BOOK OF JOB
CHAPTER
1
1. There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 1)
Oh God how much I would like to be like your servant Job blame less, God fearing and who turned away from evil. I pray that You give me this strong graceful blessing and willpower to be able to be strong enough to overcome my sinful self and be free from the clutches of evil both within me and in my environments.
2. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters, 3. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 2 to 3)
Although Your servant Job was the richest man in his territory he was still a humble person. If I had to interview Job regarding his greatest treasure I am sure that he would say that You oh God were his greatest treasure followed by his family. If we had to stop and reflect we could all find different answers to this question.
4. His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 4)
Job's family was very close. All the members were united in You oh God and they were also united with each other as one big and loving family. However what kept them together as a family was their love for You my loving God. The family that prays together has its firewall activated against the forces of evil and only with the permission of God in order to test us and not to harm us that You oh God permit the evil one to penetrate this wall of love grace and mercy.
5. And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 5)
Oh God the secret of the unity and faith in Job was prayer, especially prayer for the sanctity of his family. Fort hose of us who have children and even for each other it is healthy to pray for each other so that when we are away from home, for reasons of work, play and or leisure we are protected against any sin that we may commit. The prayer is also to compensate for such sins. Oh God You are aware of my weaknesses. I have no worthy father on earth who would pray for me everywhere I go therefore I pray on You my Father and my God to do so. Amen thanks be to God and may His name be glorified at all times and not slandered.
6. One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 6)
It is astounding oh God how even in the presence of angels and holy environments that evil spirits such as Satan can have access and enter among the angels.
7. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 7)
Verse 7 helps us to always keep in mind that Satan is subject to God's authority and that as a being is also accountable to You oh God for his malicious actions. On the other hand this verse shows us the degree of hate that this master of evil has for the world. His intention is that of trampling the world under his feet. He despises the world so much that he humiliates it to the lowest degree possible that is under his lower extremities.
8. The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 8)
Oh God You speak so highly of Your servant Job! As much as You love him he surely loves You. This is the type of relationship that I wish to have with You that, of a loving and caring father who speaks highly of his sons and daughters and not one who is always critical and a source of destruction of ones self-esteem and dignity.
9. Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10. Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face."
(Job Chapter 1 verses 9 to 11)
It is very interesting how much Satan is aware of our nature and our strengths and weaknesses. It is more interesting that in the background behind the scenes these debates regarding our life on earth take place between the evil one and You. At times You may choose to test us in order to see if we remain faithful to You. This may be the fruit of the evil one who may have raised an issue about us in Your presence during one of such many sessions or case reviews of our life on earth. One of the issues oh God that Satan may try to use against me is the issue of stress. Indeed my threshold of stress is not so high and at times I crack and become angry during such moments. However during such moments I still feel You close by even though my sinful nature gets the best of me and I end up reacting at times even negatively. The evil one may ask You to place me under stress and then You will see if I remain faithful to You. I pray that You give me the spiritual power to endure such tests and pass with flying colours!
12. The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!"So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 12)
Oh God You love us so much that You permit Satan only to harm our property but not our souls, which is the most important part of our selves.
13. One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, 14. a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15. and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Job Chapter 1 verses 13 to 15)
Now that the devil had been given the permission to test Job many, incidents had started to take place. Where the devil is involved death and bloodshed is present for he hates us and longs to claim our souls as his own. At times oh God as in the case of Job it is Your hand at work that is lovingly testing us, however is all the time harassing us by means of such events, however the evil spirit is always under your control and each time good comes out of evil.
16. While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them: I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 16)
Oh God when You permitted Satan to test Job you gave him authority to use natural forces such as thunder and other natural disasters. However it could be that by means of such disasters You could be passing a message to us. You may be trying to show us that their are areas in our lives that still need to be fixed and that we need to let You be the God even over that particular sin or habit.
17. While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 17)
At times oh God the persecution of the evil one becomes so strong that one disaster follows the other. This could be considered as a ripple effect where one situations conditions or is conditioned by another. However it is very consoling for me to keep in mind that even when the storms reach their peak in my life You are always there to tell the seas to calm down and the winds to control themselves so that they will not harm me or others. Oh God you love me so much and even others, that from which appears to be a complete state of chaos You are able to bring order as in the beginning when You created the earth. Therefore if anyone is facing what seems for us to be a crisis, do not feel alone and make negative decisions but turn on God Your loving Father in a spirit of prayer and adoration and He will deliver you for He is all love and is in control of all situations. It is good to keep in mind oh |God that all these events took place because You gave the evil one the permission to do so, in order to test us, therefore otherwise nothing could have taken place and Job would have remained under Your wing of protection as I pray that we always will be. Amen.
18. While he was still speaking another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead: I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Jon Chapter 1 verses 18 to 19)
The evil one is able to use any resources at hand including nature in order to harm us. At any moment this hated spirit can unleash its anger on us and attack both our selves, our property and even our friends or family. However we are to rest assured that although the devil seems to have the upper hand God is always victorious over all such situations even though people may still die or perish. What is of peak importance is the well being of the soul more than that of the body, for it is the soul that will exist forever and not the body.
As in the case of the incident that took place in Malta, in a split second the devil can cause accidents that claims the live of innocent people. As in the following an event in order to raise money in aid of charity in a split second ended up in a disaster where many people were seriously injured. I invite you to click on the following link:-
Split second incident
20. Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." 22. In all Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
(Job Chapter 1 verses 20 to 22)
Oh God may we all be like Your faithful servant Job. May we accept all as being according to Your will. As You know oh God You are also permitting me to be tested. I feel that my life is gradually falling apart. All hell is breaking loose on me. I am facing a great injustice with the insurance of the person who crashed into my car, the water and electricity agency is also being unjust in its practise and are implying that I pay a bill that is totally incorrect in its computation since I have solar panels and am compensating for the electricity that I am consuming. Last of all I am experiencing a lack of love from those who are closest to me and this really hurts. I feel lonely and at times I feel that I have no reason to continue living. However oh God You are my consolation and this encourages me to accept all that is happening as one big test that I am being tested with. Instead of committing suicide I come to You oh God and bless Your name instead of cursing both myself and You. Blessed be Your name oh God.
Oh God I would like to end this first chapter of the Books of Wisdom with the following song that is in itself a song of prayer, blessing and worship. It is called "Blessed is the name of the LORD". I encourage you to click on the following link and join me in this prayer.
Song and Prayer Blessed be the Name of the LORD
(Job Chapter 1 verse 2 to 3)
Although Your servant Job was the richest man in his territory he was still a humble person. If I had to interview Job regarding his greatest treasure I am sure that he would say that You oh God were his greatest treasure followed by his family. If we had to stop and reflect we could all find different answers to this question.
4. His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 4)
Job's family was very close. All the members were united in You oh God and they were also united with each other as one big and loving family. However what kept them together as a family was their love for You my loving God. The family that prays together has its firewall activated against the forces of evil and only with the permission of God in order to test us and not to harm us that You oh God permit the evil one to penetrate this wall of love grace and mercy.
5. And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 5)
Oh God the secret of the unity and faith in Job was prayer, especially prayer for the sanctity of his family. Fort hose of us who have children and even for each other it is healthy to pray for each other so that when we are away from home, for reasons of work, play and or leisure we are protected against any sin that we may commit. The prayer is also to compensate for such sins. Oh God You are aware of my weaknesses. I have no worthy father on earth who would pray for me everywhere I go therefore I pray on You my Father and my God to do so. Amen thanks be to God and may His name be glorified at all times and not slandered.
6. One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 6)
It is astounding oh God how even in the presence of angels and holy environments that evil spirits such as Satan can have access and enter among the angels.
7. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 7)
Verse 7 helps us to always keep in mind that Satan is subject to God's authority and that as a being is also accountable to You oh God for his malicious actions. On the other hand this verse shows us the degree of hate that this master of evil has for the world. His intention is that of trampling the world under his feet. He despises the world so much that he humiliates it to the lowest degree possible that is under his lower extremities.
8. The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 8)
Oh God You speak so highly of Your servant Job! As much as You love him he surely loves You. This is the type of relationship that I wish to have with You that, of a loving and caring father who speaks highly of his sons and daughters and not one who is always critical and a source of destruction of ones self-esteem and dignity.
9. Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10. Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face."
(Job Chapter 1 verses 9 to 11)
It is very interesting how much Satan is aware of our nature and our strengths and weaknesses. It is more interesting that in the background behind the scenes these debates regarding our life on earth take place between the evil one and You. At times You may choose to test us in order to see if we remain faithful to You. This may be the fruit of the evil one who may have raised an issue about us in Your presence during one of such many sessions or case reviews of our life on earth. One of the issues oh God that Satan may try to use against me is the issue of stress. Indeed my threshold of stress is not so high and at times I crack and become angry during such moments. However during such moments I still feel You close by even though my sinful nature gets the best of me and I end up reacting at times even negatively. The evil one may ask You to place me under stress and then You will see if I remain faithful to You. I pray that You give me the spiritual power to endure such tests and pass with flying colours!
12. The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!"So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
(Job Chapter 1 verse 12)
Oh God You love us so much that You permit Satan only to harm our property but not our souls, which is the most important part of our selves.
13. One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, 14. a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15. and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Job Chapter 1 verses 13 to 15)
Now that the devil had been given the permission to test Job many, incidents had started to take place. Where the devil is involved death and bloodshed is present for he hates us and longs to claim our souls as his own. At times oh God as in the case of Job it is Your hand at work that is lovingly testing us, however is all the time harassing us by means of such events, however the evil spirit is always under your control and each time good comes out of evil.
16. While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them: I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 16)
Oh God when You permitted Satan to test Job you gave him authority to use natural forces such as thunder and other natural disasters. However it could be that by means of such disasters You could be passing a message to us. You may be trying to show us that their are areas in our lives that still need to be fixed and that we need to let You be the God even over that particular sin or habit.
17. While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Job Chapter 1 verse 17)
At times oh God the persecution of the evil one becomes so strong that one disaster follows the other. This could be considered as a ripple effect where one situations conditions or is conditioned by another. However it is very consoling for me to keep in mind that even when the storms reach their peak in my life You are always there to tell the seas to calm down and the winds to control themselves so that they will not harm me or others. Oh God you love me so much and even others, that from which appears to be a complete state of chaos You are able to bring order as in the beginning when You created the earth. Therefore if anyone is facing what seems for us to be a crisis, do not feel alone and make negative decisions but turn on God Your loving Father in a spirit of prayer and adoration and He will deliver you for He is all love and is in control of all situations. It is good to keep in mind oh |God that all these events took place because You gave the evil one the permission to do so, in order to test us, therefore otherwise nothing could have taken place and Job would have remained under Your wing of protection as I pray that we always will be. Amen.
18. While he was still speaking another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead: I alone have escaped to tell you."
(Jon Chapter 1 verses 18 to 19)
The evil one is able to use any resources at hand including nature in order to harm us. At any moment this hated spirit can unleash its anger on us and attack both our selves, our property and even our friends or family. However we are to rest assured that although the devil seems to have the upper hand God is always victorious over all such situations even though people may still die or perish. What is of peak importance is the well being of the soul more than that of the body, for it is the soul that will exist forever and not the body.
As in the case of the incident that took place in Malta, in a split second the devil can cause accidents that claims the live of innocent people. As in the following an event in order to raise money in aid of charity in a split second ended up in a disaster where many people were seriously injured. I invite you to click on the following link:-
Split second incident
20. Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." 22. In all Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
(Job Chapter 1 verses 20 to 22)
Oh God may we all be like Your faithful servant Job. May we accept all as being according to Your will. As You know oh God You are also permitting me to be tested. I feel that my life is gradually falling apart. All hell is breaking loose on me. I am facing a great injustice with the insurance of the person who crashed into my car, the water and electricity agency is also being unjust in its practise and are implying that I pay a bill that is totally incorrect in its computation since I have solar panels and am compensating for the electricity that I am consuming. Last of all I am experiencing a lack of love from those who are closest to me and this really hurts. I feel lonely and at times I feel that I have no reason to continue living. However oh God You are my consolation and this encourages me to accept all that is happening as one big test that I am being tested with. Instead of committing suicide I come to You oh God and bless Your name instead of cursing both myself and You. Blessed be Your name oh God.
Oh God I would like to end this first chapter of the Books of Wisdom with the following song that is in itself a song of prayer, blessing and worship. It is called "Blessed is the name of the LORD". I encourage you to click on the following link and join me in this prayer.
Song and Prayer Blessed be the Name of the LORD
