In this episode of Add Bible, we delve into Ruth chapter 2, unraveling the providential encounters that define Ruth's journey with Naomi and Boaz. As Ruth commits herself to gleaning in Boaz's fields, we witness the unfolding of God's sovereign plans through acts of kindness and favor. Listen as we explore the deeper meanings behind Ruth's humble resilience and Boaz's generous spirit, reflecting on how these biblical narratives echo in our contemporary lives.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. We join Alan J. Huth as he shares Bible passages and comments from over 30 years of his personal Bible reading journals.
SPEAKER 01 :
Today we are in Ruth chapter 2. Listen to Faith Comes by Hearing's reading of the 23 verses of Ruth 2. Ruth 2
SPEAKER 06 :
Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
SPEAKER 04 :
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said to her,
SPEAKER 06 :
Go, my daughter. So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and he said to the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered, The Lord bless you. Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, Whose young woman is this?
SPEAKER 08 :
And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.
SPEAKER 07 :
Then Boaz said to Ruth, Now listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.
SPEAKER 04 :
Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner? But Boaz answered her,
SPEAKER 07 :
All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
SPEAKER 04 :
Then she said, I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.
SPEAKER 07 :
And at mealtime Boaz said to her, Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.
SPEAKER 06 :
So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain, and she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
SPEAKER 07 :
When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, Let her glean, even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her, and also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.
SPEAKER 06 :
so she gleaned in the field until evening then she beat out what she had gleaned and it was about an ephah of barley and she took it up and went into the city her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned she also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied and her mother-in-law said to her
SPEAKER 05 :
Where did you clean today and where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.
SPEAKER 04 :
So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.
SPEAKER 05 :
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead. Naomi also said to her, The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.
SPEAKER 04 :
And Ruth the Moabite said, Besides, he said to me, You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest. And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law,
SPEAKER 03 :
It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.
SPEAKER 06 :
So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, cleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
SPEAKER 01 :
At 28 years old, in 1983, when I read Ruth chapter 2, I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, Ruth gleans grain in the field of Boaz. Boaz rewards Ruth for generosity toward Naomi. Two acts of kindness, Ruth and her concern for Naomi, and Boaz and his treatment of Ruth. At 42 years old in 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament that year, and I read all of Ruth on one day, and I summarized that in the podcast concerning chapter 1, so we move on to 2011. At 56 years old in 2011, I was reading the whole Bible that year, so I was reading Old and New Testament passages on the same day, and I read all of the book of Ruth on the same day, and I again summarized that in chapter 1. Before I get into the book of Ruth, chapter 2, I do want to make a comment about these Bible reading journals. You'll notice I read the Bible differently many years. In 1983, I read Ruth chapter by chapter. In 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament. And in 2011, I was reading the whole Bible. I share those things so that you too can alter the way you read the Bible. To keep life in your Bible reading, you don't need to read the Bible the same way each year. So here in my journey through the book of Ruth over various years and various decades, you can see already three different ways to read the Bible. Chapter by chapter, read just the Old Testament or just the New Testament, or read the whole Bible. I encourage you to try all three methods. Now let's look at Ruth chapter 2. In chapter 1, Naomi and Ruth show up in Bethlehem. Ruth goes right to work, getting a job gleaning in the field so that they can have something to eat. Verse 3 says she happens to show up in the field belonging to Boaz. Do we really believe that, that she just happened to show up there? Right here in chapter 2, we begin to see God orchestrating his sovereignty in the life of Boaz, the life of Ruth, and the life of Naomi, though they may not know it at all. Boaz obviously takes notice of Ruth. Maybe it was because she was new in town. Maybe it was because she was attractive. Maybe it was just because there was a woman in his field and he wanted to know who she was. Or maybe it's because it was ordained by God. Boaz takes special interest in her and gives her great favor in his fields. He even instructs his young men not to lay a hand on her. Ruth illustrates her humble spirit. Verse 10, She fell on her face bowing to the ground and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me since I am a foreigner? The story of Ruth's love and care for her mother-in-law, Naomi, had obviously reached Boaz's ears. He says in verse 11, All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me. So Ruth's reputation has already preceded her in Bethlehem. What would be told of you? What do people see in your behavior? Are you acting in such a way that people would take notice of you? Ruth has showed up in town, and her behavior is being observed by many. Boaz goes the next step. He instructs his young men to treat her with even more favor. Verse 16, And also pull out some from the bundles for her, and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her. Boaz is making sure that Ruth has enough for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. I mentioned in my journal back in 1983 two acts of kindness, Ruth and her concern for Naomi and Boaz and his treatment of Ruth. the practical application of ruth chapter two may be this regardless of your circumstances make the best of it get to work do the best you can and watch god work ruth did so gleaning from early morning all day with just a short rest Next, she fell on her face and bowed down to the ground when she met Boaz, illustrating a spirit of humility and gratefulness. Then she even saved some of her meal for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Yes, even in difficult circumstances, let your light shine before men. And maybe you're on the other end of the stick like Boaz is. Maybe you can provide kindness to someone today. Someone who doesn't have everything you have. Someone who may be suffering under a difficult circumstance right now. Maybe you could be a provider for such a person today. Father, we thank you for the acts of kindness that we see in Ruth chapter 2. Oh, our world needs kindness today. Help us, Lord, as Christians. Look around our world and see where we can be kind to someone today. And as we do, may we understand that you are working around us in our lives. You are sovereign. And you can provide a blessing, even under new or difficult circumstances. To God be the glory. In your name we pray. Amen. Our radio programming is set for 2025. We will cover 44 of the 66 books of the Bible using the Ezra Project day by day through the Bible 11 book series. We start at January 1 with the writings of Old Testament historical books beginning with Job. We will cover seven more historical books until spring when we jump into the New Testament writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. By summer, we will go back to the Old Testament writings of all 13 of the minor prophets. We'll finish 2025 with the writings of Paul. Maybe you don't want to follow the AdBible radio programming in your daily quiet time. Okay, I offer you an alternative plan. Read the Bible chronologically starting any day you want. The Bible is not organized the way things occurred. You can order an Ezra Project Chronological Bible Reading Journal and experience an amazing journey through the Bible in the order things actually occurred. The first time I read the Bible chronologically, it was an aha experience. While reading Kings and Chronicles, I read the prophets who were alive at the time. In the New Testament, you read about a miracle or a parable by all four gospel writers on the same day. It was a very educational and inspiring way to read the Bible. One user said this about our chronological Bible reading journal. Some years ago, I used a couple of spiral notebooks for my journaling. I've attached pictures of the book, the first edition of the Ezra Project Bible Reading Chronological Journal. That was the picture he sent. I live in Phoenix now, and I cannot find any place that has this type of journal. I've used many types of journals recently, but this seems to work the best for my needs. Please let me know if these are still available. Yes, they are. In fact, it is our number one best-selling product of all time. Visit azureproject.net and order a chronological Bible reading journal today and start your chronological journey through the Bible. I know you're going to enjoy it.
Hear a passage, understand the passage, apply it to your life, all in about 10 minutes a day with ADDBIBLE®, Audio Daily Devotion from The Ezra Project.
In this episode of Add Bible, we delve into Ruth chapter 2, unraveling the providential encounters that define Ruth's journey with Naomi and Boaz. As Ruth commits herself to gleaning in Boaz's fields, we witness the unfolding of God's sovereign plans through acts of kindness and favor. Listen as we explore the deeper meanings behind Ruth's humble resilience and Boaz's generous spirit, reflecting on how these biblical narratives echo in our contemporary lives.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. We join Alan J. Huth as he shares Bible passages and comments from over 30 years of his personal Bible reading journals.
SPEAKER 01 :
Today we are in Ruth chapter 2. Listen to Faith Comes by Hearing's reading of the 23 verses of Ruth 2. Ruth 2
SPEAKER 06 :
Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
SPEAKER 04 :
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said to her,
SPEAKER 06 :
Go, my daughter. So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and he said to the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered, The Lord bless you. Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, Whose young woman is this?
SPEAKER 08 :
And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.
SPEAKER 07 :
Then Boaz said to Ruth, Now listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.
SPEAKER 04 :
Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner? But Boaz answered her,
SPEAKER 07 :
All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
SPEAKER 04 :
Then she said, I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.
SPEAKER 07 :
And at mealtime Boaz said to her, Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.
SPEAKER 06 :
So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain, and she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
SPEAKER 07 :
When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, Let her glean, even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her, and also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.
SPEAKER 06 :
so she gleaned in the field until evening then she beat out what she had gleaned and it was about an ephah of barley and she took it up and went into the city her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned she also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied and her mother-in-law said to her
SPEAKER 05 :
Where did you clean today and where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.
SPEAKER 04 :
So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.
SPEAKER 05 :
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead. Naomi also said to her, The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.
SPEAKER 04 :
And Ruth the Moabite said, Besides, he said to me, You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest. And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law,
SPEAKER 03 :
It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.
SPEAKER 06 :
So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, cleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
SPEAKER 01 :
At 28 years old, in 1983, when I read Ruth chapter 2, I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, Ruth gleans grain in the field of Boaz. Boaz rewards Ruth for generosity toward Naomi. Two acts of kindness, Ruth and her concern for Naomi, and Boaz and his treatment of Ruth. At 42 years old in 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament that year, and I read all of Ruth on one day, and I summarized that in the podcast concerning chapter 1, so we move on to 2011. At 56 years old in 2011, I was reading the whole Bible that year, so I was reading Old and New Testament passages on the same day, and I read all of the book of Ruth on the same day, and I again summarized that in chapter 1. Before I get into the book of Ruth, chapter 2, I do want to make a comment about these Bible reading journals. You'll notice I read the Bible differently many years. In 1983, I read Ruth chapter by chapter. In 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament. And in 2011, I was reading the whole Bible. I share those things so that you too can alter the way you read the Bible. To keep life in your Bible reading, you don't need to read the Bible the same way each year. So here in my journey through the book of Ruth over various years and various decades, you can see already three different ways to read the Bible. Chapter by chapter, read just the Old Testament or just the New Testament, or read the whole Bible. I encourage you to try all three methods. Now let's look at Ruth chapter 2. In chapter 1, Naomi and Ruth show up in Bethlehem. Ruth goes right to work, getting a job gleaning in the field so that they can have something to eat. Verse 3 says she happens to show up in the field belonging to Boaz. Do we really believe that, that she just happened to show up there? Right here in chapter 2, we begin to see God orchestrating his sovereignty in the life of Boaz, the life of Ruth, and the life of Naomi, though they may not know it at all. Boaz obviously takes notice of Ruth. Maybe it was because she was new in town. Maybe it was because she was attractive. Maybe it was just because there was a woman in his field and he wanted to know who she was. Or maybe it's because it was ordained by God. Boaz takes special interest in her and gives her great favor in his fields. He even instructs his young men not to lay a hand on her. Ruth illustrates her humble spirit. Verse 10, She fell on her face bowing to the ground and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me since I am a foreigner? The story of Ruth's love and care for her mother-in-law, Naomi, had obviously reached Boaz's ears. He says in verse 11, All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me. So Ruth's reputation has already preceded her in Bethlehem. What would be told of you? What do people see in your behavior? Are you acting in such a way that people would take notice of you? Ruth has showed up in town, and her behavior is being observed by many. Boaz goes the next step. He instructs his young men to treat her with even more favor. Verse 16, And also pull out some from the bundles for her, and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her. Boaz is making sure that Ruth has enough for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. I mentioned in my journal back in 1983 two acts of kindness, Ruth and her concern for Naomi and Boaz and his treatment of Ruth. the practical application of ruth chapter two may be this regardless of your circumstances make the best of it get to work do the best you can and watch god work ruth did so gleaning from early morning all day with just a short rest Next, she fell on her face and bowed down to the ground when she met Boaz, illustrating a spirit of humility and gratefulness. Then she even saved some of her meal for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Yes, even in difficult circumstances, let your light shine before men. And maybe you're on the other end of the stick like Boaz is. Maybe you can provide kindness to someone today. Someone who doesn't have everything you have. Someone who may be suffering under a difficult circumstance right now. Maybe you could be a provider for such a person today. Father, we thank you for the acts of kindness that we see in Ruth chapter 2. Oh, our world needs kindness today. Help us, Lord, as Christians. Look around our world and see where we can be kind to someone today. And as we do, may we understand that you are working around us in our lives. You are sovereign. And you can provide a blessing, even under new or difficult circumstances. To God be the glory. In your name we pray. Amen. Our radio programming is set for 2025. We will cover 44 of the 66 books of the Bible using the Ezra Project day by day through the Bible 11 book series. We start at January 1 with the writings of Old Testament historical books beginning with Job. We will cover seven more historical books until spring when we jump into the New Testament writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. By summer, we will go back to the Old Testament writings of all 13 of the minor prophets. We'll finish 2025 with the writings of Paul. Maybe you don't want to follow the AdBible radio programming in your daily quiet time. Okay, I offer you an alternative plan. Read the Bible chronologically starting any day you want. The Bible is not organized the way things occurred. You can order an Ezra Project Chronological Bible Reading Journal and experience an amazing journey through the Bible in the order things actually occurred. The first time I read the Bible chronologically, it was an aha experience. While reading Kings and Chronicles, I read the prophets who were alive at the time. In the New Testament, you read about a miracle or a parable by all four gospel writers on the same day. It was a very educational and inspiring way to read the Bible. One user said this about our chronological Bible reading journal. Some years ago, I used a couple of spiral notebooks for my journaling. I've attached pictures of the book, the first edition of the Ezra Project Bible Reading Chronological Journal. That was the picture he sent. I live in Phoenix now, and I cannot find any place that has this type of journal. I've used many types of journals recently, but this seems to work the best for my needs. Please let me know if these are still available. Yes, they are. In fact, it is our number one best-selling product of all time. Visit azureproject.net and order a chronological Bible reading journal today and start your chronological journey through the Bible. I know you're going to enjoy it.
In this episode, we delve into the profound narrative of the Book of Ruth, a timeless story rooted in biblical history. Explore the themes of loyalty, redemption, and divine providence as we navigate through Ruth's poignant journey alongside Naomi, her mother-in-law. Discover how this classic love story also emphasizes virtuous womanhood and commitment, unfolding during a period when Israel was without a king.
SPEAKER 03 :
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. We join Alan J. Huth as he shares Bible passages and comments from over 30 years of his personal Bible reading journals.
SPEAKER 02 :
Today we begin the book of Ruth. I will use my ESV Study Bible book introduction to look at the book of Ruth. The story of the book of Ruth takes place in the time of Judges, before a king reigned over Israel, probably around 1000 BC. The book is named for its main character, Ruth, a Moabite woman who marries Boaz. They eventually have a son, Obed, who is the grandfather of King David. Therefore, Ruth is an ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus. The theme of Ruth is how God's people experience His sovereignty, wisdom, and covenant kingdom even under difficult circumstances. Kindness and redemption are two key themes. The book of Ruth is the Bible's classic love story. Few stories in the Bible are told from a woman's viewpoint, but in Ruth, the writer gives attention to feminine values and feelings. Also, Boaz, in his role as kinsman redeemer, presents a striking figure of a man who embodies the Lord's own kindness. The book of Ruth exalts virtuous womanhood and strong manhood. Ruth is one of the only two books in the Bible named after a woman, Ruth and Esther. Interestingly, Ruth is a Gentile woman who marries a Hebrew man. Esther is a Jewish woman who marries a Gentile man. Ruth is not only a love story, it is a tremendous example of how redemption changes everything. Our guest reader for the Book of Ruth is my wife, Terry. Terry and I have been married for over 42 years. We met in high school at age 15, dated four years, and married at 19. We have been together our whole lives. She is a homemaker, raised our three children, and now focuses on our five grandchildren. Terry has been a member of the Ezra Project Board of Directors since we started in 2002. She is our Special Events Coordinator. Terry will read the last two chapters of the Book of Ruth, so we'll listen to Faith Comes by Hearing's reading of Ruth, Chapter 1.
SPEAKER 03 :
Ruth Ruth 1
SPEAKER 06 :
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Malan and Kilian. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other, Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Malan and Kilian died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,
SPEAKER 05 :
Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you, in the house of her husband.
SPEAKER 06 :
Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept, and they said to her... No, we will return with you, to your people.
SPEAKER 05 :
But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.
SPEAKER 06 :
Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said...
SPEAKER 05 :
See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law.
SPEAKER 04 :
But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me, and more also if anything but death parts me from you.
SPEAKER 06 :
And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, Is this Naomi?
SPEAKER 05 :
She said to them, Do not call me Naomi. Call me Himera, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?
SPEAKER 06 :
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
SPEAKER 02 :
To help us through the book of Ruth, I've selected three of my personal Bible reading journals. The first one is the first Bible reading journal I ever wrote back in 1983 when I was 28 years old. The next one is 14 years later in 1997 when I was 42 years old. And we'll use 2011, another 14 years later, when I was 56 years old. So those are the three journals we will use in the book of Ruth. In 1983, after reading Ruth chapter 1, I wrote the first seven books focused on the nation of Israel. Ruth begins to focus on the family of the Messiah within the nation. Ruth was a Moabite woman, descendant of Lot. In 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament that year, and I read the whole book of Ruth on one day, and I summarized the book this way. I wrote, nice story, but isn't it against God's instructions for Boaz to marry a Moabite? Yet she and he become the genealogy of David and Jesus. In 2011, I was reading the whole Bible in a year. So I was reading Old Testament passages and New Testament passages each day. So on this day, I read all the chapters of Ruth, and I read some passages out of Luke. Concerning Ruth, I wrote... Interesting that this story is about a Jewish man marrying a Moabite woman, which I thought was prohibited by the law, and that this union is blessed by God as the lineage of King David and the ancestor of Jesus himself. The story also shows God's sovereignty and reward for faithfulness. Ruth to Naomi. The story of Ruth begins with a Jewish family. Eli Melech and his wife Naomi were from Bethlehem and the tribe of Judah. They have two sons, but then Naomi's husband dies. The two sons took Moabite wives. I mentioned in my journal that I thought that was against the law of God. So let me read my ESV Study Bible footnote concerning this. Ruth's husband was Malan. There was no formal prohibition against marrying Moabites. However, marriage to Moabites was discouraged because of their commitment to other gods, such as Moloch, the Balaam debacle, Israel's debauchery with Moabite women in the wilderness, and the ten-generation Moabite male exclusion from the assembly of the Lord. So, I guess I learned something here, and that's that it's not prohibited. It was just discouraged to marry a Moabite. The two sons of Naomi both die, leaving the Moabite women without husbands. Naomi, the mother of the two sons, now intends to return to her homeland of Judah. Naomi graciously frees her daughters-in-law to go back to their homelands as well. But Ruth refuses to do so. Ruth demonstrates incredible loyalty to Naomi, her mother-in-law. In verse 16, the word says, Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also, if anything but death parts me from you. Naomi and Ruth returned to the city of Bethlehem, and the whole town is stirred up because of them. It had probably been many years since Naomi was in Bethlehem, so maybe they were excited to see her again. Or maybe they were concerned because she left with a husband, and she came back without one. Anyway, it was a reunion, and the whole town was stirred up. She left with the name Naomi, but now she calls herself Mara, which means bitter. Naomi is bitter because God has taken away her husband and her two sons. She returns desolate, childless, and as a widow. She has suffered, and she probably thinks her suffering is some kind of condemnation from God for some sin that she is unaware of. But this is not the end of the story of the book of Ruth, only the beginning. Maybe like Naomi, you think you've been dealt a bitter hand from the Lord. Maybe you've suffered greatly. Maybe you've lost members of your family. Maybe you've been divorced. Maybe you're suffering under a health issue. Maybe you've lost your job. Maybe, like Naomi, you feel bitter against God. But again, this is only chapter 1 of the book of Ruth. So let's see what God does with Naomi's bitterness. It may give you hope for your own bitterness. Father, we thank you for the opening chapter of the book of Ruth. The scene is set, a scene of bitterness, disappointment, like many of us may feel from time to time in our lives. We look forward to what you might teach us in the book of Ruth that may soften our own bitterness toward you. Life doesn't always turn out the way we want it, but that doesn't mean it doesn't turn out the way God wants it. Teach us, Lord, to hang in there with you, even if life gets bitter or difficult, even when it doesn't turn out the way we think it should. Teach us sovereignty through your word. For it's in Jesus' name we ask it. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. To support AdBible, visit EzraProject.net, the donate button. For a one-time gift of $39 or more, we will send you a free copy of one of our day-by-day through the Bible books. And for a gift of $100 a month, we will send you the entire 11-volume series covering all 66 books of the Bible chapter by chapter. You will get a book a month for the first 11 months of your $100 a month contribution. So support the Ezra Project today by going online and hitting the donate button at EzraProject.net.
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The ESV Bible, the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, ESV, text edition 2007, all rights reserved. English Standard Version, ESV, and the ESV logo are registered trademarks of Good News Publishers, used by permission.
Join us as we delve into Job 42, the final chapter that wraps up our 30-day venture through the compelling story of Job. Witness the restoration of Job's fortune and the renewal of his life after unspeakable trials. Job's sparking repentance and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty serve as eternal lessons for us to remain steadfast in our own life challenges. As we explore reflections from over three decades of journaling, gain valuable insights into maintaining faith and trust in the divine, even when life's trials feel insurmountable.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today we reach Job chapter 42, the last chapter of the book of Job, and the last of our 30-day adventure through this book. We'll see Job respond to God one more time, we'll see God speak, and we'll see God restore everything to Job. Let's listen in to the last chapter of the book of Job, chapter 42. Job 42
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Then Job answered the Lord and said, I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know. Hear and I will speak. I will question you and you make it known to me. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
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After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite,
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My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly." for you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has.
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So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them. And the Lord accepted Job's prayer. And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter, Jemima, and the name of the second, Keziah, and the name of the third, Karenhapik. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years and saw his sons and his sons' sons four generations. And Job died an old man and full of days.
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We'll take a look for the last time at those journals I've been using through the book of Job. We'll begin with 1984 as I finished the book of Job with chapters 41 and 42. And I wrote, Job repents. God restores him. 41.11 says, Who has given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. And 42.2 says, I know that thou can do all things. Thirteen years later, in 1997, I finished the book of Job. With chapters 35 through 42 on the last day, I wrote, God speaks to Job and his friends. Prepare yourself like a man. I will question you and you shall answer me. God puts Job in perspective. He never ever addresses Job's issues but declares his sovereignty. Everything under heaven is mine. When Job has a chance to answer, he laid his hand over his mouth. I will not answer. There is no answer or question to God. He simply repented for ever questioning God. Lord, forgive me for whining or ever questioning you. Give me strength to live in your sovereignty. And 18 years later, in 2015, I finished the book of Job by reading chapters 40 through 42 on the same day. And I wrote, God calls those who question him fault finders. Job desired, waited for the opportunity to present his case before God. He now has the chance to do so and he says nothing. We are so small before God, our articulation is babbling. Doubtful if any of us are going to question God or present our futile case before him. God never answers Job. He never explains what happened to Job. He reminds Job of how big he is. Job responds, God restores the fortunes of Job. after he prayed for his friends. Job lives 140 years, so his suffering may have been a very short trial in his life. How am I handling my trials? In this last chapter of the book of Job, Job does speak to God. Let's go back and see what he had to say. In verse 2, I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. In verse 3, he says, Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job never argues his case before God, does he? Nor will we. Job understands he has no case before God, nor do we. So Job never does understand what happened back in chapter 1, in the book that carries his own name. God does not need to explain himself. After Job successfully faces his trial, this test from God Almighty, Then the Lord restores everything back to Job. Verse 10, And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Verse 12, And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. Verse 16, And after this Job lived 140 years. And verse 17, And Job died an old man and full of days. Notice too, the restoration of Job only came after he was restored to his friends. He had to pray for them, and God said he would hear that prayer from Job. How do you feel after completing the book of Job? Do you feel a little let down that God never tells Job what really happened? Do you feel challenged by your own personal trials and how Job was handled his and he remained faithful? And are you questioning whether you can remain faithful during the trial that God has you in? Or do you feel like you're on the way out of a trial and that you will be restored? Has Job helped build your faith and trust in God? Do you feel sorry for your questioning of God through your life? And do you feel like repenting? Like Job did. Again, look at verse 6. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job repented. Do you need to? When we started Job, we said the theme of Job is can God be trusted? It responds to our heart's desire to question God, to wonder about our faith in a sovereign God when things don't appear to be going right. We said Job questioned God, but while demonstrating unshakable faith... Has our journey through Job given you unshakable faith? Let's close out our journey through the book of Job in prayer. Father, we thank you for this book, a book of despair, a book of trial, a book of trouble, a recap of a life much like our own. Job suffered. He lost it all, but his faith never wavered. As you put us through the tests of life, may we be like Job. May our faith never waver. Thank you for strengthening us through this book. Thank you for reminding us the trials will come in our lives. Thank you for reminding us of who you are. You're bigger than any trial we will ever face. And thank you for the promise of restoration. You restored Job. May you restore us as well. Thank you for the lessons of life in the book of Job. Holy Spirit, apply them to each of our journeys. as we continue our sojourn on the earth. Job had many more years to live after this trial. We may too. So thank you for the promise of restoring us. We give you all the praise and the glory. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. Our radio programming is set for 2025. We will cover 44 of the 66 books of the Bible using the Ezra Project day by day through the Bible 11 book series. We start at January 1 with the writings of the Old Testament historical books beginning with Job. We will cover seven more historical books until spring when we jump into the New Testament writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. By summer, we will go back to the Old Testament writings of all 13 of the minor prophets. We'll finish 2025 with the writings of Paul. Maybe you don't want to follow the Ad Bible Radio programming in your daily quiet time. Okay, I offer you an alternative plan. Read the Bible chronologically starting any day you want. The Bible is not organized the way things occurred. You can order an Ezra Project Chronological Bible Reading Journal and experience an amazing journey through the Bible in the order things actually occurred. The first time I read the Bible chronologically, it was an aha experience. While reading Kings and Chronicles, I read the prophets who were alive at the time. In the New Testament, you read about a miracle or a parable by all four gospel writers on the same day. It was a very educational and inspiring way to read the Bible. One user said this about our chronological Bible reading journal. Some years ago, I used a couple of spiral notebooks for my journaling. I've attached pictures of the book, the first edition of the Ezra Project Bible Reading Chronological Journal. That was the picture he sent. I live in Phoenix now, and I cannot find any place that has this type of journal. I've used many types of journals recently, but this seems to work the best for my needs. Please let me know if these are still available. Yes, they are. In fact, it is our number one best-selling product of all time. Visit azureproject.net and order a chronological Bible reading journal today and start your chronological journey through the Bible. I know you're going to enjoy it and want to share it with others. To support AddBible, visit EzraProject.net, the donate button. For a one-time gift of $39 or more, we will send you a free copy of one of our day-by-day through the Bible books. And for a gift of $100 a month, we will send you the entire 11-volume series covering all 66 books of the Bible, chapter by chapter. You will get a book a month for the first 11 months of your $100 a month contribution. So support the Ezra Project today by going online and hitting the donate button at ezraproject.net.
Join us as we journey through the book of Job, where God questions Job, inviting him to respond. Job’s remarkable decision to remain silent speaks volumes about humility before the divine. This episode provides a commentary on the beauty of recognizing our small place in the universe compared to God’s vastness. We also discuss the benefits of Bible journaling, which offers a new perspective on scripture reading and a way to cultivate a closer relationship with God through reflective writing.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today in Job chapter 40, God calls Job a fault finder. He invites Job to respond. Job wisely responds. chooses silence, and God continues to speak. So let's listen to Job chapters 40 and 41.
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Job 40 And the Lord said to Job, Shall a fault-finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.
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Then Job answered the Lord and said, Behold, I am of small account.
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What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer. Twice, but I will proceed no further.
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Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Dress for action like a man.
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I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like His? Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity. Clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together. Bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. Behold behemoth. which I made as I made you. He eats grass like an ox. Behold his strength in his loins and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. He is the first of the works of God. Let him who made him bring near his sword." For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade, the lotus trees cover him. The willows of the brooks surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent, he is not frightened. He is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes or pierce his nose with a snare? Job 41. Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him. Remember the battle. You will not do it again. Behold, the hope of a man is false. He is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle? Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror. His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal. One is so near to another that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they clasp each other and cannot be separated. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth go flaming torches, sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot in burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth. In his neck abide strength, and terror dances before him. The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable. His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid at the crashing they are beside themselves. Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. He counts iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee. For him sling stones are turned to stubble. Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rattle of javelins. His underparts are like shark pot shirts. He spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire. He makes the deep boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him he leaves a shining wake. One would think the deep to be white-haired. On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride.
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In 1984, at 29 years old, I read Job 39 and 40 on one day and 41 and 42 on the second day. Concerning chapters 40 and 41, I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, God continues lecture to Job. He gives Job opportunity to respond. Job declares, Behold, I am insignificant. What can I reply to thee? Praise God Almighty. And to those who won't believe, I referred to chapter 40, verse 8. Will you condemn me that you might be justified? Related to chapter 41, I wrote concerning verse 11. Who has given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole earth is mine. In 1997, at 42 years old, I read Job 35 through 42 on the same day. And concerning chapters 40 and 41, I wrote, Everything under heaven is mine. And I was referring to verse 11 of chapter 41. I continue to write, When Job has a chance to answer, he laid his hand over his mouth. I will not answer. There is no answer or question to God. In 2015, at 60 years old, I read Job 40 through 42 on the same day. Concerning chapter 40 and 41, I wrote, God calls those who question him fault finders. Job desired. He waited for the opportunity to present his case before God. He now has the chance to do so, and he says nothing. We are so small before God, our articulation is babbling. Doubtful any of us are going to question God or present our futile case before him. I continue to write, God never answers Job. He never explains what happened to Job. He reminds Job of how big he is. Chapter 40 opens with this question to Job from God himself. Shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it. Are you a fault finder? Do you find fault with God? Do you question him? Do you question how he's been treating your life? Do you really want to contend with God Almighty? Job answers very wisely. Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. Friends, I think we forget who God is. We think we have equality with God or we think we have standing with God. We might have an image of him of being five foot eight coming on a white horse someday. No, that is not the picture of God we're seeing in these last few chapters of Job. I hope all of us get the practical application out of these last few chapters that God is God. He is mighty. He is all-powerful. He is uncomprehendable. And we are of small account before Almighty God. God reminds Job and he reminds us in verse 8, Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Oh, if you've ever done that, plead for God's forgiveness. He is God. We are not. He is our Creator. We are His creation. Another application from this chapter is may we lay our hand over our mouths. May we refrain from criticizing God, questioning God, even cursing God. And lastly, may we comprehend, may we understand the sovereignty of God. Whatever is happening in our lives can work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. That's Romans 8, 28. So my prayer as we finish out the book of Job is that we have not been hearers only, but doers. We can apply these very principles we're learning to our lives. We can live better because we've been in the book of Job. But we're not finished. In chapter 42, the last chapter, Job has another chance to answer God. So we look forward to the wonderful concluding chapter of the book of Job. Father, we bow our heads and our hearts humbly before you. We thank you for reminding us of who you are and who we are in you. Lord, we bend the knee. We bow our heads and our hearts and simply praise and worship you. We lay our hand over our mouths in silence. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. You have probably noticed I refer to my personal Bible reading journals in AdBible. I took an honors English class in high school and learned about journaling. I kept a journal in high school probably related to that class, and then I quit. For some reason, I started journaling my Bible reading about 10 years later. I don't know why I decided to journal my Bible reading, but my first journal is dated 1983. Back then, I bought spiral-bound notebooks from a retail store. Nothing fancy. But when I started the Ezra Project, I decided to publish Bible reading journals. You can find two of them on our website at ezraproject.net. Why journal? It will change the way you read the Bible. If you struggle with your daily quiet time, try it. If you know you're going to write something down after you read, you will pay more attention to what you're reading. It can be as simple as your favorite verse in the passage or the major point you got out of the passage. You decide. It's your journal. And it's not a personal journal. It's a Bible reading journal. So you shouldn't have to worry about someone finding it and reading it. I wanted to print a bumper sticker once called Real Men Journal. I figured it would look good on the back of the pickup trucks. Well, you know, I never printed it because I knew it wouldn't sell. But get an Ezra Project Bible reading journal at EzraProject.net. I know you're going to enjoy it.
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And want to share it with others.
In this gripping episode of Add Bible, we continue our exploration into the book of Job on day 28 of our spiritual journey. After a prolonged dialogue between Job and his friends, the narrative takes a transformative turn as we finally hear God speak from the whirlwind. This powerful encounter between the divine and the human captures the magnitude of God’s sovereignty and wisdom, raising profound questions about the nature of creation and our place within it.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today is day 28 in our 30-day journey through the book of Job. Today, after 37 chapters of Job and his friends conversing with each other, God is going to speak. We're going to listen. The faith comes by our hearing's recording of chapters 38 and 39 as the Lord speaks from the whirlwind.
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Job 38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man. I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understandings. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know. Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk? or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy, or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, Thus far shall you come and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed. Have you commanded the morning since your days began and caused the dawn to know its place that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal and its features stand out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld and their uplifted arm is broken. Have you entered into the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare if you know all this. Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And where is the place of darkness that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? You know, for you were born then and the number of your days is great. Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt? To bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man. To satisfy the waste in desolate land and to make the ground sprout with grass. Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth? And who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Maserath in their season, or can you guide the bear with its children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings that they may go and say to you, Here we are? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the water skins of the heavens when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together? Can you hunt the prey for the lion? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? Who provides for the raven its prey when its young ones cry to God for help and wander about for lack of food? Job 39 Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill? And do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young? Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open. They go out and do not return to them. Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey, to whom I have given the arid plain for his home and the salt land for his dwelling place? He scorns the tumult of the city. He hears not the shouts of the driver. He ranges the mountains as his pasture, and he searches after every green thing. Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger? Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes? Or will he harrow the valleys after you? Will you depend on him because his strength is great? And will you leave to him your labor? Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain and gather it to your threshing floor? The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. She deals cruelly with her young as if they were not hers. Though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider. Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying. He paws in the valley and exults in his strength. He goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed. He does not turn back from the sword. Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear and the javelin. With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground. He cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, he says, Aha! He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains and the shouting. Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. From there he spies out the prey, his eyes behold it from far away. His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.
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In 1984, I read Job 35 through 38 on the same day. And concerning chapter 38, I wrote, God speaks to Job. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? God points out the smallness of man and the bigness of God. Praise God for his sovereignty. He was, is, and will remain in control. In 1997, I read Job 35-42 on the same day, and I wrote, God speaks to Job and his friends. Prepare yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me. God puts Job in perspective. He never even addresses Job's issues, but declares his sovereignty. And in 2015, I read Job 38 and 39 on the same day, and I wrote, God speaks. He answers Job out of a whirlwind. Well, rather than answer Job, he questions him. We think we're going to question God when we get to heaven. I don't think so. God reminds us, He is the Creator, not evolution. Does 38.22-23 refer to end times? And I put a parenthesis around Revelation 16.21. I continue to write, God also reminds us, He, not us, is the author of wisdom and understanding. Beyond the fact that God created the heavens and the earth, He made it clear He also governs the created. As God does, He raises the level of conversation way above our personal agenda. That ends my journal entries. Let's take a look at Job 38 and 39. The very first verse of 38 says, Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. Then he declares, I will question you. I mentioned in one of my journals, some of us think we're going to have a few questions for God when we get to heaven. As I said then, I don't think so. The questions that God asks Job are unanswerable. I said in another one of my journals, God raises the level of conversation beyond our personal agenda. None of God's response in chapters 38 and 39 have anything to do with what Job is going through. God reminds Job and his friends, and he reminds us, he is God. He is the creator and controller of all things. For 37 chapters, Job longed to plead his case before God. Now he has an audience before God Almighty. What do you think he thinks now? We're going to find out in the next chapter. Our practical application from Job 38 and 39 is forget about questioning God. Forget about how you've been treated on your sojourn on the earth. Forget about what you think is fair or unfair. Bend the knee. Bow your heart to the God of the universe. Honor him with all your heart, soul, mind, and spirit. And maybe he will spare us questioning us when we get to his throne room. Father, we thank you that you do answer us. like you are answering Job here in these chapters. We pray, Lord, that we could even have some level of comprehension of who you are and when you answer us what it really means. Lord, thank you for putting sovereignty and perspective in these two chapters. Thank you for reminding us to set our personal agenda aside. Thank you for reminding us who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind. Any understanding we have, any wisdom we have, comes from you. To God be the glory. Great things you have done. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. After listening to AdBible, you may wish members of your family or friends would find a personal relationship with Jesus like you have. But we know most Christians have never shared their faith with anyone else. In fact, it's about 95% of us. Maybe you want to, but you just don't know how. I was not very good at it either, but I had a desire to get better at it. Maybe you do too. Check out our teaching on how to share your faith without a fight at EzraProject.net. Sharing our faith is not a gift some have and some don't. It's a command to go and make disciples. Learn how to do it, or at least give it a try. Visit EzraProject.net. Find how to share your faith without a fight. I know you're going to enjoy it.
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And want to share it with others.
Join Alan J. Huth as he reflects on Elihu's speeches in Job chapters 36 and 37. Through his personal Bible reading journals, Alan examines the themes of divine justice, majesty, and the humility required to truly understand God's commands. This episode invites us to pause and recognize the profound beauty and order within God's creation, encouraging a deep respect and fear for the Almighty. Amidst personal reflections and scriptural insights, we find a moment to praise and acknowledge the wonders of God.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today in Job chapters 36 and 37, the young man Elihu extols God's greatness and proclaims God's majesty. These are his final words before the Lord himself speaks in chapter 38. We can't wait, right? But until then, let's listen to Elihu in chapters 36 and 37. Job 36
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And Elihu continued and said, Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar, and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly, my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Behold, God is mighty and does not despise any. He is mighty in strength of understanding. He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right. He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted. And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly." He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity. If they listen and serve Him, they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness. But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. The godless in heart cherish anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them. They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes. He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity. He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping and what was set on your table was full of fatness. But you are full of the judgment on the wicked. Judgment and justice seize you. Beware, lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength? Do not long for the night when peoples vanish in their place. Take care, do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction." Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? Who has prescribed for him his way? Or who can say, You have done wrong? Remember to extol his work of which men have sung. All mankind has looked on it. Man beholds it from afar. Behold, God is great, and we know him not. The number of his years is unsearchable." For he draws up the drops of water, they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly. Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? Behold, he scatters his lightning about him, and covers the roots of the sea. For by these he judges peoples, he gives food in abundance. He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. Its crashing declares his presence. The cattle also declare that he rises. At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place. Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth. After it, his voice roars. He thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with his voice. He does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, Fall on the earth. Likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man that all men whom he made may know it. Then the beasts go into their lairs and remain in their dens. From its chamber comes the whirlwind and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God, ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture. The clouds scatter his lightning. They turn around and around by his guidance to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen. Hear this, O Job, stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? You whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind, can you, like him, spread out the skies hard as a cast metal mirror?" Teach us what we shall say to him. We cannot draw up our case because of darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up? And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor. God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty, we cannot find him. He is great in power. Justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore, men fear him. He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.
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Back in 1984, in that second journal I ever wrote, I read Job chapters 35 through 38 on the same day, and I wrote, Elihu finishes mouthing off. And jumping 21 years later, when I read Job 36 and 37 in 2015, I wrote, Elihu now speaks on God's behalf, 36, 2 through 3, claiming to have perfect knowledge, 36, 4. Really? God blesses the righteous and binds up the wicked. He once blessed Job, but now afflicts him. Elihu honors God, 36, 26, and proclaims his majesty. we all agree thirty seven fourteen and twenty three he concludes with he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit thirty seven twenty four an accusation of job's position For the most part, I think we would agree with what Elihu had to say in these two chapters. He believes he's a spokesman for God himself. Let's look at the opening verses of 36. Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker, for truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. That may be some of that pride we saw earlier in Elihu, or it might be that he absolutely believes he's speaking on God's behalf. I turn to my footnote in my English Standard Version Study Bible concerning these verses. Elihu presents his final speech as something offered on God's behalf, emphasizing that unlike Job, he has understanding that comes from outside himself, and that he is perfect in knowledge, something he will later ascribe also to God in 37.16. Again, he seems more arrogant than he realizes, as young men sometimes do. even so in possibly his youthful arrogance he seems to have a pretty good grasp of god thirty six five behold god is mighty and does not despise any he is mighty in strength of understanding thirty six seven he does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous thirty six twenty two behold god is exalted in his power who is a teacher like him 36.26. Behold, God is great, and we know him not. The number of his years is unsearchable. He equates God's voice to thunder.
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37.2.
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Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He attributes thunder and lightning and rainstorms and snow all to the majesty of God. And we would agree. And from 37, 14 on, he challenges Job, do you really know God? He claims no one can understand the wondrous works of God Almighty. And again, we probably would agree. Verse 14, consider the wondrous works of God. Verse 15, do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancing of the clouds? Verse 18, can you like him spread out the skies? And finally, the majesty of God in the last couple of verses. Out of the north comes gold and splendor. God is clothed with awesome majesty, the Almighty. We cannot find him. He is great in power, justice, and abundant righteousness. He will not violate. Yes, Elihu, we agree. And he closes with this, therefore men fear him. Hallelujah. Yes, we should have fear, a healthy respect for this majestic God. And then he lays that last claim before Job once again. He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. That may be true, but that's not Job's problem, as we're going to find out in the last few chapters of this book. Friends, my prayer every time I record an Ad Bible episode is that you hear from God and not from me. I pray for God's anointing. But I would never claim, as Elihu did, for truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Far from that. Yet I do hope that I have something to say on God's behalf. I hope even through these chapters that we gain a healthy understanding of the majesty of God. Reading the Bible, listening to the Bible, always helps us understand God more. Even through the words of Elihu, that is true in these chapters. Our application is this. Today, take a moment to consider the wondrous works of God. Today, look up to heaven. Look at the majesty of creation, whether it's the sun shining, the rain pouring, the snow falling, or the ice melting. All of it comes from the hand of our Almighty God. Stop and consider the wondrous works of God today. Father, you deserve all the glory, all the majesty, all the praise, all the worship we can muster. We offer it to you. Amen. As you consume the news of our day-to-day, you may become hopeless. So visit EzraProject.net and read Living in Goshen. It will brighten your countenance and renew your trust in God. Even as plagues rain down all around us, you can live in Goshen and not be affected. Visit EzraProject.net and read Living in Goshen today. I know you're going to enjoy it and want to share it with others.
Join us on day 26 of our exploration through the book of Job, as we delve into the words of the young man Elihu, via chapters 34 and 35. Through Elihu's assertions, we revisit themes of divine justice and the folly of human misjudgment. Reflect alongside as Elihu challenges Job's perspective, reminding us of God's unwavering justice.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today is day 26 in our 30-day journey through the book of Job. Only five days to go. Yesterday we were introduced to the young man Elihu. Today we hear more of him in chapters 34 and 35. In chapter 34 of Elihu asserts God's justice. In chapter 35, he condemns Job. Let's listen in to Elihu in chapters 34 and 35 of Job.
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Then Elihu answered and said, Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know. For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. Let us choose what is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job has said, I am in the right, and God has taken away my right. In spite of my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God. Therefore hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him. Of a truth God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. Who gave Him charge over the earth, and who laid on Him the whole world? If He should set His heart to it, and gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. If you have understanding, hear this, listen to what I say. Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, who says to a king, Worthless one, and to nobles, Wicked man, who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? In a moment they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. For his eyes are in the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place. Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see, because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways, so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted. When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him? whether it be a nation or a man, that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. For has anyone said to God, I have borne punishment, I will not offend anymore. Teach me what I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more. Will he then make repayment to suit you because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore declare what you know. Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say, Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without insight. Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God. Job 35 And Elihu answered and said, Do you think this to be just? Do you say, It is my right before God? That you ask, What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned? I will answer you and your friends with you. Look at the heavens and see, and behold the clouds which are higher than you. If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. Because of the multitude of oppressions, people cry out. They call for help because of the arm of the mighty. But none says, Where is God, my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens? There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him. And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression, Job opens his mouth in empty talk. He multiplies words without knowledge.
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As I turn to my journals concerning these two chapters, I see in 1984 that I read Job 31 through 34 on one day and Job 35 through 38 on the next day. So I'm going to save that journal entry till tomorrow's readings. In 1997, as I was reading the entire Old Testament that year, I read Job 29-34 on the same day, and chapters 35-42, completing the book the next day. On the first day I wrote in my journal, Job finishes his defense, young Elihu responds, elevating God in chapter 34, verses 10-15. In 2015, I read Job chapters 34 and 35 on the same day, and I wrote, I continue to write, I still hope God does watch over the leadership of his people on earth. 34, 24 says, He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. 34.30 says, A godless man should not reign that he should not ensnare the people. Amen, I wrote. Let's take a look at chapters 34 and 35 of Job. In chapter 34, verse 5, Elihu acknowledges that Job thinks he's innocent. The verse says, For Job has said, I am in the right, and God has taken away my right. And he continues, "...in spite of my right hand I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression." But he also knows Job's condition, and he says, "...that can't come from God." Verse 10, "...therefore hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong." Verse 12 affirms it even more, "...of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice." Elihu continues to assert God's justice. Look at verse 21. For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place. Yes, Elihu is right. God is just. He is fair. Even today we would hope that he shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. Even today we would hope, like in verse 30, that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. Oh, we wish that that was true today. And though God is just, he lets unjust people rule across the globe. Elihu finishes chapter 34 with these words against Job. Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without insight. Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin, he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God. If that weren't enough, Elihu continues in chapter 35. He makes an interesting statement in verse 7. If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand? Yes, we've said it before, our righteousness is as filthy rags before a holy God. Elihu may be right in this. and then he accuses job one more time the last few verses of the chapter surely god does not hear an empty cry nor does the almighty regard it how much less when you say that you do not see him that the case is before him and you are waiting for him and now because his anger does not punish and he does not take much note of transgression job opens his mouth in empty talk He multiplies words without knowledge. Oh, it must be painful for Job to hear these kind of accusations. Has that happened to you? False accusations against you? How does it make you feel? Surely Job feels the same way. He's down and out, and his friends are kicking dirt on him. The lessons from chapter 34 and 35 may be clear, and that is, yes, it's true, God is just. Yes, it's true that his eyes are on the ways of a man and he sees all his steps. He sees us in our unrighteousness. And fortunately for us, he holds back his judgment, allowing every one of us the chance to get under His grace, love, and mercy through Jesus, His only begotten Son. Take a moment before you finish today to thank God for His love, His justice, His mercy, and His grace. And Elihu is not finished. We have two more chapters to listen to what he has to say. Until then, Father, bless us as we gain knowledge, understanding, and wisdom from Your Word. Help us be better friends to our friends. And when falsely accused, help us have a heart like Job and look to you rather than men. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. We started on radio on October 1st, 2024. I hope you noticed some differences in AdBible from other programs. For example, we are fully committed to the Word of God. That's why we play full chapters on the air, not sound bites. It takes a lot of our program time, but it's my belief it's more important for you to hear the Word of God than me. You may also have figured out by now I'm not a pastor, just a layman like most of you. So these recordings are not based on sermons. They're based on my personal walk through the Bible over several decades of my life. Therefore, Add Bible is a unique perspective of how the Bible impacts life, not a teaching series you get at your church. I share personal Bible reading journal entries from my life, from my journals I've never thought would ever be shared with anybody. What I share are raw, authentic notes from Bible intersections of my own life. My life is no different from yours, so I hope the stories and applications I share are relevant to your life as well. I hope you are enjoying this unique radio program and therefore will help us stay on the air. We have so much more to share. Visit EzraProject.net and donate today. Or send a check to the Ezra Project 1399 South Havana Street, Suite 201E, Aurora, Colorado, 80012. That's Ezra Project 1399 South Havana Street, Suite 201E, Aurora, Colorado, 80012. When you do, I will send you your first copy of A Day by Day Through the Bible book. There are 11 books in the series, so I will surprise you with one of my choosing. Or, after you donate at EzraProject.net, look at our resource page, pick a book you want, and let me know your choice at the contact section on our website. We are happy to send you the book of your choice. I know you're going to enjoy it.
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And want to share it with others.
In this episode of Add Bible, delve into the robust dialogue of Job chapters 32 and 33, where a new voice emerges—Elihu, the young listener with much to say. Observe how this young man critiques both Job and his friends with fervor and insight that challenge conventional wisdom. Ameasured, yet passionate, Elihu speaks of the Spirit’s role in granting true understanding, painting a vivid picture of God’s communication with mankind through dreams and suffering.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today we're going to cover Job chapters 32 and 33. Though Job's words ended in chapter 31 and his friends have no more to say, there's a fourth young man who's been listening to all this. He has plenty to say for the next six chapters. So let's listen in to what Elihu has to say in chapters 32 and 33 of Job. Job 32
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So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu, the son of Barakal the Buzite of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job, because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job's three friends, because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. And Elihu, the son of Barakal the Buzite, answered and said,
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I am young in years, and you are aged. Therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom. But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, Listen to me, let me also declare my opinion. Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings while you searched out what to say. I gave you my attention, and behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words. Beware lest you say, We have found wisdom. God may vanquish him, not a man. He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. They are dismayed. They answer no more. They have not a word to say." And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more? I also will answer with my share. I also will declare my opinion. For I am full of words, the spirit within me constrains me. Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak, that I may find relief. I must open my lips and answer. I will not show partiality to any man, or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my maker would soon take me away. Job 33 But now hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth, the tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me if you can. Set your words in order before me. Take your stand." Behold, I am toward God as you are. I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you. My pressure will not be heavy upon you. Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words. You say, I am pure without transgression. I am clean and there is no iniquity in me. Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me as his enemy. He puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths. Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. Why do you contend against him, saying he will answer none of man's words? for God speaks in one way and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man. He keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword, Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones, so that his life loathes bread and his appetite the choicest food. His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out. His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, And he is merciful to him and says, Then man prays to God and he accepts him. He sees his face with a shout of joy and he restores to man his righteousness. He sings before men and says, I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light. Behold, God does all these things twice, three times with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. Pay attention, O Job. Listen to me. Be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me. Be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.
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In 1984, I read Job chapters 31 through 34 on the same day, and I wrote Job asserts his righteousness before God. Elihu lectures Job, prays God for Job's firmness despite attacks from friends. It is important to know our relationship with our God so well no one can take it away from us. In 1997, I read Job 29 through 34 on the same day, and I'll save my journal entry for a later chapter. In 2015, I read Job 32 and 33 on the same day, like we're reading this time. And I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, Job is righteous in his own eyes, according to verse 1. But he is also righteous in God's eyes. And I was referring back to chapter 1, verse 8. Elihu is mad at Job because he justifies himself rather than God. And he is mad at the three friends because they gave Job no answer. And then I continue to write, He is right, and I quote in verse 32, 8, and 33, 4. It is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. I continue to write, He too tells Job he is not right, in chapter 33, verses 9 and 12. And then I wrote, He is also right, and I was referring to Elihu, saying in verse 12 of chapter 33, God is greater than man. Next in my journal, I wrote, God speaks to man in dreams and visions and rebuking him with pain and suffering. And I was referencing chapter 33, verses 14 through 28. And then I finished with, to keep man from hell, chapter 33, verses 29 through 30. That's a little bit of a mishmash of journal entries, so let's go back and look at what Elihu has to say in chapters 32 and 33. First of all, oh to be young again. Elihu has sat there and patiently listened to both Job and to the three friends. All he did was get angry. He's mad at Job because he justified himself. Then he's mad at the three friends because they found no answer. But Elihu is a courteous young man. He's waited for his turn to speak. He has deferred to his elders. Now he takes his turn. Let's pick it up in chapter 32, verse 6. I am young in years, and you are aged. Therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said let days speak, and many years teach wisdom. But it is the Spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. Jumping down to verse 10. Therefore I say, listen to me. Let me also declare my opinion. So in a couple of words, Elihu has brushed aside all the wisdom of the old men. Chapter 33 opens up with these words. But now hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth. The tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. He gives a little bit more of his resume before he begins. Look at 33.6. Behold, I am toward God as you are. I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Oh, how humble Elihu is. Then he says, then Elihu begins. Let's look at verse 9. He says to Job, you say I am pure without transgression. I am clean and there is no iniquity in me. And then jump down to verse 12. Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. Then, for the good of all listening, he declares how God speaks. For God speaks in one way and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings. Then Elihu describes the mercy of God. Look at verse 23. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, and he is merciful to him and says, deliver him from going down into the pit, I have found a ransom. then man prays to god and he accepts him he sees his face with a shout of joy and he restores to man his righteousness we don't disagree with that do we we are thankful for god's mercy we are thankful when we pray to god and he accepts us we are thankful when god restores our righteousness Elihu finishes the chapter this way, starting with verse 29. Behold, God does all these things twice, three times with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. Pay attention, O Job. Listen to me. Be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me. Be silent, and I will teach you wisdom. Yes, Elihu is right. God does bring back our soul from the pit. And then, in his humble way, he basically says, Job, be quiet and listen to me. I will teach you wisdom. That's the prelude to what Elihu has to say. The next few chapters, he will expand his comments. So what's our practical application from Job 32-33? First of all, I don't know what age you are as you listen. But surely if you're young, you probably think a lot like Elihu from time to time. That if these old guys would just be quiet, you could express your wisdom in a variety of situations. Maybe it's at work. Maybe it's with your parents. Our application is be careful. Be cautious. It is true that all wisdom is not with the aged. But it is also true that life gives us much experience. With experience comes wisdom. Secondly, regardless of what age we are, we need to remain humble. I'm not sure we see much humility with Elihu. And thirdly, let's be careful. We don't have all the answers. Elihu doesn't, nor do we, regardless of what age we are. Remember once again, none of these friends, nor Job, know what really happened in the heavenlies back in chapter 1. So in summary, wisdom does not necessarily have an age, but humility should. Let's pray. Father, I'm also reminded as I begin to pray that we should do nothing out of burning anger. Also, we should do nothing out of pride and arrogance. Teach us humility even when we don't see it in one like Elihu. Forgive us when we do respond in anger and in pride. Thanks for cautioning us in these couple of chapters. Restore a right spirit within me, we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. It's not too late to get your copy of the writings of the Old Testament historical books to follow along with this Ad Bible program the next several weeks. The book contains our studies on Job, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, and 1-2 Chronicles, which we will be in the next several weeks. The book has comments on every chapter, applications for your life, and a place for you to record your own thoughts on each chapter of each book for future reference. Visit EzraProject.net and order the writings of the Old Testament historical books today, so you can get more out of these radio programs and more out of your Bible. I know you're going to enjoy it.
In this insightful episode, we reflect on the complexities of Job's character as he presents his case not only before men but ultimately before God. As we discuss the significance of Job’s unwavering faith and moral standards, listeners are invited to consider how these lessons can apply to modern-day life, highlighting the relevance of Old Testament prophecies and the enduring power of staying true to one's principles.
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
Today brings us to Job chapter 31, Job's final words. In fact, he doesn't speak again until the very last chapter of this book. This is his final appeal. Let's listen in to Job as he speaks in chapter 31. Job 31
I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit, let me be weighed in a just balance and let God know my integrity. If my step is turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes and if any spot is stuck to my hands, then let me sow and another eat and let what grows for me be rooted out. If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door, then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her. For that would be a heinous crime. That would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant when they brought a complaint against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it, for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow. If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing or the needy without covering, if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless because I saw my help in the gate, then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder and let my arm be broken from its socket. for I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, or because my hand had found much, If I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him, I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse. If the men of my tent have not said, Who is there that has not been filled with his meat? The sojourner has not lodged in the street. I have opened my doors to the traveler. If I have concealed my transgressions as others do, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence and did not go out of doors. Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me. Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it on me as a crown. I would give him an account of all my steps, like a prince I would approach him. If my land has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together, If I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last, let thorns grow instead of wheat and foul weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
In 1984, after reading chapters 31 through 34 of Job, I wrote, Job asserts his righteousness before God. In 1997, I read Job 29 through 34 on the same day, and I wrote, Job finishes his defense. And in 2015, after reading Job 30 and 31 on the same day, concerning chapter 31, I wrote, Job concludes by verifying his innocence once again by recapping his life. And chapter 31 ends with the words of Job are ended. Job has spent six chapters answering the last accusations he was faced with from his friends and defending himself before them and before his God. In chapter 31, he defends his character one last time. He begins in verse 1, I have made a covenant with my eyes, how then could I gaze at a virgin? My English Standard Version Study Bible footnote on that verse says this, In affirming his moral purity, Job recalls a personal commitment he had made regarding what he would and would not gaze at, what he calls a covenant with my eyes. In particular, he professes purity in avoiding sexual lust. How then could I gaze at a virgin? in previous chapters we have learned other aspects of job's character moral purity was another he furthers this thought in verses nine and following if my heart has been enticed toward a woman and i have lain in wait at my neighbor's door then let my wife grind for another and let others bow down on her For that would be a heinous crime. That would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges. We can step aside from Job chapter 31 for a moment and think about our sexual immorality in our world today. Verses like these remind us to come back to sexual purity. In many other verses in this chapter, Job is saying, If I have done any wrong and I didn't correct it, then I'm guilty. But I can't think of the things like that that I have done wrong. Things like verse 5, if I have walked with falsehood. Verse 13, if I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant. Verse 16, if I have withheld anything that the poor desired. Verse 19, if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing. Verse 21, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless. Verse 24, if I have made gold my trust. Verse 25, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant. Verse 29, if I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me. Verse 33, if I've concealed my transgressions as others do. But in all those instances, he knows he's innocent. He is a man of integrity. In verse 35, he cries out once again to God. Oh, that I had one to hear me. Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me. in the whole of the book of job so far job does not blame anybody for his circumstances somehow under all this he understands he is under the sovereignty of an almighty god over and over that's where he takes his case He is very sure of his integrity. Are you? Do we want to take our filthy rags before the holy throne of God? Do we really want to make a defense of everything we've done in our lives? I don't think so. Do you? And aren't you glad because of the blood of Jesus at the cross of Calvary, you won't have to. Thank you, Jesus, for paying the penalty for my sin, for my iniquity, for my failures. Thank you that I will not have to plead my case before a holy God without you standing right beside me. Thank you for the forgiveness of my sin. Friends, the words of Job have ended, but the book of Job has not. We still have 11 chapters to go. Stay with us. The end will be worth it. Father, we thank you for the example of Job's integrity. We thank you for his desire to plead his case not before men, but before you. And we are thankful that we won't have to plead our case before you. We're thankful for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from our sin and our unrighteousness before you. Job didn't know Jesus, but he knew you. He places his faith in you as we do. He had faith in your mercy and your grace as we do. So we look forward to how you are going to respond to Job in the later chapters of this book. Teach us more about your character. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. Maybe you wonder if Old Testament prophecy is true, came true already, or is coming true in the future. First, most prophets had a recurring theme. God loves us. Because he loves us so much, he gave us commandments, rules, statutes to live by. If we live by them, we can be blessed beyond what we can think or imagine. But when we choose to disregard, ignore, and set aside his rules, we are subject to his curses. We live under curses until things get so bad we cry out to God. He's always there, waiting for our cry. Most often, but not always, He responds with grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness. We get back in line, then the cycle repeats. The Old Testament prophets cover this cycle over and over. Sometimes we wonder how the Israelites could have been so foolish. Yet, in our day, we have the same choice. We know God loves us. We generally know the rules, and we'd know them a lot better if we were more consistent in our time in God's Word. Yet we decide, like those in the Old Testament, to ignore them and live out our lives. Things don't often go well, so we finally cry out to God. As we see in the Old Testament, prophecy comes true as God restores rebellious, disobedient people like us back into right relationship with Him. But it is not always the case. Sometimes he has enough and does not deliver them. So yes, Old Testament prophecies are true, they came true, and they will come true in the future as we cycle through the same life choices the Israelites made. Thus, the value of reading all the Old Testament prophets. Maybe we will learn what they tried to teach. God loves us. Keep his rules, love him back, and enjoy his blessings. After listening to AdBible, you may wish members of your family or friends would find a personal relationship with Jesus like you have. But we know most Christians have never shared their faith with anyone else. In fact, it's about 95% of us. Maybe you want to, but you just don't know how. I was not very good at it either, but I had a desire to get better at it. Maybe you do too. Check out our teaching on how to share your faith without a fight at EzraProject.net. Sharing our faith is not a gift some have and some don't. It's a command to go and make disciples. Learn how to do it, or at least give it a try. Visit EzraProject.net. Find how to share your faith without a fight. I know you're going to enjoy it and want to share it with others.
In this compelling episode, we delve into the heartfelt reflections of Job as he traverses from the days of favor and prosperity to the depths of despair and humiliation. Journey through Job chapters 29 and 30 with the insightful commentary of Allen J. Huth, who shares his personal reflections and life applications drawn from over three decades of Bible journaling. Discover how Job's unwavering faith amidst suffering serves as a testament to trusting in God's sovereignty.
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
Today we're in Job chapters 29 and 30. Job has been speaking since chapter 26. He continues his discourse, summarizing his defense in these two chapters. Let's listen in.
Job 29 And Job again took up his discourse, and said, O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of oil. When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square, the young men saw me and withdrew and the aged rose and stood. The princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth. The voice of the nobles was hushed and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, because I delivered the poor who cried for help and the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth. Then I thought, ìI shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.î My roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches, my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand. Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. After I spoke, they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them. They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners. But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock. What could I gain from the strength of their hands, men whose vigor is gone? Through want and hard hunger they gnaw the dry ground by night in waste and desolation. They pick saltwort and the leaves of bushes and the roots of the broom tree for their food. They are driven out from human company. They shout after them as after a thief. In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks. Among the bushes they bray, under the nettles they huddle together. A senseless, a nameless brood, they have been whipped out of the land. And now I have become their song. I am a byword to them. They abhor me. They keep aloof from me. They do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me. Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence. On my right hand, the rabble rise. They push away my feet. They cast up against me their ways of destruction. They break up my path. They promote my calamity. They need no one to help them. As through a wide breach they come, amid the crash they roll on. Terrors are turned upon me, my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. And now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold of me. The night wracks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. With great force my garment is disfigured. It binds me about like the collar of my tunic. God has cast me into the mire and I have become like dust and ashes. I cry to you for help and you do not answer me. I stand and you only look at me. You have turned cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me. You lift me up on the wind. You make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm. For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living. Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand and in his disaster cry for help? Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? But when I hoped for good, evil came, and when I waited for light, darkness came. My inward parts are in turmoil and never still. Days of affliction come to meet me. I go about darkened, but not by the sun. I stand up in the assembly and cry for help. I am a brother of jackals and a companion of ostriches. My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat. My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.
After listening to those words, does your heart just take a beat for Job? Back in 1984, when I was 29 years old, on the day I read these chapters, before I wrote about the chapters, I wrote this. Thanks that the fear of the Lord is wisdom. Departing from evil is understanding. This is why our nation cannot make any tough decisions anymore. Because we don't fear God. Therefore, we don't have wisdom. Friends, that was 1984. Way back then I wrote, Our nation can't make any tough decisions anymore because we don't fear God, therefore we don't have wisdom. Over 30 years have passed. We haven't made much progress, have we? Concerning Job 29 and 30, I wrote that year, Job remembers the good old days and laments the current condition. Praise God for his strength and testimony. The Lord will rescue him for his faithfulness. In 1997 at 42 years old, I read Job 29 through 34 on the same day, and I wrote one line. Job finishes his defense. In 2015, at 60 years old, I read Job 28 and 29 on one day, and chapters 30 and 31 on the next day. Concerning 29 and 30, I wrote, Job remembers when God watched over him, and God's friendship was over his household. We are in our prime when we walk with God and He with us. Job experienced the blessings of God, the favor of God, and he longed for it again. I too have experienced the blessings and the favor of God, His sovereignty in my life, and I long to stay there. The next day, concerning chapter 30, I wrote, Job contrasts these days of suffering with past days of success. We do the same, remembering the good old days. He always understands. God has loosened my cord and humbled me. Quoting verse 11. Quoting verse 19. God has cast me into the mire. And I continue to write. He gets that. God is in control, good or bad. Yet he does not cry out against him. He cries to him. job twenty nine was a summary of the good old days we get a glimpse into job's character he said in verse four he was in his prime when the friendship of god was upon my tent when the almighty was yet with me in verse seven and following it was clear when he went to the gate of the city he was well respected He helped the poor. He helped the widows. He helped the blind. He helped the lame. He came against unrighteousness. In verse 18, he projected his future like a lot of us. He thought he would die in his nest. And in verse 20, my glory fresh with me. Yes, Job lived a good life, and he thought he would die peacefully. But chapter 30 reminds us that is not what happened. It's a recap of how Job lost it all, summarized in a couple of verses. Verse 19 says, And verse 20 says, I cry to you for help and you do not answer me. What a state of desperation. How would you feel if you cried out to God and you knew he wouldn't answer you? But Job is not finished. In chapter 31, he gives his final appeal. Until then, remind ourselves of the good old days under the favor and the blessings of God. May you be experiencing that in your life even this day. It's a place like Job described in verses 2 and 3 of chapter 29. In the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me. Oh, may that be the case for your life right now. And may it always be. By God's mercy, may we not have to suffer what Job has suffered. Father, we thank you for your love for us, your mercy for us, your favor, your grace, your presence as you watch over us. Glory to God as you shine light through the darkness of our lives. May it ever be for each and every one of us. But Lord, if you have a different course, may we be strengthened by the testimony of Job, your faithful servant. May we be able to stand strong in the fiery furnace. May we, like him, survive the test of our faith. So let it be written. So let it be done. In your name. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. Why did this happen to Job? No fault of his own, right? And what is happening to you may not be your fault either. You may not understand what is happening to you like when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I said, why me, Lord? Then I thought, why not me? The question is not why is this happening to me? The question is where do you go for help? Do you go to your friends like Job's friends? They did not know the whole story. They give advice without knowledge, but they are doing the best they can with what they know. Regardless of what you're going through, there are three things you can do. One, understand God's sovereignty. He works behind the scenes, as we will see in the book of Ruth. I understood God's sovereignty after a car accident at age 15 could have taken my life. Number two, be careful who you get advice from. Your friends don't know what God knows, so keep going to God like Job did. He continued to plead his case to the Lord. Number three, hold fast as Job does. He does not waver or curse God or blame God. And number four, keep going. There is an answer. Job got his. You will too. To get a written record of these recordings, visit EzraProject.net and order a copy of the Day by Day Through the Bible book, The Writings of the Old Testament Historical Books. There you will find the text of these programs, so you can refer back or study the material again. That's EzraProject.net. Order your copy today.