too.  Say it now, praying Job 19:25-27 will also be the statement of faith of those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7). 

 

“LORD, You are my Redeemer.  I know You live,

and at the last, You will take Your stand on the earth.

 Even after my skin is destroyed, from my flesh,

I shall see You, God.  I shall behold You, LORD,

with my own eyes and not another. 

LORD, _____________’s heart faints within them. 

Let them know You are their Redeemer,

 so they can see You, too.

In Your name, my Redeemer, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Job 18 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 18.  Bildad is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/18/1/s_454001

Meditate on verses 3 and 5.  Bildad is speaking.

 

Why are we regarded as beasts, as stupid in your eyes? 

Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out,

and the flame of his fire gives no light.

 

Job regards Bildad as a beast because he behaves like one, savagely accusing Job of being wicked and not knowing God (vs. 5, 21).  Be mindful of beastly Bildads who preach it is not God’s will to suffer.  This is what God says about suffering:

 

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the

flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose,

because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased

from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the

flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the

 will of God. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery

ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your

testing, as though some strange thing were happening

 to you, but to the degree that you share the

sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that

 also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with

 exultation.  If anyone suffers as a Christian,

he is not to be ashamed but is to glorify God in

 this name. Therefore, those also who suffer according to

 the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful

 Creator in doing what is right.

—1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-13, 16, 19

 

Do not be wooed by false teachers and make false assumptions about those who are suffering.  Be on your guard and purpose not to be a Bildad.  Pray Job 18:3 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, do not let ____________ and me be regarded

as beasts and stupid in the eyes of others.

 Help us know and speak Your Words.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

Job 17 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 17.  Job is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/17/1/s_453001

Meditate on verse 1a.

 

My spirit is broken. 

 

The trial is not abating for Job.  A broken man with dashed hopes, shattered dreams, and messed-up plans, he asks God for a pledge (vs. 3, 11, 15).  Job needs a guarantee in this really difficult life (v. 3).

 

Sometimes life gets hard, even reaching Job-like proportions.  For Christians, God gives us a pledge, a Guarantor to whom we cling:

 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because

we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal

 will be swallowed up by life.  Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is

God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good

courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are

absent from the LORD—for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good

courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from

 the body and to be at home with the LORD.

—2 Corinthians 5:4-8

 

No matter what happens in this life, God wants you to “abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). 

 

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), tell God how you feel, using the words from Job 17:1, 11, and 15, thanking Him for His pledge and Guarantor (v. 3).

 

“LORD, my spirit is broken; my days are

extinguished, and it appears the grave is ready for me. 

My days are past; my plans and the wishes of my heart

are torn apart.  Where is my hope and who regards my hope?

My hope is in You and Your Spirit, Jesus,

my Pledge and Guarantor

 in this life and the life to come~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

Job 16 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 16.  Job is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/16/1/s_452001

Meditate on verses 1-2 and 19.

 

Then Job answered, I have heard many such

 things; sorry comforters are you all.

Even now, behold, my witness is in

heaven, and my advocate is on high.

 

Job is fed up with his friends; they have done nothing to comfort him, but he has an advocate and a comforter, and so do you.

 

My little children, I am writing these things

to you so that you may not sin.

And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate

with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

—1 John 2:1

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD

 Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies

and God of all comfort, who comforts

 us in all our affliction so that we

will be able to comfort those who

are in any affliction with the comfort

with which we ourselves are comforted by

God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ

are ours in abundance, so also our

 comfort is abundant through Christ.

—2 Corinthians 1:3-5

 

Perhaps you are in a difficult situation, and friends have let you down.  Pour out your heart to God and let Him comfort you.  As you experience His comfort, extend it to others.

 

Use Job’s words from verses 7, 11, and 19 to tell the LORD how you really feel as His faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, I’m exhausted, and I feel like You have handed

me over to ruffians and tossed me into the hands of the wicked.

LORD, I need Your help! 

You are my Witness and my Advocate.

You are Jesus, the Righteous,

In whose name I pray~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

Job 15 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 15.  Eliphaz is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/15/1/s_451001

Meditate on verses 24-25.

 

Distress and anguish terrify him;

they overpower him

like a king ready for the attack because

he has stretched out his hand

against God and conducts himself

arrogantly against the Almighty.

 

For a second time, Eliphaz criticizes Job, accusing him of not reverencing or meditating on the LORD.  What an interesting accusation since we have yet to see Job’s friends talking to God, yet every time Job speaks, it is not only to the friends but also to God. 

 

Eliphaz describes his exhortations as “consolations from God” and “words spoken gently” (v. 11).  All the while, calling Job “detestable and corrupt” and accusing him of drinking “iniquity like water” (v. 16).  Gentle consolations indeed!  And just in case he doesn’t get another opportunity to speak, sadly he will, Eliphaz declares the reason God stretched out His hand against Job is because Job first arrogantly stretched out his hand against God (vs. 24-25).  And, this time Eliphaz makes no prosperity prophecies (Job 5:17-27), only doom and gloom for poor Job (vs. 29-35).  He should have taken his own advice, not answering Job with windy knowledge and useless talk (vs. 2-3).

 

It is easy to draw self-righteous conclusions when one is an observer of suffering rather than the receiver of it.  Purpose not to be a disheartening Eliphaz.  Ask God to make you a comforting friend, praying Job 15:2-3 and 11 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, make me a wise friend who does

not answer with windy knowledge. 

Do not let me fill myself with the east wind;

 fill me with Your wisdom.  Do not let me argue

with useless talk or words that are not profitable.

LORD, let me truly offer Your consolations to others. 

Let my words be spoken gently.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Job 14 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/14/1/s_450001

Meditate on verse 4.

 

Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!

 

Job’s question is a good one, but his answer is wrong.  Thankfully we know the correct answer.

 

If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with

one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us

our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

—1 John 1:7, 9

 

We have been sanctified (made clean and holy) through

 the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

—Hebrews 10:10

 

There are times when we feel like Job, overpowered and hopeless (vs. 19-20).  But, unlike the Old Testament saints, who had the promise of Messiah, we have the fulfillment of that promise—Jesus.  Hope in Him and use the words from Job 14:13-17 to pray as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

Oh LORD God, thank You that I am

hidden with Christ in You (Colossian 3:3). 

Conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, that

You would set a limit for me and remember me! 

When I die, I will live again. 

All the days of my struggle I will

wait until my change comes. 

You will call, and I will answer You;

 You will long for the work of Your hands. 

For now, You number my steps;

You do not observe my sin.

My transgression is sealed up in a bag,

and You wrap up our iniquity.

Thank You, in Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

Job 13 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Job 13.  Job is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/13/1/s_449001

Meditate on verse 3.

 

But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue with God.

 

Job not only talks to his three friends; he talks to God.  His friends are eager to give advice, but the book does not indicate they seek God’s wisdom for how to give it, and they are rebuked by God for speaking incorrectly about Him (Job 42:7).  To whom do you turn for advice and guidance?  Are they Christians who spend time talking to God, reading His Word, and counseling Biblically?

 

This chapter gives other good counseling advice:

 

·      Sometimes it is wise to be completely silent (v. 5).

·      If one speaks a word from the LORD, it must be God’s Word (v. 7).

·      Be quiet and let others talk (v. 13).

 

Speak to the Almighty, arguing with Him if necessary (v. 3).  Start with Job 13:20-28 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

LORD, only two things do not do to me,

then I will not hide from Your face:

Remove Your hand from me and let

 not the dread of You terrify me. 

Then call, and I will answer; or

 let me speak, then reply to me.

 How many are my iniquities and sins?

Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. 

Why do You hide Your face and

consider me Your enemy? 

Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble?

Or will You pursue the dry chaff?

 For You write bitter things

 against me and make me to

 inherit the iniquities of my youth. 

You put my feet in the stocks and

watch all my paths; You set

a limit for the soles of my feet,

while I am decaying like a rotten thing,

like a garment that is moth-eaten.

LORD, help me!

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell