ch.31 - Job continues

And now he asks that God would judge him according to his lifestyle. He feels that he has walked uprightly and so does not deserve the calamities that he has experienced.

32:1-5 So the friends say no more.
32:6 and Elihu - a new 'friend' - enters the arena.
32:9 'great men are not always wise' is an attack on Job.
32:15 He now claims to speak wiser words that the friends.

31:33 Here we have an indication that Job was familiar with the Genesis account of the fall of Adam and Eve and the way that they sought to cover their nakedness.

32:2 Being angry is hardly a good basis on which to start instructing anyone.

31:1 We may think that Jesus was the first one to emphasise that looking on a woman to lust is equivalent to adultery (Matthew 5:28) but Job states this principles albeit in slightly different words

32:1 God's assessment of Job as 'upright' (1:8) and the comment that he, before his friends, presented himself as 'righteous' seem to be at variance. We should remember that Job was driven to this claim through the words of his friends. One is left wondering how often we drive our brethren and sisters to justify themselves because of the things we say to them.

31:4-6  So again Job is challenging God to faulty him in the way that he has lived.

32:5  So Elihu shares the ‘anger ‘ of Jobs other friends. Just as anger was not a good basis for instruction from the other friends it is hardly a good basis upon which Elihu should start.

31:7  In speaking of his ‘heart’ Job shows that he understood that pleasing God was not simply a matter of keeping a set of laws. It was about the way he thought. We would do well to ponder on that.

32:7   Elihu is saying that the friends and Job, because of their age, should have known better. Sadly age is no guarantee of wisdom!

Elihu is completely correct in his assessment of the problem here. Look at the careful way in which he addresses the incorrect views of each party:

Job: He justified (made righteous) himself rather than God (32:2). In other words, Job had set himself and God in opposition, and ruled in his own favour rather than God's. This isn't right. In reality, Job was a righteous man, but he should not have claimed God was un-righteous in order to make himself feel better (see for example 27:2 "God has taken away my justice")

3 friends: They hadn't found a good reason to condemn Job, yet had still done so (32:3). This rightly angered Elihu because he had seen his friend suffer under their onslaught needlessly.

He then correctly points out the way in which the friends had taken Job's early statements personally (32:14). This is the root of the problem. Have you noticed how all their early speeches are fairly reasonable, then become harsh, bitter and personal over time? Isn't this the way our own arguments go too? Elihu points out that he alone could be impartial since Job's words had not been directed at him (32:14,21). For us too, there are some subjects we are best to avoid with certain people, unless perhaps their is a good mediator in the room.

31:19-21 So Job returns again to the way he has always behaved. He was a good man who cared for others. However this is no guarantee that problems will not come in one’s own life.

8:1 - 8:17 is the fourth prophecy
8:8 I will be their God Revelation 21:7 Genesis 17:8 Jeremiah 24:7 Ezekiel 37:27
8:9 let your hands be strong Haggai 2:4
8:9 the day that the foundation ... laid Haggai 2:18
8:12 seed prosperous Haggai 2:19
8:12 heavens give dew Haggai 1:10
8:16 speak the truth ... neighbour Ephesians 4:25
8:19 feast ... fourth month Jeremiah 39:2
8:19 fast ... fifth month 2 Kings 25:8
8:19 fast ... seventh month Jeremiah 39:1
8:19 fast ... tenth month 2 Kings 25:1

8:4 -5 describes a time of peace when no one will make Israel afraid and the men have reached old age because they have not been killed in battle.
8:7 - 8 more restoration passages similar to Jeremiah 30:10
8:12 The promise of prosperous 'seed' and 'vine' contrasts the words of Haggai - a contemporary prophet - who was castigating Israel because they had not turned to God.
8:18 - 14:21 is the fifth and final prophecy
8:19 feast ... fourth month Jeremiah 39:2
8:19 fast ... fifth month 2 Kings 25:8
8:19 fast ... seventh month Jeremiah 39:1
8:19 fast ... tenth month 2 Kings 25:1

This list of feasts and fasts which Zechariah is referring to can all be found mentioned in passages of Scripture relating to the captivity. It is interesting to note that whilst Jeremiah told the people to go and dwell in Babylon, build houses and seek the peace of that land their approach was to simply lament the disasters in their lives.

Zech 8:3. “I will dwell” God dwelt above the Mercy Seat in the Tabernacle of Moses, and in the Temple of Soloman in the form of the Shekinah Glory which was representative of God being in the midst of them. We are told in Ezekiel of the glory leaving Jerusalem (11:23) but, we are told it will return (42:2) Speaking here of the restoration of Jerusalem, when God will surely dwell in the midst of them.

Zech 8:23. Israel was told to make a ribbon of blue on the borders of their skirt, to remind them of their heavenly calling Num 15:38-39. This calling will be recognized by the nations in the age to come.

V.13 God originally called Israel out of Egypt that the people might reflect His glory, but as Jeremiah said "they would not hear" (13:9) Nevertheless this purpose, promised to the patriarchs, shall be fulfilled ultimately (Jer 33:6-9) The national redemption of Israel will be followed by blessings that will extend through Israel to all nations. Isa 2:2-4, Psa 68:29, Psa 72, Jer 3:17. This will be accomplished through David's greater son. 

Collecting glimpses of the Kingdom will strengthen our faith.  It is useful to cultivate as strong an image as possible of our treasure, the Kingdom (Matt 6:21).  Imagine people of great age (Isa 65:20) sitting watching children playing in the streets of Jerusalem in peace (vs.4,5).  As well as peace, there will be abundance of produce (v.12).  The whole world will recognize Yahweh and will come to Jerusalem to entreat His favor (vs.21,22).  Imagine a world of peace, abundance, and righteousness.  Contrast that with today's world.  Where would you rather be?

The four fasts (v.19), in the order given, commemorate: Nebuchadnezzar's entering Jerusalem; the burning of the temple; Gedaliah's assassination; the siege of Jerusalem.

Zech 8:3 Before Israel went into captivity the glory cloud was seen to leave Jerusalem – Eze 10 – but now God says he has returned. This must have been a great encouragement to the faithful, even though the cloud never seems to have re appeared in Jerusalem.

8:2 In saying that God was ‘jealous for Zion’ the prophet is reminding the people of what he has already said – Zech 1:14– and the words of the prophet Isa 62:1 showing that despite the wickedness of the people God still has his eyes on Jerusalem.

5:9-10 To sing the song of these verses will be a wonderful privilege. It is ours if we heed the exhortations and warnings of the book of Revelation.

ch.6 - The six seals speak of violence and woe. To a community who are conscientious objectors we may feel uncomfortable with so much violence. However our God is a God of judgment and as such has in the past, and will in the future. We will not have problems with the way in which our God judges the world if we appreciate how evil it's ways are.

These quotations continue the theme we saw yesterday.

Continuing our observation of the use of Psalm 2 we see that the seals mark the time when the kingdom is established and Christ rules supreme.

5:1 That the book was written within and on the back side indicates that it is full of lamentations and woe - see Ezekiel 21:10.

6:11 That saints have had to 'rest yet for a little season' should remind us that our brethren have been persecuted and some even killed for their faith right down through the ages. We should spare a prayer for our brethren and sisters suffering persecution and help at a practical level where possible.

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5:5 "The root of David" shows that even though Revelation is concerned with event after the death and resurrection of Jesus that w are still involved with the promises to the fathers.

6:13 the "fig tree [that] casteth her untimely figs" quotes Isa 34:4 which is a prophecy of judgement upon Edom.

Rev 5:10 - indicates that we shall reign as "kings & priests" in the kingdom age to come

- Have you ever wondered WHY?

- In the kingdom age to come, when mortal puts on immortality, the saints will manifest the 2 characteristics of the offices of Kings & priests (mercy & truth)

- As a nation, Israel was designed to represent God to other nations; to both rule them & to draw them to the truth and righteousness (Deut.4:4-6)

- But the people broke the covenant when Moses was in the mount, and the priesthood was given to Levi (Exo.32:25-29) and later the governing part was given to Judah

- In Christ, both will be restored as originally intended

1Pet 2:5-10 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar  people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: "

5:6 The lamb ‘had been slain’ – it was no longer dead. A truly fitting representation of the risen Christ.

6:11  Again we have ‘white robes – Righteousness – Rev 19:8

6:8 the phrase ‘with sword … beast of the earth’ quotes Eze 15:2 which speaks of impending judgement upon Jerusalem by the Chaldeans.

6:10   The cry ‘how long O Lord’ echoes the cry of Zech 1:12 where the prophet is, at the time of the return from Babylon, praying for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Rev 5:9-10 First Principles>Sure Mercies of David>Government
The rulership of God's Kingdom is not limited to the twelve apostles. The faithful will play a part as well.
For more information about the government of God's Kingdom, go to Matt 19:28

6:16 In speaking of the hills and mountains covering the wicked Jesus is alluding to his comments – Luke 23:30 and the warning of the prophet – Hos 10:8