Job responds again.

The tenor of Job's response is almost sarcastic. As if he feels that the friends do not understand his problems at all. So far have they moved in the discussions. Those who came to help are now viewed as adversaries.

Job speaks against Zophar's philosophy, contradicting the idea that wicked people receive their punishment in this life. Job obviously believes in the Judgement, at the day of resurrection (Job 22:23-30).

Job explodes the philosophical premiss of his friends that views punishment as a direct consequence of sin.  If that were the case, why do the wicked prosper?  Death comes to those who have lived a favored life as well as those who have lived in misery (vs.23-26).  But who holds the wicked man accountable for a life of misdeeds? (v.31).  The concepts of judgement (Ecc 12:14), trial (Heb 12:6,7), and reward (James 1:12) have not yet been defined in the saga of Job.

21:3  Maybe Job’s friends should have been aware that Job thought they were mocking him and should, therefore, have been more careful in how they spoke to him for on two previous occasions – Job 16:10, 17:2  - he has accused them of mocking. How often do we find our well intentioned words are miss understood. Do we, on realising this, try to remedy the situation? Or do we think the person we are speaking with is the one with the problem?

21:2 ‘Hear diligently’ implies that Job felt that his friends had not been listening carefully to what he had said previously

21:9    Job’s comment “neither is the rod of God upon them (the wicked)” is doubtless true. However it is not rational to conclude from this that the ‘wicked’ are always wealthy. The “rod of God” is designed to chasten, not punish, His servants. Material possessions are no indication of the blessing of God. Nor is the absence of material wealth an indication of His displeasure.

We have all seen those who prosper in this life, and yet thumb their noses at God.  But, all their gain will be given to someone else when they die (Psa 49:10).  There is nothing else for the wicked but death.  Believers of the Truth should never be jealous of such people.  True believers have the hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2; 3:7).  The wicked have eternal death.  Their reward occurs only in this life.  Sometimes the LORD will smite the wicked, and sometimes He will let them prosper.  Everything happens according to His wisdom which we can hardly discern (Isa 55:9).  And so, we should keep our eyes on the prize, which is acceptance into the Kingdom.  Let us be rich towards the LORD rather than seeking riches in this life (Luke 12:16-21). 

Whilst Job correctly identifies the answers of his three friends as "empty words" v34, the same can be said for Job. In the forthcoming chapters, Elihu accuses job of speaking "words without knowledge" (35:16 select NKJV version). God then backs up Elihu's accusation by saying the same thing (38:2). And finally Job himself admits to it (42:3).

However, there is a big difference between Job and the three friends. Whilst Job admits "I have uttered what I did not understand" (42:3), the friends DID understand, and deliberately skewed the truth to back up their side of the argument (42:7). We should be careful in our arguments with one another not to mis-represent God for our own ends, as He obviously takes a very dim view of that (42:8). It's always better to back down from an argument long before things get to this stage.

21:5 When Job puts words into the mouths of the ‘wicked ‘- Why should we serve God – he is. By implication, contrasting himself with them. He is implying that he does not speak like that.

21:7-13 And so Job returns to the old familiar lament – The wicked prosper and it is not fair. How often do we think like this? We maybe don’t actually say the words but our actions can demonstrate that we share Job’s erroneous viewpoint.

:5 He will not do evil - despite the judgements that are coming.
:15 The nation would not see evil any more - obviously at a later point in time.
:17 God would save them - again obviously at a later date - With the coming of Messiah

3:8 That the earth will be consumed by 'the fire of' the Lord's jealousy contrasts starkly with the promise Hab 2:14 'the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord ...'. The judgments must come before the glory.

After the Lord Jesus returns to the earth, He will put down His enemies (v.8).  Then He will gather His people and establish His righteous rule from Jerusalem (vs.15,16).  The gathered remnant of Israel will worship the LORD with purified lips (vs.9,13).  The phrase pure language in v.9 means purified lips, i.e. those who have given up all forms of idolatry to worship Yahweh in truth. 

3:19 Zephaniah’s words of comfort, in the days of Josiah, were not fulfilled in his day – nor the kings after Josiah – because of the sinfulness of the people. God’s mercy is not unconditional. It is consequent upon faithful lives based on confidence that He will bless the faithful.

3:5 In speaking of the ‘unjust knoweth no shame’ Zephaniah echoes the language of the contemporary prophet – Jer 3:3, 6:15, 8:12

3:1   We should appreciate that the  filthy’ and ‘polluted’ city is in fact Jerusalem.  She was ‘oppressed’ by the religious leaders of Zephaniah’s day through their falsehood.

The first part of this chapter is a diatribe against Jerusalem.  The second part, from v.8 until the end, is a picture of the LORD's retribution to the offensive nations; and the gathering in of Jews to be part of the Kingdom ruled by Jesus.  7th. century BC Jerusalem was a loathsome place of iniquity; but Jerusalem, in the Kingdom, will be a place of rejoicing.

3:5 Notice it is the ‘just’ Lord. God, of course, is always ‘just’. So we must ask why He is described as ‘just’ here. The reason is to contrast God with the people who ‘know no shame’.

3:9 We should not presume that ‘pure language’ equates with Hebrew. It may well be that Hebrew will be the language of the kingdom. However what the prophet is doing here is to contrast what God is going to do. The people have been speaking deceitfully. God is going to establish a regime where total integrity will be the order of the day. Integrity is the ‘pure language.’

3:3 53 chaste / pure. Whilst we might think that this word means sexually pure when speaking of a 'chaste virgin' that is not the sense of the word.
As we can see from this list.
2 Corinthians 7:11 clear
2 Corinthians 11:2 pure
Philippians  4:8 pure
1 Timothy 5:22 pure
James 3:17 pure
1 John 3:3 pure
Purity is the meaning of the word and so when it is translated 'chaste' it is speaking of purity.
Titus 2:5 chaste
1 Peter 3:2 chaste

4:6 The 'spirit of truth' catches another phrase that John records Jesus as using on the night of the 'last supper' John 14:17 15:26 16:13

The use of 3438 / 3306 'mansions' 'Abide' on the last night of Jesus' life.
John 14:2 mansions 3438
John 14:23 abode 3438
John 14:10 dwelleth 3306
John 14:16 abide 3306
John 14:17 dwelleth 3306
John 14:25 present 3306
John 15:4 Abide 3306 abide 3306 abide 3306
John 15:5 abideth 3306
John 15:6 abide 3306
John 15:7 abide 3306 abide 3306
John 15:9 continue ye 3306
John 15:10 abide 3306 abide 3306
John 15:11 remain 3306
John 15:16 remain 3306

We will highlight the other uses in 1 John as we work through the letter.

Here are a couple more of the uses of the word 'abide' from John's gospel.

4:15 Dwelleth
4:16 Dwelleth

John. By the spirit, is emphasising that Jesus'' teaching is something that will change our relationship with God - if we implement that teaching in our daily lives.

3:3 Continuing the point we made in June. Because we are the sons of God we have a responsibility to 'purify' ourselves. This indicates that no matter how we think of ourselves we do need to continue the process of purification.

4:8,16 'God is love' is not just a sentimental comment about God's nature. Rather it is a command to us to love our brethren and sisters. (see 4:20-21)

3:9  does not indicate that a sanctified person will never sin.  What is being stressed here is the matter of continuing to sin.  Heb 10:26 stresses the same thing.  If we do happen to sin, we can ask for forgiveness in Jesus' Name (1John 2:1). 

4:3 The antichrist comprises those who do not believe Christ came in the flesh (i.e. was a man), and is the Son of God.  Therefore, Trinitarians, who believe that Christ is God, comprise the antichrist, by definition.  They will be the ones to oppose Christ when He returns to earth.

(3:14) ‘we have passed from death to life’ quotes (John 5:24). This is another place where John is expounding the words of Jesus as recorded in his gospel.

(4:2) ‘in the flesh’ means as a human - like Adam. As time went on heresies arose one of which said Jesus was a God during his time on earth. Possibly out of a desire to exalt Jesus in the eyes of man. However Jesus’ strength is more exalted if we realise that even though he could have sinned he chose not to.

Selfish and stingy or generous and sharing?

3:17; Acts 2:44-45 - If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? NIV ... all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 

Actions can speak louder than words

3:18 - let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. - NIV

Do our hearts condemn us?

3:19-21 - if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before before God - NIV

No man has seen God - 4:12; 1Tim 6:16; Acts 1:3

3:8  Destroying the devil uses the idea found in Heb 2:14

4:12 So whilst John had seen Jesus no one has seen God. Therefore it is imperative that we get to know Jesus – that is get to know him not get to know about him – else we will never know God.

4:7 We might have thought that baptism is the route that one has to take to be ‘born of God’. Well yes it is but unless that new birth is translated into new life it is but a hollow show.

3:20-21          We might think that it is better if our heart condemns us because then we realise our sinfulness. However that is not really how God views us. We should reckon ourselves to be dead to sin – Rom 6:11 – Our understanding of our position in Christ means that we should have confidence in His promises.

Chapter 3 stresses the importance of treating fellow believers well.  We should love one another (3:11).  On the other hand, if we hate our brothers or sisters, then we are murderers, like Cain. (3:15).  A murderer will not be admitted to the Kingdom.  If we hate our brethren, then we live a lie (4:20,21).  Even if one has the means, but fails to help a brother or sister, that one will not enter the Kingdom (3:17).  As our brother Jesus laid down His life for us, we should be prepared to do the same for our brothers and sisters (3:16).  This is a serious consideration.  If anyone is harboring any ill will towards a brother or sister, then sort it out immediately - eternal life is at stake.

3:18 John’s encouragement not to love only in word echoes James’ warning – James 2:16 about just speaking to those in need and doing nothing. Are we ever like that towards those in need? Of course it does not just have to be physical need. What about when a little action can make a big difference and it never occurs to us to do it?

4:12 In quoting John 1:18 John explains that the way Jesus ‘declared’ God should be our behaviour also. By our actions others will see what God is like if we are faithful.

ENCOURAGE TO LOVE

Can we ever have too much encouragement to love one another? I think not. After all, it is through us loving one another that shows God that we love him. "For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1John 4:20-21) By loving each other we show that we love God.

Loving one another is also a response to the love God has for us. Even though we were imperfect sinners, separated from God and rebellious toward him, he still loved us enough to give us Jesus as "an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, so we also ought to love one another." (v.10-11)

John considered it important enought to devote much of his letters encouraging his fellow believers to love one another. I hope that I am able to encourage you to do the same. And if encouraging one another to love was important to John, then it should also be important for us, not only to love one another, but like him, to encourage others to do the same.

Let us love one another and also encourage each other to love.