PM June 21st Job 31

June 21st Job, 31

1: I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 2: For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3: Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? 4: Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5: If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6: Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 7: If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; 8: Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. 9: If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; 10: Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. 11: For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. 12: For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 13: If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; 14: What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 15: Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? 16: If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 17: Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; 18: (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) 19: If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; 20: If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 21: If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: 22: Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. 23: For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure. 24: If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; 25: If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; 26: If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; 27: And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: 28: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. 29: If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. 31: If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. 32: The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. 33: If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: 34: Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? 35: Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. 36: Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. 37: I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him. 38: If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; 39: If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: 40: Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

Job, 32

32v1-37v24 Elihu interrupts Job

1: So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2: Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3: Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4: Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5: When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. 6: And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. 7: I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8: But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 9: Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. 10: Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion. 11: Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. 12: Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: 13: Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. 14: Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches. 15: They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. 16: When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;) 17: I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion. 18: For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. 19: Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. 20: I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. 21: Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 22: For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

Job, 33

1: Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. 2: Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 3: My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. 4: The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5: If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. 6: Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7: Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. 8: Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9: I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 10: Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11: He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12: Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13: Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. 14: For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15: In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16: Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17: That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18: He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19: He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20: So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21: His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22: Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23: If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25: His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27: He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28: He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29: Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30: To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 31: Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. 32: If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33: If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

Today we read job continuing thoughts and Elihu interprets him. But first Job… He says l made an agreement with my eyes not to look at a young woman. Because the Lord brings judgment on the wicked. He sees all my ways and counts all my steps. If l have lived in a wrong way then may the Lord deal with me according to fairness. If l have gone astray then let me sow and others reap and may my children perish. If l have been lead astray by a woman then may other men take my wife. This is a heinous crime and one that judges must deal with. If God did judge me for my sin what complaint could l make? What could l do if God rises up against me? If he spoke to me what would l answer? Are not all men the same? If l have withheld justice from the poor and from the widow, or if l had eaten my food alone and the orphan is left hungry. If l have seen anyone lack clothing or a poor man without clothes. If l have not given clothes to the naked. If l have exploited the orphan then let my arm fall off. If l have trusted in gold even when my wealth is great. If l have seen the sun when it shined or the brightness of the Moon. All these things the judges should convict me of. Because l would have denied the God of above. If l had rejoiced at the destruction of those that hate me or been delighted when evil comes on him. Or if l had allowed my mouth to sin by wishing a curse on his soul. I have helped strangers and opened my door to the traveller. If l have tried to cover my sin like Adam did. My longing is that the almighty God would hear me. If my enemy had written a book then would have worn it as a hat. I would count my steps. If l have done so may bad things then let the judgment of God fall on me. Then these men ceased to speak to Job because he was a righteous man – as far as he was able to understand himself. However Elihu a young man is fuming with Job and with Jobs friends and so he says, I am young and you are old BUT he says Great men are not always wise nor does age always bring understanding. After a long preamble he says, Why are you arguing with God? He said God often does these things to men. He can raise up the humbled and bring blessing to those whom he has disciplined. In a sense he was supporting Job.

Steve