Another year around the Son 1.22.25
Read Job 20-21, Luke 12:13-59
God is pleased with your life of faith. He isn’t gonna cancel you, because of the struggles you stumble over. Real friends talk it out. Find some people you can say the stuff to and they won’t go anywhere. Job’s friends are going in for round two. And Job doesn’t get up and walk out. He listens to more of the same accusations, from his friends. Proverbs 17:17
Zophar’s second speech outlines the downfall of the wicked and while waxing philosophical he hits the bruised heart of a father. The wicked man’s children…STOP, this man just lost 7 sons and 3 daughters. OUCH Job 20:10 hits. Job responds. “Why do the wicked live at all?’ Job 21:7 Job says the prosperity of the wicked is not in their own hand. (Job 21:16 NET)
Job 21:23-26 states the inevitability of death for all. Yes, Job’s children died but death is not a verdict of wickedness as it came even for Moses, a friend of God although at 120 his body was full of vigor. (Deut. 34:7) Job’s final sentence before Eliphaz goes in for round three is, “Nothing is left of your answers but deception!” Job 21:34 NET
Reading Job we are touching on philosophy. These speeches offer rational and critical arguments. Jesus is ever a good teacher about the real life. Christ is life! (Colossians 3:4 agrees!) Life is more than possessions, more than material abundance, and pleasure. (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11) Life is an opportunity to be rich toward God. Reread Luke 12:21. A life in Christ is the abundant life, and yes you will have trouble. (John 16:33) However you can overcome (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28, 3:5, 12, 21) and fulfillment is seen in the lives of the apostles who died rather than withdraw their service and faith towards God. Psalm 116:9 NET
