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! 
NONE OTHER THAN JESUS!

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.

In Zechariah 7 we read that the people of Bethel sent messengers to inquire about mourning and fasting in the fifth month. There were three main holy days commanded by God.There are no commanded days in the fifth month.  The people had been mourning the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar on the anniversary of that national catastrophe.  

God answers with a few questions.  They were fasting, but God questions if they were fasting for Him or for themselves.  Then God addresses some of the feast days and questions again if it was for Him or for themselves.  

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.

Later on in Zechariah 8 God announces that the fasts will no longer be sad occasions of mourning some national catastrophe but will be occasions of joyful happy festivals.  

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!

 Zechariah was given eight visions, somewhat confusing to us at times,.  These words came to Zechariah's lips and probably to ours as well, "What are these?"  This question is followed by an explanation from the angel,  not always a very clear explanation, but one that is filled with prophetic significance.

1. Vision of the horses 1:7–17
2. Vision of the horns and craftsmen 1:18–21
3. Vision of the surveyor 2:1–13
4. Vision of Joshua the high priest 3:1–10
5. Vision of the golden lampstand and two olive trees 4:1–14
6. Vision of the flying scroll 5:1–4
7. Vision of the woman in a basket 5:5–11
8. Vision of the four chariots 6:1–8

Some explanations in the visions that apply to us today. 

*God is at work in the nations, but we don’t always recognize it.

*God’s time frame is not necessarily the same as ours.

*Just because God seems silent, doesn’t mean he doesn’t see and hear us.

*God wants worship that is honest, authentic and whole-hearted.

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 image 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. 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.

A verse to ponder today, "Give careful thought to your ways."

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???

Well...here's what gives...
Hag. 1:14
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,  
The Lord stirred up the spirit of the people.  The Holy Spirit prompted them to recognize the Word of the Lord spoken through the prophet and to act on his words.

Hag 2:4b-5
Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.  ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
God honored the obedience of the people.  And then He tells them of the glory of the future millennium temple.  But He also reminds them of their former disobedience as a nation, and the promise of restoration.

There is a special prophecy for a faithful man, Zerubbabel.  He will be God's signet ring in the building of the millennial temple.  Why was this man chosen?  Simply because he was obedient.  What great thing does He have in store for each of us, simply because we are obedient?  The answer to this question is in tomorrow's reading.  Remember the verse to ponder for today..."Give careful thought to your ways."

The reading today gives us some comic relief.

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 concerning the battles between the armies of the north and the south can be found in chapters 12-15 of the book These Last Days. 

Some great insights are in these passages in Daniel concerning the spiritual realm.  These phrases, "prince of the Persian kingdom", "chief prince", "prince of Greece", "your prince" are all references to high ranking angels in the spiritual realm.  Evil powers had kingdoms over the kings of the earth then, as well as now.  

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!

King Cyrus issues a decree to restore the temple in Jerusalem.  This was foretold by Jeremiah and also Isaiah in Isaiah 44:28, about 150 years before it happened.   This decree begins the countdown to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem just before the crucifixion.

Most of the people living in Persia at the time of this decree had never been to Israel. And yet many return, much like the Jews returning to Israel today. 

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.These were two stones (one white, one black) carried by the priest to determine answers to questions.

In Ezra 3 we read about the altar that was built by those who returned to the land from captivity, despite the fear of the people around them.   And almost always what followed a spiritual awakening in Israel was the observance and celebration of one of God's Feast Days, most often the Feast of Tabernacles – which is what happened at this time at the beginning of the rebuilding of the temple.  Great lessons to be learned from this.   God wants His feast days honored.  We will be honoring the eighth day of Feast of Tabernacles (Simchat Torah) this Wednesday, September 25 at our home beginning at 7:00 pm.

The people who settled back into the land of Israel came together "as one man" (or in unison) to build the altar, sacrifice, and worship God, despite their fear of the people living in the land.  Another great lesson for us - we should do the right thing in God's eyes, no matter what other people may think.  

Wow! What worship when they laid the foundation for the temple! What joyous celebration! (Ezra 3:10-13)

Then right on the heels of the celebration and worship…the enemies feign help. They really wanted to infiltrate the feast days with paganism, claiming that they were worshiping God. Isn’t that just like Satan? He can’t stand it when God’s people rejoice or when they honor one of the God-ordained Holy Days.

Does it make you want to rejoice even more today? 

What a familiar story…Daniel in the lion’s 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...

By the way...Daniel was a descendant of Ithamar, one of Aaron's sons...so Daniel had impressive credentials.(Ezra 8:2, Ex. 28:1)

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

Daniel's prayer is a great prayer for us to read and pray for today.  Daniel mentions that disasters have happened because the people have not sought the Lord, turned from their sins, and have not given attention to the truth. (sounds like 2 Chronicles 7:14...if my people)

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.  We can see the prophetic fulfillment being played out in the headlines of today.

(See chapters 11 and 12 of These 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)

As we reflect on the Old Testament commanded Feast of Tabernacles celebrated last night, this verse in the psalm is especially meaningful. 
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 102:18

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.
What a wonderful way to think about Scripture - that it was written with us in mind so that we may read it and praise His name.

Psalm 106 is an example of reviewing all the things that God has done for His people.  Something that we should do as well - remember all the things that God has done for us collectively as a nation, as a church, and as individual believers.

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!

As we reread these psalms for today, Psalms 44,74,79,80,85, and 89, we were astounded at the message.  We often attribute the writing of the psalms to David. These psalms were written long after David lived.

Psalm 44 (of the sons of Korah) is a great reminder that it is God who gives us victory.  Yet the writers also cry out to God for deliverance from their enemies. 

Psalm 74 (Asaph) remembers God's deeds in the past and yet he cries out to God to once again defend their cause and defeat their foes. 

The destruction of Jerusalem before the Babylonian captivity is written by Asaph in Psalm 79.  Asaph bemoans the fact that God is disciplining them for their sins and is asking God to pour out His cup of wrath on their enemies instead.  The writer seems to be saying at the end of this psalm that God deserves praise only because of what He does for them.  In reality, God deserves our praise simply because He is God, not just because of what He does for us.  Also in Psalm 80, the writer continues to promise to turn back to God after God does something to somehow "earn" it.  "...revive us and we will call on your name..."  instead of "we will call on your name, then please revive us."

 "...make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved."

Just because God's face shines upon us doesn't automatically mean  that we will be saved.

Ethan writes in Psalm 89 of God's faithfulness in the past of crushing the enemies of His people.  Ethan knows that God restored His people in the past and will do it again, even though it's not happening in Ethan's lifetime right then.  Great lesson for us as well.  Blessed are those who have learned to praise Him and walk in His light no matter the darkness that surrounds us.   

Some additional lessons that we have learned in Psalm 89.  God disciplines His children to bring about a change in actions just as we humans discipline our children to make a correction in behavior. (ex. we may smack the hand of a two year old that reaches for a hot stove).  Another lesson is that we need to crave God's discipline and learn from it, otherwise it is no more than punishment and if we don't correct our behavior, it must continue.   Ethan ends psalm 89 with one great lesson we've learned.  God disciplines us in different ways, but our response should always be as Ethan's "Praise be to the Lord forever!  Amen and amen."

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 yougive 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. "Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and amen."

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, Elihu, 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.Amazing!

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.  The description in Job 41 sounds an awfully lot like a dragon.

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.

Jeremiah the prophet had similar words to say in chapter 20

Job 33:14-17

For God does speak - now one way, now another - though man may not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride," 

God speaks to us in many ways.  Sometimes it may be in an audible voice, or He may speak through His Word, or through another person, or while we are praying.  Sometimes the Holy Spirit as our teacher holds a highlighter pen in His hand calling attention to specific words in scripture. And sometimes He speaks to us in dreams and visions. 

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???

Elihu, the youngest and possibly the wisest of the men sets the stage for God to speak to Job.  

So much to write about...

Job speaks to his "friends" in 26:4

Who has helped you utter these words?  And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?

Job is questioning if their words are from God or from Satan.  If a person is not speaking the language of God, he is speaking the language of Satan because anything that is not of God is of Satan. 

Mention is made in Job 28 and 29 of wisdom and how wisdom is hidden. It makes us think of mining for treasure, mining God's Word for hidden treasures  that we bring out nugget at a time to examine and ponder. 

Earlier in Job 22 Eliphaz levels many accusations against Job.  Job disputes them in chapter 29.

Job again relates his plight.  He is still being bombarded physiologically by Satan and his evil spirits with "terrors".   As Job lists all the physical, emotional, and mental pain he is enduring, it seems that the worst pain of all is the spiritual pain that the Spirit of God is not answering him.

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 and designer.

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. He says that God is rebuking Job and bringing charges against him.  It's not God who's doing this, it's Satan.   He also levels some serious charges against Job, but there is no evidence in Scripture that Job is guilty of any of them.

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 has progressed beyond calling Job to account for his unconfessed sins to charging Job with being evil and not knowing God.  Job admits that has gone astray but says that his error is his concern alone.  Job knows that God has allowed everything to happen.

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. Ponder this...Job will be resurrected to rule in the millennium!

There is a great line in Job 21.
"Can anyone teach knowledge to God..." 
Sometimes we want to tell God what to do, like we know what's best for us.  HA!

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. Job says that God is responsible for all the ailments that are afflicting him, when really it is that God is allowing it.  But Job 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. Some of Zophar's words are not consistent with God's word.  However, he speaks some words that are worthy of pondering. (Job 11:7-9)

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.

In chapter 13 Job asks God to stop frightening him with terrors.  He is still having nightmares.  In addition to all the physical ailments afflicting Job, Satan and his minions are bombarding Job to the point of disturbing his sleep with night terrors.  Evidence that Job is also suffering spiritually.  In speaking to God, he asks, "Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?"

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 Believers in Jesus live again? Absolutely! Did Job ever get his question answered? Absolutely! Stay tuned!

Job 8: 3-4  Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.

Remember, Job sacrificed burnt offerings for his children, just in case they had sinned.  

 Whether Bildad knows it or not, his words in Job 8:6-7 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.

Later on in Chapter 8, Bildad mentions forgetting God is like relying on a spider's web, when the web is leaned on it gives way.  It's like trusting in earthly things.  They are like spider's webs and give way when we lean on them.  Only God can sustain! 

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 someone to arbitrate between us!
It’s Jesus!

A word of warning.  We must be very cautious in quoting the book of Job. 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. 

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 depends on what the hushed voices are saying. If we can't tell the difference between evil spirits and heavenly spirits, it just may not be from God. 

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 Believers in Jesus, we know that isn’t always the case at least in worldly standards.

Yet Eliphaz has some good advice in Chapter 5.

A question that Job asks in chapter 6 is this one.  "How painful are honest words."  
Indeed honesty can be painful, but when quoting God's Word, and exhorting others with the honest words, pain can be a good thing if it initiates a change from going the wrong way. 

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. He's afraid the pressure is going to be beyond his control.  He wants to die, not because of the physical suffering, but because of the spiritual.  He is afraid the pressure will become so great that he will curse God.  At this point this fear is becoming a paralyzing fear.  

Psa 55:5   

Fear and trembling have come on me, and horror has covered me. 

Praise God, we have these words of wisdom from the book of Psalms.

Psa 55:22  Cast your burden on Jehovah, and He will keep you; He will never allow the righteous to waver.

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 Believers 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. Satan had many, many years to observe mankind, their actions, and reactions.  So, if Job were to respond the way most people would, Satan must have been certain that he would win the battle over Job. 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!  Great lesson for us as well!

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 descendant of Esau. Bildad is a descendant of Abraham and Abraham’s second wife Keturah. Zophar is a descendant of Naamah. Elihu is a descendant 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.

When Job first speaks, he curses his birth, but he does not curse God.  
ROUND 1 - Satan looses!

During the seven days of silence, were Job and his friends waiting on some divine word from the Lord? How would it be with us as Believers in Jesus - if we spent seven days in silence waiting on a word from the Lord?  Might be interesting to try that sometime.

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.

"the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men." 
You can make your own connections to the leaders of the U.S, today in reference to "the lowliest of men".
Companion verse is found in Romans 13:1.

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! Amen???

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. In today’s reading there is a contrast between the way the people were defiling the temple then and what the millennial temple will be.  

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 Believers in Jesus 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? 

Concerning the priests, Ezekiel has these instructions.
Ezek 44:23-24
They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. "'In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed feasts, and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy.
The priests then and the spiritual leaders today are to teach the people the difference between the holy and the common and between the clean and the unclean.  Spiritual leaders are charged with the responsibility of telling people what sin is.  They are also charged with keeping the laws and decrees for God's appointed feasts and Sabbaths.  The Sabbath day is not just the regular weekly Sabbath.  The holy days (feasts and festivals) are also Sabbaths.

Ezekiel 47 mentions the Millennial Temple's river and also fruit trees.  These trees are for food and their leaves for healing.  These trees will be used to maintain a state of health for Believers who enter into the millennial kingdom.

Ezek 48:35b
"And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE."
This verse does not just mean that this is the name of the city.  It means that the presence of the glory of God will again dwell in the temple.  Indeed, THE LORD IS THERE."

There are commands for the millennial kingdom concerning the observance 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 Believers in Jesus be remembering them now?

Feast of Tabernacles begins on September 18 this year. We will have a remembrance at our house beginning with a fellowship meal at 6:00 pm and teaching about Feast of Tabernacles will follow. Email us at philandpatti@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.

Absolutely fascinating - all the details of Ezekiel's great temple vision.  

We have found floorplans that appear to be very consistent with the biblical dimensions of the Millennial Temple that Ezekiel was allowed to see.  This is after an extensive search because there were so many differences with how people perceive the biblical dimensions. 

There is a verse in today's reading, Ezekiel 40:4 that has special meaning to us (Phil and Patti).

"Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here.  Tell the house of Israel everything you see."

This is the reason we believe God allowed us to visit Israel in 2005 and again in 2011.  We were supposed to pay attention to everything we experienced there so that we could tell others, like you!

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

Another example of the connections from the Old Testament to today.  Ezekiel was given a prophetic vision concerning the glory of the Lord as well as a condemnation for the pagan practices.
Ezekiel 43:4-9
The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple.  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.
Lessons for today?  Concerning paganism - people compromise, then rationalize, then justify and finally embrace pagan doctrine as truth.  It starts with an "innocent" compromise.
And yet with all the spiritual prostitution and spiritual adultery, God offered them and He offers us restoration if we would only put away our spiritual unfaithfulness.

Earlier we said that there were so many differences with how people perceive the biblical dimensions of Ezekiel's temple vision. This, we believe, is the reason.  All the dimensions are not given in the biblical account.  And here's why all the dimensions are not given.

Ezekiel 43:10-11
"Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider the plan, and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple-- its arrangement, its exits and entrances-- its whole design and all its regulations and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.

God said, "IF...they are ashamed."  Apparently the people were not totally ashamed of their sins, therefore, they did not receive all the dimensions of the temple.

Hmmm...wonder what God may want to reveal to each of us IF...