The Book of Job Chapter 22 of 42 (To update)

The Book of Job 

Chapter 

22

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: ² Can a mortal be of use to God? Can even the wisest be of service to him?

(The Book of Job Chapter 22 verses 1 to 2)

Oh Eliphaz my friend God is able to use us to reach others and do many positive acts. We are God's hands and heart and feet especially when we listen to his requests and obey them during the course of our life Amen. God does not look at how intelligent we are, in fact God used both the wise and even those who were considered of the most simple of people Amen such as myself Amen.

³ Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

(The Book of Job Chapter 22 verse 3)

Oh God my Father You do seek pleasure and satisfaction in Your people and likely so You do not like it when we turn away to follow modern ways that lead to sin. I thank You for finding pleasure in us. I pray that I continue to love and please You even though I am still a sinner Amen.

The Book of Job Chapter 21 of 42

 

 The Book of Job 

Chapter 

21

¹ Then Job answered; ² "Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.

(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verses 1 to 2)

Oh God my beloved Father today in 2018 You are telling us the same thing. You are telling us to take off our headphones and mobiles and tune on to the same channel as Yourself. In such a period of alienation, You are asking us to listen and not to judge or ridicule Your Word, which can change us if we give it the opportunity to make the necessary changes.

Moreover, my Lord and God, even though today there is a boost of knowledge and intelligence this is not being strong enough to heal us of our sinful self and negative inclinations. Instead, it is leaving our souls empty and our thirst for You is increasing however we are under the spell of the world and are trying to quench our thirst with the ways of the world instead of by You Amen. We are chosen the finite which has an end over the infinite which has no end. Amen.

³ Bear with me, and I will speak; then after I have spoken, mock on.

(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 3)


Oh God my Father this is something that we all desire, however, it may not be something that we are willing to do. We all wish to be heard and understood however we do not always try to understand others. Many times just being there to listen to others is enough, there is no need to say anything in particular but to show understanding Amen.


⁴ As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals? Why should I not be impatient



(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 4)


Oh God my Father many times I address my complaints to my friends but nobody understands me or accepts me as I am, only a few people care to listen without being judgmental therefore I address my frustrations to You because I am sure You are always listening. Amen


⁵ Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 5)



Oh God my beloved Father, if I were to appear before You in a state that gives prominence to my sins, my appearance would really be appalling. You would not stand the smell or the sight. However, You give me the opportunity of being renewed and cleansed from my sins Amen. Thank You Jesus Amen.



⁶ When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 6) 


Oh God my Father, the problem with us humans is that instead of taking You at Your Word and place our trust in You, we tend to do alot of rationalizing in order to try and solve our problems, and at times like Job we end up feeling worse instead of better. The tendency is to become depressed and start accusing You with the "Why me question?, when You would gladly answer "Why not?



⁷Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 7) 



Oh God my father we may often as this question, regarding the reasons for those who do evil to succeed in power and prestige while those who are not that popular remain as if stuck in their rut of unpopularity. I have faith in You my God and Father and I believe that the pride, wealth and success of this world are worthless in Your eyes Amen. 


⁸Their children are established in their presence and their offspring before their eyes.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 8) 


Oh God my Father and brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. How difficult it is for such children to live in the shadows of their successful parents, to fit into the role model and standards that they might not like or have an ambition to pursue. How hard it is to live according to a lifestyle that has been chosen by others. I pray for such people because in certain cases they end up psychologically harmed Amen. I pray that we be happy with whom You have willed us to be and be grateful, Amen



⁹ Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 9) 



Oh, brothers and sisters, this may be a false impression for those who are rich and abundant in the world may be lacking in spiritual elements such as faith. Homes might become houses because the focus might be on riches and power instead of giving glory to You my God and Father Amen. Things might appear to be going good however if Your presence is lacking from our lives we are heading for the rocks that will mark our fatal end Amen.


¹⁰ Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and never miscarries.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 10) 


Oh my friend Job even though such people have one success after another they still might not be happy with such achievements, so much that they would want more and more. They might not even thank God for their successes or may credit their earnings for themselves. I pray that we give thanks even for the so-called negative situations for God can achieve success even by means of such so-called failures Amen.


¹¹ They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 11) 


Oh Job my friend, these people send out their children like flocks, however many children are in need of the care of their parents and are not getting it, since from an early age, they are being sent to school in flocks because their parents need to go to work and earn a living. Amen. It is in Your judgement oh God if this is out of need or for other intentions Amen. 


¹² They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 12) 


Oh God my Father, as much as people of the world know how to find pleasure and satisfaction to the sounds and ways of the world, I have learnt to make the same experience when being in Your presence Amen.


¹³ They spend their days in prosperity and in peace they go down to Sheol.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 13)



Oh my friend Job, all that appears nice and easy-going is not always the reality. Many people who think they are powerful and have control over their lives are not happy since they are missing the most important ingredient of life that is Jesus. Amen. The image that they project is a far cry to the reality of their lives both in this world and in that of the future Amen.


¹⁴ They say to God, 'Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.



(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 14)


Oh God, my Father, this is indeed a heartbreaking statement for You love us so much that You chose to give up Your carnal life for our redemption. I thank You for doing so my God and Father Amen.


¹⁵ What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?"


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 15)


Oh God, my Father, this is the reasoning of people who are both hurt and angry. A spirit of anger and rebellion takes over our mind and soul and we start to begin doubting you and even ourselves. We end up feeling lonely depressed and frustrated, however even during such moments You are always with us, waiting for that moment when we turn back to You willfully and not through compulsion Amen.


¹⁶ Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 16)


Dear brothers and sisters kindly make note that all our successes are attributed to God our Father and not to ourselves. If You, my God had to remove Your protective hand from covering us, we and our plans would perish forever Amen.


¹⁷ "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains in his anger?


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 17)


Oh Job my brother and all others in Jesus Christ, our God is a just and loving God, who does not send us pain but happiness. Many times it is our sinful selves that end up seeking actions that result in our experiencing pain and calamity. God wants us to be happy and not in pain Amen. At the time of His human life on earth, Jesus healed the sick on many levels and chased pain away. I accept all that happens to me as coming from the hand of God for He sees the big picture of my life and knows what is good for me and what brings me to pain Amen.


¹⁸ How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 18)


Oh my God sons and daughters of the world know how to manipulate its ways more than those who try to live according to Your will. They appear bold in the eyes of man, but in Your eyes they are sinful weak and vulnerable Amen.


¹⁹ You say, 'God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let it be paid back to them, so that they may know it.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 19)


Oh God my Father You are a God of love and forgiveness. You love us so much that You paid the price of our sins and took the cross on our behalf Amen.


²⁰ Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 20)


Let there be mercy and compassion for such people who are so full of themselves that they do not know what they are doing Amen.


²¹ For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off?


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 21)


Oh my friend Job, as Christians we believe in the life of the soul after death, and therefore we pray for those who have left this material world in order to be with God our Father Amen.


²² Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 22)


My brothers and sisters there is nobody like God our Father He is joy wisdom knowledge love incarnated in one being. God does not need to be instructed. We are to listen to His instruction instead of trying to make Him bend to our ways and customs Amen.


²³ One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure, ²⁴ his loins full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verses 23 to 24)


Oh God my Father we might be people who take good care of our material welfare at the cost of our spiritual welfare and end up dying in a life of sin.


²⁵ Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good. ²⁶ They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 25)


Oh God my Father, I agree that both the good and not so good people cannot escape death, however I prefer to be found not in a bad state on dying than in a state of mortal sin Amen.


²⁷ "Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me.


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 27)


Oh God my Father I thank You for giving us words of knowledge especially in tricky situations when the sons of evil are trying to test us Amen.


²⁸ For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?"


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 28)


Oh God, my Father, many people are known for their intelligence, others for their riches and few are known for their humility because not many people have ever come in contact with them. I pray oh God that you raise the humble, and humble those who are known and popular in the world. For fame and riches often create pride and sin, however, there were many people of God who were popular and kind to others. I pray that we be like such people Amen.


²⁹ Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony, ³⁰ that the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, and are rescued in the day of wrath?


(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verse 29 to 30)


Oh, brothers and sisters, this is a myth that many of us believe, that those who are well off and have no problems in life while those who are poor are all sad. I thank God that I am working with poor people who are happy and generous with what they have and are not tied to it. Amen

³¹ Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done? ³² When they are carried to the grave, a watch is kept over their tomb.

(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verses 31 to 32)

Oh brothers and sisters upon dying our sinful ways die with us and we are accountable to God for our actions. Even though God forgives us our sins we still have the blemish of our sins which make us unclean especially the blemish of the consequences of our sins on others. Therefore before being able to appear before You my God and Father we have to be refined like gold that is tested by fire. There are those of us who are tested in this world as humans and there are others who are tested in purgatory. Amen. 

³³ The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable. ³⁴ How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."

(The Book of Job Chapter 21 verses 33 to 34)

Oh brothers and sisters it all depends on how we view the world, we can be positive about it and we can also be negative, we can also accept its good and tolerate the weakness that exists in our human nature as a challenge to work on with the help of God Amen.

Oh God my Father I would like to end this meditation on the twenty-first chapter of the book of Job with the following reflection:-

Many people say that the world is unjust and that it is not fair in how it deals with our daily interactions, and I tend to agree for to be good and just does not come natural to us. I pray for inner healing so that we start to think and feel like You my God and Father who is the author and Father of justice Amen.

The Book of Job Chapter 20

 

  The Book of Job 

Chapter 

20

 

 

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: ² "Pay attention! My thoughts urge me to answer, because of the agitation within me.

 

(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 1 to 2)

 

Oh God, my Father, I also feel agitation within me, my thoughts conflict, with my faith, which in turn conflict against my feelings. What I think and feel that is right, may not be according to what I believe is right, however, on the other hand, the decision that I am about to take is a way of safeguarding what is left of my thoughts, my feelings and my thoughts. I believe in long-term marriage, this are my thoughts and faith speaking, however, I am deeply hurt during this marriage and I cannot take it anymore these are my feelings speaking. Even though I believe that You are in control of the situation I still am torn within and I not feeling psychologically well. I pray that You deliver me from this conflict of thoughts and feelings Amen. I am up to my neck in stress and misery. I know that I am guilty of a part of it, however, it is not fair for me to be accused of it all Amen. Thank You, Jesus.

 

³ I hear censure that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me. 

 

(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 3)

 

Many times oh God my Father, I feel the urge of the Spirit that compels me to speak in defence of the truth so much that I cannot contain myself to remain silent, especially when I remember the great works that You have accomplished in my life, for which I never stop thanking You Amen.


⁴ Do you know this from old, ever since mortals were placed on earth, ⁵ that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless is but for a moment?

(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 4 to 5)

 

Oh God, my beloved Father, as You know the pleasures of this world are short-lived and have a short time span of satisfaction that not always has a happy ending as in substance abuse. For a second or two one is very high and after one becomes totally depressed and maybe even suicidal if one cannot sustain the feeling of being high for a long time. This also applies in having sexual relations with others even during wedlock as in being unfaithful. The pleasure is there, however, the consequences are far greater than the pleasure of the moment. I pray for Your protection from such moments my God and Father Amen.

⁶ Even though they mount up high as the heavens, and their head reaches to the clouds, ⁷they will perish forever like their own dung; those who have seen them will say. 'Where are they?"

(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 6 to 7)

 

Oh God my Father even though some of us appear to have succeeded and made a name for themselves and for their families, this is not enough when appearing in Your presence. I prefer to lead a simple life and be humble before You than be popular in the eyes of mankind Amen. 


⁸ They will fly away like a dream, and not be found; they will be chased away like a vision of the night.

(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 8)

Oh God my beloved Father breathe in and out and all my past, hurts, and negative feelings will be blown away and never to exist again Amen. 




⁹ The eye that saw them will see them no more, nor will their place behold them any longer.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 9)

 

Trust in God my Father brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, and He will wipe away the tears of the past, the negative effects of trauma and the consequences of such negative events will no longer exist. The eye that experienced such depressive moments of abuse or anxiety, will not experience such moments again. I pray that we give all our negative experiences to You my God and Father, You who can clean our unconscious and even our conscious of the remains of addictive thoughts and practices and update our brain wiring from a negative and depressive state to one that is totally optimistic. Amen.


¹⁰ Their children will seek the favor of the poor, and their hands will give back their wealth.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 10)



Oh God my beloved Father You are my avenger, You alone are able to apply justice in cases where injustices have taken place. I pray that even in my case of separation, You will be my advocate and defend me against the forces of evil that are persecuting me in the person of my wife Amen.



¹¹ Their bodies, once full of youth, will lie down in the dust with them.


(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 11)



Oh God my beloved Father as a human I have nothing to be proud about, for from the dust I was created and to the dust of the earth I will return, all that I will take with me on dying are my sins, which although You forgive me many times they are always accumulating, however, I know that You paid the price for all my sins on the cross Amen. Thank You for paying the price Amen.


¹² "Though wickedness is sweet in their mouth, though they hide it under their tongues, ¹³ though they are loath to let it go, and hold it in their mouths, ¹⁴ yet their food is turned in their stomachs; it is the venom of asps within them.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 12 to 14)




Oh God, my beloved Father even though we can say that what we are eating is full of harmful chemicals, the real harmful toxic is sin that dwells within our minds and causes us to hurt and harm others and ourselves, by what we do and say Amen. I pray that You heal us from our sinful self Amen.


¹⁵ They swallow down riches and vomit them up again; God casts them out of their bellies.




(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 15)



Oh God, my Father Your justice is never-ending, You do not permit people who have acquired riches at the price or cost of other people to profit of such goods. Your justice prevails over human wickedness and evil Amen.




¹⁶ They will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill them.


(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 16)




Oh God my Father, I pray for protection from people whose tongues are polluted by the poison of lies their own lies will work against them and help to challenge them instead of helping them Amen.


¹⁷ They will not look on the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. ¹⁸ They will give back the fruit of their toil, and will not swallow it down; from the profit of their trading they will get no enjoyment.


(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 17 to 18)




Oh God, my beloved Father, when we are not living in the life of Your grace, life becomes negative and bitter. All that seems sweet becomes totally negative. I pray that You save us from such a negative life Amen.


¹⁹ For they have crushed and abandoned the poor, they have seized a house that they sid not build.




(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 19)


Oh God, my Father even if people did negative acts towards innocent others, as humans we are not to treat them badly with negative judgement but with love and sympathy and the understanding of what might have caused them to carry out such negative actions. Such people might have knot known any better, or they might have experienced issues in their childhood that caused them to behave in such a way. However, we only judge the finished product which is the person itself and this is not correct.


²⁰ "They knew no quiet in their bellies; in their greed they let nothing escape. ²¹ There was nothing left after they had eaten; therefore their prosperity will not endure.




(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 20)


Oh God, my Father I pray for those who are being cheated from what is theirs, for those who are benefiting from the pain that other people may be experiencing Amen.




²¹ There was nothing left after they had eaten; therefore their prosperity will not endure.




(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 21) 




Oh God my beloved Father, nothing comes out of selfishness and avarice, I pray that we be more generous and ready to help others in their needs Amen.



²² In full sufficiency they will be in distress; all the force of misery will come upon them.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 22)  




Oh God my beloved Father, when we think only of our needs and even more but never for the needs of others this is not right and according to Your will. I pray that when and were possible we be of support to others whom we know that they are in need Amen. 




²³ To fill their belly to the full God will send his fierce anger into them, and rain it upon them as their food.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 23)   




Oh God, my Father You are a God of love who does not repay evil with evil but with love, as You have taught us to do. If evil befalls us it is because we have opened our doors to it or have accepted the evil's one's invitation to go against Your will Amen. 




²⁴ They will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike them through.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 24)  




At times oh God my Father we may put ourselves in a negative situation where we expose ourselves to issues of both past that had not been completely dealt with and even those of the present and be retested by such means for our own good Amen. 




²⁵ It is drawn forth and comes out of their body and the glittering point comes out of their gall; terrors come upon them.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 25)   




Oh God, my Father the bow pierces the skin, however, Your Word is able to pierce both the skin bone and even the spirit Amen. It never goes back to the Father before it leaves its mark and fulfils²⁷ its role in us Amen. 




²⁶ Utter Darkness is laid up for their treasures; a fire fanned by no one will devour them; what is left in their tent will be consumed.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 26) 



Oh God, my Father, if we do not take care of our spiritual welfare and side on the evil one, darkness awaits us which is fanned by our own sins. Even though we may have many riches and property we will take none with us Amen. Therefore let us all invest in the kingdom of light and inherit eternal love in Your presence Amen.



²⁷ The heavens will reveal their iniquity, and the earth will rise up against them.



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verse 27) 




Oh God, my Father there will come a day when You will reveal those who have wronged me in this life and Your justice will prevail. I plead for forgiveness to those who with and without intention I have caused harm, for in truth it is my sinful nature that takes control and not me, for I am not able of harming anybody, but my feelings that have been wounded throughout the years make me fragile to the point of becoming angry. Amen. Mercy God my Father.



²⁸ The possessions of their house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's wrath. ²⁹ This is the portion of the wicked from God, the heritage decreed for them by God."



(The Book of Job Chapter 20 verses 28 to 29) 




Oh God my Father we are born with nothing but our skin and bone, but if we are not careful we can end up by being tied by many possessions and kind, that keep us weighed heavily to the ground. I pray oh God my Father that You free us from such negative bondage Amen.

  

Oh God my beloved Father, I would like to end this meditation on the twentieth chapter of the book of Job with the following prayer:



Oh God my beloved and loving Father, You created us free beings however as a consequence of bad choices and negative desires we end up being slaves of our passions, plans and ambitions which are not always according to Your will. Tonight I pray that You free us from such stumbling blocks to our faith so that our relationship with You and with others can continue to improve Amen. Thank You, Jesus.