BOOK OF JOB
CHAPTER
4
1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: 2. "If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? But who can keep from speaking? 3. See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened the weak hands. 4. Your words have supported those who were stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. 5. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.
(Job Chapter 4 verses 1 to 5)
Oh God as in the case of Job I am also experiencing a difficult situation. throughout the course of life, I have also helped many people who lacked in both skills, faith and confidence, however now I am in a situation where I need help and I have the choice of either admitting that I need help oh God, or U become proud and rebellious and refuse others counsel. Oh God there is no better counsellor than Yourself and Your Word, however I appreciate those people whom you bring me in contact with in order to be of help, support and assistance. Today I was asked what I counsel I would give to a person, whose marriage is gradually falling apart.
Oh God my response was that when I chose my wife I gave my word before God and it is not right to go against the word that I gave, even though the situation is not that good Oh God I will always keep in mind that my first loyalty is to You and that this is more important than anything. I gave my word that I will be faithful in both the good times and the bad and this means a lifelong commitment.
6. Is not your fear of God your confidence and the integrity of your ways your hope?
(Job Chapter 4 verse 6)
Oh God this is a very important question for all of us to ask and answer. In truth where are we placing our confidence, maybe in our career that could one day come to an end? In our wealth and prestige that has no guarantee? In our family or friends that can also be no more. Our confidence oh God is to be placed in You alone, for You are my fortress and my salvation and only in You that I seek refuge and comfort.
7. "Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where the upright cut off? 8. As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
(Job Chapter 4 verses 7 to 8)
Oh God many people reason as did Job. One may expect nothing disastrous to happen in life because we may be living a good life based on Your will. Even though we do our best to obey Your ways, we were never promised a bed of roses. In fact You the LORD set us a perfect example of what the world can offer us, and if the world treated the LORD bad, it cannot us His servants any better. I find this oh God of great consolation. I consider my tribulations as a continuation of Your passion on earth and try to accept all as being according to Your holy will.
9. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. 10. The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11. The strong lion perishes for lack of prey and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
(Job Chapter 4 verses 9 to 11)
The devil is like a ferocious lion whose hunger for our souls is never satisfied. He groans and roars in anger when he sees our souls being saved because this evil spirit is condemned forever. This fact makes him become more angry and as a consequence the devil continues to vent his anger on humanity in more bitter and evil ways than ever.
12. "Now a word came stealing to me, my ear received the whisper of it. 13. Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, 14. dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. 15. A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled. 16. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was a silence, then I heard a voice; 17. 'Can mortals be righteous before God? Can human beings be pure before their Maker?
(Job Chapter 4 verses 12 to 17)
Job raises a very important issue. As humans we are not perfect, however oh God when You begin relating with us, our lives can change and we will start feeling and thinking like You. As in the case of Job feeling depressed and lonely we feel disturbed both in our physical environment and even in our dreams. Our spirit becomes troubled and even during our time of rest we become troubled and start doubting if we can ever be perfect before God. However even though we are imperfect due to our sinful nature You oh God can change that sinful nature into one that is blessed and holy, for You oh God called us to be holy therefore this not something that is impossible for You willed it to be possible, so much that You Yourself called us to be holy.
18. Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error; 19. how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth.
(Job Chapter 4 verses 18 to 19)
This is a gross generalisation from Job because as much as there were angels who manifested distrust as in the case of Satan and his evil colleagues, there were others such as the Archangel Mark and angel Gabriel who served You oh God with full faith and confidence.
20. Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without any regarding it, 21. Their tent-cord is plucked up within them, and they die devoid of wisdom.'
(Job Chapter 4 verses 20 to 21)
In contrary to Job's reasoning oh God we do not die in disgrace but in dignity for before we are placed in the ground a holy ritual of blessing is done and we are blessed again and again with the dignity of the sons and daughters of God.
Oh God I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God I thank You for Your encouragement by means of Your Word that is found in the Bible. I thank You for the trials and tribulations that I am enduring during this time of my life. I also pray for others who may be experiencing different situations. I pray for the people of Syria who are being slaughtered. The good people are being slaughtered with those that we consider as being not so good because of their actions, however we are doing the same wrong. They are killing, we are killing on a greater scale. I pray oh Jesus that You bring this wave of blood shed and waste of life to an end. I invite all who will read this chapter to join me in this prayer Amen.
6. Is not your fear of God your confidence and the integrity of your ways your hope?
(Job Chapter 4 verse 6)
Oh God this is a very important question for all of us to ask and answer. In truth where are we placing our confidence, maybe in our career that could one day come to an end? In our wealth and prestige that has no guarantee? In our family or friends that can also be no more. Our confidence oh God is to be placed in You alone, for You are my fortress and my salvation and only in You that I seek refuge and comfort.
7. "Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where the upright cut off? 8. As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
(Job Chapter 4 verses 7 to 8)
Oh God many people reason as did Job. One may expect nothing disastrous to happen in life because we may be living a good life based on Your will. Even though we do our best to obey Your ways, we were never promised a bed of roses. In fact You the LORD set us a perfect example of what the world can offer us, and if the world treated the LORD bad, it cannot us His servants any better. I find this oh God of great consolation. I consider my tribulations as a continuation of Your passion on earth and try to accept all as being according to Your holy will.
9. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. 10. The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11. The strong lion perishes for lack of prey and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
(Job Chapter 4 verses 9 to 11)
The devil is like a ferocious lion whose hunger for our souls is never satisfied. He groans and roars in anger when he sees our souls being saved because this evil spirit is condemned forever. This fact makes him become more angry and as a consequence the devil continues to vent his anger on humanity in more bitter and evil ways than ever.
12. "Now a word came stealing to me, my ear received the whisper of it. 13. Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, 14. dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. 15. A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled. 16. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was a silence, then I heard a voice; 17. 'Can mortals be righteous before God? Can human beings be pure before their Maker?
(Job Chapter 4 verses 12 to 17)
Job raises a very important issue. As humans we are not perfect, however oh God when You begin relating with us, our lives can change and we will start feeling and thinking like You. As in the case of Job feeling depressed and lonely we feel disturbed both in our physical environment and even in our dreams. Our spirit becomes troubled and even during our time of rest we become troubled and start doubting if we can ever be perfect before God. However even though we are imperfect due to our sinful nature You oh God can change that sinful nature into one that is blessed and holy, for You oh God called us to be holy therefore this not something that is impossible for You willed it to be possible, so much that You Yourself called us to be holy.
18. Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error; 19. how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth.
(Job Chapter 4 verses 18 to 19)
This is a gross generalisation from Job because as much as there were angels who manifested distrust as in the case of Satan and his evil colleagues, there were others such as the Archangel Mark and angel Gabriel who served You oh God with full faith and confidence.
20. Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without any regarding it, 21. Their tent-cord is plucked up within them, and they die devoid of wisdom.'
(Job Chapter 4 verses 20 to 21)
In contrary to Job's reasoning oh God we do not die in disgrace but in dignity for before we are placed in the ground a holy ritual of blessing is done and we are blessed again and again with the dignity of the sons and daughters of God.
Oh God I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God I thank You for Your encouragement by means of Your Word that is found in the Bible. I thank You for the trials and tribulations that I am enduring during this time of my life. I also pray for others who may be experiencing different situations. I pray for the people of Syria who are being slaughtered. The good people are being slaughtered with those that we consider as being not so good because of their actions, however we are doing the same wrong. They are killing, we are killing on a greater scale. I pray oh Jesus that You bring this wave of blood shed and waste of life to an end. I invite all who will read this chapter to join me in this prayer Amen.
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