A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
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#Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks and feed thereof. They drive away from the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide together. Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. Job 24:1-5
Job asks a great question: Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? It is true God is omniscient and our times are not hidden from him. For he sees our frame and considers that we are but dust. Therefore it behooves us to number our days so that we may direct our hearts to wisdom. Job does just this as he notes all the wicked of the earth how they take away landmarks and drive away from the ass of the fatherless, while they take the widow's ox for a pledge. This is what the Lord requires of thee, to do justly, love mercy, and live our days in the fear of the Lord.
# But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is in one mind and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. Job 23:10-13
Job gives the greatest answer to Eliphaz as he states: God knows the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. This is one of my favorite verses in all the Bible as it explains the trials that come into our lives as Christians. For whom the Lord loves he chastens and scourges every son that he receives. We too, like Job are undergoing a test in this coronavirus pandemic and God knows the way that I shall take: when his test is over, I shall be as gold. Gold must be refined in the fires and that is why we are going through these fiery trials and God is removing all the dross from our lives. So praise Him in the storms and keep his way. Job said I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
# Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered forever from my judge. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there and backward, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: Job 23:3-9
Job answered Eliphaz by saying will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. Thank God for today being Mother's Day as he put strength in all mothers to raise and bear their children. God gives us the strength to fulfill our duties as parents as Job has lost all of his children, but he is thankful that God did not take the mother of his children. We know that in the end, God would bless Job to have ten more children from his wife because of this strength. So the Bible tells us that a righteous man or woman looks to the end of a thing, not the beginning. God will bless us to get out of this coronavirus pandemic so be of good cheer, because Jesus, our great physician has overcome this world.
#Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makes thy ways perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for naught and stripped the naked of their clothing. Job 22:1-6
Eliphaz starts out by asking essential questions and said: can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Job is indeed wise and profitable; in fact, God reminded Satan of how righteous and just Job was, so that proves his worth. Then Eliphaz insults the integrity of Job by saying: Is not thy wickedness great? And thine iniquities infinite? Job is indeed a pleasure for the Almighty that he is righteous and it is gain to him to his ways are perfect. It was Satan who said Job was serving God for the blessing, so God, allowed Satan to test him to prove his integrity. Thank God that He is all-knowing and because of that He does not test us above that we are able to bear. So as we go through the coronavirus pandemic, we too can trust that God will give us the grace to endure, just as he did for Job. So be a true friend today to someone suffering and don't insult their integrity.
#Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. Acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defense and thou shalt have plenty of silver. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Job 22:20-26
Eliphaz tells Job to acquaint now thyself with God and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. This is what Job has done and it is apparent that Eliphaz is judging Job for some sin in his life that he has committed that he should repent of. We too must be careful not to judge others who are going through trials in their lives. With the coronavirus pandemic, there are many righteous people suffering in the world as they need comforting words and not accusative jargon. May we not be like Eliphaz, and instead of comfort Job as God has allowed him to be tested to prove he is as gold tried in the fire.
#Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? Yet shall he be brought to the grave and shall remain in the tomb. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers their remaineth falsehood? Job 21:31-34
Job is discouraged by the lack of support from his three friends. With friends like this, one would say why do we need enemies? We need to learn how to comfort those who are suffering from the coronavirus pandemic too, as The God of all comfort would have us to comfort them with the same comfort we have received from him. Do not blame others because they caught the virus, rather encourage them that they will get through this by the grace of God. Just like Job's trial ended with him being blessed with twice as much as he lost, we too will be blessed if we do not faint in this coronavirus pandemic.
#When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. He shall flee from the iron weapon and the bow of steel shall strike him through. It is drawn and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him. All darkness shall be hidden in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity and the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God and the heritage appointed unto him by God. Job 20:23-29
Zophar is telling Job what will happen to the wicked man as if Job is this wicked man and what has happened to him is because of the wrath of God. We must be careful not to judge other people, for we do not know if they are wicked because evil has come to them. God causes the sun to shine on the just and unjust alike and He causes the rain to fall on the just and unjust alike. It is true what Zophar is saying, just not about Job because God is testing him, and when he is finished, he shall be as pure as gold.
#Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his excellency mount up to the heavens and his head reach unto the clouds: Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? He shall fly away like a dream and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. His children shall seek to please the poor and his hands shall restore their goods. Job 20:4-10
Zophar answers Job by saying the excellency of the wicked shall mount up to the heavens and his head reach unto the clouds: Yet he shall perish forever like his own poop: they which have seen him shall say Where is he? He shall fly away like a dream and shall not be found: Zophar is comparing Job to the wicked, which is presumed that because all this evil that has come is because of being wicked. We know that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but out of them, all the Lord delivers them. So if someone is suffering from the coronavirus pandemic do not judge them to be wicked. We must judge ourselves so that we shall not be judged by the world.
#Why do ye persecute me as God and are not satisfied with my flesh? Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! For I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold and not another; though my reins are consumed within me. But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Job 19:22-28
Job has the greatest response to his friends when he said Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! We have the Holy Bible today with these words and they are read at almost every funeral. Today with so many lives being lost in the coronavirus pandemic, how calming to hear the words of Job: Whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold and not another; For I know that my redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter-day upon the earth. We have the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to look back at, while Job looked forward to it. He knows that worms will destroy his body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: That is the blessed hope that we all have who trust in Jesus that in the first resurrection all those that sleep in the earth will be awakened to their glorified bodies. We will see Jesus just as He is and we will be like him, fashioned like unto His glorious body. Now we can rejoice as death is not the end, but has been swallowed up in victory. The sting of death which is a sin was defeated on the cross. The grave could not hold Jesus, and it will not hold us forever. I thank God for Job that the Holy Spirit gave him these words to pen for us to read and rejoice forever.
#Know now that God hath overthrown me and hath compassed me with his net. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass and he hath set darkness in my paths. He hath stripped me of my glory and taken the crown from my head. He hath destroyed me on every side and I am gone and my hope hath he removed like a tree. He hath also kindled his wrath against me and he hath counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. His troops come together and raise up their way against me and encamp round about my tabernacle. Job 19:6-12
Job answers Bildad by saying know that God hath overthrown me and compasses me with his net. He said this because he did not know it was Satan that was allowed to overthrow him to test his love for the Lord. We too are being tested by this coronavirus pandemic and I have found that by writing about the suffering of Job we can endure this pandemic that we are going through by the grace of God. I suffer from mental illness and writing is a therapy for those suffering from adversity. So I encourage you to set aside twenty minutes a day to be alone with God and journalist the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. We can see how we can be stripped of our glory and have the crown of our head taken away, while still praising God for His eternal purposes for us. God means everything for good for us, even though it seems like we are enemies and Jesus has redeemed us as our Mediator before God. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us in our suffering and confirms that we are the children of God, as well as heirs of the promises of Jesus. So thank God for your suffering and do not bemoan the day of small things.