anitasanecdotes

In Job 20 Zophar basically says that Job’s wickedness stems from the wealth he acquired. God is bringing him low because he was wealthy.

In Job 21 Job states that often the wicked are successful and reach an old age. His argument does not stand the test of reality. He complains that his friends are being of no comfort to him and the things they are saying are lies.

In Luke 20 Jesus tells a parable about how the religious leaders are working against him and God’s kingdom. This angers them even more. They try to trip him up but each time Jesus answers in a way that criticizes them and yet is not wrong.

Jesus has always been hard on the religious leaders but now that he is coming to his fulfillment of God’s promise he doesn’t even try to placate them. He knows that no matter what he says he will be found guilty. He tries to answer in a way that they are the ones who fall into the trap. This just infuriates them more. The pieces are falling into place and each person is playing the part given them to work out God’s plan for humanity.

In Job 18 Bildad speaks about the punishment that the wicked receive. While he does not say straight out that Job is wicked, its implication is clear. He intimates that Job doesn’t really know God.

Job 19 is Job’s answer. He cries out against his friends and their reproach against him. Job continues to maintain his innocence. He laments the loss of his family and friends either because of death or because they have turned against him. He asks why his friends are attacking him when God seems to be against him as well.

Job is convinced that when this is over he will see God on his side. Job believes his frineds will be punished for their judgment of him.

In Luke 19 Jesus meets a tax collector named Zacchaeus who invites him to dinner. After spending time with Jesus, Zacchaeus’ life is completely changed. When others criticize Jesus, he notes this change and states that this is why he has come.

Jesus tells a story about some servants who have been given property to oversee. Those who enlarged the property were praised and the one who did nothing with it was judged. God gives us gifts and duties. He will know how much we trusted in him by the how we have used his gifts and performed our duties.

Jesus comes to Jerusalem and rides into town on a colt. The people cry out to God when they see him. The Pharisees tell Jesus to keep his followers quiet. Jesus responds that if they kept quiet the stones would shout out.

When we are in the presence of God we should not keep quiet. We must let everyone know about him.

Jesus goes into the temple and sees business going on in this place of worship. He angers the religious leaders who look for a way to kill him. The people, on the other hand are spellbound by his teaching.

In Job 15 Eliphaz is clearly insulted by Job’s comments. He believes that Job is arrogant and full of iniquity.  He believes that Job is receiving and will continue to receive punishment from God for his actions.

In Job 15, 16 and 17 Job answers saying that he could speak against his friends or he could try to assuage their criticism but he is too tired. He is grieving over the losses he has incurred. Job believes that God has caused all of this and pleads that God would treat him as humans are to treat their neighbors. He recognizes that his friends are not sympathetic and those around him mock him. He is drowning in grief.

Psalm 83 is a song of lament. All of Israel’s enemies have come against it. The psalmist asks God to seek vengeance against them so they will know who is Lord.

Psalm 84 speaks of how wonderful it is to live in the presence of God.

Job 13 and 14 are a continuation of job’s response. He chastises his friends for their criticism and counsel. Job presents the case that he wishes to present to God. He asks God why He has hidden Himself from Job. He pleads with God to examine him. Job, while maintaining his innocence asks that God put any sin away from him. He wishes God could hide him in death until his punishment is finished.

He asks that God grant him two things: to withdraw His hand from Job and to not let Him terrify Job. We have no reason to be frightened by God. Through Jesus, He has shown us His love. We can now approach God knowing that we have his forgiveness and mercy.

In Luke 18 Jesus teaches more about prayer. He says it needs to be persistent and humble. The disciples want to keep children from seeing Jesus, but Jesus says that everyone should become like a child to enter God’s kingdom.

Jesus says that we should give up control of everything in order to follow him. The more we hold on to the less we are able to enter into the kingdom. As we surrender control to Jesus we realize how much more we receive.

Again, Jesus shares what is going to happen to him in Jerusalem but the disciples still do not understand.

In Job 11 his friend Zophar puts in his two cents. He tells Job that he is being foolish if he believes that he is blameless. God knows his heart and knows that he is sinful.  Zophar encourages Job to repent and God will look favorably on him.

You know, these words sound good, as does much of the friends counsel. The flow in their thinking is the basic belief that God is punishing Job. If Job were guilty then the counsel would be good. But Job maintains his innocence. It is difficult to address someone about bad things happening to good people. It is much easier to say that they must have done something wrong. The fact remains that bad things happen whether we are good or bad. Our counsel should be to remain faithful.

In Job 12, Job answers the latest counsel by stating that God is more powerful and wise than any human.  His ways are not our ways. He brings the powerful down. Job believes in the sovereignty of God, that God is in control. While we might not understand why God is doing something, we can be confident that God can do anything He wants to do.

In Luke 17 Jesus counsels the disciples. He encourages them not to be a stumbling block to others. They should point out sin but also offer forgiveness.  They should be humble servants not tyrannical overlords.

Jesus heals ten lepers by sending them to the priest. If you remember the priest is the only one who can declare a person clean. By the time they got to the priest they were healed. Only one Samaritan man returned to thank Jesus.

Do we expect God to do thing for us and so do not thank Him when he answers our prayers? How egotistical of us if we do not recognize God’s mercy toward us. We should never assume that God will give us anything. It is only by His grace that He blesses.

Jesus advises those listening to concentrate on spiritual things so they will be prepared for His coming again. Those who are more concerned with their own welfare rather than on being faithful followers will miss the boat.

Job 9 and 10 is Job’s response to his friend’s criticism. He recognizes God’s power and greatness. He realizes that he is no match for God. While he doesn’t understand why God is doing this to him he fears confronting God with his innocence because God can find it to be sin. He is afraid to tell God that he has been unfair.

He says that there is no umpire between them to mediate. Job states that if God would guarantee that he would not be punished for just confronting God then he would tell God that he is not guilty. He would recognize that God has been merciful in the past and wonders why He now is hurting him.

The line about the umpire is an interesting one. In fact we have an “umpire” in Jesus Christ. He is our Mediator. He is the one who speaks on our behalf before God. He is the one who makes it possible for us to pray directly to God without fear.

In Luke 16 Jesus confronts the Pharisees and their love of money and adoration. He warns those listening that they must put God first in their lives.

Jesus tells a story of a rich man and a poor man. The rich man ate well while the poor man starved at his gate. When they both died the rich man went to hell and the poor man went to heaven. The rich man sees Abraham in heaven and him to send the poor man to help him. Abraham says that because the rich man lived so well and didn’t help others he was doomed to his fate. The poor man was being comforted because he had suffered so much in life. The rich man asks Abraham to go to his house and warn his relatives but Abraham says they have the law and the prophets so they should know better. The rich man says that if someone came back from the dead they would listen to him, but Abraham replies that if they haven’t listened to the scriptures they will not listen to someone who has come back to life.

We have the scriptures to be our guide. They are there for us all the time. It is up to us to read and follow them.

In Job 7 Job continues his complaint against God. He is suffering and wants to know why. He asks for comfort or if not that, then death.

In Job 8 Job’s friend Bildad criticizes Job’s complaining. He questions whether Job has enough faith and whether Job has sinned. Surely Job has not been faithful or God would be blessing him. Job will triumph if he has enough faith.

When someone is in the midst of a disaster it is not beneficial to tell them not to complain. Neither is it helpful to tell them to have more faith. They simply need our companionship, love and prayers.

Psalm 81 encourages the people of Israel to worship God. They have turned their hearts toward other gods and the Lord desires that they turn back to Him.

Psalm 82 is a plea for God to triumph over the other gods. The people are being persecuted and want God to save them. The writer is convinced that God will be victorious and pleads with God to render His judgment.

In Job 5 and 6 Eliphaz continues his speech to Job. He encourages Job to confess his wrong to God. Clearly he is being punished for his sins. If he repents then God will be merciful and will save him from all of this trouble.

Job answers Eliphaz with a reproach. He is offended that Eliphaz would jump to the conclusion that Job has done something wrong and is now being punished for his sins. He challenges Eliphaz to find that wrong thing that he has done.

Sometimes we go through bad times for reasons that are beyond our control or cause. Don’t assume that because you are suffering, it is because you are being punished for a wrong. It is important to search your heart to see if what is happening is the result of a bad decision, but if you know you are innocent then you can remain confident even if others want you to look for your sin. God may be trying to strengthen your conviction to prepare you for the future. God may be testing your resolve and integrity. You may just be caught up in a natural or human made disaster that has nothing to do with your faith or with your relationship with God. Keep the faith.

In Luke 15 Jesus is criticized for spending time with sinners. He responds with several parables that speak about the fact that God searches out those who are lost so that they may be saved. He loves the sinner and desires to make things right with them. He openly accepts the sinner and offers forgiveness even before repentance is accomplished. His desire is to be reconciled with those who have strayed and He will do anything to show them His love and acceptance so they can respond in humility and repentance.

In Job 3 and 4 Job is in mourning. He wishes he were dead. He believes then he would be at rest. As it is he is suffering greatly.

His friend Eliphaz reminds him that in the past Job has been responsible for strengthening others in their faith during tough times, but criticizes him because now that he is suffering he is dismayed. Eliphaz alludes that Job has to have done something wrong and that is why he is suffering now, as a punishment for his sin.

When things go wrong in our lives, God does not insist that we never mourn. God himself mourned over the behavior of His people. Mourning is not a sign of lack of faith.

In Luke 14 Jesus is at a meal with some Pharisees. A man with an illness comes to him to be healed. Jesus confronts the Pharisees about whether it is against God’s law to heal on the Sabbath. They do not respond and Jesus heals the man.

Jesus again speaks about how we must be to enter God’s kingdom. He says that we must be humble, putting others first. We must be generous, not expecting anything in return. We must be willing to give up everything to follow Christ. We must not make excuses, simply follow.

Job 1 and 2 tells of a man named Job who is righteous and does what is right in God’s eyes. He and his family keep the feast days and make offerings to God. Job has been blessed and owns much land and many animals.

One day Satan comes to God saying that he has been walking the earth. God mentions Job to him telling of his great faith. Satan challenges God (the name Satan means adversary, or challenger) saying that the only reason Job is faithful is because God blesses him. God trusts in Job’s faith and allows Satan to do anything he wants to Job’s possessions and his household, but not to touch Job.

Satan gets busy. In one day Job loses all of his property, livestock and children. This is a horrible turn of events and yet Job responds: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job did not sin or blame God for what happened to him.

Satan comes to God again. God boasts about Job’s faith even in the midst of a terrible struggle. Satan says that anyone can keep the faith if they themselves are not hurt, but if they personally suffer they will turn against God. God allows Satan to hurt Job as long as Job doesn’t die. Satan puts terrible sores all over Job’s body.

Job’s wife asks him why he still maintains his integrity. She encourages him to curse God and die believing this to be better than what he is going through now. Job says his faith is not based upon receiving blessings from God.

Three of Job’s friends come to see him. They are shocked by what they see. They go into mourning and are unable to speak to Job.

Many people believe that if we are faithful God will bless us and conversely if we are not being blessed we must not have faith. Job is a story of someone who has great faith that allows him to endure great hardship. His faith sees him through the bad times. How would you respond if you went through a terrible trial? Would you be like Job’s wife and curse God or would you be like Job and realize that God is still there and deserves our worship even in the midst of struggle.

Psalm 80 is a lament psalm. It speaks of a time of trouble for the people of Israel. It asks God to restore them and save them. It insists that if God helps them they will never turn away from Him again.