ch.23 Job responds again.
23:1-7 So Job desires to reason with God.

ch.24 Job continues
24:1-10 Job acknowledges that some men actually violate the law of God in the way that Eliphaz accuses him, but by implication, Job is saying that he is not like those people.

23:4 But Job still thinks he can reason his case with God! I wonder how often we feel that we are right and that God is wrong in our lives? We may wells as never - but whenever we say or think 'It's not fair' we are being like Job.

24:25 Job's caveat is this - even if you don't agree with me about how things are now you must agree that at some time in the future my words will be shown to be true!

Job uses the figure of refined gold as a conclusion to his trial (23:10).  The image of refined metals is used elsewhere to show a successful emergence from trial.  For example, the LORD uses this language to show the salvation for a remnant of Israel (Zech 13:9).  However, Peter puts into perspective the value of tried faith vis-à-vis de gold (1Pet 1:7). 

Job is starting to exhibit the things which please the LORD.  He has expressed hope in the mercy of the LORD that he will successfully come through his trial (23:10); and he has confessed his fear of the LORD (23:15).  These are two components that please the LORD (Psa 147:11).

23:10  But though it seems that Job understands chastening he seems to be saying that he is the one who will be justified.

24:13  In saying that there are those who ‘rebel against the light’ Job is implying that he is not one of those type of men.

23:4 Job’s attitude that he can reason his cause with his God contrasts with what he said in Job 9 where he acknowledged that he was not n a position to reason with God. Such was the effect of the words of his friends. They had provoked him so much that he now reasoned differently about God. We do well to realise that our words might actually hinder, rather than help, our brethren and sisters,. In our ‘helpfulness’ we may well cause them to stumble.

Job uses the name The Almighty (El Shaddai) (23:16; 24:1).  This name is particularly associated with the patriarchs, to whom Job was, probably, contemporary (Gen 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 49:25).

23:11 That Job had kept God’s ways as no guarantee that he would be blessed. Keeping His commandments is an obligation which does not guarantee an easy life.

24:2  In the ancient Near East, heaps of stones or posts were used to separate one's land from a neighbor's land in open country.  Hedges and fences were used at this time.  It would be easy for unscrupulous individuals to dismantle the stone heaps, or uproot the posts, and move them so as to enlarge their own land.  This activity was later forbidden under the Law of Moses (Deut 19:14).

23:12 Job’s claim about his attitude to God’s words surely should be our attitude.

Job longed to be able to find the location God's throne and reason with Him about his afflictions (Job 23:3-7). This is quite literally the priviledge we have now through Jesus (Heb 4:15-16). Our audience with God was bought for us at a great price by Jesus, so we should not be afraid to make use of it.

23:6 Job seems to be saying that if God really understood Job then He would treat him differently! It should be hoped that we never think like this.

1:4 turn ye ... from your evil doings Jeremiah 18:11
1:8 and I saw ... white horse Revelation 6:3 6:2
1:8 horse that was red Revelation 6:2 6:4
1:8 a pale horse Revelation 6:3 6:8
1:11 all the earth ... is at rest Isaiah 14:7
1:12 O Lord ... how long Revelation 6:10
1:12 not have mercy Hosea 2:4
1:12 three score and ten years Jeremiah 25:11
1:13 good word Jeremiah 29:10
1:13 comfortable words Isaiah 40:2
1:14 I am jealous Joel 2:18
1:17 The Lord shall comfort Zion Isaiah 51:3
1:18 white horse Revelation 6:3 19:11

Zechariah 1:1 2nd YEAR Darius 8th MONTH
1:1 - 1:6 is the first prophecy

1:3 'turn to me and I will turn to you' repeats the call of God through the prophets before the exile. Notice that as soon as a response if elicited from man God responds. We must make the first response. Actually this is not strictly the case. Whilst it is our sins that have alienated us from Him Isaiah 59:2 it is God who has already taken the first step for 'when we were yet sinners Christ died for us ...' ROM 5:8.

Zechariah 1:7 2nd YEAR Darius 24th DAY 11th MONTH
1:7 - 6:15 is the second prophecy.

Here is a table of the relationship between Haggai and Zechariah. Refs for the Graphic below

The prophecy of Zechariah breaks into two parts Chapters 1-6 which are all visions and chapters 7-14 which are words from God.

Notice in chapter 1-6 'vision' language

1:8 I saw
2:1 Looked and behold
3:1 Shewed me
4:2 Seest thou
5:2 Seest thou
6:1 looked and behold

Zechariah prophesied about God's dealings with Jerusalem and his people Israel from the end of the Babylonian captivity to the return of Christ.  We should look for references and echoes elsewhere, and try to understand the symbols used.

Zechariah, whose name means Yahweh remembers, prophesied 520-518 BC.  He was contemporary with Haggai, and like him, encouraged the Jews to finish the temple (completed in 515 BC).  Zechariah profusely prophesies about the Messiah.

Zechariah reminds us that the LORD is ever ready to forgive if people would only turn to Him (v.3).  The LORD always remains faithful (Deut 7:9; Psa 89:34; 1Cor 1:9); it is man who strays.  Man can always come back to the LORD's grace, but the onus is on him to do so (Isa 55:7).   

1:11 As mentioned in the list above, in this verse Zechariah quote Isa 14:7 seeking to encourage the returning exiles by showing them how that Scripture was being fulfilled in their days.

1:4  Zechariah’s call to ‘turn from your evil doings’ quotes Jer 18:11 implying that the nation were no better now they were back in the land than they were before the Babylonian captivity that they had just returned from.

1:12   The specific mention of ‘three score and ten years’ refers to the time in Babylon – Jer 25:11 – as Zechariah is showing the people that Jeremiah’s words are being fulfilled and they are now living in the time that Scripture foretold when they would return to the land of their inheritance.

1:6 In telling Israel that they should have listened to the former prophets Zechariah is starting a theme which he returns to later in 7:7.

1:17 In saying ‘The Lord ... shall yet choose Jerusalem’ he prophet is encouraging the returning exiles who are returning from Babylon with the words of Isa 14:1. Spoken by God at a time he is speaking of judgement against Babylon.

2John v.5 The commandments to 'love one another' draws on language that Jesus has already used and John also in his first letter. John 13:34 15:12,17 1 John 3:11,23 4:7,11,12

3John v.1 Gaius figures a number of times in the New Testament. Acts 19:29 20:4 Romans 16:23 1 Corinthians 1:14 The Corinthians reference indicates that Gaius was baptised at Corinth though Gaius was in Ephesus at the time of the formation of the ecclesia there.

2John:10 Whilst some have taken this instruction in a very harsh way so that they would not even give the time of day to one in error the reason for John's injunction is rather that we might not be sullied by the error of the false teacher rather than being an instruction to treat the one in error as an unbeliever. There clearly is the responsibility of trying to recover the one in error also.

3John :4 Does it give us joy when we see or hear about faithful brethren? It should if we are concerned that God's name is glorified on earth.

2John:12 John desired to meet with Gaius rather than just write. How much more personal is a visit when compared with a letter. Often we, when there is a problem or disagreement, we write to the brother rather than talk to him. John's comment is an indication of what we know already - that it is better to talk face to face.

3John:10 'prating against us with malicious words' quotes Matthew 5:11 so John informs us that even brethren who speak critically in the ecclesia can be like those who persecute the believers.

In 2 John 7 he mentions the presence of deceivers. In 3 John v9 he mentions one of them, Diotrephes, who "loves the preeminence among them". This man was being emulated by the believers (v11). He was looked up to and revered. John is trying to make the believers see that it is not the eloquent, with their well spoken words, that they should be emulating. This can often be a cover up, such as wolves in sheeps clothing. John advises that they listen rather to those such as Demetrius, who had a "good testimony from all". This man may have been a very quiet and gentle individual, not given to speaking out. The way to tell the difference between the wolves and the sheep, John is suggesting, is their works rather than their words (3 v 10-12).

2John 2 "FOR"  Establishes this campaign of false teaching as to the reason why John would write stressing the importance of the breaking of bread.

2:7,10 The doctrine of the trinity is so far removed from the Truth that it must be opposed vigorously.  It is not a matter of opinion, but a fundamental understanding of the atoning sacrifice of Christ which is at stake.  Thus, those who hold this doctrine cannot be entertained by those who hold the Truth.  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14).
 

2John 1:5 The commandment is simple ‘love one another’ which echoes what Jesus said ((John 13:34, 15:12,17) but putting it into practice is another matter! The disharmony evidenced in the New Testament shows how difficult it is. Maybe we can think of examples in our own lives which show how difficult we find this commandment.3John 1:5-6 It seems that Gaius was ‘not forgetful to entertain strangers’ (Hebrews 13:2) and that his hospitality was well known in the community. His hospitality had been towards brethren who were traveling in the service of the Gospel. Gaius’ generosity had meant that these traveling brethren could do their work without charge to the ecclesias they visited.

3John 2 Gaius was a man whose life was given to the truth, and the prayer of the Apostle was that the blessing of God might continue with him in all the circumstances of his life, both physically and spiritually, as it had been up to the present time. 

1:4  Do we rejoice when we hear of brethren and ssites living faithful lives?

1:9 Diotrophes was the complete oppose of Gaius.

TRUTH & LOVE

Truth and love are frequently discussed in our world, but seldom practiced. Our world is filled with its words - popular songs, greeting cards, romantic novels and such like shower us with idyllic visions of love. Yet, real love is scare to find.

Christ alone was the manifestation of God's truth and love as manifested in human nature. The apostle John had seen truth & love firsthand - he had been with the Lord Jesus Christ. As we reflect on these few paragraphs penned by the wise & aged follower of Christ, let us recommit ourselves to being a person of truth, of love, and of obedience to the Lord.

3John 1:3-8 A fleshly reason for serving others is human pride. However our reason should be different. The objective is to associate ourselves with the work of the gospel.

2John 9 We have many exhortations to hold on to that which is sound doctrine; But here John takes a different approach to the same exhortation. Avoid that which is not sound doctrine. With all the false teachers that we are surrounded by, it is critical that doctrine different than that taught by the disciples in the first century be avoided. This teaching does not only apply to that from the outside, but also from within the ecclesia.

1:7       In speaking of ‘deceivers’ John is making it clear that there are some in the meetings who not only believe error but do so consciously that they might undermine the faith of some.

John opens his letter in a peculiar way (2John 1:3). He makes mention of God, then of Jesus, and then states that Jesus is "the son of the Father". This emphasis can be explained when we realise the "lie" that was being promulgated (v7) was that Jesus and God were the same being. John was seeking to squash this lie before it got out of hand; but history tells us he was unsuccessful, and the doctrine of the Trinity eventually developed.

Christadelphians seek to keep John's commandment in v6 that we "keep what we have heard in the beginning". At the start of the Christian church the apostles taught that Jesus came "in the flesh", or in other words had exactly the same nature as us. To teach that Jesus wasn't a man like you and me is described as evil in v11. So here we have the reason why those who object to the Trinity cannot have fellowship with the majority of Christian churches. To have fellowship would be to join in with the lie and agree with it (v10-11).

2John 1:11 We must always be careful not to give the impression that we are in support of an action when we are not. Whilst it is easier to say nothing or mumble some general words we should realise what we can support and what we cannot and speak accordingly.

3John 1:6 Word had got to John about the generosity of Gaius. Clearly the Father also knew. However the important thing is that people noticed. If John knew Gaius neighbours doubtless also knew. His life was an example of the believers which may have influenced his neighbours.