repent – Be Still…

Job 22:1-30 – Eliphaz’s Final Speech

Read Job 22:1-30

We begin the third round of discussion between friends, although it seems more like a debate. Didn’t Eliphaz pay attention to Job’s last observation about wickedness? Eliphaz doesn’t tread lightly but makes a brutal attack on Job’s character and condition making it clear he thinks Job is one of the wicked ones.

I have an answer to Eliphaz’s first question. “Can a person do anything to help God?” Eliphaz may have meant it as a slam against Job, but there is at least one thing we can do to help God and further his kingdom. We can be good witnesses to God’s love and compassion, to his power and might. We plant seeds of faith that can then be nurtured by God into a living relationship with God. Have you ever had the privilege of introducing anyone to God? Continue reading “Job 22:1-30 – Eliphaz’s Final Speech”

Job 5:1-27 – Where’s Eliphaz Coming From?

Read Job 5:1-27

Job’s friend Eliphaz has a lot to say. But Job may or may not be ready for all that Eliphaz unleashes in this speech. I don’t think Eliphaz is properly equipped to be a grief counselor giving Job advice. Eliphaz all but calls Job a fool, guilting Job for all the success he once had.

Eliphaz makes a lot of assumptions here. First that there are only two human conditions, righteous and wicked. Based on what has happened to Job, he must now be wicked. Also, that getting right with God is the answer. Suggesting more introspection and self-discovery about his own sinfulness will only push Job further into despair. Continue reading “Job 5:1-27 – Where’s Eliphaz Coming From?”

Ezekiel 33:1-20 – What a Responsibility!

Read Ezekiel 33:1-20

Have you ever been given great responsibility for something? Perhaps it was as a parent caring for a newborn human. Maybe it was teaching a rowdy group of middle schoolers about Jesus. Maybe it was making it through each day with a smile on your face. Ezekiel’s responsibility was huge in this passage.

So many lives will depend on Ezekiel being responsible and not running the other way out of fear or a feeling of incompetence. Those are the fears that can grip us. Especially when we’re faced with hard decisions to keep us in line with Biblical values. Continue reading “Ezekiel 33:1-20 – What a Responsibility!”

Lamentations 3:40-66 – Emotional Rollercoaster

Read Lamentations 3:40-66

A rollercoaster of emotions concludes the third lament. I’m sure you can recall a time in your life when you were on that “ride.” The writer wisely suggests the solution is to turn back to God. No matter what we may be going through, the answer is always to invite God into our situation. Yet, the writer’s guilt is clear. He feels unforgiven, unable to imagine God’s mercy.

Is that what stops us from devoting ourselves to God? Do we feel guilty, unworthy of his love? Thankfully, those are feelings we can control. We are indeed guilty of living sinful lives and should acknowledge that. Never forget that despite what we’ve done, we are loved beyond measure by our heavenly Father. Instead of feeling guilty for our blunders in this life, we should focus on how we can do better. For us Christ followers, we need to follow our leader and be more like Jesus!

Nehemiah 9:4-37 – Prayer of Confession

Read Nehemiah 9:4-37

What a prayer! One of the elements we often forget in our prayer time is to give adoration to God. We do this when we tell him how great he is. The Levite leaders are showing us a fine example of this as their prayer begins! Brilliantly, they recount God’s hand at work in the lives of their ancestors.

At times, I felt like I was reading a sermon and not a prayer of confession. God knows history better than anyone, but it was a good reminder for the people to hear who were praying this prayer with the Levite leaders. They need to hear how their ancestors messed up, mistreated God, and how that all turned around. You never know who in the crowd may not have heard all of the stories passed down from generations or been exposed to God’s words before. We are wise when we can learn from the mistakes of others, namely our ancestors.