Job 24-26
Job continues in his monologue for it is clear he is weary of the debate with his friends, who one-dimensional approach to God does not come near to answering Job's quest. But it is clear in his description of the suffering that is taking place in the world that clearly we would not count Job as one of the wicked as Eliphaz has done. Job would have to be the best liar in the world in order to wicked but be able to express moral outrage at the pain and suffering in the world.
Job speaks for us as he ponders if God sees this? Is God aware of this? If God is just and righteous, then what is the reason for this suffering, or the delay in the punishment of those who have caused such suffering?
Towards the end of Job 24 he ponders a risky question: is God in cahoots with the wicked?
There is some discussion among commentators on what has taken place at Job 25, a very short chapter, but also out of sequence, if there is a sequence to Job. It has lead to much speculation that perhaps someone has tried to re-organize Job or that a sloppy scribe transposed names or dropped out dialogue. I do not mean to offer any answers to this question, just to let you know that the brevity of 25 and the shift in Job following it has caught the attention of many.
Bildad attempts to succinctly answer Job's questioning of the wicked in the world by simply pointing out that no human can stand before God, meaning no one can question God. That has been his stance from the very beginning and he is not changing it now.
In Job 26, it would seem that Job questions the inspiration of his friends, if they are inspired by God, as they seem to imply, then why do they not take action to alleviate the suffering of others? What is their purpose in this life and world? Job agrees that no one can stand before God in righteousness but Job knows that through his experience he can question why the innocent must suffer in this world and why God seems not to answer that question.
Luke 21
It is interesting that a chapter that speaks of an apocalyptic times opens with a story about a widow giving out of her poverty. But perhaps that is the point, whereas others seek to give what they feel like giving, she gives what she believes God would desire of her.
As Jesus and the disciples see the mighty temple, they gaze upon its grandeur but the building will not stand forever. Times will come when structures will be brought low, when institutions will fail, when wars and violence might break out, but these are times not to fear. Even when all of things happen, even when persecution increases and personal safety can be guaranteed, remember the widow, who, not knowing what tomorrow would bring, gave to the temple, trusting in God.
That is how to live, trusting in God, not fearing for tomorrow, but trusting in the Lord. Notice the signs, see what is happening and know that no matter what, God is in control.
Backlogged Posts
1 Chronicles 24-27
Again with lists, but this time a rather important system is set up. With the large numbers of priests, a twenty-four system was set up to set up a rotation for the priests to serve in the temple. 1 Chronicles 24 puts this down in writing, and it was a system to lasted through the Second Temple era, which includes the time of Christ. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was serving in this system when was told he would have a son.
Next 1 Chronicles 25 speaks of the singers/musicians who were to serve in the temple. Interestingly, they are seen as lending the gift of prophecy to the temple.
The list of offices continues in 1 Chronicles 26 as gatekeepers and other officials in the temple are listed. Note that time and effort is used to trace lineage to earliest leaders of Israel.
The military leaders and civic officials provide the content for 1 Chronicles 27.
Lots of reading, lots of names, but not much else.
Galatians 3
Um, I think Paul is getting upset. Really.
As he hears that the Galatians are beginning to follow those teachers that encourage them to follow the traditions of Israel, he wonders why? They have heard the message, they have received the Spirit, they have either witnessed or done miraculous deeds, all at the invitation of the Holy Spirit not through the Law. Paul wonders why they would nullify everything they have learned because some strangers seek to saddle them with untruths.
Paul refers to Abraham to demonstrate how grace precedes the Law. God made a promise to Abraham, and this promise, according to Paul, is Jesus Christ. This promise also precedes the Law, in other words, it is the promise that is the gift of God, the Law comes later to help Israel get through to the promise. In many ways, the Law just became a rule, or guide, until a better thing, the Promise, Christ, could come. To receive Christ but to go back to the Law is self-defeating.
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