Short Commentary on Job

 Job

One of my favorite verses in Job is when his friend Eliphaz outlined Job’s reputation/legacy up to the time before Job was overcome by the greatest earthly losses imaginable. Of course, after v3-4 Eliphaz wasn’t so supportive, but judgmental. When one is suffering greatly – emotionally and physically, being judgmental adds to the wounds.

Job’s reputation in Job 4:3-4:

Think how you have instructed many,

how you have strengthened feeble hands.

Your words have supported those who stumbled;

you have strengthened faltering knees.

Instructed, strengthened, supported...Job was known as an encourager. A definition of an encourager is “a person who inspires, supports, and boosts the confidence or hope of others, often stimulating them to action, progress, or higher achievement.” (Copied) An encourager builds up vs puts down. (Blessing vs cursing.)

Job’s three friends showed support when they came to “sympathize and comfort him” (v2:11) by not saying a word for seven days and nights (v2:13). They were suffering also, not knowing what to say. Their comfort soon turned to a judgmental personal opinion due to their limited understanding of God and His ways. The Bible showcases examples, as does life, where God’s ways are often paradoxical or the opposite of our sense of fairness, for God’s ways are not our ways. Remember, neither Job nor his friends knew that satan was behind this evil that befell Job.

For 37 chatty chapters Job’s friends offer false comfort to Job. Job did have a chance to respond in those chapters. Check out chapter 38:1 – “THEN the Lord answered Job out of the S-T-O-R-M.” Dwell on that for a moment. The Lord heard the entire discourse! Then the Lord responded. These catastrophes/hardships were considered a storm. Make that STORM! What has been your greatest “storm”? Physical, financial, relational? The Lord knows the trial you are suffering through just as He did Job’s. Remember, through means to the other side, there is an ending.

Our limited understanding celebrates with Job when we read in v42:12 “the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” These blessings included wealth and ten additional children. Notice Scripture includes the names of Job’s three new daughters and NIV depicts their meanings (dove, cinnamon, eye shadow). Many times in Scriptures people are unnamed, but they are not forgotten by God who shares their struggles with us in His Word so can avoid the same pitfalls in order to grow spiritually.

Regarding growing spiritually, I believe the greater blessing (than wealth or additional children) was Job’s faith believing. Yes, Job practiced his faith, as his “regular custom” (v1:5). Satan saw Job’s daily worship then “blasphemed” God’s blessing or protection over Job (v1:9-11). (Blasphemy according to the Bible primarily refers to speaking or acting in a way that shows contempt or disrespect for God, claiming to be God, insulting God's name or character, or attributing the works of God to evil forces. (Copied)

Faith believing - with heart and head. Whole being.

Job had a faith believing unshakeable story to tell, after suffering great person loss of wealth, family, health plus enduring his friend’s insufferable opinions that were based on limited knowledge of God and His ways, Job still hoped in his God. His quote: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). Job never doubted God or lost hope. After all the catastrophe’s, Job “did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (1:22).

Job’s story is our story from time to time – great loss of some sort happens to all humanity.

Recall to mind David’s conversation with God in Psalm 42:5-8:

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me;

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God...

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs His love,

at night His song is with me -

a prayer to the God of my life.

NIV note: deep and deeper yet, waves and breakers refers to the great distress David suffers. Drowning comes to mind. (I’ve heard, in a sense, depression is like drowning.) David also refers to distress as “the pit,” and a slimy pit with mud and mire (ick), i.e. stuck, which undoubtedly stunk (Psalm 40).

Psalm 42 teaches concentrate (change focus) to the Lord through hope, praise, love, song, prayers – unshakable believing faith versus focusing on being downcast/disturbed. Focus on the Lord’s love and sing songs of praise. Peace will descend. Calm will still the storm in our hearts.

Reminded just now that God is in charge of the storms. Psalm 104:3 “He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.” God goes before us, he is our rear guard, he is above us, and II Chronicles 16:9 “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

Our storms are meant to strengthen us. The Lord impressed on me some time ago to not ask “Why is this happening to me?” but to ask “What is the Lord trying to teach me through this?” (Perhaps if we look for what God intends to teach us, the duration will be shorter.)

This short commentary was derived from a few verses from Job. If I were to read the entire book, much more could be gleaned. Another day...hopefully, soon.

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SUPPLY

For breakfast robin redbreast dines on a worm

readily available after last night's rain storm.

Did she know that God would supply

with more than money can buy?

A yellow finch feasts on dried cornflower seeds.

Soon more yellow finches join and feed for free.

It sounds like a party atmosphere.

Their song of thankfulness always cheers.

Sweet chickadees come to dine

under the evergreen pine.

A smorgasbord of treats await

supplied by their Creator, who's great.

A flicker, speckled with an orange head

and a black beard, dines on bugs instead.

He's seen climbing for breakfast in a tree up high

where perhaps the best tasting bugs reside.

Titmice with their little crest

search for seeds that taste best.

God lovingly caters to their personal needs

furnishing an endless supply of weed seeds.

Papa blue jay seeks his ready-made breakfast

from a buffet of sunflower seed heads, hear him sass,

for his caw-caw is heard near and far

perhaps telling everyone he scored.

Canadian geese overhead fly

perhaps off to the lake to fish. Bye-bye!

Wherever they land they know God will provide

for they've learned God has an abundant supply.

* * * * *

Each sunny morning "It's a Wonderful World" is heard

outdoors from happy, contented, chirping songbirds.

Isn't it amazing how God supplies

breakfast each morning for birds that fly,

just as God supplies our needs

and many of our wants, indeed.

Yes, there will be lean, hard-to-understand, times

when you wonder if the sun will again shine,

but these lean times are when we learn God is faithful.

This head and heart knowledge is better than pearls.

Knowing that God has a good plan and purpose no matter what

is much better than playing the odds or wishing for good luck.

Know that God already has a solution in mind

and He's never late, His plan will unfold in His time.

Next time you wonder what's God up to,

think of the early morning birds who

do not worry, who start their day happy

with a song of thankfulness quite early.

Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26

Hope in God,

who richly provides us with everything

for our enjoyment.

I Timothy 6:17

He has shown kindness

by giving you rain from heaven

and crops in their season;

he provides you with plenty of food

and fills your hearts with joy.

Acts 14:17

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STILL

 Still

In the still of the night they came

as a hush lay over the land;

silently they’ll surprise, though not motionless,

causing more work tomorrow for many of us

and fun for some of you -

rather young or old, it’s true.

They came fluttering,

a silent spiraling,

orbiting round and round

then lay still on the ground

silent, their journey ending,

though employment is pending.

A frozen orb caused this fuss,

though it creates a hush,

in the meadows and woodlands,

the countryside, towns, and lawns

as it falls silent and still

while stirring up a chill.

Silent, yet sparkling, yes effervescent, before becoming still,

then children in multi-colored snowsuits and mittens spill

dispelling the quiet born

from these orbs cold and frozen.

Laughter fills the air

from children playing there.

The stillness of the landscape becomes tracked

as snowmen appear from snowballs packed.

These snowmen, still, like guards

made from snow packed hard

survey the snowflakes that descend

from someplace up in the heavens.

Other people get out the shovels,

or noisy snowplows and blowers,

interrupting the still silence

as they seek to keep their balance,

though they might not giggle and laugh

as they work at scooping out a path.

However you view

this cold, still view

a photograph – a still,

will freeze this moment, it will,

of snowflakes falling...

still, silent, calming.

And still they come with a certain solace

as they flutter down from outer space

a serene,

tranquil scene,

silent and still now,

though cold – and how.

Still...they lie after their journey,

still...they come every January,

still...the hush heard in February,

still...to some quite contrary.

Now lying still...

through tomorrow...still.

* * * * *

Our lives are rarely still.

We tend to make ourselves ill

with busyness from sunup to sundown

all around our homes and even around town.

Ill as in physically drained

or even emotionally drained

for we take care of everything,

but sometimes forfeit one thing.

That one thing is time with the Lord.

Where we should go to be safely moored.

Where peace is found despite difficulties.

When God enables with grace, plenty.

God desires that we learn to be still.

To hear from Him we need to be still

for God speaks to us in a still, small voice

which surely gives us reason to rejoice.

His voice gives us comfort and hope,

gives us direction when we can’t cope,

brings us peace in the midst of our troubles,

making our impossible possible.

Be still and know that God is the Lord

who longs to carry your heavy load.

Don’t make yourself ill.

Learn tranquility and be still.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

...a still, small voice...

Then a voice said...”What are you doing...”?

I Kings 19:12 (KJV/NIV)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you...

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

My grace is sufficient for you.

II Corinthians 12:9

Cast all your anxiety on him,

for he cares for you.

I Peter 5:7

Here’s a short devotional I wrote in 2019 which goes along with I Peter 5:7:

In reading a devotional today, it emphasized how we tend to control our circumstances by coming up with possible solutions in our mind to the problems we’re facing instead of first going to God with our heartache. This devotional did not state “casting your cares” as an example, but that verse came to mind. My note to myself: GIVE TO GOD WHAT WEIGHS YOU DOWN!

And was reminded of Matthew 6 where Jesus states: Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? YES, you are much more valuable than you realize! God already has the solution to your situation. As God provides for the birds daily, He will also provide for you, who is His beloved. GIVE TO GOD WHAT WEIGHS YOU DOWN.

Giving your heartache to God, versus stewing over possible human solutions, may just provide an answer from God sooner vs later. Though if the answer comes later, God intended to use that period of waiting to grow your faith and trust. GIVE TO GOD WHAT WEIGHS YOU DOWN.

Cheerio-o-o (which means Godspeed).

It sounds to me that papa signs Cheerio-o-o.

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WOVEN

 

WOVEN

Mama cardinal with her orange beak

hunting for dried grasses she now seeks

to weave together into a nest

where one day brown speckled eggs will rest.

Behind the trumpet vine

is where you can now find

the nest being woven

started early one morn.

She’s a master at designing.

She’s heard singing while she’s weaving.

With grasses her home is knit

as she sings out chit-chit-chit.

She does weave expertly

and waits expectantly

for she knows what’s ahead.

Her husband is bright red.

One egg was laid sometime Thursday.

Another one spotted Friday.

Still another egg seen on Saturday.

Brown speckled in the woven grass and hay.

Mama cardinal sits on the woven nest

while red plumed papa cardinal seems to rest

in the nearby lilac bush.

I can see his feathered tush.

A surprise today – another egg was seen.

Mama now returns where she sits like a queen.

It seems the woven nest is too small

for these four brown-speckled eggs so small.

As she wove the grasses together

her life is being woven for her

for she’ll have four offspring

to raise for two weeks this spring.

I wonder if she’s excited to be a mama?

Does she talk about it with her offspring’s papa?

He’s always someplace nearby

when you look up toward the sky…

sometimes in the budding lilacs, sometimes seen on the fence,

sometimes in the weeping cherry if I happen to glance.

Sometimes I can hear him sing “cheerio-o-o”

for encouragement to his wife he often shows.

Out the back door I now go.

There mama cardinal goes.

Chit-chit-chit can be heard

calling for papa bird.

Here comes red papa

talking to mama.

Cheerio-o-o.

Cheerio-o-o.

Chit-chit-chit

mama chats.

Cheerio-o-o.

papa sings out low.

I can hardly wait to see

the baby cardinals wee.

Just 12 more days it will take

to see their most ugly face.

They’ll be all beak and no feathers.

Only a parent's love could mother

these somewhat ugly mugs

ready for a parent’s hug.

These babies lives are being woven as they are taught to give

when their parents teach them the essentials of how to live -

to wake up early with a glad song in their heart

so humans can begin their day with a fresh start.

* * * * *

In the Old Testament Bible story of old

we read about an upright man named Job.

Satan planned to trick blameless Job

into abandoning his faith, we're told.

You see Job’s life was being woven together

by God who does have a good plan and purpose for

each and every problem in this lifetime we face

for our life is woven together by God’s grace.

The Master Designer has a good plan

for every human – each man and woman.

He knits our life together

with happiness - and troubles.

It’s in troubles we learn to depend

on our God who will be there to fend.

We learn God will be always faithful

as He bestows blessings by the handful.

Not only will we learn patience through our difficulties,

we learn about God’s everlasting love, joy, and peace.

We learn to be kind, good, faithful, gentle and

we learn needed self-control – all God’s good plan.

In the New Testament Jesus told (Simon) Peter

that Satan asked permission to sift him as wheat.

Just as with Job, God had a greater purpose for Peter.

God knew that difficulties would one day hone Peter's faith.

We read about God’s greater purpose in I and II Peter

where Peter encourages us in our trials and troubles.

Peter was given a greater portion of God’s grace

to deal with the many difficulties he would face.

God has a good plan and purpose for us in weaving together

what might be construed as buffeting from Satan, the deceiver.

As with Job and with Peter, God is refining us to come forth as gold

so that we will give God the glory and end up with a testimony bold.

Your life, too, is now being woven

by the Master Designer.

Listen to these words God has spoken

(He’s the polisher and refiner):

God is for you and with you

and will never leave you.

God has a solution for your problems

but first you must give them over to Him.

You are not meant to bear your burdens alone

for burdens will leave you weary and worn.

Learn to view your burdens as unrecognized blessings

for burdens should bring us to God instead of stressing.

And that’s exactly where the blessing lies –

when we seek God first He will surprise

with peace and joy for our life -

a life lived without strife.

What was sent from Satan as stressing

will end up turned into a blessing.

When up against a brick wall,

or when you feel you might fall,

when life seems null,

learn to view all

your disappointments,

and appointments

as God’s weaving -

it will end up pleasing

for God has a good plan and purpose,

one which spoils Satan’s ruse.

Try not to dwell on the here and now.

Look beyond to the end for somehow,

in God's time, He has a purpose for us

that can only be born out of trust.

Our troubles will weave for us

faith believing, which is a must.

Faith is meant to be active,

not ever to be passive.

Faith will grow as we daily trust

in God who has a good plan for us.

Believe and give God glory

for you are writing God's story.

Others will see

your faith and believe.

Your troubles

then have purpose.

God will abundantly bless you

for giving Him glory too.

The fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

But I have prayed for you, Simon,

that your faith may not fail.

And when you have turned back,

strengthen your brothers.

Luke 22:31-32

He knows the way that I take;

when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5

Cast all your anxiety on him

because he cares for you.

I Peter 5:7

I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

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