2003-04-08 - Introduction to Job

Part 2

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Job is an interesting book. When I was in seminary one of my professors announced to the class that a pastor should never preach on Job. Thus I am conflicted about doing this study. The problem with the book of Job is that the council of Job's three friends is condemned by the Lord at the end of the book of Job. Yet, we have to remember that the book of Job is God's Holy Word. So what do we do with the book? It is an interesting thing to ponder. We will not need to deal with this question in depth because we are only going, at least at the outset, to work with the first two chapters and the council of Job's friends will not factor into those two chapters.

Not all of my devotionals will be on Job. It will probably be one a week. It is my hope that this study will encourage you and help in your growth while walking with Christ. Caryl puts what I hope is true with me as well, "Nor do I doubt, but that the Providence of God (without which a Sparrow falls not to the ground) directed my thoughts to this book, as (not only profitable for all times, but) specially seasonable for these times. It is a word in season..." I hope that this is a word in season to you, but honestly I am doing this for me. The last 3-4 years have been the hardest of my life and I often feel like Job. I am simply thankful that I don't have to scrape boils off my body -- yet.

I know we all have struggles. We all have disappointments, hurts, let - downs, and even failures. I have had my share of them lately, but God is teaching me and I am so grateful that my trust in the Lord is firm and has not wavered. It gives me assurance that God has really reached down from heaven and saved me. My faith can't be fake if, when all around me is falling, my trust in Christ remains firm. We see this in the life of Job also. I don't want to compare my struggles to those of Job's, but in Job we have great encouragement that those who rest in the Lord (even in the most difficult times) do receive His mercy.

Caryl mentions a Roman Catholic Fryer named Ferus who wrote on the book of Job. He mentions that the fryer wrote on Job so that he might "comfort and exhort you to patience in these troublesome times." I have no other goals here. I wish to use these devotionals to encourage you, comfort, and exhort you to rest in Christ alone. This is what I see the book of Job doing and if you read the end of Job you will see how he was blessed by the Lord. If I could communicate anything to you through any devotional I write it is that I hope that you rest in Christ alone. There is nothing else in which we can place our hope. Life is hard, yea, but eternity is sure if we place our hope in Christ. Works can't save, nothing can save us from the plague of sin but Christ alone. I am convinced that Job was looking forward to a savior and he put his trust full bent in the Lord's providence. Let us all do the same.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

tim@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.papercutpress.com