AM June 25th Romans 2

June 25^th Being a Jew doesn’t make a man right with God

17: Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18: And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19: And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20: An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21: Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22: Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23: Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24: For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25: For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26: Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27: And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Paul turns his attention specifically on the Jewish man. He says you are called a Jew by everyone and you rely on the Law and you boast in the relation you have with God. And because you have the law you know what God requires and you have on a higher level of culture. You are confident that you are able to tell those who cannot see it how to live. You can teach the unlearned in the things of God. You have a level of knowledge of the truth of the Law. Now you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who teach others not to steal – do you steal? You teach others not to commit adultery but do you commit adultery? You who hate idols - do you commit sacrilege? You boast in the law but through your breaking of the law, don’t you dishonour God? Your God is cursed by Gentiles when they see you sin. Circumcision is a wonderful thing – if you keep the law, but if you break the law, then your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. And if Gentiles who do not have the law live righteously - like the law demands, and then is not his uncircumcision counted by God as if he were circumcised. And will not Gentiles judge Jews who do not keep the law. Being a Jew is not just an outward thing. Being a Jew is not just a name, it is an inward thing, in which the Jew is circumcised in heart and in the spirit. This type of person is praised by God and not just by men. And so Paul has cut right through hypocrisy of Israel. Being a Jew, Paul says, is not just a name, nor just a nationality, it is a spiritual relation to God in which in heart and mind of the Jew in godly fear, keeps the law.

• How does Paul describe the Jewish world?
• In what way had the Jews misunderstood their standing before God?
• How does Paul challenge them about how they stand before God?

PM June 24th Job 40

June 24^th Job 40

1: Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, 2: Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. 3: Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 4: Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5: Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. 6: Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7: Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8: Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 9: Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10: Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 11: Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 12: Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. 13: Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. 14: Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. 15: Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. 16: Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17: He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. 18: His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. 19: He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. 20: Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. 21: He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. 22: The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. 23: Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. 24: He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

Job 41

1: Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? 2: Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3: Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4: Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5: Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6: Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7: Canst thou fill his skin with barbed iron? or his head with fish spears? 8: Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9: Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10: None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? 11: Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12: I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13: Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? 14: Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15: His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. 16: One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17: They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18: By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19: Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20: Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21: His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22: In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. 23: The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. 24: His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25: When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26: The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. 27: He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28: The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29: Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30: Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. 31: He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32: He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33: Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34: He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

Job 42 C. Epilogue (Prose) Job’s humility

1: Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2: I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3: Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4: Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5: I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. 7: And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8: Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. 9: So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

Job is restored in prosperity

10: And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11: Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 12: So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13: He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14: And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. 15: And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16: After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. 17: So Job died, being old and full of days.

The Lord today continues to speak to Job. The Lord is not interested in addressing Jobs friends; rather it is Job that needs to be challenged by the message of the Lord. Then in chapter 42 we have the Epilogue where Job is humbled and restored in prosperity. But first we read of the Lord challenging Job to answer whether he is able to instruct the Lord. The Lord says you who think that you can reprove God, let’s hear you speak? So Job does speak, but he does not answer proudly, he humbles himself before the Lord. He says, I am vile - how can l answer the Lord? I will put my hand on my mouth. The Lord spoke to him out of the tornado. Will you call my judgment into question? Will you condemn me - so that you will be known to be righteous? Are you omnipotent like God? Can you thunder like God can? Can you array yourself in majesty and excellency an in beauty and glory? Can you rage against proud men and humble them in your might? Can you see every proud man and can you bring them low and put all the wicked under your feet? If you can then to be honest you would be able to save yourself. Think of the great Dinosaurs which l have made. They eat grass like an ox and they are very powerful in their hips. His tail is like a cedar tree and his bones are like strong brass or bars of iron. They are the chief of all creation. He that made him can bring judgment on you. The mountains bring him food. He lies under shady trees, in the shallow waters among the reeds. He drinks huge amounts of water. Can you Job fish for one of the huge sea monsters and catch him with a hook? Will you be able to talk to him and make an understanding with him? If no man can stand up to this fierce sea monster then who can stand up and fight with me? Then a dragon is described who breaths fire. Is there any reason to think that The Lord who made this creature is describing a mythical animal? This dragon is described by the Lord as having a heart of stone and limbs that are very strong. The presence of this creature brings terrible terror to men and he is called by the Lord the king of beasts. Job answered and said, I know that you can do everything and that there is no thought that is beyond you. He says, l have heard your voice and l turn away from my thoughts and sit in dust and ashes. The whole book is drawn to a climax in these words. When everything had been said and done Job repented and sat on the dung hill. God has brought Job to the right place and he is now in his right mind. Then the Lord rebuked Eliphaz and his two friends, because they have spoken things about God that are not right, just like Job. (What a serious indictment that should cause every preacher to tremble) So these three men were sent by the Lord to Job who would sacrifice seven bullocks and seven rams as burnt offerings. And they would remain silent while Job prayed from them. The Lord accepted Jobs sacrifice and prayer and saved the lives of his friends. Then the Lord restored Jobs health, wealth, property and family. The Lord gave him double what he had before. Job held a feast for all his extended family and they came to mourn with him. He also had seven sons and three daughters, Jemima, Kezia and Keren-happuch. They were the most beautiful women in all the kingdom. Job gave them equal inheritance among their brothers. Job lived another 140 years and saw his great grandchildren. He died a very old man.

• Why do you think that God speaks to Job but not to his friends?
• What does God say?
• Hoe does God restore Job to his former position? 

AM June 24th Romans 2

June 24^th Romans 2 All are inexcusable

1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2: But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3: And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5: But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6: Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9: Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10: But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11: For there is no respect of persons with God. 12: For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13: (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14: For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16: In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Having established the fact of sin in the human heart Paul goes on to establish the truth of the righteous judgment of God. He says men are without excuse before God because what they say is sin in other people, becomes the principle in which God will judge them, and God will judge them of the same sin. The judgment of God will be truthful. Those who do the very same things that they say are sin must not think that they will escape the judgment of God. Why do men despise the richness of the goodness and patience of God? Don’t they know that the goodness of God should lead men to think again about how they live in relation to God? But those who turn a deaf ear to God and refuse to be sorrowful for sin only store up the wrath of God which will be revealed in the righteous judgment of God, when God will judge in justice according to every mans deeds. And how will God render to every man according to his deeds? Those who patiently continued to do righteous deeds he will render to them glory, honour and immortality, that is eternal life. But to those who live in opposition to Gods word and do not obey the truth of God but do unrighteous deeds he will render to them wrath and righteous judgment. He will render tribulation and torment on every man that does evil deeds. He will do this to the Jews first and also to Gentiles. God does not have any favourites. Those who sin outside the covenant of Israel will perish outside the covenant but those who sin according to the law are judged according to the law. (It is not just those who hear the Law of Moses that are righteous but those who do it are righteous. Because Gentiles who do not have the Mosaic law, when they do by nature the things said in the Law they are a law unto themselves. They show the righteous deeds of the Law written in their minds. And their conscience either accuses them of excuses them.) The verses 13-15 are in parenthesis and so verse 16 picks up what was said in verse 12. Which was…Those who sin outside the law will perish outside the law but those who sin according to the law are judged according to the law - on the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Gentiles will be judged according to conscience but the Jews will be judged according to Law. Paul in this passage is describing the sinful lives and judgment of God on men outside of the Grace of God. Those that are Gentiles will be judged according to their conscience and those who are Jews will be judged according to the Mosaic Law.

• How does Paul challenge the religious who look down on the most degraded of mankind?
• How will the Lord deal with all men outside of Grace?
• On what principle will God judge men? 

PM June 23rd Job 37

June 23^rd Job 37

1: At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. 2: Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3: He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4: After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 5: God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 6: For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. 7: He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. 8: Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. 9: Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. 10: By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11: Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13: He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. 14: Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15: Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16: Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? 17: How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? 18: Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? 19: Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 20: Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. 21: And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22: Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. 23: Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24: Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Job 38 God speaks to Job

1: Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2: Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3: Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4: Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5: Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6: Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7: When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8: Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9: When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10: And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11: And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12: Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13: That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14: It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15: And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16: Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17: Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18: Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20: That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21: Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22: Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23: Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 25: Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26: To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27: To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28: Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29: Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30: The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31: Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32: Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33: Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34: Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? 36: Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37: Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38: When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39: Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40: When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41: Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Job 39

1: Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2: Canst thou number the months that they fulfill? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3: They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. 4: Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. 5: Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 6: Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7: He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 8: The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. 9: Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 10: Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11: Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 12: Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? 13: Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 14: Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, 15: And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. 16: She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear; 17: Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18: What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. 19: Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20: Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21: He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22: He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23: The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24: He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25: He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26: Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27: Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28: She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29: From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. 30: Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

Today we read of Elihu’s continued speech. And the LORD speaks to Job. Finally we might have some common sense! So back to Elihu. He speaks of the mightiest works of the Lord - the lightening and the thunder. He says effectively who can understand the Lord? He calls for the snow to fall and light and heavy rain. The beasts retreat into their dens. The Lord brings great tornados from the south and blizzards from the north. The Lord brings frost from the breath of his mouth. The Lord controls the weather by his command. So listen, Job. Stand still and think about the wonderful works of the Lord. Do you know how the clouds are held in balance? And how he brings in warm weather from the desert? Have you spread out the sky? We know so little. Even if we speak we know so little. Touching the Almighty we cannot understand him he exceeds everything in his power and in judgment and in al his judgments he will not inflict. Men generally fear him but he does not give honour to the wise. Then finally the Lord speaks to Job from out of a tornado. He says who is this man that makes understanding obscure by speaking when he knows nothing? What a great statement that is. I am going to talk to you so listen carefully. Where were you Job, when l laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me what you know - if you know anything! Who surveyed the earth to build its mountains? Do you know? Who measured it? The place where the foundations of the earth were fixed? Who laid the corner stone of the earth? Where you there when the morning stars sang in unison and all the angels shouted in the joy of the Lord? Who was there to see the seas shut up with flood gates and when they broke forth as if it came from a womb? When l made clouds a garment for the floods and made darkness the baby clothes for it. When l told the seas you may come so far and no further. When the proud waters were halted. Did you command the morning to begin? So that the whole earth is bathed in light and the wicked are shaken out of it? It is like clay to a seal and they stand as a covering. The wicked live in darkness and their strong arms are broken. Have you entered into the springs of the sea? And have you walked at the very bottom of the deepest sea? Have the gates of death been opened for you to go through? Have you see the doors of the shadow of death? Do you know exactly how big the earth is? Tell me if you know? Where is the place were light lives and where does darkness live? Do you know the way to the place where they live? Have you understood the treasures of the snow? And have you understood the treasures of the hail? And so the Lord goes on and on exposing the complete ignorance of Job. He speaks of rain, dew, frost and ice. Then he speaks of the stars, Pleiades, Orion, Mazzaroth and Arturus. The seasons, wild animals, lions and their divine provision. He speaks of wild goats, hinds calves; He says do you know the time of their gestation? Then he speaks of wild asses and describes their habitat and habits. Then he speaks of the unicorn (perhaps he is describing the Rhinoceros. He speaks of the wings of the peacocks and the ostrich. He speaks of horses and grasshoppers, hawks and eagles. This must have left Job feeling rather small and ignorant.

• How would you describe the last statements of Elihu?
• How does the Lord begin to speak to Job?
• What is God trying to communicate to Job?

AM June 23rd Romans 1

June 23^rd Romans 1 A. Introduction Greetings and Blessing

1: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2: (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4: And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to meet you

8: First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9: For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10: Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11: For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12: That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13: Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14: I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15: So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

B. The Condition of Mankind - Gentiles and Jews (*Condemnation) The Wrath of God is revealed

18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Paul sends his letter to Rome to introduce himself to the church before he arrives to preach the Gospel. He establishes his apostolic authority and his call to missionary endeavour. Then in his greeting he describes the subject of the letter. It is going to be about the Gospel of God concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Who according to the flesh was a Jew but who was openly declared to be the Son of God as a result of his resurrection from the dead. It is in Christ that we received salvation by grace and a ministry of apostleship among all the nations. Paul writes this letter is for you who are loved of God and called to be holy. Then he combines the Jewish and Christian greeting Charis Shalom. Charis – Grace is the principle in which God deals will men in our day and Shalom – Peace is the spiritual experience of those who come to a knowledge of his Grace. Paul begins his letter with a number of personal remarks. First he says l thank God for you all because your faith is talked about in the whole world. And God will testify that l pray for you always. And my request is that l might be able to come and see you and give you some spiritual blessing so that you will be established in the faith. Then he says that he would have often come to see them but was hindered many times. But he says l am not ashamed of my message and l have not been putting off my visit to you, l want to see you at the first opportunity l get. No l am not ashamed because the Gospel is the power of God to salvation to all that believe. In the Gospel is revealed the righteousness of God and it comes by faith and is realised by faith. Because the righteous live daily by placing their faith in God. And the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness in men. God reveals himself to men even his power and divinity is revealed in the creation which we can see every day. Every man is without excuse before God because he can see Gods work all around him. And when men do not glorify God or are thankful to Him they think up empty ideas and their foolish minds are darkened to the truth of God. They say that they are clever but in fact they become foolish. They change the glory of an incorruptible God into images made to look like birds animals and snakes etc. So God let them get on with their uncleanness and lust filled lives. They dishonour their bodies with sexual activity with each other. Paul says they change the truth of God into a lie. And they worship and serve the creatures that God has made instead of worshipping the creator. So God let them go their own way to live in vile lusts, Even their women gave up their natural sexual purpose to do things which are contrary to nature. And the men also turn from natural sexual purpose to burn in lust after each other men with men doing things which are disgusting. And they receive in their bodies the wages of their sin. Because they did not want to even remember God He allowed them to go on to minds that are full of rejection of God. And to do those things which are not honourable. Their lives become full of bad deeds, forbidden sex, evil acts, they long after others people possessions, They are evil in seeking the hurt of other people, They are full of jealousy, they hate and kill, they deceive, they destroy, they let lies and behind peoples backs, they hate God, they do horrible things to others. They think they are cleaver, They think up new evil things, they openly defy their parents, they have no understanding, They break promises, they have no normal affections, they are unmovable and without a shred of mercy, They know the judgment of God and that God with destroy those who live like this but they not only want to continue but they take delight in perverting others to do the same. What an indictment on the world, Paul brings to us here. He describes the heart of man who leaves God behind. He describes atheism.

• How does Paul introduce himself to the Church at Rome before he is able to visit them?
• How does Paul describe the whole world outside of Grace?
• How does he describe the downward path of humanity from the natural knowledge of God into degredation and evil?

PM June 22nd Job 34

June 22^nd Job 34

1: Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2: Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3: For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. 4: Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. 5: For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6: Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. 7: What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? 8: Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9: For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. 10: Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11: For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12: Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13: Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? 14: If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15: All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. 16: If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17: Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 18: Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19: How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. 20: In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. 21: For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22: There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23: For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. 24: He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. 25: Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. 26: He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; 27: Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: 28: So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29: When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: 30: That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. 31: Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: 32: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33: Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. 34: Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. 35: Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36: My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. 37: For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Job 35

1: Elihu spake moreover, and said, 2: Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? 3: For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? 4: I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 5: Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 6: If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7: If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8: Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. 9: By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 10: But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; 11: Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 12: There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13: Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 14: Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. 15: But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: 16: Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Job 36

1: Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2: Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. 3: I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4: For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5: Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. 6: He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. 7: He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. 8: And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; 9: Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10: He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11: If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12: But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 13: But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14: They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. 15: He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. 16: Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. 17: But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. 18: Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 19: Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20: Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21: Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22: Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23: Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 24: Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25: Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 26: Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27: For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29: Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 30: Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31: For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32: With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. 33: The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

In chapters 34 – 36 Elihu continues to speak to all four men. He says, Listen to me you wise men. He summarised Jobs argument saying that he says that he is righteous. He is surrounded by evil men who laugh at him in his predicament. Job should continue to do what is right. And surely God does right too. If God gathered again all the breath of men then all men would die. God will do whatever he wishes with men but he will only do what is right. Therefore Job has spoken without knowledge and his words are foolish. He has taken the side of wicked man and spoken against God. Then Elihu spoke again saying, Is it right that Job is more righteous than God? Look at the sky the heavens are higher than you. The oppressed cry to the Lord, but none says where is God my maker? Who gives songs in the night. Who makes us understand things that animals cannot see. And makes us wiser than birds. God does not listen to empty words. So you say trust in God yet in your trust you have spoken foolishly. He continues God is mighty and he does not despise any man. He punishes the wicked and gives blessing to the poor. He calls on kings to serve him and if they turn away from him he commands them to return unto him. And if they do not then he will destroy them with the sword. But those who are hypocrites heap up the wrath of God. Who can know God - can anyone count his days? Can anyone understand how God makes the rain to fall?

• What does Elihu have to say?
• In what Elihu says has he made a great mistake?
• In what way is this book a puzzle for mankind?

AM June 22nd Acts 28

June 22^nd (Paul in Rome) Paul arrives in Rome

16: And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. 17: And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18: Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19: But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20: For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 21: And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 22: But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. 23: And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24: And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25: And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26: Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28: Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29: And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

Paul preaching unhindered

30: And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31: Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Luke brings his record of the Acts of the Apostles to an end by describing Paul’s adventures in Rome. When they arrived in Rome all the prisoners were handed over to the Roman guard but Paul was allowed to live in a house by himself with a soldier to keep watch over him. He was under house arrest. After three days Paul gathered the chief Jews together to speak to them. You will notice that Pauls practise from the beginning had been to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. Paul as an apostle to the Jews calls them together to hear the good news of the Messiah. He explains the reason for his arrest. He says l have done nothing wrong, nor have l broken any of the customs of the Fathers yet despite this l was handed over to the Romans to be executed. But when the Romans looked into my case they wanted to release me, because l had done nothing worthy of death. When the Jews spoke against me l was compelled to appeal to Caesar. This is why l have called for you to speak to you. l am here in chains because of the hope of Israel. The Jews said that they had not heard anything about the case and we want to hear from you and what you believe, We have heard things about this group and we know that it is opposed everywhere. So they set a day when Paul could be heard and the Jews came to his lodging to hear him speak. Paul preached concerning the whole rule of God and persuaded them about Jesus of Nazareth. He preached Christ from the Law and the prophets from first thing in the morning to evening time. Some of the Jews believed the Gospel and some refused to believe it. The Jews were divided as to what Paul said. Luke comments that Isaiah prophesied well when he said Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. So Paul formally broke off from the Jews because of their official rejection of his message. He said, I want you to know that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. After Paul had spoken these words the Jews left him and they had a great discussion among themselves. Paul lived for two years in his own private apartment and he had freedom to receive all visitors. He continued to preach the kingdom of God and teaching everything about the Lord Jesus Christ, with total confidence, and no body was able to stopping him in this work. And so this ends Luke’s Record. Luke has recorded the ministry of the Apostles. Firstly Peters ministry mainly in Jerusalem and Judea and Then Pauls ministry in Northern Palestine, Turkey, Macedonia, Greece and now Rome. In every place the ministry of the Apostles has been quite unique in that the Gospel of the Kingdom has gone out to the Jews of the whole Roman world. Nearly every Synagogue of the Jews has been touched by their preaching and most of the time it has been rejected by them. But there is another story the unfolding of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Starting from chapter 10 with the conversion of Cornelius who was a Jewish Proselyte the Gospel has gone out first to the Gentiles who are living as circumcised God fearing Proselytes and then to the Gentiles who have no link to Judaism the message of Christ has made large inroads into the masses of the Roman Empire. There have been many crisis’, such as the Question of whether Gentiles are to be forced to take up Judaism in order to be saved or whether christians can be legitimately persecuted and executed as enemies of the Jewish religion. And the Gospel has triumphed over all. Even at the last chapter the Word of the Lord is still going out unhindered.

• In what way was Paul held in preparation for a hearing before Ceasar?
• What is the response to Paul when he addresses the Jews of Rome?
• In what way had Paul finally reached his objective to reach Rome with the Gospel of Gods Grace?