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Last Updated
24 Feb 2021
MARKSWATSON.COM
Watson's
Web
Biblical and Prophetic Perspective
For Our Times
For
whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my
words,
of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in his own glory,
and the glory of the Father,
and of the holy angels.
(Luke 9:26 [ASV])
I
have set Jehovah always before me:
Because he is at my right hand, I
shall not be moved.
(Psalms 16:8 [ASV])
***
Mark can be reached here.
24 Feb
The Incredible Collapsing Economy
(Note: This was written
back in early January before
Biden was inaugurated with a few minor
updates.)
Jobs? It's a jungle out
there. I was listening to my local radio
station and their 'blues hour' and the blues
singers have got their own lyrics telling
how hard it is for some. No jobs, no
prospect of one, the rent due, like most
blues songs the songs were realistic and
often spiked with humor and irony at
personal travails. There are a lot of people
in trouble out there.
Young people who had to move back in with
Mom and Dad? Lots of those, these days. MyBudget360.com
has a story on that.
There
are several pieces on the web about the
downturn in jobs. This is going to be a real
challenge for Americans; how can the nation
get its economy back on track? I have heard
the Democrats are getting ready to bring
forward major spending proposals and perhaps
those 2000 dollar checks for folks (ed. now $1400).
Sounds good - free money. But for a nation
already steeped in debt with growing fiscal
issues, it's like another shot of heroin to
an addict. Pretty soon he may wind up taking
a lethal dose in an attempt to get the same
'high'.
After
recent events in DC and Biden's election,
pundits are talking about things like
America's reputation and a change in
leadership and how Biden will be tougher on
perceived US enemies and bring 'leadership'
to the White House. I don't know about you,
but that sounds like more intervention, war
and or conflict to me. How is that
going to be paid for? I have no idea, but it
looks to me like the failed economic
policies of the past are on its way, with
lots of free money and government contracts
handed out to political donors. Look, I
don't want to be too hard on leaders who
need to deal with pressing problems out
there on Main Street. Stimulus checks and
unemployment benefits have indeed kept the 'wolf
at bay' for millions of Americans. I
am not saying that a new stimulus bill is
not needed. The problems however, are not
that simple. What do I mean?
The
economy is going to be a big
challenge for the Biden administration,
because if they can't get the economy off
the ground, look for the possibility of a
shift in the House and the GOP retaking the
Senate and a possible return of Trump in
2024. I just don't think they can do it.
Sure, spending more government money will
probably provide quite a few temporary jobs
if they can get a major infrastructure bill
passed. But 'Team Democrat' seem to
really want to pour on the spending, at
least from the anecdotal reports I have
heard and read. I heard President-Elect
Biden the other day talking about getting
vaccines out to the people faster. Then
there are the climate proposals. Again, all
of this sounds good and may not necessarily
be bad in and of themselves. But all of
these things cost money.
Free
money and continued spending sounds good
until it doesn't anymore. Doug Noland has an
interesting comment on his site, The
Credit Bubble Bulletin.
But I worry about these deepening
scars. I lament the further corrosive damage
inflicted upon our fragile society from
Trillions of monetary inflation. “When Money
Dies…” History informs us that societies
become increasingly susceptible to
degeneration, instability and
unpredictability. I am confident we will
meet the major challenge posed by the
coronavirus. I have less faith in our
capacity to recover from epic monetary
inflation and resulting financial and
economic debasement. History informs us that
inflationism proves extremely difficult to
remedy. I have faith in the American people,
but reckless borrowing and “money printing”
is placing our future in great jeopardy.
- Doug
Noland - at the Credit Bubble
Bulletin (Weekly Commentary: 2020 Year in
Review)
I
echo his sentiments exactly.
Me? I think America is becoming a 'free
money junkie'.
Poverty? Look, these are not stats those who
hold office want to talk too much about,
particularly when they are in decision
making positions, but an interesting report
just came out that talks about those poverty
rates. You can find related
papers and a dashboard on this link.
They reckon millions of Americans have
slipped into poverty. That is a lot of
people. Hard times for America. I suspect
that they may get even harder, particularly
with the kinds of proposals that are being
floated about. They will probably help in
the short run, but only to make things more
difficult in the medium and long run.
One
issue I think is important that no one
really seems to be addressing, except
perhaps by the now 'hated' GOP, is the
problem with the lack of new business
creation. The CBO has a report on this done
recently
The
report offers some solutions to this,
including better access to credit and a more
level playing field so that new companies
have a chance to compete against entrenched
ones.
The federal government could make
regulatory policies less burdensome for new
firms in particular. Policymakers could also
increase the scrutiny of incumbent firms’
potentially anticompetitive actions directed
toward rival start-ups. Finally, concerns
about the impact of diminished competition
on the formation and growth of new firms
could be addressed by restricting the use of
noncompete contracts. The effects of such
policy changes on entrepreneurship would
depend largely on the details of the
policies. - CBO
Another solution they propose is to allow more
immigrants into the US to start businesses. The
pdf
report has more details and is worthy of
at least a 'scan' if you have the time.
My
view? This is a problem and I think that
better access to credit is important, but I
also think that a better look at those
regulatory problems that make profitability
harder should also be looked at - carefully.
As much as I like Unemployment Benefits and
Health Care plans, these are costs - they
cost businesses money a lot of
money. This and other out of pocket
expenses are too often downplayed by
politicians in favor of policies that cater
to political constituencies that tend to
vote in a particular fashion at election
time. But those costs can prevent new
hiring, they can drag on new investment and
they can drive a business out of business.
When you drive people out of business, not
only the owner is effected, but also every
single employee as well as any other
entities that did business with the
proprietor. Vendors, those who hold the
lease on the property, those who are owed
money. The larger the business the bigger
the effect. Raising the minimum wage? Now
think about how that is going to help a Mom
and Pop business, stay in business when you
start raising their labor costs? In this
economic environment? A lot of business
right now are on economic 'life support' as
it is. That is a subject I touched on for
insiders last week.
Leaders seem to think that things are going
to get back to normal in a couple of years,
economically speaking. I don't see that
happening. Those people who went out of
business? How are they going to start a new
one with a business failure in the past and
perhaps some credit problems because of the
last failure? Starting a business entails
risk, a lot of it and money to invest and
time to build it up, probably with the first
few years operating at a loss to get it off
the ground. No, it's going to take some time
before we are near 'normal' again... and
some changes in the nation's business
environment to make it happen. The last
thing businesses need right now are new
regulations, new taxes, new mandates and new
expenses.
Look... my view is that they have made the regulatory
and legal bar too high for a great many who
would like to start a new business and it
shows. Who wants to invest a million dollars
just so they can declare bankruptcy 3 years
later because of unemployment costs, health
care costs, legal costs, insurance costs? It
just costs too much money and the
environment is less and less friendly to
entrepreneurs. With every new regulation,
every new 'rights' focused law that forgets
the employers problems and every new
mandate, you just are telling business
people, why should I work my rear-end off
everyday so I can just break even...
or start losing money with a new batch of
regulatory madness I have to comply with
next year on its way?
I
don't want to slam legislators too hard, I
think they often really do mean well. But
with some, they seem to have no grasp of
basic economics. That is true of a lot of
Americans as well. They honestly don't
understand that printing money is not
creating wealth, it's creating money and
money can lose its value... in proportion to
the ratio of good and services available
that money is supposed to be able to be
exchanged for. If printing money could
create wealth, no one would have to work.
The Fed could just print it up and everyone
would be 'rich'. But who is going to go and
work at a fast food chain, the gas station,
the car factory, the grocery store or the
barber shop if they have a garage full of
cash? No one. Who is going to create the
wealth that money is supposed to buy? Again,
no one. I can remember a conversation I had
and the other person honestly did not
understand these basic economic facts. They
really believed that all 'they' had to to
was print money and everything would be
great.
My
view is that no one up there in DC is about
to do anything that is going to really fix
the problem, they might wind up producing
more political pork and slap a 'Jobs
Enhancement Bill' tag onto it. But I
don't see the current leadership really
taking the time and effort needed to sound
out the small and medium sized business
owners and find out what they need to stay
in business and expand so they can help in
the herculean task of hiring the millions of
unemployed Americans.
***
The
world? Globalization is not dead. It is
still here. The pandemic crisis has if
nothing else, shown that no nation can exist
in a bubble, no matter how hard one tries.
The effects of everything from job shedding,
to inflation, trade and even crime are
crossing borders faster than COVID-19. As
much as some want to halt globalization, it
is here to stay until our Lord comes and
even then, it will just take an utterly
different and more righteous and holy form.
Before
Jehovah;
for he cometh to judge the earth:
He will judge the world with
righteousness,
And the peoples with equity.
(Psa 98:9 ASV)
Oh let the nations be glad and sing for
joy;
For thou wilt judge the peoples with
equity,
And govern the nations upon earth.
Selah.
(Psa 67:4 ASV)
Banking?
This is one key area that I will hope to hit
on later this year and deal with some of the
changes that have taken place, both as a
result of the pandemic but also as a result
of technology - Cryptocurrency in
particular. FYI, the US Treasury has
authorized banks to allow them to make
payments using so called 'stablecoins'. You
can read the announcement
and
letter here.
I see this as the new
trend. I think Central bankers are going to
take a cautious, but forward looking
approach to these kinds of currencies.
Cautious because Stablecoins are not quite
like other Crypto. They are pegged to some
kind of 'thing' and are designed to avoid
the wild swings in price noted with other
cryptocurrencies. Some are pegged to a
regular currency, some to a commodity, but
they are supposed to reduce the normal kinds
of risk that other cryptocurrencies entail.
You can do your own search on this as there
are many good papers and articles on it.
My
own view? This is a shift. A pretty big one
in my view but one that will probably be
managed by the Central Banks. Me? I see the
dollar as one day being the Do-Do Bird of
Global economics. I don't think there really
is a way to save it. Sure, I could be wrong,
but you tell me how we can continue on, on
our current borrow and spend
trajectory and not make a mess of the US
Dollar?
Yet I suspect some within the global banking
establishment know this, acknowledge it, or
at least the possibility, and are making
'arrangements' for its eventual devaluation
and perhaps abandonment. This, I don't think
for a moment is going to happen overnight,
though a spending spree in DC will probably
accelerate it. Still - such coins if widely
adopted, may not necessarily be centrally
controlled,. Would this be a major step
ahead in the globalization of the world
economy and dethrone 'king dollar' and the
US as the world's major financial
powerhouse? I don't know. But I don't think
it would be a good thing for Americans.
Inevitable? Probably; Good? Probably not.
Not with the kinds of authoritarian systems
that are now chomping at the bit to get
control of the global system.
The
only other thing along the lines of banking
that I did want to mention today is the way
banks have (or at least were) tightening
lending standards. Even the BIS talks about
this in their latest quarterly
report (graph 2). Many news articles
talked about how difficult it was at the
height of the pandemic to get a new credit
card, so this effects a lot of folks. The
Fed has something here
(updated link) on this. But things do
seem to be
getting better (most recent).
How
long is this going to continue? I don't
know, but I suspect that as long as the
banks are unsure of the job market and if a
borrower is able to make payments, their
watchword will continue to be 'caution'. I
think if I had to put it in layman's terms,
they don't want folks who may not be working
or may soon stop working living off their
credit cards, they might get stuck with a
large swath of noncollectable debt.
The
economy has got some big, big issues and
stimulus checks and government spending are
not going to be the key to fixing the
problems. Helping those in need during a
transition period? Yes, those things will
help. But in order to get back to that
normal, it will take getting people back to
work in jobs that can pay a livable wage.
You
don't do that by regulating, taxing and
'mandating' businesses out of business.
Some of you may find this piece too secular.
But I don't want to see more poverty. I
don't want to see more homelessness or
hopelessness. I don't want to see more
suffering. Getting people back to work in
decent jobs is important to me and those who
run businesses are key to making that
happen.
But I maintain that America's real problems
are spiritual in nature. Americans these
days have a real knack for ignoring reality
and finding ways from escaping it. From
drugs to movies to these new 'virtual
reality' contraptions, as well as to these
economic policies. Americans seem to be
determined to create their own 'alternative
reality'. The problem is that reality has a
way of crashing in on you when you least
expect it or prepared for it.
Delusions? Yes, God can send them to those
who won't hear what he has to say.
I
also will choose their delusions,
and will bring their fears upon them;
because when I called, none did
answer;
when I spake, they did not hear:
but they did that which was evil in
mine eyes,
and chose that wherein I delighted
not.
(Isa 66:4 ASV)
America, as a nation can do better than we
have been, both by God and by our own
selves. But we have consistently chosen on
too many occasions, not to. I think the
nation has gotten God's attention, but not
in a positive way.
Work? Brothers and sisters in Christ, work
is a good thing. God does not like
idleness. This was a key sin of Sodom (Ezek 16:49).
He wants us to find work, work hard at
whatever we have been given to do and to do
it to the best of our ability. Weather it's
fixing cars, receiving goods at a warehouse,
serving in a restaurant, reviewing loan
applications or plowing snow - we should
always do our best and give thanks to God
that we have a job because right now, there
are millions who don't have one.
May
God be with and keep each and everyone of
you.
In
Christ Jesus,
Brother Mark
Disclaimer:
This piece is purely commentary and
personal opinion and should not in
anyway be construed as or acted upon
as financial or investment advice. This
site is not qualified to offer any
such advice. Please refer to a
professional advisor before making any
important financial decision or
investment. Do not rely on the
commentary or opinions on this site to
make any important
decisions.
18 Feb
Job
Part XXXV
My
spirit is consumed, my days are extinct,
The grave is ready for me. Surely there are
mockers with me,
And mine eye dwelleth upon their
provocation. Give now a pledge,
be surety for me with thyself; Who is there
that will strike hands with me?
(Job 17:1-3 ASV)
Job continues his complaint. The
phrase my spirit is consumed can also
be rendered 'my spirit is spent'
(Barnes). He was weakened from his woe's and
illness and is about ready to die and is ready
for the grave. It is not clear why he uses the
plural form for grave (in the Hebrew) but it may
just be a reference to the collective graves of
this ancestors (Gill).
In the next verse ,Job's use of the word provocation
appears to be referring to his miserable
comforters whom he see's as mocking him.
Verse three is not clear and some
commentators have said it is rather
obscure. Job wants God to institute a
divine investigation into his plight. The idea
of a surety is like a bond or a pledge, perhaps
not totally unlike bail. We don't know all the
nuances of trials and judicial proceedings in
such an ancient age, but verse three seems to be
a reference to a sign of an agreement like
shaking hands today. But with sureties, it was
apparently customary to strike hands in such an
agreement. We see this in Solomon's time (see Prov 6:1ff). In
short, to me this passage is a rather obscure
way (in our times) of Job asking for his day in
court.
For
thou hast hid their heart from
understanding:
Therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
He that denounceth his friends for a prey,
Even the eyes of his children shall fail.
But he hath made me a byword of the
people;
And they spit in my face.
(Job 17:4-6 ASV)
Job here appears to be remarking about his
accusers and miserable comforters. They
thought they were wise, but were not. Job saw
thorough their so called wisdom and saw men
who knew little but rather were victims of
their own, as we would see it today, a kind of
condescending sanctimoniousness.
Job's view of his companions is hardly a
complimentary one. Basically he see's them as
ganging up on him to deliver him up to spoil.
But Job see's punishment ahead for such men.
Verse six is Job's observation that he was a
byword an object of mockery; a joke and
derision. The word translated as spit in
my face is this one in the Strong's
Hebrew. concordance.
H8611
to'-feth
From the base of H8608; a smiting, that
is, (figuratively) contempt: -- tabret.
see HEBREW for 08608
What Job is saying is that these days, he is
treated like something loathsome or kind of like
a 'punching bag' as we would say today. He was
treated with contempt. But the Hebrew word used
here is a very interesting one. Some
commentators say it is based on a name that was
used as the place where children were offered to
Molech. John Gill's commentary has a very
interesting take on this. We find this word used
quite a bit in the KJV, but not in the
ASV.
The word is not so obscure and was meant to
signify some deep and dark abomination and a
curse that goes with it. The place is known as a
place of fire.
Having said all of that, I simply lack any
knowledge of Hebrew to determine how closely
these three words (Strong's H8611, H8612 and H8613) are related
linguistically.
But I do think we get the sense of the derision
and contempt people had for Job, who was
unbeknownst to his detractors and accusers, was
still most beloved of God.
We will continue our look at Job next week, God
willing.
12 Feb
Job XXXIV
I was at
ease, and he brake me asunder;
Yea, he hath taken me by the neck,
and dashed me to pieces:
He hath also set me up for his mark.
His archers compass me round about;
He cleaveth my reins asunder,
and doth not spare;
He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach;
He runneth upon me like a giant.
(Job 16:12-14 ASV)
We left off last time with
Job complaining that God had delivered him
up to his foes, the passage above continues
his poetic complaint along the same lines.
Job was at ease, he was doing just fine,
life was good and then suddenly, disaster
struck. The metaphors he is using are those
of war. It was as though God had suddenly
become his enemy for no reason he could
comprehend. He was kicking back one minute
and the next, men in battle array had
surrounded him and his and had destroyed
all.
I have sewed sackcloth
upon my skin,
And have laid my horn
in the dust.
My face is red
with weeping,
And on my eyelids is
the shadow of death;
Although there is no
violence in my hands,
And my prayer is
pure.
(Job 16:15-17 ASV)
The reference to sackcloth is well known to most
of us as it was a tradition in those days to
wear it when one was in mourning or had some
major tragedy in their life. Once these
disasters hit, Job did those things that were
common by the ancients when such things
occurred, he rent his mantle and fell down on
the ground (Job 1:20).
Some commentators suggest that this sackcloth
may have been actually sown upon his skin. If
so, it may have been meant as a permanent sign
and memorial of this deep distress.
The phrase defiled my horn in the dust is a bit
obscure but we can gather its meaning along
these lines. To lift up ones horn was meant a
sign of triumph, victory or greatness (Psa 75:4-5; Psa 89:17; Psa 89:24; Psa 92:10).
To cast it into the dust would symbolize the
opposite - defeat and humiliation. Barnes, on
the other hand, seems to think the idea is that
Job put his horn into the dust in order to
sprinkle ashes on his head as a sign of
mourning.
Job description of his face is telling. The word
for 'red' is this one in the Hebrew Strong's H2560.
His face was in this state because of his
weeping. This may also have been the result of
his leprosy of which uncontrollable and
involuntary weeping can be a symptom. Then Job
once again protests his innocence of any great
sin that could have caused all of this misery
and remarks that his prayer is pure.
O
earth, cover not thou my blood,
And let my cry have no resting-place.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
And he that voucheth for me is on high.
My friends scoff at me:
But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
That he would maintain the right of a man
with God,
And of a son of man with his neighbor!
For when a few years are come,
I shall go the way whence I shall not
return.
(Job 16:18-22 ASV)
Job here finishes up with a prayer and a call
for witness. He does not want his passing to go
unnoticed for he feels deeply abused and
wronged. His friends as well have turned on him
and even his prayers to his God have not met
with a favorable reply. He wants to plead with
God about his situation. His prayer and
desire is that he can argue his case or perhaps
have a son of man intercede for him before God
and do it before he dies (vs.
22).
Job is indeed in deep distress and still
maintains his innocence before God.
We will continue on with the words of Job in
chapter 17 next week, God willing!!
10 Feb
Back
From The Dead
This
weekend, the Lord drew me
to the story of Lazarus
and how our Lord loved him
and raised him from the
dead.
This was a
powerful miracle. A very
powerful one and was
designed to demonstrate
that Christ was given the
power of life and death -
a power that only belongs
to God.
I won't
repost the whole episode
here for you found in the
Gospel of John, Chapter
eleven. I am sure you all
know it. Christ had heard
that Lazaraus was ill and
later reveals to his
disciples that Lazarus was
dead. The disciples told
Christ not to worry about
the fact that he was
'asleep' and that he would
wake up in due course.
These
things spake he:
and after this he
saith unto them,
Our friend Lazarus is
fallen asleep;
but I go, that I may
awake him out of sleep.
The disciples
therefore said unto him,
Lord, if he is fallen
asleep, he will recover.
Now Jesus had spoken
of his death:
but they thought that
he spake
of taking rest in
sleep.
Then Jesus therefore
said unto them
plainly,
Lazarus is
dead.
(Joh 11:11-14 ASV)
Christ had
to explain things to them in
plain, simple Hebrew (or
Aramaic), he was not talking
about sleep, but death.
Christ was on his way to
waking Lazarus from this
usually permanent form of
slumber.
Christ then goes on to
explain to him that the
ultimate good in this was,
that it would help them
believe and have faith in
who he really was. There
were still some doubters
among them. This miracle was
meant to be a kind of an aid
to their faith. Not least of
whom was 'doubting' Thomas.
In fact, it is this very
same Thomas who speaks next
asking that they should go
and die with him. His
statement on 'die with
him' is probably meant
to describe the danger that
Christ was already in and
that it would increase if he
went back to Judea (vs. 7),
they have sought his life (8:40;
8:59) before and
Thomas here probably is
signifying that they should
not desert Christ but go and
suffer the same fate with
Christ.
We all know the miracle, he
goes to the tomb and raises
Lazarus up with the spoken
word.
Christ has to continually
remind his friends and
disciples of who he is. It
is in this whole episode
that Christ says...
Jesus
said unto her,
I am the resurrection,
and the
life: he that believeth
on me,
though he
die, yet shall he live;
and
whosoever liveth and
believeth
on me shall
never die.
Believest
thou this?
(Joh 11:25-26 ASV)
God here
allows this tragedy to
occur for his own
purposes, to increase
the faith of his
disciples. They were saying
the right things,
but did they really
believe him? I think
this is the gist of the
last part of the above
passage.
Everyone was quite sad
here and Christ here
wept (vs.
35) at
the loss of this friend.
But there was a mission
to fulfill here and God
allowed this to happen
for a reason. Let us get
to Christ's prayer a the
Tomb.
Jesus
saith unto her, Said
I not unto thee,
that,
if thou
believedst, thou
shouldest
see
the glory of God?
So they took away
the stone.
And Jesus
lifted up his eyes,
and said, Father,
I
thank thee that
thou heardest me.
And I
knew that thou
hearest me always:
but
because of the
multitude that
standeth
around I said it,
that they may
believe
that
thou didst send
me.
(Joh 11:40-42
ASV)
Christ
wanted to ensure that
all who were nearby knew
that God was going to
perform this miracle so
that they might believe
on him whom he sent.
In this miracle, he
manifest the power of
God and as stated in the
previous passage, that
they may know that in
him was life and the
resurrection.
Christ cries out that
Lazarus should come
forth and I think he had
to mention Lazarus by
name, lest the whole
tomb come alive with
those long dead.
This miracle convinced
many who were wavering
as to who Christ was and
his authority.
But it was this miracle
that got those in the
priesthood to get
together and find a way
to destroy him (11:53).
When God works, the
devil will always try to
come in and destroy
those works. They also
put out the word for
'informers' or 'rats',
as is said in today's
mafia parlance, to get
busy. I use this
parlance because well...
what do you call someone
who plots a murder with
others? They gave a
commandment that those
who knew where he was
were to come and 'rat'
Jesus out. What the
penalty for not
reporting what one knew
is not made known here,
but it was probably
pretty severe, so Christ
spent his time in the
wilderness.
I write this today for a
reason. I believe as we
move into the very last
days, the last couple of
years just before great
tribulation there will
be some kind of
outpouring on God's
people. I am not certain
this will be done in the
Church or what is called
the Church these days.
But I think God will
call out those whom he
loves and who love him
to go and...
And
as ye go, preach,
saying,
The kingdom of
heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick,
raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers,
cast out
demons: freely ye
received, freely
give.
(Mat 10:7-8
ASV)
There
may be at time of small
bands of 'miracle
workers' are roaming
around cities and towns;
villages and hamlets who
are doing all manner of
miracles for ordinary
working people, the
homeless and forgotten
as well as those who
have 'been beaten' down
by the Global system
that even now seems to
be arising. I think far
from being a time of
happiness and peace,
there will be
considerable despair and
hopelessness while the
rich and powerful feed
people lies while they
amalgamate more power
and wealth for
themselves.
But such a time of
miracles done by God's
people who are
completely out of their
control would would
strike fear into leaders
who have given
themselves over to Satan
and who will eventually
demand that all men
worship an image in a
system of open blasphemy
(Rev
13:6).
This could be what the
final outpouring could
be like in the very last
hour. God using his
people in very
powerful and unusual
ways, but just like
Christ, once they start
doing these things, the
state and religious
leaders will come
against them and yes,
try and kill them.
Murder is often the
answer the devil as well
as those who serve him
use to solve their
problems - in the mafia,
government, big
business, and yes,
religion.
Now for 'them' exchange
the word 'you and me'
and I think you will see
where I am coming from.
I don't think such men
and women who will be
used by God in those
days will be big name
evangelists or pastors
with the big
mega-Churches. No, they
will probably be
farmers, cab drivers,
retiree's, retail
clerks, housewives and
whole host of seemingly
ordinary, humble souls
who have dedicated their
lives fully
to Christ. There may be
a time when we are
driven out of cities,
our homes and are forced
to gather together 'in
the wilderness'
and in such times God
will move mightily upon
his people pour out his
spirit and say. 'go
and preach the
kingdom...'
This article is no
prophecy of any
kind, just the kind of
future that we should
consider as a
possibility as this new
system slowly rises up
before our eyes.
God has a plan and his
main goal is to get
people saved. He is
willing to perform
miracles towards that
end and he will have to
use his people to do
them.
God be with each of you
as you serve Jesus
Christ
Brother Mark
5 Feb
Job Part XXXIII
Then Job
answered and said,
I have heard many
such things:
Miserable comforters
are ye all.
Shall vain words
have an end?
Or what provoketh
thee
that thou answerest?
(Job 16:1-3 ASV)
Job
answers Eliphaz's words
and implied accusations by
calling his observations
vain. The word here for
vain is one that is like
air, breath or a tempest (Strongs
H7307). A guy who
is full of hot air would
probably be the best
modern phrase we would
use. Eliphaz' speech did
not bring any
enlightenment to Job, he
knew these things. He
probably learned them as a
child. Job remarks on
something here I have said
before, anticipating this
verse, that these are miserable
comforters.
The word for miserable can
also be translated
painful. They thought they
were giving Job divine
counsel and advice, but
their words slyly accused
Job of some horrible
undiscovered crime or some
secret sin of which he was
innocent... in the
eyes of God.
To
these ancient comforters,
the very fact that Job was
in such a horrible way was
irrefutable 'proof' that
he sinned against God.
Their words, far from
being a comfort, were salt
in his wounds. He then
asks Eliphaz what moved
him to be so bold with his
answers. Job needed the
sympathy and comfort of
his friends, not their
heretical wisdom and
subtle slander.
I
also could speak as
ye do;
If your soul were in
my soul's stead,
I could join words
together against
you,
And shake my
head at you.
But I would
strengthen you
with my mouth, And
the solace
of my lips would
assuage your grief.
Though I speak, my
grief is not
assuaged;
And though I
forbear, what am I
eased?
But now he
hath made me weary:
Thou hast made
desolate all my
company.
And thou hast laid
fast hold on me,
which is a witness
against me:
And my leanness
riseth up against
me,
It testifieth to my
face.
(Job 16:4-8 ASV)
Job then
contrasts how he would
behave if the tables were
reversed. Sure, he could sit
on 'the judges bench'
and level accusations at
them and charge them with
some crime, but Job would
not do that, he would
strengthen and encourage his
friends who were in need.
This is
one thing I have to tell you
about friends. A real one
will stand with you in thick
and thin and even if you
made a mistake, they would
be there to comfort you and
stand with you in your
trials and turmoil. But
Job's friends... they didn't
do that. They pontificated,
moralized and subtly accused
Job.
When
you are in trouble, you will
soon find out who your
friends are and who they
aren't. You will discover
the Judas' in your midst and
those who take pleasure in
making things worse for you.
The
best balm or one of the best
is to get with a close
association of godly friends
and fellow believers who can
be trusted, talk about your
problems and trials and get
support and prayer. But
there is one thing, one
pitfall with this I have
noted. People who call and
want to 'pray with you'
about this or that. They
have their own prayer
networks often by phone and
today, by internet. But here
is the problem I and other
saints have noted. Often
these groups turn into
gossip networks; tattle-tale
groups that peddle petty
scandal and the personal
tragedies of others in
networks of people with
questionable spiritual
motives. Your highly
personal problems and
tragedies are now the topic
of 'christian gossip'
circles. My point here is
not that we should not bear
one another burdens, we
should (Gal 6:2),
nor that we should not pray
with and for one another (James 5:16), we most
definitely should. My point
is one that I think Job here
is making and it's about
these miserable
comforters... that seeking
comfort from the wrong
people can often make
matters worse, considerably
worse - particularly
if your comforters are sent
by or can be used by the
enemy.
Let the
wise reader here take heed
so that when trials come
again, we are wise about
whom we confide in and pray
with. A false friend with a
rattling tongue can indeed
make matters worse.
Job
here outlines the fact that
their words did not heal his
grief, rather it filled him
with wrinkles as some
translators render it (vs 8
- 'laid fast hold on me'
in the ASV, Strongs H7059).
The passage's meaning is
obscure and its not clear to
scholars what is meant, but
may be a reference to his
probable disease (leprosy).
Commentators offered no
explanation that satisfied
me as being correct. Perhaps
Job is just saying that his
leprosy is made worse by
their inane banter.
The
last passage probably is
meant to signify that it's
not as though Job did not
have a witness to his
problems, they were in his
body and they could not be
ignored.
He hath
torn me in his wrath,
and persecuted me; He
hath gnashed upon me
with his teeth: Mine
adversary sharpeneth
his eyes upon me. They
have gaped upon me
with their mouth; They
have smitten me
upon the cheek
reproachfully:
They gather themselves
together against me.
God delivereth me to the
ungodly,
And casteth me into the
hands of the wicked.
(Job 16:9-11 ASV)
This passage
is interesting in that some
are not certain who the 'he'
is that Job is referring to
Eliphaz? I don't think so.
God? An understandable
assumption, but unlikely
because of verse 11.
An unknown person/entity
that Job is beginning to
suspect? A possibility.
Adam
Clarke thinks that God may
has shown Job a vision of
his real foe, Satan.
Granted
it is pure conjecture on Mr.
Clarke's part, but it does I
think, best fit the passage.
God can and often does
reveal things to his people
who are in distress in ways
to help them better
understand and pray. God has
done this with me on a few
occasions, even revealing
demonic forces allied
against me.
Job's
observation here in verse 11
is most telling, here he
recognizes that God has for
some reason, handed him over
to Job's enemies and this
was the source of his
tribulation.
We will
continue our look at Job
next week God willing!
2 Feb
Job
Part XXXII
We left off
last section with Eliphaz's
words basically accusing Job
of casting off his fear of
God. Eliphaz continues his
discourse.
I will
show thee, hear thou me;
And that which I have
seen I will declare
(Which wise men have
told
From their fathers, and
have not hid it;
Unto whom alone the land
was given,
And no stranger passed
among them):
The wicked man
travaileth with pain all
his days,
Even the number of years
that are laid up for the
oppressor.
A sound of terrors is in
his ears;
In prosperity the
destroyer
shall come upon him.
(Job 15:17-21 ASV)
Eliphaz
goes on to ask Job to
hear what he has to say
and claims that his
wisdom has been handed
down from the ancients,
wise men who understood
the ways of God.
Verse 19 is an
interesting one. It
seems to be a romantic
look at some distant age
where strange ideas and
doctrines had not
polluted the 'sound
thinking' that Eliphaz
was now about to expound
to Job. The idea of
strangers coming seems
to demonstrate some kind
of cultural superiority,
'We understood wisdom
before foreigners came
and polluted it',
seems to be the meaning
here. Strangers here
being foreigners. The
word is this one H2114
in Strong's.
This seems to be
something that all
people's of all ages
want and desire, a
return to the 'good
old days'. When
things were simpler and
better. While it is true
that in some respects
they were, in others
they were not. Romantic
notions like those of
Eliphaz are just that,
Romantic, rather than
wise. This verse also
may suggest that Eliphaz
may be insinuating that
Job has had his mind
turned by foreign dogma
(K&D).
But Eliphaz's wisdom is
nothing new. He see's
the wicked man as always
getting his deserts in
this life and being
punished with sorrows
and oppression.
Something Job has
disputed in his words.
The passage regarding
the terrible sound in
his ears is not clear,
but probably is the
sound of an a alarm or
fear as the enemies of
the wicked man descend
upon him, recompensing
him for his evil deeds.
He
believeth not
that he shall return
out of darkness,
And he is waited for
of the sword.
He wandereth abroad
for bread,
saying, Where is it?
He knoweth that
the day of darkness
is ready at his
hand.
Distress and anguish
make him afraid;
They prevail against
him,
as a king ready to
the battle.
(Job 15:22-24 ASV)
Eliphaz
goes on to describe the
horrors that await and
are experienced by the
wicked, in his theology.
Because
he hath stretched
out his hand against
God,
And behaveth himself
proudly against the
Almighty;
He runneth upon him
with a stiff neck,
With the thick
bosses of his
bucklers;
Because he hath
covered his face
with his fatness,
And gathered fat
upon his loins;
And he hath dwelt in
desolate cities,
In houses which no
man inhabited,
Which were ready to
become heaps;
He shall not be
rich, neither shall
his substance
continue,
Neither shall their
possessions be
extended on the
earth.
He shall not depart
out of darkness;
The flame shall dry
up his branches,
And by the breath of
God's mouth s
hall he go away.
(Job 15:25-30 ASV)
Here
Eliphaz shows the
arrogant impiety of the
wicked man as he fights
against God, but also
his fate. Verse 26
appears to refer to God
and his recompense upon
such a person who shows
such wicked arrogance.
Whereas verse 27 goes
back to describe the the
wicked man, who is fat
with years of luxurious
living. His fate is to
dwell in places that are
no longer inhabited.
Like a warrior or
conquerer who has lost a
series of battles, he is
forced to live in places
he once defeated and
razed. This appears to
be the meaning of verse
28. He started out
living large and now
must hide himself in
ruins, this is the fate
of the wicked. This
appears to be the
meaning and Eliphaz's
theological
understanding.
Verse 30 continues the
theme as a tree was once
green and tall, it's now
logs, ready to be
burned. The idea seems
to be the same the
Psalmist had in Psalm
37.
A
Psalm of David.
Fret not thyself
because of
evil-doers,
Neither be thou
envious
against them that
work
unrighteousness.
For they shall
soon be cut down
like the grass,
And wither as
the green herb.
(Psa 37:1-2 ASV)
The
idea is not exact, but
it is similar.
Let
him not trust in
vanity, deceiving
himself;
For vanity shall be
his recompense.
It shall be
accomplished before
his time,
And his branch shall
not be green.
He shall shake off
his unripe grape as
the vine,
And shall cast off
his flower as the
olive-tree.
For the company of
the godless shall be
barren,
And fire shall
consume the tents of
bribery.
They conceive
mischief, and bring
forth iniquity,
And their heart
prepareth deceit.
(Job 15:31-35
ASV)
Eliphaz
here finally speaks some
wise and unassailable
words. That men should
not trust in vanity.
Vanity here has a
broader meaning that is
meant to day. Here is
the Hebrew word H7723
in Strong's and it
can mean evil, idolatry
or deceit.
Verses 32 and 33 just
show using poetic
language how the wicked
are cut off before their
time as well as his
offspring. Clearly this
was a slap in Job's face
who had lost all,
including his children.
It's hard not to see how
Eliphaz is likening
Job's fate to that of
the wicked in his own
theological
understanding. It's
looks like an accusation
by implication.
Verses 34 and 35 are far
more interesting versus,
but again, Eliphaz
appears to be poking at
Job and his fate. The 'company
of
the godless' shall
be barren (desolate -
KJV) and fires consume
the 'tents of
bribery'. Eliphaz
at times while he is off
on some things, really
brings it home on
others.
I think of many of our
Churches today when I
read that passage this
morning. I think of
the scandals in
parts of Christendom and
cannot help but wonder
what kind of witness
parts of the Church is
giving the world in our
troubled times.
Eliphaz may be wrong on
a lot of things, but he
was right on this one.
God does not like
hypocrites, bribery and
money changers in his
temple or congregations
and if you don't believe
me, ask Jesus Christ...
he'll tell you.
But
woe unto you,
scribes and
Pharisees,
hypocrites!
because ye
shut the kingdom
of heaven against
men:
for ye enter not
in yourselves,
neither suffer ye
them that are
entering in to
enter.
Woe unto you,
scribes and
Pharisees,
hypocrites!
for ye devour
widows' houses,
even while for a
pretence ye make
long prayers:
therefore ye shall
receive greater
condemnation.
Woe unto you,
scribes and
Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye
compass sea and
land
to make one
proselyte; and
when he is become
so,
ye make him twofold
more a son of
hell than
yourselves.
Woe unto you, ye
blind guides, that
say,
Whosoever shall
swear by the
temple,
it is nothing; but
whosoever shall
swear
by the gold of the
temple, he is a
debtor.
(Mat 23:13-16 ASV)
Let's
not forget that the
Scribes and Pharisee's
were the leaders of
the congregations back
in Christ's time. Let
none of us repeat
their horrible
mistakes.
But in Eliphaz'
word's... it's hard
again not to see him
comparing his fate
with Job's. Let's
remember that Job's
children were consumed
by fire from heaven (Job
1:16
compare with Job
15:34).
Well, we will continue
our look at Job's
response to Eliphaz's
words next week, the
good Lord willing.
29 Jan
Fear
I, even
I, am he that comforteth
you:
who
art thou, that thou art
afraid of man that shall
die,
and
of the son of man that
shall be made as grass;
and
hast forgotten Jehovah
thy Maker,
that
stretched forth the
heavens,
and
laid the foundations of
the earth;
and
fearest continually all
the day
because
of the fury of the
oppressor,
when
he maketh ready to
destroy?
and
where is the fury of the
oppressor?
(Isa
51:12-13 ASV)
One of the
things that has bothered
me quite a bit in this
COVID-19 age is the
constant barrage of fear,
dread and draconian
actions by leaders and
some medical
professionals. It has been
a constant drone in our
news outlets, social
media; government
pronouncements and
dictates.
No brothers, let us not
fear nor live in it. The
devil loves fear. Fear
makes men do things they
would not ordinarily do if
they weren't afraid. We as
Christians must recognize
that this kind of fear is
not of God. We cannot and
should not live in it. Nor
should we pay too much
attention to those who
spread it, even if they
are in a position of
authority. Fear can
paralyze us. It can cause
us to make hasty and
irrational decisions. Mind
you, we are honor bound to
obey those authorities,
but we are not so
bound to live in fear.
I know that with most of
you, you know these
things. But I say these
things by way of reminder.
Fear about vaccines, fear
about one's job, fear
about not being able to
fly and see a sick
relative because one does
not have some new 'vaccine
passport', fear that one's
90 year old mother may die
from COVID-19 in her
assisted living facility.
In all
things let us remember God
and not let fear rule our
hearts.
Having come under attack
many times in the past, I
have learned not to fear
man or what man may do to
me. Yes, it can be
disconcerting and
sometimes we have to take
action to protect
ourselves, but we should
never surrender to fear. I
have learned that two
things can really throw
you off mentally,
spiritually and
psychological in a time of
crisis. Those two things
are fear and hate. Living
in fear is the opposite of
faith for believers.
Hating one's enemy
negatively effects a
persons judgment. It's
also forbidden for us
Christians.
So it is in the spiritual,
job related and other
battles we must engage in.
We need to dispense with
both hate and fear. These
are times when we all have
to do some kinds of
battle, even if it is just
to keep ourselves positive
and encouraged in these
rather difficult times.
The passages above
demonstrate that our God
is in total control. He
made all things and knows
exactly what is going on
down here on 'planet
confusion'. God gently
rebukes his people over
their state of constant
fear. This whole section
of Isaiah is directed at
the remnant of Israel.
Those 'ransomed' by God ( 51:11). But we
born again Christians have
been grafted into Israel
so these promises belong
to us as well.
God comforts us. He is our
comfort and our
protection. The thing is
you see, God really loves
us. It is not some
theoretical love or
something that he feels
forced to do. There is
something about man that
God really loves and has
pity on. Paul sums this
whole idea up in the book
of Romans.
What
then shall we say to
these things?
If God is for us,
who is against us?
He that spared
not his own Son,
but
delivered him up for
us all,
how
shall he not also
with him
freely
give us all things?
Who shall lay
anything to the charge
of God's elect?
It is God that
justifieth;
who is he that
condemneth?
It is
Christ Jesus that
died,
yea rather, that
was raised from the
dead,
who is at the
right hand of God,
who also maketh
intercession for us.
Who shall
separate us from the
love of Christ?
shall
tribulation, or
anguish, or
persecution,
or famine, or
nakedness, or peril,
or sword?
Even as it is
written, For thy sake
we are killed all
the day long;
We were accounted
as sheep for the
slaughter.
Nay, in all these
things we are more
than conquerors
through
him that loved us.
For I am persuaded,
that neither
death, nor life, nor
angels,
nor
principalities, nor
things present,
nor things to
come, nor powers, nor
height,
nor depth, nor
any other creature,
shall be able to
separate us from the
love of God,
which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom 8:31-39 ASV)
Yes,
God has give up his own
son for us. We who have
received him, been born of
the spirit of God and
walked in humble obedience
to him, be assured - he
loves us and has his
protecting hand over us.
So let none of us walk in
fear or dread. Let us all
keep faith with God in
these times and make sure
we do the things he asks
of us.
We must keep our faith
brothers. The facts are
these - that the devil is
moving into the Churches
to infect it with a new
version of an old virus.
We will call it 'Comprimise-19'.
Like the medical
counterpart, it is getting
everywhere and sound
doctrine is being tossed
out for a new gospel that
does not and cannot save
souls, but it does make
people feel good - no wonderful,
on their way to damnation.
Give the devil his due in
this if nothing else... he
knows how to deceive. He
is very, very good at it
and the first thing he is
going to ask you to do is
to throw out your Bibles
or large sections of it.
It's like throwing away a
road-map and removing your
GPS app that you need to
get to a place you have
never been before and are
on your way to.
Once you throw it out,
you'll be lost for sure.
The devil can then put up
all kinds of fake
roadsigns that say - heaven
this way and lead
you to where you don't
want to go.
Who does he deceive in the
last days? The whole world
(Rev
12:9)
Let us all take heed as to
what time it is brothers
and neither fall asleep
nor allow ourselves to be
fooled by the devil and
his wiles. As I said, he
is very, very accomplished
at deceiving the sons of
men.
God keep you all in
Christ.
27 Jan
Job
Part XXXI
Then
answered Eliphaz the
Temanite,
and said,
Should a wise man make
answer
with vain
knowledge, And fill
himself with the east
wind?
Should he
reason with unprofitable
talk,
Or with
speeches wherewith he can
do no good?
(Job
15:1-3 ASV)
Eliphaz,
who was probably the
oldest and most
influential of Job's
comforters, begins now to
attack Job. Job who
was in the deepest of
physical and spiritual
torment has vented his
soul and now Eliphaz
seizes the opportunity to
rub yet more salt into
Job's wounds. The sense of
the above passage is that
a man of Job's stature and
having been noted for his
wisdom is now being
accused of being nothing
more than a bag of hot
air, according to
Eliphaz's reasoning. The
'East Wind', Albert Barnes
notes was not just hot, it
could be tempestuous and
destructive as well.
Yea, thou
doest away with fear,
And hinderest devotion
before God.
For thine iniquity
teacheth thy mouth,
And thou choosest the
tongue of the crafty.
Thine own mouth condemneth
thee, and not I;
Yea, thine own lips
testify against thee.
(Job 15:4-6 ASV)
Job had
vented his soul if we
remember in the last chapter
of Job, and he said he was
not going to take his flesh
in his teeth (probably
meaning bite his tongue). He
opened up his soul to God
before these miserable
comforters who now use Job's
open prayer to God as
rhetorical 'ammunition'
against him. Job was not
being as careful with his
words as Eliphaz thought he
should be and thus accuses
him of a lack
of fear of God. (vs.
4).
Let's keep in mind Job's
argument. Job felt that his
trial was unjust and he had
appealed to his comforters
to hear his side of the
story and not just take the
Lord's (Job 13:
6ff). Eliphaz takes
Job's stance to be arrogance
and folly. His words were
crafty and subtle and in
Eliphaz's view, they were
wicked and evidence of Job's
guilt. The arguments may go
a bit deeper here as
remember Job maintained in
his argument unlike the
others, that good does not
always fall to the just nor
calamity to the evil. This
was apparently contrary to
the wisdom of the days.
This may be part of
Eliphaz's issue with Job's
words. What he was saying
was not in agreement with
the 'wisdom' of everyone
else.
Art thou
the first man that was
born?
Or wast thou brought forth
before the hills?
Hast thou heard the secret
counsel of God?
And dost thou limit wisdom
to thyself?
What knowest thou, that we
know not?
What understandest thou,
which is not in us?
With us are both the
grayheaded
and the very aged men,
Much elder than thy
father.
Are the consolations of
God too small for thee,
Even the word that is
gentle toward thee?
(Job 15:7-11 ASV)
Eliphaz goes
on to taunt Job asking why
he thinks he is so smart to
go against what every wise
man already 'knows'? Was he
older than they were? Had
God communicated some secret
to him that he had not to
others? Eliphaz mentions
that old wise men were on
his side of the argument and
implies that Job was wrong.
The sense seems to be, "All
the ancients agree with
what wisdom is and what
you have uttered, ain't
it"! The mention
of the hills here seems to
indicate age and
timelessness. "Old as the
Hills" is our expression of
recent memory.
Why
doth thy heart carry thee
away?
And why do thine
eyes flash,
That against God
thou turnest thy spirit,
And lettest words go
out of thy mouth?
What is man, that he
should be clean?
And he that is born
of a woman,
that he should be
righteous?
Behold, he putteth
no trust in his holy ones;
Yea, the heavens are
not clean in his sight:
How much less one
that is abominable and
corrupt,
A man that drinketh
iniquity like water!
(Job 15:12-16 ASV)
Here the
argument is self evident -
He is accusing Job of
being self righteous
noting that all of us are
sinful. Eliphaz for once
utters something wise and
worth repeating. That
mankind is not clean, not
even the creation is
considered clean in God's
sight. How can a man be
pure when mankind is so
evil (drinketh iniquity
like water).
We will
continue with the remarks
of Eliphaz next week, God
willing.
21 Jan
Job Part
XXX
Man,
that is born of a
woman,
Is of few days, and
full of trouble.
He cometh
forth like a flower,
and is cut down:
He fleeth also as a
shadow, and
continueth not.
And dost thou open
thine eyes upon such
a one,
And bringest
me into judgment
with thee?
Who can bring a
clean thing out of
an unclean?
not one. Seeing his
days are determined,
The number of his
months is with thee,
And thou hast
appointed his bounds
that he cannot pass;
Look away from him,
that he may rest,
Till he shall
accomplish,
as a hireling, his
day.
(Job 14:1-6 ASV)
Verse one?
Never a truer word spoken
about life!! But let's
understand a little point here
that commentators point out.
It is seems like a little
thing, but in reality it
isn't. Note that Job says man
that is born of woman
not man (Adam - Strong's H120)
has these tribulations. The
trouble here is clearly
differentiated from Adam who
was made from dust and born
into a blessed garden and not
born of women. If Adam had
trouble later, it was because
of his own failure to comply
with the Law of the Lord and
restrict his dietary intake to
the divinely approved tree's.
One act of disobedience,
seemingly insignificant,
causes all of us more trouble
that we often contemplate when
we commit them.
Job then
goes on to describe the
pitiful fate of the sons of
Adam. How vain it all is, sure
he grows and flowers, but only
to be cut down (die) later. He
continues (vs. 3) to ask why
God bothers with such
creatures, who are here today
and gone tomorrow. The sense
here is that Job is bewildered
that God would even mark such
beings, let alone bring him
into judgment, as Job believes
(wrongly) God is doing to him.
In verse four, Job appears to
be saying that all men are
sinful and it is not possible
for men to be clear of sin.
Who can undo the damage a
sinful nature has wrecked on
the character of us all? The
answer is rhetorical, no one.
Job
continues on marking that
mankind's days are determined.
God knows how long we each
have and has given to each of
us. He then begs God to turn
from bothering mankind, the
sense here seems to be
'he'll be gone before you
know it, let him be for his
short time allotted. Job
likens life like that of a
hired worker, who works the
day until his shift is over.
For there
is hope of a tree,
If it be cut down, that it
will sprout again,
And that the tender branch
thereof will not cease.
Though the root thereof
wax old in the earth,
And the stock thereof die
in the ground;
Yet through the scent of
water it will bud,
And put forth boughs like
a plant.
But man dieth, and is laid
low:
Yea, man giveth up the
ghost, and where is he?
As the waters fail from
the sea,
And the river wasteth and
drieth up;
So man lieth down and
riseth not:
Till the heavens be no
more,
they shall not awake,
Nor be roused out of their
sleep.
(Job 14:7-12 ASV)
The above
passage is self explanatory.
Job is looking at the fate of
man and comparing it with that
of trees. Job, in his
depressed state says that even
if a tree is cut down, there
is hope for it again. Job here
is probably feeling the pain
of the loss of all of his
children and how now his own
life will be without progeny
as much as making a general
observation of the shortness
and vanity of the life of men.
With trees sometimes that are
cut down they can still put
forth new shoots.
Job goes
on to describe (vs. 10-12) how these
things are not so with men,
once he goes down to the
grave, that's it - end of
story. This appears to be the
gist of Job's meaning.
Oh that
thou wouldest hide me in
Sheol,
That thou wouldest keep
me secret,
until thy wrath be past,
That thou wouldest
appoint me a set time,
and remember me! If a
man die, shall he live
again?
All the days of my
warfare would I wait,
Till my release should
come. Thou wouldest
call,
and I would answer thee:
Thou wouldest have a
desire to the work of
thy hands.
But now thou numberest
my steps:
Dost thou not watch over
my sin?
(Job 14:13-16 ASV)
Job here
is asking for death. He wants
God to hide him in the grave
until all the troubles and
pain in his life are gone. Job
then asks that God would set
him an appointed time. Some
commentators see this as a
reference to Job's hope of a
Resurrection and that after he
goes down to the grave, God
would visit him again. But
Gill I think gets the right
sense particularly in light of
vs 14, that being that Job is
just asking God to schedule is
day of departure from this
life. The world Sheol is the
one used for grave. Perhaps
before we get to the end of
Job we will talk just a bit
about this place and how it is
used and described in the OT.
Job again
recalls how God has watched
him (numbered his steps -
Strong's H5608)
and took heed over his sin.
The word 'watch' here (vs. 16) means to
mark, observe, to take heed (H8104). This passage
as well as others show that
Job was clearly conscious of
his own sinfulness and
shortcomings and accusations
of self righteousness were
unfounded.
My
transgression is sealed up
in a bag,
And thou fastenest up mine
iniquity.
But the mountain
falling cometh to nought;
And the rock is removed
out of its place;
The waters wear the
stones; The overflowings
thereof wash away
the dust of the earth: So
thou destroyest the hope
of man.
Thou prevailest for ever
against him, and he
passeth;
Thou changest his
countenance, and sendest
him away.
His sons come to honor,
and he knoweth it not;
And they are brought low,
but he perceiveth it not
of them.
But his flesh upon him
hath pain,
And his soul within him
mourneth.
(Job 14:17-22 ASV)
Job's
transgressions which he
acknowledges are seen by Job
to have been sealed up in a
bag. This is an interesting
phrase. There are a few
varying interpretation of it.
One is that it is sealed up
and hidden a bag as though
being concealed. This does not
appear to be the meaning,
rather it is more likely the
meaning is that God has marked
out his sins, and put them in
a bag to be counted later,
like a bag of money.
I see
this almost like we see at a
crime scene on TV cop shows,
where the crime scene team
comes in and takes crucial
evidence and seals it in a
plastic bag to be used against
the person accused of the
crime in court.
Versus
18-22 continue Job's lament at
the shortness and vanity of
man's time on earth. In the
earlier verses, he compared
man's brief and terminal
existence with the trees who
have hope of sprouting again.
In this passage he compares it
to mountains and rocks. The
passage is as much a lament at
man's shortness of life as it
is of God's great power and
that no man can resist his
will. Even if a man has sons,
the man is unaware of their
fate if they are successful or
not, man is ignorant of this
while in the grave. The last
verse, 22 is a little more
difficult to render and
commentators differ on how it
is to be rendered. Clarke, The
Biblical Illustrator and
Barnes have notes on it that
may be of value to those
interested.
We will
continue our look at Job and
the response of Eliphaz the
Temanite next week, God
willing!!
19 Jan
Looking
Ahead
2021 may
very well continue the
difficulties of 2020,
perhaps more so.
Then there
are the social divides in
the nation. They are deep
and real as this election
has demonstrated. The
country has got a host of
troubles with no one who has
any real solutions to our
collective malaise, just
more partisanship that will
only further split the
nation up along partisan and
'identity politics' lines. I
see no healing in this
country coming, just more of
the same old divisions,
racial issues, gender
issues, debt, money driven
politics and blame that are
driving the nation into the
economic and social
doldrums. Violence, hate,
perversions, drug abuse,
corruption... Our nation has
got some serious issues that
seem be getting worse, not
better. Look at what has
happened to the murder rates
in the US. There are
numerous MSM news stories on
it.
I wish I
could be more uplifting. I
really do. But I don't
see how anyone but God can
fix what is broken in this
once great land. Sure today
we still can eat, put gas in
our cars, entertain
ourselves even if it is with
TV, but how much longer? How
much longer can the nation
continue to borrow from the
future to pay for today? To
destroy significant parts of
its businesses and
employment on the altar of
this pandemic?
Well, the
answer lies with God and I
think he is going to remain
silent until we as a nation
begin to start listening to
him. We humans always seem
to think communication with
God is a one way street. We
pray and God is supposed to
answer. Well, that is only
one side of it. The other
side is that God speaks and
we are supposed to listen, carefully
and obey. Much of the world
only has one side of the
equation right. When we
continually ignore God, he
can ignore us and just stop
listening. Or even worse,
stop protecting us and
'running interference'
against our enemies and the
troubles that head our way
that we are never aware of.
I think
this is where this country
is now. We have long ignored
him and his ways and invited
all manner of evils into the
mainstream of our society.
We have taken such things
and flouted them in his face
and some have had the
temerity to mock God when
praising such things. God
see's this. He often does
not move right away in the
hopes that people can and
will change their ways. But
as the saying goes, 'he
who laughs last, laughs
best'. God can and
will send great trouble upon
those who are determined to
move contrary to God and his
ways. Oh, yes God has been
calling out to this country
and to our
troubled world. God is
indeed trying to get America
and mankind in general to
change course.
Turn you
at my reproof:
Behold, I will pour out
my spirit upon you;
I will make known my
words unto you.
Because I have called,
and ye have refused;
I have stretched out my
hand,
and no man hath
regarded; But ye have set
at nought all my
counsel,
And would none of my
reproof:
I also will laugh
in the day of your
calamity;
I will mock
when your fear cometh;
When your fear
cometh as a storm,
And your
calamity cometh on as a
whirlwind;
When distress
and anguish come upon you.
Then will they call
upon me,
but I will not answer;
They will seek me
diligently,
but they shall
not find me:
For that they hated
knowledge,
And did not choose the
fear of Jehovah:
They would none of my
counsel;
They despised all my
reproof.
Therefore shall they
eat of the fruit of their
own way,
And be filled with
their own devices.
(Pro 1:23-31 ASV)
No, the Lord will
get the last laugh. He knows
how to bring trouble upon
those who hate him and his
ways... trouble for which
there is no remedy for, no
answer to, no healing of and
no recourse. He does not
want to do that, but at the
same time he will - if
we compel him to act along
these lines. The deeds of much
of America and our world are
indeed beginning to force his
hand.
It's late and no one marks how
late the hour is and just how
far from God the world is
heading. America cannot
continue on her current course
and not expect the Lord to hit
us where it hurts the most.
But with America? God won't
have to hit us too hard for
the whole rotten, incompetence
laden, corruption eaten, debt
burdened structure to come crashing
down on us. We have long
been in the process of
destroying ourselves and won't
need but a little push to
finish the job.
No brothers I think this - no
repentance - no let up of
trouble for America and I
don't think any kind of
national repentance is likely
under the leadership in DC. So
I suspect we will see more
trouble with a capitol 'T' in
2021 and beyond. Where will it
come from? A new pandemic? A
series of natural disasters?
Economic turmoil or even a
financial crisis? A war where
the US gets beaten? Some new
weapon system launched on us
by a foreign nation that our
leaders have not told us
about? Fires, floods or
famine? Major insider attacks
on key US facilities and
infrastructure?
What is to come? I don't know
but I would be surprised if at
least some of those things
don't happen in the years
ahead if the nation continues
on its dark spiritual journey.
Americans individually must
make the first move. It's not
going to come from Washington
and probably not the Church.
There must be a sea change in
the way Americans behave and
Americans just have to begin
to have some real respect for
God. Not lip-service, not the
'honor of hypocrites', but a
genuine honor for him and his
desires and ways. Otherwise,
he may turn and have no
respect for us - our nation or
our ways and deal with us
accordingly; with contempt
rather than respect.
To put this
all on a
practical
level - it's
better to
repent before
the 'divine
beating' than
after.
It's far
less painful.
God earnestly desires that
people repent, do right and
know him. He holds his hand of
fellowship out every day to
all the sons and daughters of
men of all ages, colors and
backgrounds. He is no
respecter of persons.
Come unto
me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden,
and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest
unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.
(Mat 11:28-30 ASV)
And the
Spirit and the bride say,
Come. And he that
heareth, let him say,
Come. And he that is
athirst, let him come:
he that will, let him
take the water of life
freely.
(Rev 22:17 ASV)
Brothers,
let us put away the hate
and learn to love and
respect one another... but
God first.
***
I write
this piece under no
special spiritual or
prophetic anointing. These
are just my own views
based on the scriptures
and how God has often
dealt with nations,
people's and with me.
***
15 Jan
Job Part
XXIX
Your
memorable sayings
are proverbs of
ashes,
Your defences are
defences of clay.
Hold your peace, let
me alone,
that I may speak;
And let come
on me what will.
Wherefore should I
take my flesh in my
teeth,
And put my life in
my hand?
(Job 13:12-14 ASV)
Verse 13 is
has presented translation
and interpretation problem
for a long time. I won't get
into the debate. Barnes I
think gives a good look at
the debate.
Job was just telling them
that what they had to say;
words that they thought were
such wisdom were of little
real value and were like
Job's situation, who was
treated with contempt for
having to sit among the
ashes, so were their
sayings.
He was tired of hearing the
simplistic utterances of his
so-called comforters and
asks to be left alone. This
probably does not denote a
physical removal from Job,
but rather he just wants
them to be silent and to
stop bothering him with
their 'nursery rhyme'
wisdom.
Job then
continues on saying that he
is going to have his say,
come what will (vs 13b).
Given
the passages that follows,
one gets the impression he
is kind of like giving his
'final words' just before he
is executed, not unlike we
have seen in so many movies.
He is going to say what he
has to say before the
sentence is read even if it
makes things worse for him.
In verse 14 we have the
phrase take my flesh in
my teeth and this is
not an easy expression to
understand. The major
commentaries I use spend a
lot of time with obscure
arguments to try and explain
it. It probably means just
to bite ones lip.
The last
part of verse 14 'and
put my life in my hand'
is also rather obscure, but
one gets the sense that Job
has to speak for his
continued silence would kill
him.
Behold,
he will slay me;
I have no hope:
Nevertheless I will
maintain
my ways before him.
This also shall be my
salvation,
That a godless man
shall
not come before him.
(Job 13:15-16 ASV)
Job
13:15
should be the verse that
any suffering saint should
remember during any trial.
The KJV uses the word though,
instead of behold
in verse 15. Weather it be
in jail for preaching, on
a sickbed, standing in a
divorce court with a
broken heart as you
husband runs off with some
homewrecker, being falsely
accused by evil men or
whatever. The attitude of
Job here is one that is
remarkable in that despite
all that has happened to
him and how the devil was
doing his utmost to
provoke Job to sin against
God, Job did not do it,
even if God kills him, Job
was going to keep his
faith in God. This was
exactly the test that God
allowed to come onto Job
from Satan and Job was
passing it with flying
colors.
How many of you have that
kind of faith? I mean
really?
When trials come your way,
I advise you all to keep
Job in mind and realize
that God has a purpose for
what he is doing. It may
not always be clear, but
he does have a purpose.
How did Peter put it?
Wherein
ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a little
while,
if need be, ye
have been put to grief
in manifold trials, that
the proof of your faith,
being more
precious than gold
that perisheth though it
is proved by fire,
may be found unto praise
and glory and honor at
the revelation
of Jesus Christ:
(1Pe 1:6-7 ASV)
Job had
shown he was passing his
trial of faith which is
also a trial of trust.
Yes, trust, we must
entrust our souls to God
and his word and this is
one reason for many of
our trials. That we
place our trust fully in
God and God alone.
Brothers if you are
willing to do that no
matter what and I do
mean that - no
matter what, you
will pass any test the
Lord sends your way,
painful and sorrowful
those trials may be. Keep
faith with God and
he will keep faith
with you.
The
following verse
reiterates the idea that
God is Job's salvation.
But he also makes it
plain that godless man
or hypocrite has no
standing with God.
Hear
diligently my speech,
And let my declaration
be in your ears.
Behold now, I have set
my cause in order;
I know that I am
righteous.
Who is he that will
contend with me?
For then would I
hold my peace
and give up the ghost.
Only do not two things
unto me;
Then will I not
hide myself from thy face:
Withdraw thy hand far
from me;
And let not thy terror
make me afraid.
Then call thou, and I
will answer;
Or let me speak, and
answer thou me.
How many are mine
iniquities and sins?
Make me to know
my transgression and my sin.
(Job 13:17-23 ASV)
Job here
begins a prayer to God and
seeks an audience with the
Lord. Job has prepared his
case (ordered my cause)
and he is confident of an
acquittal. Job then asks his
accusers to step forward (who
shall plead with me).
The 'give up the ghost'
part of the passage has caused
some confusion with
translators, with varying
interpretations of its
meaning. I think the Pulpit
Commentary sums it up the
best. Job is adamant about his
personal integrity.
The entire section in the
Pulpit Commentary is worthy of
a read by all (Homiletics
Section on link). He
lines this up with instances
in the NT where men of God
stood before magistrates for
preaching the gospel and then
reminds us of the words of
Paul who said.
Who shall
lay anything
to the charge of God's
elect?
It is God that justifieth;
who is he that
condemneth?
It is Christ Jesus that
died,
yea rather, that was raised
from the dead,
who is at the right hand of
God,
who also maketh intercession
for us.
(Rom 8:33-34 ASV)
In the New
Testament, we who have come to
Christ are already innocent
until proven innocent in God's
court because Christ has
already paid the price for our
sins!! Amen. The devil may
accuse and try us, but we will
always stand acquitted as
long as we remain in Christ.
Only do not
two things unto me;
Then will I not hide myself
from thy face:
Withdraw thy hand far from
me;
And let not thy terror make
me afraid.
Then call thou, and I will
answer;
Or let me speak, and answer
thou me.
How many are mine iniquities
and sins?
Make me to know my
transgression and my sin.
Wherefore hidest thou
thy face,
And holdest me for thine
enemy?
Wilt thou harass a driven
leaf?
And wilt thou pursue the dry
stubble?
For thou writest bitter
things against me,
And makest me to inherit the
iniquities of my youth:
Thou puttest my feet also in
the stocks,
And markest all my paths;
Thou settest a bound to the
soles of my feet:
Though I am like a rotten
thing that consumeth,
Like a garment that is
moth-eaten.
(Job 13:20-28 ASV)
Job here
continues his prayer and
complaint before the Lord.
He asks the Lord to
withdraw his hand from him
and cease terrifying him.
These were Job's requests.
These seem to be made so
that he could better
prepare his case before
God and do so without the
distraction of his deep
sufferings. Once that
happens Job will be happy
to answer or speak to God
about these matters.
Job then directly asks, 'how
have I sinned, when,
where show me the
evidence'. The rest
of the passage is all
pretty self explanatory.
Job here does not claim
sinless perfection, he
admits that he committed
sins in his youth for
which he incorrectly
assumes God is now
punishing him for. He asks
why God is pursuing him,
as we would put it today,
like the Cops chase a
serial killer, 'what
have I done?', is
his question.
What Job has
done here is to take his case
to God and put his full and
unreserved faith in the
Almighty. God knows what is
best even if we can't see it
and what was best for Job was
to silence the devil's
accusations against him and
also, if I may extrapolate,
ensure that the all the host
of heaven knew that Job's love
for God was not just because
he was previously blessed
exceedingly, but because he
truly trusted in his God. This
was never explained to Job,
but this trial worked in his
interest and that of God.
We don't know why we suffer,
not always. I can say this,
there is a reason for it. God
has put me through 'the
ringer' before. I have been
through a few trials in my
life and some of the things I
have learned are these.
Don't get too
attached to anything
here on earth. Not your job,
possessions, family, friends
or career. Keep a careful
emotional detachment from
them as though you may have
to walk away from them one
day at a moments notice.
When the fires of
persecution - real
persecution arrive,
you
may have to.
Yet never cease to
give thanks to God for what
he has given you. Bless God
for blessing you and keep a
thankful, humble and
faithful (loyal) spirit
towards the God that we
serve.
Never kick a man when
he is down, not even your
enemies. Don't take cheap
shots at them, the Lord may
see it and become sore
displeased with you and you
may have just put your name
at the top of the 'trial
request' list;
people who just can't wait
to have the Lord deal with
them as he allowed Job to be
dealt with.
Take your walk even in
days of trial, one
day at a time. Don't
get ahead of God and don't
anticipate what tomorrow may
bring. We don't know, only
God does. God forbid, but
some of you may be hit by a
natural disaster and lose
all, or may find a rich
Uncle left you a small
fortune, or you may find a
great Job in South America
or lose the one you have
now. Brothers we just don't
know, but whatever happens
we should take whatever God
allows into our lives as
being for the best, even if
it does not seem so to our
finite understanding.
Most importantly, when
going through a trial, don't
charge God foolishly, don't
get mad at God. Examine your
own life and make any
corrections that need to be
made, but don't blame God,
he is on your side.
And we know
that to
them that love God
all
things work together for
good,
even to
them that are called
according
to his purpose.
(Rom
8:28 ASV)
We will
continue out look at Job
soon, God willing.
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