Daily Encouragement

May 23, 2010 - Friendly Attack

Meditation on Job 20

Zophar came to see Job as a friend. But after couple rounds of debate, he became an enemy. He kept on implying that Job was wicked therefore condemned Job that he had been judged by God and will be destroyed.

Zophar hinted Job might have been so great and honored in the past, but then he had become nothing. (v. 6-7) The current suffering of Job was apparently the result of the sins of his children and himself who oppressed the poor, the problem of his tongue and his illegitimate way of getting riches. Indeed, these verbal attacks were unnecessary and unfounded.

It reminds me that some people who visited their friends in the hospital had forgotten their mission was to comfort and console. They ended up trying to find out what was wrong with their friends and praying that God would forgive the sins of the patient. No wonder some patients refused to have visitors. May God help us not to be like Zophar. God will do the judging Himself and does not need our help.

May 24, 2010 - Accusation Must Be Answered

Meditation on Job 21

When a Christian faces accusation from others especially his own friends, he or she should give a solid defense. Otherwise, the opponents may think that they are right and the one being accuses is admitting guilt and speechless.

After Zophar's merciless attack by mouth, Job asked for silence to hear his defense. He said that listening to him silently equals to comforting him. Concerning the free friends' central theme of condemnation upon him that his catastrophe and suffering are the results of his sin and wickedness, Job simply pointed out that many sinners and wicked people did not suffer in the world but enjoyed prosperity, servants' help and even good memory when they passed away. They didn't lose their house and property as Job did. So, where was the logic that sinners must suffer in this life? Job felt that his friends were just harming him with conspiracy.

Have you suffer false accusation from your friends? Ask wisdom to defend for yourself. (James 1:3-5)

May 25, 2010 - A Twisted Assessment

Meditation on Job 22

Eliphaz, the elder had decided that Job's suffering was the result of his sin and failure to follow God's command. So he went on to accuse Job directly that he must have oppressed the poor and had not taken care of the needed of the land. So God had disciplined him.

On the other hand, Eliphaz realized that Job did fear God. He pleaded for Job to repent. He predicted that Job will be prosperous again. Eliphaz did have a sense of what would happen to Job in the future. But his assessment of what happened to Job was completely wrong.

Man's philosophy and reasoning are not always adequate. We need the wisdom and revelation of God to understand the reason behind all that is happening in the world. Therefore all of us including Eliphaz should humble before the LORD.

May 26, 2010 - The Power Of God In The Universe

Meditation on Job 26

Job's friend, Bildad ran out of words to accuse Job except to say that man was impure before the fearful God. But Job had a lot to say to his friends. Job used the opportunity to teach his friends the awesome power of God. He showed them that he knew much more than all of them. He described the creative power of God and his dominion over the universe seen and unseen.

The most amazing of Job's word was his knowledge of the earth. He said, "He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth over nothing." (v. 7 NKJV) Job describe the earth in scientifically accurate term long before the modern science when the ancient people only thought that the world was in the back of an elephant or other mysterious structure.

Indeed God had revealed to Job great knowledge of the universe and His power over all things. How we thank God for the truth and accuracy of the Bible!

May 27, 2010 - Personal Reflection

Meditation on Job 31

Job defended himself by making a summary reflection about his own life. After he told about his honor and glory, he lamented his terrible treatment by everyone after disaster had come upon him. Now nobody respected him and even those he had helped in the past would spit upon him let alone his own friends did insult him openly with conspiracy.

What made him to deserve all that? Job avowed his own cleanliness in morality, his care for social justice and welfare, and his devotion to God. He did not comprehend what caused what he called God's prosecution against him. But we know that God was not silence. He would answer him soon.

It is good for each of us to reflect upon oneself once awhile, especially when one is in trouble. When we do that I believe God will speak to us even though we may not be as clean as Job. (James 4:8)

May 28, 2010 - Spiritual Understanding

Meditation on Job 32

It seems that all of a sudden there was another person who was listening to the conversation between Job and his three friends. A young man named Elihu spoke up after everyone else had stopped speaking. The Bible introduced him with detailed description of his family more than any one in this whole episode. He was full of anger because of Job's self proclaimed righteousness and the inability of Job's friends to answer Job.

Elihu's opening statement in establishing his right to speak was very important. He said, "But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty give him understanding." (v. 8 NKJV) His point was referring back to Genesis 2:7 where the LORD breathed into the nostrils of Adam the breath of life. This was what made man different from all animal. This breath of God which is the Spirit of God gave all man understanding. Obviously this was not just mental understanding but spiritual understanding. This spiritual understanding was the ability to understand God's thought and the capacity to communicate with God. This was the understanding the Psalmist talked about in Psalm 119:34, 73, 125, 130, 144, and 169.

This was the understanding that made Elihu able to speak better than the friends of Job. Psalm 119:99-100 said, "I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your precepts. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts."

Praise the Lord, we all need to know Him and meditate upon His word so we can understand Him and His profound concepts.

May 29, 2010 - Answer To Job’s Question

Meditation on Job 35

Elihu with the Breath from the Holy Spirit was answering the questions from Job. One of the question was, “what profit is it to me and what do I gain by not sinning?”

Elihu urged Job and his friends to look up to heavens and the clouds high above. Then they would discover the greatness and immensity of the universe that God had created. Since God is so far above men, how could men’s sin affect Him? What would an insignificant mans’ right or wrong do to Him? How could we capable to give God anything? And anything we do whether it was sinful or righteous should only affect ourselves. We must abandon our self-centeredness in life.

Man must come to recognize like the psalmist that if he was important at all before God, it was all because of the grace and mercy of God. (Psalm 8) We must all realize that the sovereign God has all power to do or not do whatever He wants. Yet He does teach us and care for us. Amazing grace!