Highlights In Today's Reading:
Bildad and Job debate the greatness of God (chap. 25 & 26). Job seems to be fighting a losing battle. Three chapters of mere words cannot defend or prove his innocence as long as God is silent (chap. 27 — 29). This is a true test from God.
Although Job had lost family, wealth, and health, and despite the accusations of his friends, he maintained his integrity: My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go (27:6). Job let it be known that he was not as concerned about knowing the "reason" for his suffering as he was with having a right relationship with God, who knows all things. Where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? . . . Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. . . . I put on righteousness, and it clothed me (28:12,28; 29:14).
Job understood that godly wisdom could not be purchased with earthly wealth (28:13-19) but comes only through the fear of the Lord (28:28). In the midst of insinuations and false accusations, Job's faith in the Lord was the source of his strength and his spiritual insight was not swayed by his critics.
Job's three friends were in agreement that God prospers the upright and afflicts evil people. Job's reply was that his own experiences proved they were wrong, for he was upright and yet was afflicted.
Job also knew that the wicked do not always suffer for their sins. Human reasoning often leads to wrong conclusions. When we meet the Lord in person, the mystery of suffering will be fully understood. We will see that God in His wisdom has some eternal purpose for allowing it. Human "knowledge" of our ever-changing world is limited and continually being revised, enlarged, and discarded. Apart from the Word of God, we have no final answers to life's problems and know nothing concerning eternity.
Spiritual truth can be understood only by those who are born again by faith in Christ and the work of His Spirit. The world by wisdom knew not God (I Cor. 1:21), but the knowledge of His will is within the reach of every believer, for we have the mind of Christ (2:16).
Strange as it may seem to a skeptical world, the wisdom of God can only be known as we obey His Word: A good understanding have all they that do His Commandments (Ps. 111:10; 119:98-100).
Those who leave Christ, the Living Word, out of their lives never discover true wisdom and understanding. They miss the greatest discovery of life — Christ, who is Truth, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).
Thought for Today:
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13).
Christ Revealed:
Through Job's compassion for others (Job 29:15-17,21-25). Jesus was moved to compassion when He saw great crowds in need of healing and feeding (Matt. 14:14; 15:30-39).
Word Studies:
27:22 fain flee = desire to flee; 29:14 diadem = turban.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts in memory of Iva Ann McElroy • Government Officials: Gov. James H. Douglas (VT), Rep. Dan Burton (IN), and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (CA) • Country: Sao Tome and Principe (155,000) two larger and several smaller islands in the Gulf of Guinea, 125 miles off the western coast of Africa • Major language: Portuguese • Religious freedom is fairly new • 83% Roman Catholic; 3% Protestant; 2% animist • Prayer Suggestion: Pray that your life will be a good testimony to others, even when faced with opposition (I Pet. 2:12).
Optional Reading: Ephesians 4
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 7:14
