Psalm 116, 117, 118 are psalms that are often recited by Hebrew people (past and present) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, most specifically on the day before the Passover (which is called the sacred assembly).

Ponder this:
If Jesus and His disciples recited these same psalms during their sacred assembly (the Last Supper) just prior to Jesus’ arrest, they take on a very deep significant spiritual meaning. Read Psalm 116 and Psalm 118 in today’s reading in the Chronological Bible as if they truly were recited by Jesus and His disciples that night. Pay particular attention to these passages for the prophetic significance.

Ps 118:26-27
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
Sound like the triumphal entry into Jerusalem amid waving of palm branches? Even the same words were spoken by those gathered in the procession.

Ps 116:13-15
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Ps 116:18-19
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD-- in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Who was “lifted up” as the cup of salvation. Who fulfilled His vows! None other than Jesus!

Ps 118:6-7
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
Indeed…what can man do to Jesus? Who triumphed over His enemies? Who triumphed over Satan and the grave? None other than Jesus!

Ps 118:16-17
The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!" I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
Who is the Lord’s right hand? None other than Jesus!

Ps 118:20
This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
Who is the gate? None other than Jesus!

Ps 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
Who is the capstone? None other than Jesus!

All this leads us to the following:
Ps 118:29
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Who is good? Whose love endures forever? None other than Jesus!

INDEED!

Psalm 78 begins by reminding us of the importance of telling others and teaching our children about the truth of God’s Word. It is through teaching the truth that we develop trust in God. The rest of this psalm recounts some miraculous things that God has done for His people. It also reminds us that…

Ps 78:32
In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
Ps 78:37
their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.
Ps 78:56
But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes.

But…in His great mercy…
Ps 78:38
Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.

When we lived in the hills of Tennessee, we often took drives through the Smoky Mountains. Periodically there would be a pull-over onto an overlook. We could look down at where we had just been and marvel at the beauty of the mountains. Psalm 78 reminds us of those times; it’s similar to an overlook. As we read God’s Word, it’s nice to pause and look at where we’ve been and marvel at God’s handiwork. We should be ever mindful to believe His promises, to remember His faithfulness, and to follow His commands and statutes.

Zech 7:5-6
"Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?
Ouch! Sounds a bit like some of our “Christian” holidays today.

When the temple was completed, the people of Israel celebrated with great joy. Shortly afterward, they celebrated the Passover. They did everything according to the Book of Moses.

Ezra 6:21
So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the LORD, the God of Israel.

At this time the Israelites did not conform to the practices of the nations around them, they followed God’s commands in honoring and celebrating His holy days, in the way He commanded. They weren’t eating and drinking and feasting for themselves as pointed out in Zechariah 7:5-6. What lessons can we learn from this?

Oh, so much to say about today’s reading!

What a great promise in these verses!

Zech 2:10-11
"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

God, the Father sends God, the Son to live among us!

What a beautiful picture in Zechariah 3 of a “before and after picture”. Life before salvation can be compared to “wearing filthy rags”. Life after salvation can be compared to being “clothed in righteousness”.

Revelation 6:1-8 are companion verses to Zechariah 6:1-8. The horses in the first four seals (Revelation) are evil spirits allowed to go throughout the earth as explained in Zechariah. They are given directions in which to start their travel. The end result is that they traveled all over the earth. Zechariah, like John is a prophet speaking in vision.

More details in the book, These Last Days.

Haggai the prophet pointed out that the people had their priorities all out of place when it came to building the temple.

Hag 1:5-6
Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

Sounds a bit like modern life today…never satisfied…always wanting more…looking more to the physical and worldly and less to the spiritual.

The people listened to the words of Haggai and responded positively and quickly. Think about all the other prophets. Many of them preached for years and years and few listened. Here comes one of the “lesser” prophets and the people listen and obey almost immediately. What gives???

You just have to chuckle at the letters going back and forth between the leaders of Trans-Euphrates and the two kings, first Artaxerxes and then later Darius.

Artaxerxes agreed and gave in to the leaders of Trans-Euphrates and stopped the building of the temple. Then, the temple construction was started again a few years later when the people listened to the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

When the leaders of Trans-Euphrates “tattled” on them, Darius took a quite different approach than his predecessor. He not only approved the building of the temple, he told the leaders of Trans-Euphrates to pay for the expenses from their treasury! And, they were to provide the animals for the daily sacrifices at the temple. They were to do this without fail or else…well you can read for yourself what would happen to anyone who changed the king’s edict. No surprise that the leaders carried out the edict with diligence!

In the first part of Daniel 11, he records a prophecy that has already been fulfilled (future for Daniel, past for us). The last part (beginning with verse 2) he records a prophecy that will be fulfilled in our future.

Daniel 11:21-23
"He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power.

This contemptible person is the Antichrist who has no legitimate right to the power that he will take during the last days. The Antichrist will take over as the people have been lulled into a false sense of security. Many more details can be found in the book These Last Days.

Some revelations of future events were given to Daniel to be sealed until the time of the end. (Daniel 8:26, Daniel 12:9) As recorded in the book of Revelation, John was told not to seal up the words of prophecy because the time of the end is near. (Revelation 22:10) Guess that means it's nearer now!

Among those exiles who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity are a few who were unable to prove their genealogy as priests. This tells us of the importance of the genealogical record. In order to be included into the priesthood, they needed to consult the Urim and the Thummim.

In Ezra 3 we read about the altar that was built and the observance and celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles – a very significant holy day ordained by God.

Wow! What worship when they laid the foundation for the temple! What joyous celebration!

Then right on the heels of the celebration and worship…the enemies feign help. Isn’t that just like Satan? He can’t stand it when God’s people rejoice.

What a familiar story…Daniel in the lion’ den. Daniel was high in rank in the kingdom. And another familiar story surfaces… a modern day story …jealousy in the workplace.
Daniel’s fellow administrators tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel but could find none and so they resorted to some underhanded acts. Sound familiar? Connections to the business world, or politics perhaps???

Dan 6:7
The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den.

They certainly counted on the king’s ego to go along with their plan. It worked. He issued the decree.

Daniel was faithful to his God and did not waver.

Dan 6:10
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

As a result, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, even though Darius regretted having to do that. However, God sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions. Was this the same angel that walked around earlier in the fiery furnace with Daniel’s three friends? Hmmm...

This “hand” that wrote on the wall at King Belshazzar’s banquet…was it the same hand that wrote the Ten Commandments?

In today’s reading, Daniel is given a message from the angel Gabriel, an overview of prophetic events spanning many years, which include the coming of a Messiah (future for Daniel, past for us). The keepers of the scrolls in Jesus’ day knew this prophecy from Daniel about the future Messiah. They could pinpoint the time that the Messiah would come based on the date of the issue to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This decree was proclaimed by Cyrus king of Persia. The Pharisees, scribes, and religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew all about this. Why then, could they not recognize the Messiah when He was standing right in front of them?

The prophecy also addresses the conditions during the last days in which the Antichrist will confirm a covenant with many.

Dan 9:27
He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

More to come on the “abomination that causes desolation”…

The prophet Daniel is given a vision of four beasts that also illustrate prophetic events concerning nations as recorded in Daniel 7. The individual beasts, the lion, the bear and the leopard represent specific nations that will be in power during the last days. The fourth beast is different from the other three. This fourth beast represents the joining together of the other three beasts and is much more powerful than the individual beasts.

The apostle John was also given a prophetic vision of a beast.

Revelation 13:1-2
And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

This beast coming up out of the sea represents the three individual nations that have consolidated into one confederation of nations represented by the fourth beast. It is a combination of the other three beasts, the lion, the leopard and the bear. This beast in Revelation 13 is the same as the fourth beast in Daniel 7. This beast is also represented by the feet and toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue (Daniel 2). All three prophetic visions represent nations in the Mediterranean and Mid-east area that will unite into a dominant government alliance during the last days.

Daniel was given many prophetic visions. Satan did not want Daniel to know these revelations from God, even to the point of trying to prevent the angel Gabriel from delivering the message. Gabriel, however, was successful in delivering the message. (Daniel 10:12-13)

All of Daniel’s words are there for a purpose…even the words concerning the animals, beasts and statues. They were written to teach us. They are not there to confuse us but to encourage us and give us hope in the knowledge of these last days. (Romans 15:4)

Ps 102:16
For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
In the millennium, the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem and He will appear there, once again coming to “tabernacle” with His people.

Ps 102:25-27
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
The earth and the heavens will one day perish.

2 Pet 3:12-14
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
The heavens will be destroyed by fire and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Rev 21:1-2
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

What an image!

In today’s reading of the psalms of a people in exile, we are reminded that while they are reflecting on and confessing their sins, they seem to have forgotten that the prophets had been telling them all along this would happen.

They certainly understood who had the power. It wasn’t with them. It was with God.
Ps 44:5-8
Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. (In God We Trust)

Selah at the end of this passage (and many other psalms) is most likely a musical notation indicating an intended pause. Sounds like we are supposed to stop and contemplate that great truth. It’s all about Him and not about us.

If you haven’t done the reading for today, Job 38-42, please do! These passages in Job, words from God are some of the most riveting in all of Scripture!

The young friend tells of God’s greatness and power and sort of sets the stage for God to speak to Job.

God asks Job such things as:

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?…Have you given orders to the morning?…Do you send the lightening bolts on their way?…Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens?…Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?…Do you give the horse his strength?…Does the eagle soar at your command?…”

In answer to God’s questions, Job says that he is unworthy to even reply. It is very remarkable that the Hebrew word picture for the word miracle is “shuts the mouth because it is so great”. Job is answering God that he is so unworthy in the face of the awesomeness of God that he covers his mouth.

Then God speaks again and tells Job about some remarkable animals that He has created. Read about the behemoth and the leviathan and see what you think they are.

Job 42:5
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
Job was allowed to see God the Son.

Job 42:10
After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.

God gave Job twice as much as he had in the beginning. Let’s review what Job had at the beginning.
Job 1:2-3
He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

Job 42:12-13
The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
Why didn’t God double his sons and daughters and give him double the children like He did the animals – and give him fourteen sons and six daughters? Or did He???

Remember what Job regularly did for his children?
Job 1:5
When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.
Did we tell you that the book of Job is filled with “jewels”? This is one of them. It is a key statement concerning eternal life for Job’s children. One day when Job is reunited with his children, he will have fourteen sons and six daughters.

Job 42:16-17
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so he died, old and full of years.

Was Job given double the lifespan too? In light of all the things that happened in Job’s life, the phrase “full of years” seems a bit of an understatement!

Every time we read the book of Job, we are always reluctant to say good-bye. Maybe we’ll do a Bible study on Job someday.

Finally, Elihu the youth speaks with some great words of wisdom.

He has patiently waited while his elders spoke. But now…
Job 32:18-20
For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
It appears as if this younger man has the Holy Spirit living within.

1 Tim 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Job 34:3
For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

Isn’t this a wonderful comparison? We should be like the Bereans.
Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Job 34:4
Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
A great motto for a Bible study – wouldn’t you say???

The following verses in today’s reading took us on an amazing journey through Scripture.

Job 26:7
He spreads out the northern [skies] over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.

Job 26:8-11
He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.

Job 26:14
And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"

Our journey took us to the following Scriptures:
Deut 4:32
Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?

Ps 8:3-6, 9
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
O LORD, (Yehovah - God the Father), our Lord (Adonai -God the Son)

We have only seen the work of God’s fingers. As telescope technology improves we will be able to see beyond that which we can see now. We will discover more star systems and galaxies beyond that. And on and on it goes until man can never see the end of the universe. For if man can see the end of the universe we could see the end of God and that is impossible. The point is the things in the universe declare the power and glory of god. It is so much beyond what we can imagine.

Job 38:4-5
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
God is saying I can do all this can you?

Job 26:14
And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"
Contrast whisper and thunder and hear and understand. In this finite world with limited knowledge we can hear the faintest whisper of him. How can we possibly understand the thunder of his power?

And yet….He cares about us individually!
Job 7:17
"What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, what is man that you are mindful of him,

Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

We can look at the far end of the universe or look at the far end of a tiny strand of DNA and all we see is the handiwork of a grand creator.

Neh 9:5b-6
"Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting." "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Just as “the multitudes of heaven worship you” so should the multitudes of earth! It starts with the individual. It starts with each of us!

As usual, Eliphaz, one of Job’s “friends” give him some advice, part truth, part false. One of his suggestions is this one,

Job 22:21
"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.
Good advice for all of us, except for that word “prosperity”. Prosperity as a believer is quite different than prosperity as the world views it.

Job responds to Eliphaz with these words,
Job 23:11-12
My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
If only we as believers would treasure His Words more even than our daily bread.

The following verses kinda gave us the shivers.
Job 24:13
"There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths.

Job 24:17
For all of them, deep darkness is their morning; they make friends with the terrors of darkness.

How do people make friends with “the terrors of darkness.”? Why is it that so many people have a “love affair” with horror movies and novels, Halloween activities, and books that portray sorcery and witchcraft as something innocent?

Job 24:23
He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways.

Deut 18:10-14
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Points to ponder, wouldn’t you say?

Bildad charges Job with wickedness. Job admits that has gone astray but his error is his concern alone.

Job relates that he not only has lost all his wealth, possessions, and children, he has lost his friends, prestige, and honor. While in the rock bottom of this pit, Job has an “epiphany moment”!

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”

Earlier, Job questioned if there is life after death. His question is answered while he is in the depths of despair. Job knew!!! He knew about the Redeemer and he knew about everlasting life. He knew that that he would see God, and he would see God in his flesh. This means only one thing...Job will be resurrected to rule in the millennium!

Job admonishes his “friends” by saying that he has heard all their speeches and he himself would maybe do the same to them and point out their failures as well. But Job adds one more thing to the mix. He tells them that he would also encourage them.

Part of Job 16 is filled with specific details about Job’s afflictions. But he begins to “see the light” and verbalizes what he already knows, that he does have that advocate he was wishing for earlier. (Job 9:32-34) He talks about his advocate and intercessor. Sounds like he also has an understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit as the guarantor of salvation, the one who puts up security for him.

Job 17:3
"Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?

2 Cor 1:21-22
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Imagine this...HIS hands were on us as HE anointed us with the oil of the Holy Spirit. HE has put up security for us. HE guarantees us what is to come.

Praise God, we "stand firm in Christ"!

Zophar weighs in now with his own words of “wisdom”. He believes Job’s sins caused his distress.

Job pretty much puts Zophar and the others in their place.
Job 13:5
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

Again Job speaks some familiar words recorded in the book of Daniel.
Job 13:15a
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

Dan 3:17-18
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Job understood as David did that our days were determined before we were born.
Job 14:5
Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Ps 139:16
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Another extremely important verse, overlooked way too often. It explains when we will experience a resurrected body.
Job 14:12
so man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep.
We will experience a resurrected body when “the heavens are no more”. When does that happen?

2 Pet 3:12-13
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

The dead will receive consciousness when the heavens are no more just as Job said. And no sooner!
This is explained in detail in the book These Last Days.

The quintessential question of all time is posed by Job.
Job 14:14a
If a man dies, will he live again?

Indeed, will we as Christians live again? Absolutely! Did Job ever get his question answered? Absolutely! Stay tuned!

Whether Bildad knows it or not, his words are very prophetic. God does restore Job, more prosperous than before. Take a peek at the end of Job and see.

Job 8:6-7
if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place. Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.

Isn’t it fascinating that Job knew about the constellations??? Even the Southern Cross constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.
Job 9:9
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

Some of the questions Job had in chapter 7, he answers for himself in chapter 9. Even at our very best we still sin and must plead for mercy.

Isa 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

There is an incredible verse (among many, many others) hidden away in Job.
Job 9:32-34
"He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.

Praise God, there is!
It’s Jesus!

Eliphaz appeals to mysticism. He speaks of a spirit and a form and a hushed voice. Could these be evil spirits, which we should never be listening to. Or are they heavenly spirits sent to calm us amid disquieting dreams in the night? It all depends on what the hushed voices are saying.

Job’s “friends” tell just enough truth to make their words believable and just enough lie to make it wrong. Satan does the same thing to us.

Job 5 speaks of God’s blessings which come after the discipline. The words of Eliphaz here let us know that he doesn’t understand at all why Job is suffering. He thinks Job is being disciplined.

Eliphaz also equates doing good with blessings and doing evil with punishment. As Christians, we know that isn’t always the case.

Yet Eliphaz has some good advice in Chapter 5.

In chapter 6 Job speaks from the depths of his being of his anguish and misery. Job had more problems that just the physical. It was mental and spiritual as well. And yet he says he will go to his death still maintaining his integrity. Then he admits that he isn’t sure his strength will hold up and is asking God to take him now.

Job speaks some words also spoken by David.

Job 7:17-19
"What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment? Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?

Ps 8:3-4
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

Ps 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

How comforting as Christians to know that we are never away from His presence!

Job is one of the most ancient books of the Bible. It is a powerful testimony to the faith of a man named Job. God removes the hedge of protection and prosperity surrounding Job and Satan is allowed in. Satan can only do to a believer what God will allow him to do. God can put us to the test to demonstrate to Satan who is in control. God in his foreknowledge knew what Job would do. Satan didn’t. Yet through all the trials and sufferings and loss, Job questions but does not loose faith in God. Pay careful attention to the advice of Job’s “friends”. They are often wrong.

The book of Job explains why bad things happen in this world. It teaches that there is a plan and a reason for it. If you think about God’s purpose for us while we are on this earth is to make us more like Jesus, then everything that happens to us potentially makes us more and more like Him.

Rom 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Job regularly sacrificed a burnt offering for each of his children. “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their heart.”
By the same token we should remember and pray for our children.

After hearing that he has basically lost everything Job does the traditional symbol of mourning. He tears his robe, shaves his head and then….worships and praises God! Wow!

After Satan is allowed to inflict Job with painful sores, Job sits among the ashes. (the city dump). This well respected and wealthy man spends his days at the city dump. How humiliating that must have been. Job’s wife is obviously used by Satan as his mouthpiece. She uses the same words that Satan uses, “curse God.”

Enter Job’s “friends”. Eliphaz is a descendent of Esau. Bildad is a descendent of Abraham and Abraham’s second wife Keturah. Zophar is a descendent of Naamah. Elihu is a descendent of Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

What is the world did they do the entire seven days they spent with him before they spoke a word??? In that culture, the "friends" had to wait on Job to allow them to speak.

Nebuchadnezzar, who has spent most of his life oppressing God’s people, ends his life well. Compare him to the apostle Paul.

Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that Daniel interprets for him. The king is given another chance to repent which he doesn’t do. The dream becomes reality as the king is reduced to living with wild animals. Some think this was a form of mental illness called lycanthropy. This illness lasted “seven times” which means seven years.

Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon which was founded by Nimrod, the great-grandson of Noah. The city was surrounded by a wall 350 feet high and 87 feet thick and wide enough for six chariots to drive abreast. There were 250 watchtowers on top of the wall and it was surrounded by a moat.

When the king raised his eyes toward heaven, his sanity was restored and he praised God. Doesn’t that sound like something we should all do…raise our eyes toward heaven? When our eyes are on the world around us, we can easily become insane. It’s only when we look toward God and our eternal future with Him, that we are truly sane!

In yesterday’s reading there was mention of the holiness of the millennial temple. There in the millennial temple, the house of Israel will never again defile His holy name.

Ezek 43:7-9
He said: "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile my holy name-- neither they nor their kings-- by their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings at their high places. When they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger. Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever.

How have we as Christians defiled His holy name by placing our threshold (our limits) next to His? Our doorposts (our laws) beside His? Have we defiled His holy name by joining secularism with God’s ordained holy festivals? (Christmas???) Have we sacrificed His commands on the altars of paganism?

In today’s reading there are commands for the millennial kingdom concerning the observance of some of God’s holy festivals, specifically Passover and the Feast (Feast of Tabernacles). If these are observances that God has ordained for believers, shouldn’t we as Christians be observing them now?

(Feast of Tabernacles begins on September 22 this year. We will have a remembrance at our house. Email us at philandpatti@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.)

Again in today’s reading…so much to write about!

The God-ordained Millennial Temple will be built in Jerusalem in the great valley created by the split in the Mount of Olives at Jesus’ return. Over the temple will be a cloud by day and a glow of flaming fire at night. There will be no darkness and no night time. The gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel.

The area immediately surrounding the temple will be a most holy place. The whole Kidron Valley east of Jerusalem will be holy to the Lord, the most holy place on earth. In the Millennial Temple there will be no common things. Jerusalem will become the true worship center of the world.

At the completion of the Millennial Temple the glory of the Lord will enter the temple through the eastern gate. The gate will be shut.

The temple will be absent of a few things that were previously found in the temples of Jerusalem. The curtain between the Holy place and the Most Holy place will be absent. There will be no barrier between God and man. The table of showbread will be absent. Jesus takes the place of the showbread because He is the bread of life. The Ark of the Covenant will be absent. However the altar of sacrifice will again be present.

Serving at the temple under Jesus as Lord of Lords will be a select family of priests, from the tribe of Levi who are descendants of the faithful priest Zadok.

I Samuel 2:35
I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always.

Ezekiel 44:15-16
"'But the priests, who are Levites and descendants of Zadok and who faithfully carried out the duties of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign LORD. They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and perform my service.

These sacrifices and offerings will be done as a memorial or a remembrance much the same as we do communion today. The animals represent the blood sacrifice and a remembrance of what Jesus did for the people. The other offerings will represent gifts of praise, fellowship, unity and joy as offerings to God.

- excerpts from the book THESE LAST DAYS.

What great faith as testified by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! They knew God could save them from the fiery furnace. They also believed that no matter what happened He was still their God. And the outcome? Not only did He save them from the fire, but their hair was not singed, their robes not scorched, nor was there any smell of fire on them. Isn’t that just like God? To do more than we could imagine?

Eph 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

God does more than we can ask or imagine, according to the Holy Spirit, the power at work.

Who was the fourth man in the furnace? Could that have been the pre-incarnate Son of God?

When Ezekiel writes the lament for Egypt in chapter 32, it sounds a bit like what will happen at Armageddon.

Ouch! Watchman’s Accountability! We’re sure glad He hasn’t called any of us to be “watchmen”! I mean, this was only for Ezekiel’s day, right??? It isn’t really for us today is it???

Mark 13:37
What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"

Oops! We stand corrected! Guess we're all called to be "watchmen".

Oh, so much to say concerning today’s reading, and so little time!

“Ezekiel figuratively describes the nation of Israel as being a valley full of disassociated skeletal bones indicating that the nation of Israel would cease to exist as a nation, her people scattered throughout the world and the nation considered dead. The whole house of Israel in this vision has been disassembled and its identity has been destroyed.

The 12 ancestral tribes of Israel are illustrated by the dry bones and is an analogy of God bringing Israel and Judah back together into a living state. During World War II and especially in the years immediately after World War II a determined effort was made to reform the nation of Israel. This prophecy in Ezekiel was fulfilled in the noisy and sometimes violent effort to form the new nation. The rattling of the bones is the rattling of war as the bones of Israel come back together.

The prophecy of the dry bones corresponds to another symbolic prophecy of two sticks also found in the book of Ezekiel. The prophecy of the two sticks is another view of Judah and Israel being brought back together. The Judah stick was put in place first. That happened May 14, 1948 when the nation of Judah came back into the land. The descendants of the nation of Israel are still out in the world somewhere. They will not come back into the land until after Jesus returns. When the Millennial Kingdom is established, Jesus will bring the other tribes out of the nations and they will reclaim their identities. The Israel stick will be bonded to the Judah stick and they will become one nation and will never again be separated. When the two sticks are bonded together the analogy of the dry bones will be complete.”
-excerpt from the book THESE LAST DAYS

Gog, Magog, Meshech and Tubal all play extremely significant roles in the prophecies of the last days. Ezekiel also prophesies about what will happen to these nations at Armageddon. It will take seven months to bury the dead.

Today’s reading ends with another one of the great promises from God.
Ezek 39:29
I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD."

In Ezekiel’s prophecy to Jerusalem he warns them that they are listening to his words but not putting then into practice. In effect, they are practicing churchianity instead of Christianity.

Ezek 33:30-32
"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

God tells the people through Ezekiel that the shepherds have not taken care of the flock and that He, Himself will tend His sheep as recorded in Psalm 23 and again in John 10.

In the millennial kingdom, David will be prince.
Ezek 34:23-24
I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.

Another prophecy of the millennial kingdom is that there will be true peace.

Ezek 34:25
"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety.
Ezek 34:28
They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.
Wild beasts here have a literal (literal wild beasts) and a figurative (unbelievers) meaning.

Another great promise for the millennium is this one.
Ezek 36:24-28
"'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

All people will be moved to follow His decrees and His laws.
All these great promises for the millennium will of course follow on the heels of the cleansing of the earth by fire.

Ezek 36:35-36
They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'

There will be a replanting and the land will be made fresh and new with new growth.

For more details see the book THESE LAST DAYS!