In Job 11 Zophar speaks and says, Job you deserve far worse than what God has given you. Zophar is the youngest of the three friends. You are full of words and babbling is his message for Job. God is not obligated to respond to a self-righteous individual who is not prepared to accept the obvious is Zophar's contention. With God is wisdom, his friend declared, and it is beyond your capacity to understand Him. God will visit, with recompense, the worthless and stupid says Zophar. So repent and...
In Job 11 Zophar speaks and says, Job you deserve far worse than what God has given you. Zophar is the youngest of the three friends. You are full of words and babbling is his message for Job. God is not obligated to respond to a self-righteous individual who is not prepared to accept the obvious is Zophar's contention. With God is wisdom, his friend declared, and it is beyond your capacity to understand Him. God will visit, with recompense, the worthless and stupid says Zophar. So repent and be rescued from your stubbornness is the advice offered. And having done this life will again become satisfactory.
In verses 1-17 of Micah 7 we read of the need to wait for the salvation of God. The prophet says that he is like the gathered harvest. The people of God have received the fruit of what they had sown (see Galatians 6verses6-10); and it was not pleasant - for says verse 2, their dealings with each other were evil. Doing what was right seemed an impossibility to Israel. And no one could be trusted. Verse 6 is quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 10verses35 (note the context of the Lord's words). By way of contrast the prophet urges patient continuance in well doing - verse 7 (compare Romans 2verses1-11). The enemy says v8 will pass away when God vindicates His servants. In the meantime, the expectant citizens of Zion will endure chastening. In the day of exaltation, the roles will be reversed and the oppressors will become penitent suppliants. Their Sovereign would then shepherd His people as He did in days of old. The surrounding nations would see and acknowledge this; and would prostrate themselves before the LORD's people.
The prophet's message in verses 18-20 finished on a high point with the prophet's reminder of Yahweh's steadfast love (chesed) and compassion. Read these verses aloud slowly. Pause and ponder.
James 3 continues in a practical vein with the issues we all have in controlling our tongues. He says that teachers have a stricter responsibility, as our words will be discounted by our inconsistent conduct and speech. The only man to have perfectly controlled his tongue was our Lord Jesus Christ. In verses 3-4 two examples of small things controlling great things - the horse is controlled by a small bit in its mouth; and a ship is directed by a small rudder. The tongue is small, but seemingly uncontrollable - a small spark sets a forest ablaze; and likewise, a tiny bit of gossip creates untold havoc. How perverse we are. We praise and thank God, and, with the same tongue slander those made by God in His image. This is contrary to nature as the two examples of verses 11-12 illustrate. Verses 13-18 describe and counsel the use of heavenly wisdom. Wisdom and understanding are demonstrated by meekness (teachableness) - see Psalm 18verses20-28; 25verses1-9). Strife and bitterness, by contrast, come from self-promotion. Although purity proceeds peace (see 2 Kings 9verses19; Isaiah 57verses19-21), this is never an invitation to pummel people into submission. Read verses 17-18 aloud slowly. Pause and ponder. At the end of chapter 3 we saw one cause of strife was self-promotion; in chapter 4 he names several more. Chapter 4 warns against worldliness. He deals with covetousness in the first three verses. A covetous person has no room in their life for God. Interestingly the 10 commandments stand and finish with covetousness - the first, "You shall have no gods before me" (a person's possessions possess them); and the tenth, "You shall not covet".
Hence Paul says in Colossians 3verses5, "Covetousness, which is idolatry". Hence covetousness is likened to adultery (chapter 4verses4-5). The jealousy of God for the purity and chastity of believers is captured by the ESV translation of verse 5, "He yearns zealously over the spirit (mind, or attitude) that He has made to dwell in us". Compare this with what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11verses2-3. The literal Greek of verse 4 is, "adulteresses" (since God is our groom). But for those who graciously submit and draw near to our Father He will show reciprocity in drawing near to them (see 1 Peter 5verses5-11). Humility now will bring future exaltation (compare our Lord Jesus Christ in Philippians 2 verses 1-11). The humble disciple is not one who critically compares oneself with others. From verses 13-17 James reminds us of our vain and transient nature. Therefore, he says, boasting is wrong. All plans we make are "God willing" (subject to His purpose for us). Should we focus on covetousness we have excluded Him from those plans. What we have has been given to us by Him to use in His service. Life is no more permanent than the vapour from the boiling kettle. Don't be arrogant. Place God at the forefront of all your plans.
Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
View more
