In Job 8 Bildad, the next youngest in age, of Job's friends speaks. He together with Eliphaz contends that Job suffers because he has sinned. What is needed from Job is repentance. God will not allow you to suffer if you are upright. The fact that your suffering persists is proof of your guilt. Don't question the Almighty about your suffering - our experience is too limited to rightly judge - just acknowledge your guilt. He, like Eliphaz, musters his arguments from his understanding of nature....
In Job 8 Bildad, the next youngest in age, of Job's friends speaks. He together with Eliphaz contends that Job suffers because he has sinned. What is needed from Job is repentance. God will not allow you to suffer if you are upright. The fact that your suffering persists is proof of your guilt. Don't question the Almighty about your suffering - our experience is too limited to rightly judge - just acknowledge your guilt. He, like Eliphaz, musters his arguments from his understanding of nature. Job you must relent, change your way, confess to God and you will be restored.
In Micah 3 the rulers and prophets are denounced for their corruption, contempt for God's people, callousness to the poor and total self-interest. Yahweh's face would be hidden from these godless religious leaders. These leaders prophesied of a peace that was not possible given the deplorable state they had brought upon their nation. The consequence of the nation's refusal to receive the Word of God would, verse 6, be a withdrawal of the inspired prophetic guidance - "the sun would go down over the prophets". We notice the parallels of Hebrew poetry - the expression is repeated to be reinforced in different words to say the same thing, "I am filled with power, with the spirit of Yahweh and with justice and might" (v 6 ESV). In this verse, the spirit of Yahweh is power, and is also the same as might. I This occurred from about BC 444 until the ministry of John the Baptist around 21 AD. There would be for them (verse 7) "no answer from God". By way of contrast to this the prophet Micah was "the inspired Word of Yahweh" to the kingdom of Judah (verse 8). And Micah would forthrightly denounce their transgressions, in order that God may save a remnant of them. The prophet's message was that their violence had filled up the cup of LORD's patience. God's exhausted patience the reason "Zion would be ploughed as a field" (verse 15). This message shook king Hezekiah to the core (see Jeremiah 26verses18-19). The prophecy was fulfilled by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD. Chapter 4 says that, nonetheless, Zion (meaning "conspicuous"), Jerusalem's aspirational future glorious state would be realised at Christ's coming kingdom. Read verses 1-5 aloud, and pause and ponder - compare with Isaiah 2verses1-4. Verses 6-13 tell us that at that future time Yahweh will restore Zion (Jerusalem). The prophet calls the nation Jacob, after the father of the nation. Micah shows us that Jacob's personal life finds echoes in the nation's history - "her that halters" loops back to when Jacob's thigh was dislocated to teach him dependence on his God (Genesis 32). Likewise, the Almighty's affliction of the nation was designed to bring her finally in faith to her Maker. And through restored Zion Yahweh will bring all nations of the earth into subjection to Zion's glorious king.
Hebrews 13 begins, "Let brotherly love (Greek "philadelphus" the love among brothers) continue". And this is the message of the first nineteen verses. There are many ways to show brotherly love and in verse 2 the writer shows that hospitality is one of the ways. Everyone is a stranger until you get to know them; and who knows whether the unknown person to whom you show kindness might even be an angel. In Genesis 18 3 strangers came to Abraham's tent bringing great blessings. Verse 3 focuses on supporting the afflicted and counsels visits to encouraged. This has often been done by Christadelphians resulting in people becoming believers, but without this you will be blessed in your care being shown to another).
Verse 4 tells of the honourable and elevated state of marriage among believers; and states that sexual relationships outside marriage are unacceptable to God. Verse 5 tells of the dangers of coveting and explains that knowing God is the best way to counter this. Be content (see 1 Timothy 6verses5-10). The literal Greek of this verse is - "I will never, no not ever, leave you, nor forsake you". How incredibly encouraging are these thoughts - so that whatever is before us can be overcome v6. One person and God is always an overwhelming majority (see 2 Kings 6verses16). Always (v7) show respect for those who guide you to understand the Word and counsel of God. Imitate their faith, for it is sustained by an unchanging Lord Jesus Christ (v8). Grace must lead us (v9). We ought not be focused on the present - this includes foods, which are all too important a part of today's transient world. Verse 10 we live lives sacrificing everything upon our altar, Christ, who gave all to bring us to God. The Law of Moses taught the same in the code of offerings. It was leading us to Christ as the writer was reminding the Hebrew believers. As a consequence of doing this our Lord was crucified and we must take up our cross They were citizens of the coming Zion and not the present Jerusalem which was awaiting destruction. Our sacrifice is of praise - an attitude of gratitude (v15). Show submission to your guides in the Word, because it is not for their benefit that they give counsel. Those leaders, too, will be called to give account for their words. Pray for the writer, indeed for all who labour in the Word to magnify our Sovereign and His incomparable Son. Verses 20-21 give us the closing benediction. ESV "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Pause and ponder. Final greetings follow and finish with a request for God's grace to be with them.
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