Job would like someone to be a daysman (arbiter) between himself and God (v.33). Some have cast Jesus in this role between us and the LORD. Jesus is described as a mediator of a new covenant (Heb 8:6; 9:15); and in that role He reconciles two parties, those of humankind and God. This he did through His perfect walk and selfless sacrifice on the cross. However, the role of Jesus, as a mediator is to bring the LORD to man, not to interpret the prayers of His followers to the LORD, nor to plead their cases to Him.

9:2  ‘but …’ indicates that Job does not accept what Bildad says even though Job says he knows the truth of what he is being told. It is a bit like the way we, from time to time, say ‘yes … but’.

 9 Throughout this chapter Job is asserting that God is supreme and that man has no right to question Him. This seems to differ from Job’s later comments where he is seeking an opportunity to put his case before God –Job 13:10  - possibly indicating that the comments of the friends, rather than being helpful to Job actually confused his thinking about God.

9:15    Job’s words demonstrate that he did not have a high opinion of himself in God’s eyes. When he says ‘… though I were righteous …’ So whatever Job’s problem was it certainly was not that he was self righteous.

9:2-3 At this point in his trials Job realises that there is nothing he can say to God to justify himself.

5:5 Hezekiah was 'our peace' in Judah when the Assyrians swept through the land because he instituted a religious revival and turned the people to Yahweh. Consequently the Assyrian army arrayed against Jerusalem was destroyed.

Isaiah prophesied of the Assyrian invasion Isaiah 8:7 - 9 And recounted the death of the Assyrian army. Isaiah 37:36

5:2The language of this verse is quoted in Matt 2:6. However it will be seen on comparing the two records that there seems to be significant differences. However on closer examination it will be seen that the meaning of Micah is preserved in Matthew. This indicates that quotations from the Old Testament found in the New Testament are concerned with preserving meaning, not exact words.

5:6 In saying ‘they shall waste the land of Assyria’ Micah is careful not to say that Judah will do that. However it is a comfort to the besieged Judah in the days of Hezekiah.

5:1     The one who had “laid siege” was the Assyrian who came against Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah.

V.6 Assyria here refers to the latter-day northern invader Gog (Russia).  Nimrod is a reference to Babylon.  Babylon is a synonym for the apostate system of worship that will oppose Jesus when he returns.  Russia will be destroyed (Eze 39:4); and so too will the false system of worship that has been around for nearly two thousand years (Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2; 10,21).

5:6 Notice that Micah is speaking of the deliverance from the Assyrians before they even had come against Jerusalem – he uses the word ‘shall’. Doubtless these words would have been a comfort to Hezekiah who had to contend with the Assyrian threat.

V1 - NIV - "Marshal your'troops' [(1416) Heb. "geduwd" refers to troops, a marauding band or a crowd pressed together with fear and all definitions could be applicable as relates to 3 times, i.e. 586 BC Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, Roman AD 70 conquest of Jerusalem and a future attack on Jerusalem in the last days)],O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us."   V2 - Christ was prophetically born in 'Bethlehem' (means "house of bread") 'Ephrathah' (means "fruitfulness"; Christ is the fruitful bread of life) of the tribe of Judah; NIV - "out of you will come for me" (if Christ is coming for God he can't be God); Christ to be the future ruler over Israel (Matt 2:1-6;Luke 2:4,10-11); NIV - "whose origins are from old" (i.e. Christ and his mission was in God's plan from the beginning Gen 3:15;2Sam 7:12-13). V3 - NIV - "...Israel will be abandoned" (including a last days abandonment); (Israel) "in labor" (increasing pain/frequency till Christ's return); "rest" ["rest" NIV, "remnant" KJV (3499) Heb. "yether" is a term used of those after judgment - see Zech 14:2 "residue" KJV (3499) which also means a "cord" (Gen 38:27-30;Josh 2:16-18)] "of his 'brothers' return to join the Israelites" ['brothers', this includes Gentiles (Matt 12:50) in Christ plus faithful Jews]. V4 - NIV - "He will stand (Zech 14:1-4) and shepherd his flock (John 10:14-16)...in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God" (i.e. Christ is not God rather he is a manifestation/reflection of God). Christ's greatness will reach to the ends of the earth (no mention of ruling in heaven). V5 - "he (i.e. Jesus) will be their 'peace'" [ (7965) Heb "shalom" means peace, rest (as in 7th day of rest), safe, well, wholly, happy. Christ is referred to as the Prince of Peace Isa 9:6;Col 1:20;Rom 5:1;Eph 1:2;Eph 2:13-14;John 14:27;Luke 2:13-14 peace on earth]; The Assyrians were a great threat but, as others mentioned, there is a latter day "Assyrian" giving a fuller meaning to this prophecy. V6 - "They" (perhaps refers to the saints), "He" (perhaps means Christ). V7 - "The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew" (perhaps the survivors of Israel in the millenial era will be a means of refreshment, nurturing and blessing to various lands). V8 - "The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations...like a lion...which mauls" (perhaps the survivors of Israel in the future era will be a source of judgment to discipline various lands). V9 - "...triumph over your enemies...foes destroyed" (Micah encourages his people for then and the future). V10 - perhaps this referring Israel, Judah and the remnant to be purged/purified so they might be spiritually fit prior to Micah 5:8. In Isa 2:1-4 we also seem to have the blessing mentioned before the rebuke Isa 2:5-11. V13 - people in our day also worship (to some extent) the work of their hands. V14 - "Asherah poles...demolish your cities" (perhaps this means Israel/Judah will be punished and purified). V15 - "vengeance...upon the nations that have not obeyed me" (perhaps this includes Israel, Judah along with the Gentile nations).

5:7 In speaking of ‘the remnant of Judah’ Micah is implying that there will be a destruction of some of Judah. But the m=remnant will be a great blessing, echoing the words of Psa 72:6

Prayer in the Letter of James

Prayer is a major consideration in the letter of James. He returns to it often and much of what he says about desire and lusting relates to asking in prayer. We must 'ask in faith' James 1:6 However one should not expect to always receive our requests James 1:7 We should not think either that our tribulation is from God in some way as a response to our prayers. James 1:17 Thus the tongue can be used, in prayer, in ways which appear to praise God but the way we treat our brethren and sisters shows that we do not have a regard for the Father. James 3:9 The brethren and sisters did not receive their requests which they had made in prayer because they had the wrong attitudes. James 4:1-3 Their requests were selfish and the Father did not grant them. Rather they should have seen that their prayers should stem from the particular needs of their brethren and sisters. James 5:13

MAKING THE MOST OF GOD'S WORD
 
If we follow a daily reading plan, or have a certain daily Bible reading schedule, it is all too easy to find ourselves reading because that is what we do, rather than because we want to hear God speak to us today. If our Bible reading becomes too routine, it can seem to go in one ear and out the other, without stopping in the middle and going into our minds and hearts.
 
James helps us wen he says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:22-25)
 
James' advice comes in 6 parts.
1. Listen to the word. In other words, read the Bible. Do it regularly.
2. Find a life application in what you read to put into practice in the next 24 hours.
3. "Look intently into the law that gives freedom." Read the reading again. Think about it.
4. "And continues to do this." It doesn't matter how many times we read, the more the better.
5. "Not forgetting what he has heard." It helps to memorize parts of the word: your favourite verse, a section that challenges, puzzles or that tells you what to do.
6. And then put it into practice again.

In doing these things we will make the most of the word of God.

Trials in life are designed to test our faith and endurance (v.3). Job's experience exemplifies this. The person who successfully overcomes his/her trials will be rewarded (v.12; 2Tim 4:7,8). The responsibility for overcoming is ours (vs.13-15). However, the LORD will help us endure, if we ask (v.5; 1Cor 10:13; Heb 2:18).

1:27 James’ concern for the ‘widow’ reflects the fact that this was the first issue that the fledgling ecclesia in Jerusalem had to deal with – Acts 6:1

1:5 Wisdom is ‘the principle thing’ Proverbs 4:7 so seeking it is fundamental. Wisdom comes from applying our understanding of the Scriptures. It is not gained by any mystical means. It is a consequence of careful, prayerful, analysis of Scripture. The Psalmist knew this – Psa 119:99

Thus, we are reminded that the final result of any sinful activity, if left uncorrected and unforgiven, will bring forth death.

V.1 James addressed his comments to the twelve tribes.  There are those who claim that some of the tribes had been lost over time.  James' statement dispels that notion. 

1:12 ‘is tried’ is the same Greek as ‘approved’ in Rom 16:10. It is not simply that the brother is ‘tried’ but that he overcomes the trial.

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1:10 In speaking of the ‘rich’ passing away as ‘the grass he shall pass away’ James is quoting Psa 103:15 where the majesty of God is contrasted with the insignificance of man.

TRUE RELIGION

Would you class yourself as a religious person? James gives us two tests by which we can examine ourselves to see if we have a true religion or a psuedo religion.

Here is test number one: If any man considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tounge, he decieves himself and his religion is worthless. (James 1:26) Our first test is how well we can control our tongues. Are our tongues  firmly under our control so that they say only what is good and useful for building others up and praising God? Or does the control of our tongue lack the ability to stop swearing, crude jokes, gossip, angry words and abuse escaping from our lips? 

Do we have a true religion?

Here is test number two: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (v.27) Are we selfish, looking after only ourselves? Or does our religion and compassion extend to others who who find it hard to help themselves? Fatherless children are espically numerous in todays world of breakups and absent fathers.

Are we doing what we can to help?

Having tested ourselves, what did we find? True Religion is not all about doctrines, traditions and formalities, it is about putting faith into action and doing what God wants us to do. 

How do we measure up?

1:22  Being a hearer and doer echoes Jesus’ words in the parable of the sower – Luke 8:15