KINGDOM PATIENCE
Morning Scripture: Job 1:1-12
The Man from Uz
The opening verse of this book makes a statement that there was a man, named Job, who lived in the land of Uz. That part is not so impressive since there have been many men who have lived in many places. However, it is the next statement that really gets our attention. We are told that this man was “blameless” (NIV) and that he feared God and shunned evil. He was obviously a very rich man, but his most precious assets, no doubt, were his 10 children. Job was very careful about the spiritual lives of his children, offering burnt offerings for each of them on a “just in case” basis – as in, “just in case” any of them had sinned, even if only in their hearts. Job was such an important person that he made the agenda at one of God’s council meetings when the angels came to present themselves to the LORD. We are told that Satan was also in attendance at this meeting and proposed an argument that Job only loved God because God was so good to him. He argued that Job would surely be like other men if only God would lower the hedge of protection around this man and allow Satan to really test him. God agreed to allow Satan to test Job by allowing attacks on his possessions, but Satan was strictly prohibited from attacking Job’s personal health. This is a strong indication that Satan is under the authority of God and that God keeps him on a “short leash.” However, we will soon see that the devil’s power and reach is more than any man can deal with without the help of Almighty God.
Morning Prayer Emphasis:
· Pray especially for your children today. Seek to live a life before them that is a strong witness to the fact that the power and presence of God is at work in your life. Pray for someone who is suffering from trials or sickness today and reach out to them in comfort and love.
Evening Scripture: Job 1:13 – 2:3
The Battle Begins!
On a certain day in history, a good, godly man had four messengers come to him to tell him that almost all that he owned and claimed as precious in this world was gone. One messenger came after another, literally to the point that before one messenger could finish his terrible report to Job, another messenger would approach! Since the number four is so closely associated with the world as a creation in the Scriptures, we can see that it appears that Job’s whole world has been suddenly taken from him. He seemed to hold up under the first three messages, but the fourth and final message moved him to express extreme grief and sorrow. However, even in his sorrow, he fell to the ground in worship and praised God for what he had been given, even though it was now taken away. In all of this sorrow, Job did not sin and did not accuse God of wrongdoing. However, Job made the agenda at the next meeting as well and Satan is once again in attendance. (Satan probably misses fewer church meetings than many members!) God’s question to Satan seems to be saying, “What do you think of my servant Job now? Even though I have allowed you to “destroy” (KJV) or “ruin” (NIV) him, he is holding fast to his integrity and has remained blameless in the eyes of his fellow man.” Blameless does not imply that Job was sinless. Job was as human as the rest of us! However, he was a man who trusted God in the bad times as much as he trusted God in the good times. No suffering in this world was going to take his eyes off of the world to come!
Evening Prayer Emphasis:
· Thank God for all that He has given you, but commit your heart to Him not based on what He does for you, but on Who He is to you! Promise Him your faithfulness in all circumstances and in every situation. Believe that God is always working on your behalf, even when times seem difficult.
Morning Scripture: Job 2:4 – 3:3
The Second Test
Our enemy is relentless! He does not hesitate in his accusations against godly Job. He now argues that Job may remain faithful even after losing his wealth and children, but that even Job would not remain faithful to a God who would allow him to suffer in his own flesh. Little did Satan understand the heart that God had placed in his servant, Job. What man would not have much rather suffered in his own body before seeing his children die in such a sudden and tragic way? Satan has a lot to learn – and Job is going to help God teach the evil one a few things! This time God allows Satan to attack Job’s health, but the line is now drawn at the point of death. Basically, Satan is given permission to do everything possible against Job except kill him. Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. But Job just took a piece of broken pottery and scraped away at the sores. His own wife was shocked to see Job hang on through all of this suffering and wished that this trial could end, even if it meant that Job would have to die. But Job was committed to accept trials from the same God who had previously given him so many blessings, so he refused to accuse God of doing anything wrongful or unjust. The news of all of this suffering must have spread far and wide. Three friends from afar lands agreed to visit Job and try to comfort him in his sorrows. After seeing this poor man’s wretched condition, they sat down with him for seven days before ever speaking a word. Finally, Job broke the silence. He still refused to curse God, but he did curse the day of his birth, stating that he wished that he had never been born.
Morning Prayer Emphasis:
· Learn to appreciate the blessing of silence! Sometimes “just being there” is the best thing that we can do. Do some act of kindness for someone who is sick or home bound. Send a card, make a phone call, do something to let them know that they are not forgotten.
Evening Scripture: Job 3:4-16
The Ultimate Regret
Imagine an existence so unbearable that you wished that you had never been born! That is exactly where Job was and he confessed it to his three friends. He stated that, if he had to be born, then he wished that God would have never even noticed him so that he would not have to be involved in all of this suffering and pain. He then concluded that, if it were not possible to erase his life from the pages of history, then his next hope would have been to not even survive his birth. In verse 11 he asks, “Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came out of the womb?” In verses 13–15, he imagined death as being as sweet as a peaceful sleep or long rest. He believed that his death would allow him to join others who had lived before whose fortunes had been lost and whose accomplishments and riches had also come to ruins.
As difficult as it is for us to imagine, there are many people within the reach of our ministry who live in similar despair and despondency. When life becomes meaningless, people begin to believe that they do not matter to anyone. No one within the family of God should ever feel forsaken or unloved.
Evening Prayer Emphasis:
· Imagine how different our lives would be if we did not have such a loving God to watch over us and protect us from the evil one. Praise God for all that He is and does for you and your family. Brag on Him to someone that you meet along the way tomorrow.
Morning Scripture: Job 3:17 – 4:3
Rest for the Weary
Job’s true desire is for rest and relief from all of his sufferings. The word translated “troubling” (KJV) or “turmoil” (NIV) is used again in this chapter when it is translated “trouble” (KJV) or “turmoil” in verse 26. Job went on to state the benefits of death for others. In death, prisoners are finally free from the shouts of the oppressor or taskmaster (verse 18). The slave is finally free from his master (verse 19). Death represents hope and light to those who are near its seemingly dark door (verse 20). Then Job spoke of longing for death, only to have it not come. He saw himself as one who “digs” (KJV) or “searches” (NIV) for death like a prospector searching for gold and believed that he would rejoice when he finally drew his last breath. In the next verses Job spoke of sighing and “groans” or “roarings.” He admitted to fear having come upon him. He confessed to having lost his sense of security in this world and mourned the fact that he had anticipated this time in his life being a time of “rest” only to have “trouble” come to him – an unwelcome visitor that appeared to have come to stay for a very long time.
Read chapter 3 again and circle the times Job asks, “Why” in this speech. There is no doubt that he has more questions than his spirit can possible answer. However, Eliphaz begins to speak in chapter 4. He begins with two questions and then reminds Job that he had been a source of instruction and strength to many others in his lifetime.
Morning Prayer Emphasis:
· Ask God to reveal the needs of someone who is suffering to you and then seek to be a blessing and comfort to that person. Remember, Job’s friends simply sat silently with Job for days before they ever ventured to utter one word of advice or counsel.
Evening Scripture: Job 4:4 - 17
Eliphaz Continues
As you read this book, be aware that there are many speakers who are quoted in Job. God speaks. Satan speaks. Both Job and his wife are quoted. Servants of Job are quoted. And, much of the words that we will read are speeches made by Job’s friends. As we read the responses of Job’s friends, we have to understand that they contain elements of truth, but they also contain the wisdom and opinions of men. However, God has recorded all of these words for our learning, so we read them carefully while cautiously reminding ourselves as to who is actually speaking. Eliphaz was from Teman, an Edomite town noted for wisdom. The advice that he offered Job in this first speech sounds so familiar to what people still believe and say to the suffering today. He rebukes Job for being discouraged and troubled by his situation and condition. He suggests that Job trust in the good life that he has lived and that he hope for better days. Read the verses carefully and see if you don’t hear this well-meaning person say to Job, “Just snap out of it!” If you have ever been discouraged or depressed, you know that these words sound so simple and complex at one and the same time! He speaks of hearing “secret” things from God and seeing things that gave him spiritual goose bumps! However well-intentioned this friend might have been, he did not begin with the best advice and he is far from being through with his speaking!
Evening Prayer Emphasis:
· Pray much about your words of advice to those who are suffering. Remind yourself that you really may not understand everything that is going on in their life and spirit. Ask God for wisdom to know when to speak and when to just “be there,” loving, supporting, and helping them in any way that you can. Avoid the word “just” whenever possible.
Morning Scripture: Job 4:18 – 5:9
The “Dream”
Eliphaz mentioned several things to Job in his first speech, some of them being things that had come to him “secretly” and in “dreams.” Although God has been known to send a word to people through dreams, be aware that that is not his customary way of speaking to His people today. We have God’s completed Word and that is the medium through which He will most often speak to His people. Notice that Eliphaz mentioned “a word” (NIV) or “a thing” (KJV) rather than “a Word from God” had come to him. Notice the question in verse 17 where Eliphaz asks about “mortal man” and his ability to understand the things of God. The word translated “mortal” there is a word that means “weak.” It is used at least 30 times in Job and is an important word in understanding the message that God has for us in this book. Verse 19 mentions human beings as people that “dwell in houses of clay.” In that same breath, he goes on to remind Job that man was formed from the dust of the ground and that, as such, he is as fragile as any other earthen vessel. Such items break every day, all day long, and no one really pays much attention to them. In the early verses of chapter 5, this well-meaning friend reminds Job that man is as surely destined to suffer trouble in life just as surely as sparks fly upward from a fire (verse 7). He then suggests that Job do what he would do in that situation - to seek answers from God and commit his problems to the Lord. He reminds Job of God’s ability to do great things that man cannot even imagine! All that Eliphaz has really said to his friend so far is that he must not really be trusting God to help him in this situation. In the words of our day he is saying, “Just take it to the cross and leave it there!” Such words make for easy preaching but hard living!