I'm thinking Blimpie sandwich right now...no I'm not hungry, I'm thinking this is a beautiful thing. It is so cool to see, as we continue our journey through the One Year Bible, how God arranged the scriptures from the OT and NT to constantly compliment one another AS THEY, HIS WORD, DISPLAYS HIS GLORY!
I have refrained from pointing out many of these precious jewels because the blog etiquette police have been after me to follow proper blog etiquette or suffer the consequences:( Scary!
In our NT reading this morning it is impossible to read about the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation and not think of Job! Consider the millions of followers of Christ that have been comforted by Job. Why would people be comforted by Job, by a guy who lost everything, a guy who found himself covered with boils from head to toe, and to top it all off his friends came and dumped on him for what must have felt like an eternity to Job. His children are dead, his wife tells him to curse God and die...how does Job respond in the midst of incredible pain, agony and suffering? In Job 2:10 he says to his wife, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips." If you back up a few verses to Job 1:22 you will read "In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong ESV."
I am sure you have heard it said that people can endure almost anything if they understand the reason for it, if it makes sense...if there is a noble purpose, something much larger than themselves at stake...like soldiers suffering and enduring great hardship in the fight for freedom. But as far as we know Job was never told why! We never see God explain HIMSELF to Job! We do see God blast Job with questions that Job cannot begin to answer. However, Job received incredible comfort, unimaginable comfort, unspeakable hope and joy from God...HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT MARK? Great question...meet me on the other side of 2 Cor 1:3-7:) Don't be in a hurry, take your time and listen!
2 Cor 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Alright you all hang with me, you are about to witness my A.D.D. in action:)
Do you remember in Genesis 45:13 where Joseph says "you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” Why would Joseph say that? Why "must" they tell his father of his glory? Was he trying to be a showoff? NO...he knew that it would give his father HOPE, COMFORT and ENCOURAGEMENT!
On HIS way to the Cross, why would Jesus pray in HIS high priestly prayer in John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me ma
y be with Me where I am,
that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. Why do this...what happens when we see HIS glory...WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SEE HIS GLORY?
OK...I think that my A.D.D moment is over. How did Job receive unspeakable hope, joy and comfort from God? What happened to Job? Let's let Job say it, (42:5-6) “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”
Personally I believe that Job saw Jesus in HIS glory...Paul witnessed the glory of Jesus on the road to Damascus...he was radically changed. Peter, James and John witnessed HIS glory...radically changed!
What did they see that transformed them? What did they see that enabled them to endure anything...anything by FAITH...WHAT DID THEY SEE? EACH ONE SAW JESUS! 2 Cor. 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Behold HIS face, behold HIS glory and you will be able to say with the Apostle Paul "for momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." 2 Cor 4:17
NOW don't forget where we started...the comfort we receive when we look on the face of Jesus, the joy and hope we receive when we behold HIS glory are designed to flow through us to those HE places in our path...we are infinitely blessed "to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
Father in heaven,
For YOUR glory and our JOY in YOU grant us eyes to see and ears to hear YOU...transform us from the inside out...fill us Father with YOUR precious Holy Spirit.
love,
m