Scripture Nuggets (did not have a wi-fi connection yesterday, so posting 2 today)
6.23.2016 (Job 34-37) “Surely God is mighty and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding. He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right. He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted. And if they are bound in fetters and caught in cord of affliction, then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly. He opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity. If they listen, and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness. But if they do listen, they shall perish by the sword, and die without knowledge.” Job 36:5-12
Elihu exalts God’s goodness, in this paragraph he touches on grace, and free will. The relationship God offers to us and desires we enter in, and the consequences if we choose another way. God convicts, but doesn’t condemn; God provides instruction, guidance and example but doesn’t force us to follow. When we listen and hear, our hearts are changed and we turn to God. Those who never have an attentive moment, never hear the good news, never turn to God, they perish. God loves all, invites all to enter His presence. To enter and stay we must be holy and righteous; we must confess and repent, turning to God and entering into the joy of the Kingdom of God.
6.24.2016 (Job 38-40) “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. … Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be justified? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?” Job 38:1-4, 39:8-9
God speaks to Job directly and to Job’s friends indirectly from a whirlwind. It is time to pay attention! We are always in God’s presence, God is everywhere, in this moment God is making His presence known, He speaks from a whirlwind; this is not the time to cover our ears or block our hearts or minds. God is speaking from directly in front of us from an Over-the-Horizon perspective that only He can grasp and comprehend. Life is grand, life is complicated, life is not easy to understand or explain. Especially from Job’s position, or his friend’s position or mine or yours. We are only part of creation, though God gives us dominion, we not the center of creation, creation does not revolve us nor our limited thoughts on what is fair and how God is supposed to react. This world is larger and more wondrous than we can imagine, it is impossible then to conclude how large and wondrous is the entirety of God’s creation. Do I/you/we pay attention when God speaks, when God takes action or am I/are you/are we too busy espousing our personal knowledge of the situation? Have I attempted to force the world that I see around me to revolve around me as if I am the Creator? O God forbid I ever do such a thing. Help me God to gird up my loins, to stand in your presence, to listen, to hear and take action according to Your will.