There is a new CD that has just come out called "Music Inspired By The Story". It's 24 Christian artists who collaborated and took on a Bible character such as Adam and Eve, or Joshua. Todd Smith, one of the members of the band Selah sngs a song from the perspectve of Job called Broken Praise. I haven't been able to find a youtube clip about it, or even get the lyrics online yet, but I encourage you to check it out when you get a chance. The song almost brought me to tears (it didn't, but it came close), and it really brought home the story of Job that I am readig through. Gave a fresh new perspective on the story,and gave me more respect for the person of Job. Anyway, with that in mind, here are a few more verses that really stuck out to me:
15:31. Once again, one of Job's friends offers wise words amidst poor advice. Eliphaz says, "Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return". It's really important to put our trust in what is True and Good. If we spend all our time on things that are pointless, then we end up with nothing. If, on the contrary, we spend time with God, and on things that are, at least eternally, worthwhile, then nothing will be in vain!
16:19. "Even now, my witness is in heaven; my advotace is on high". I even put a 'YES!' next to this one in my Bible. It doesn't matter if other people see is do right, or even understand why we do things. We are doing everything for God, our witness in heaven. He alone is our judge.
19:4. This one is interesting. Job acknowledges that he may have gone astray, but he says that if he has, "my error is my concern alone". I agree with the fact that, our decisions and sins are ultimately only between us and God (and the person/people we sinned against), but there has to be a level of accountability. We need to have people we can confide in and confess too...although, I will give Job he credit for choosing not to confide to these particular friends that he has.
19:25-27. So, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, I am now drawn into the "heaven/hell" debate. I said how I wasn't quite sure what Job's standing on heaven was, but these verses clearly show that Job believes in some level of heaven. He refers to looking at God with his own eyes after his skin has been destroyed. Them his excitemet boils over, and he jubilantly expresses, "my heart yearns within me!" Perhaps Job is a universalist afterall (going back to my thoughts on 3:17).
20:2-3. Zophar says what a lot of Christians feel, "My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understandig inspires me to reply". Christians, myself included, tend to feel the need to always speak up when something offends them. We probably would be respected much more if we were able to just keep a lot of our commets and rebuttles to ourselves.
21:3. I just like how Job is sarcastic with his friends, and realizes that no matter what he says, his friends will respond. He decides, instead of fighing it, to just encourage his friends to "mock on". I have so much respect for Job right about now!
21:7-16. This section just expresses the frustration that a lot of us feel. I won't rewrite all the verses, caus I encurage you to read it for yourself, but Job just talks about how the wicked, who refuse to accept and believe in God still manage to be blessed and wealthy, while he loses everything. I think thats a sentiment that we all can relate to.
23:11-12. "My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turnig aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." THAT, my friends, is what we all must strive for. The word of God is more valuable than my daily bread (and not just those clever little devotional books..although it is more valuable than those too)...how many of us are able to honestly say that right now? I know I sure can't.
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