(REFLECTIONS ON Job 16:1-22; Job 17:1-16) What kind of friends does Job have? Self-righteous friends? Friends that are more concerned about being right in their understanding of God and Job’s current circumstances than actually being friends? Yes, it does seem like Job’s friends are more interested in being right, in proving their point, rather than actually showing […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Job 4:1-21; Job 5:1-27) Eliphaz is the first of Job’s friends that speak up. Although he accuses Job of being impatient, through the words on the page, we can almost hear Eliphaz’s impatience in wanting to correct Job for cursing the day he was born. Eliphaz’s conclusion can be found in Job 5:17, 17 […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Malachi 1:1-14) 2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob.” Jacob, that is Israel, was chosen over Esau, not because of human merit or status, but according to God’s sovereign purpose. Despite Esau […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Zechariah 8:1-23) 23 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ‘” When will be the day when people will stop us on the streets knowing […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Zechariah 1:1-21) Some quick background. Zechariah was a prophet proclaiming the word of the Lord regarding the southern kingdom of Judah. Zechariah is speaking to the Jews that had returned to Jerusalem from exile in today’s Scripture. Although the people of Judah were exiled to Babylon, at this point in time, Babylon had already been […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Habakkuk 2:1-20) In Habakkuk, we read of Habakkuk the prophet looking for answers to why the Lord has not come to the help of His people and will let them suffer at the hands of the Chaldeans or Babylon. Habakkuk says, “How long, O Lord?” As Habakkuk waits, the Lord responds, 3 “For the […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Micah 5:1-15) 2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Too little to be among the clans of Judah,From you One will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel.His goings forth are from long ago,From the days of eternity.”3 Therefore He will give them up until the timeWhen she who is in labor has […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Jonah 2:1-10) Yes, Jonah’s prayer is significant. It shows Jonah sinking deeper and deeper into the sea and then the Lord saving him from death by appointing a great fish to swallow him. Perhaps what is more significant than Jonah’s prayer, is from where the prayer took place. 1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Amos 7:1-6) God’s judgment was coming down upon Israel in the form of a locust-swarm and an all-consuming fire, and Amos twice interceded for them. 2 And it came about, when it had finished eating the vegetation of the land, that I said,“Lord God, please pardon!How can Jacob stand,For he is small?”3 The Lord […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Joel 3:1-21) The Lord brought judgment upon Israel through the hand of surrounding nations. However, let’s not mistake this to mean that Israel is now “owned” by these nations. God used these nations to teach His people a lesson, but this was never a “forever” judgment. The lesson for Israel was to learn through […]