August 22nd-28th, 2010

Prayer of the Week:

Grant, O merciful God, that Your Church, being gathered together in unity by Your Holy Spirit, may show forth Your power among all peoples, to the glory of Your Name;through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Scripture Readings

Sunday – Job 19, Psalm 22:6-10

Monday – Job 18, Psalm 22:11

Tuesday – Job 19:1-20, Psalm 22:12

Wednesday – Job 19:21-29, Psalm 22:13

Thursday – Job 20:1-11, Psalm 22:14

Friday – Job 20:12-29, Psalm 22:15

Saturday – Matthew 10:24-39, Psalm 22:10-15, 30-31

Prayer List

Aubrey Kirk, Andreen Jackson, Opal Day, George Day, Phillip Day, Scott Day, Jason Whitley, Ronnie Brown, Dexter Jackson, Michael Jackson, Stella Edgett, Bryan Beard, Allene Sharp, Jimmie Lee Mobley, LeAnn Meeks, Floy Jean Moore, Paul and Carolyn Coburn, David Patton, Shirley Brown, Jean Kennington, Lyle Hanson, Carla Calhoun, Delferd Sloan, Larry Lumm, Virginia Blankenship

August 22nd, 2010

Today’s scripture focus: Job 19

Today we end “season one” in the story of Job. Next summer we’ll conclude with “season two”, and find out the fate of Job and his friends. Today’s scripture focus contains Job’s response to his friend Bildad’s second speech. Remember the cycle of Job – each of his three friends speak to Job, attempting to convince him of his wrongdoing, and Job responds to each friend in turn, defending himself. As the speeches progress, it is obvious that Job’s friends are simply talking over him, rather than listening and understanding, which simply adds to his misery. In each response, Job becomes more and more defensive. We will leave Job today in the middle of the second round of this cycle.

In chapter 18 we find Bildad’s words to Job. As has been the pattern thus far, he only addresses Job directly in the first few verses. He then spends the duration of the chapter expounding on the fate of all wicked people. Bildad considered Job beside himself a man no longer acting fully responsiblly (18:2). He resents Job’s belittling attitude, accusing him of obsessive self-focus. He considered Job weak on the subject of divine retribution, since Job continued to emphasize how the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. Bildad insists that all wicked people get paid in full in this life. He contrasts how their lamp goes out, only to be replaced with a tent of fire. Death is their final punishment.

Job’s reply is contained in chapter 19. In verses 2-5, Job shows increasing irritation over his counselor’s shameless attacks and his impatience with their superior claims. If he is in error, it is between him and God. Following this we find Job expressing his feelings of abandonment by God. He paints a word picture of a God at war with him. He believes God is attacking him, and is wrong to do so. Job blames God for alienating him from his family, his friends – even his wife (19:17). Verse twenty is another that presents translation difficulties, but apparently the only part of Job’s body unaffected by his illness were his gums. From this comes the popular English expression for narrow escape.

Then, something drastic happens. Amazingly, Job transitions from lament to a triumphant hymn of praise to the One who will champion his cause. Job believed after his death, he would be proved innocent. We learned about the word “redeemer” (19:25) in our study of Joshua. Job would have a blood avenger! Job and his friends didn’t understand the concept of life after death. That was why it was so important to their theology that reward and punishment must be meted out in the present. God, however, used their struggle to give us a beautiful picture of what awaits the redeemed when earthly life is over. Job 19:23-27 is often shared at gravesides today as a message of hope in life eternal.

CrossGroups

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like share anything exciting from their week.

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as would like.

1) Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

2) What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

3) How important is the concept of life after death to your faith?

Today’s Sermon

• Job had an Accuser.
• We have an Accuser.
• Job had a Redeemer.
• We have a Redeemer!

Assignment – Pray daily for the manifest presence of God in our worship.