Thoughts on the Bible Readings December 14th (Job 16, 17; Habakkuk 3; 2 Peter 1, 2)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Thoughts on the Bible Readings December 14th (Job 16, 17; Habakkuk 3; 2 Peter 1, 2) Job replies in chapters 16-17 to Eliphaz' second round of contentions. In chapter 16 he protests, "Miserable comforters are you all"; whereas the emphasis in chapter 17 is, "Where then is my hope". Verse 2 is the key to Job's message in chapter 16. All that the friends had contributed to the discussion was hot air. If that's the way you want to proceed I'm sure I could match your nonsense, retorts Job. But it is not you, the suffering servant says, but God who has afflicted me. You have only made things worse. And now, I am held up to ridicule by everyone, especially the ungodly. Why has the LORD made me the target of His chastening? In verse 19 Job pleads that there might be one in heaven to take up his cause. I, he says, am but vanity and will soon return to the dust from which the Creator made us. In chapter 17 Job returns to his former musings - there must be hope (as he said before for even a tree has the hope of revival). Job describes his friends as provoking and mocking him. Job says that God has closed their minds from listening to reason. Everyone who sees Job holds him up to ridicule; but when the upright saw this they were appalled. The wicked, says Job, turn light into darkness. In very poetic language the suffering man speaks of the grave (Sheol) as being his hope; and whilst he may end his days in the grave (if God has no purpose for him) it is there that the worms would feed on him. The worms would be his friends. In Habakkuk 3 the prophecy becomes a confident psalm of trust in the Almighty and a prophecy of Yahweh's future judgments at the time of the setting up of Christ's kingdom. It was through this psalm that the writer J. W. Thirtle was able to unravel the structure of the superscripts and subscripts in the Psalms. The expression, "upon Shigionoth" is an instruction as to the musical director of this psalm. Psalms are prayers and this chapter is a Psalm. The report that the prophet heard was of the "wonders" (Hebrew "pala" miracles) which God did on his triumphal march before His people through the wilderness, in the days of the exodus from Egypt onwards to their inheritance in the Promised Land (see Numbers 10verses29-36; Deuteronomy 32verses1-14; Psalm 68). However, although the Psalm is based on events which had happened it is also prophetic - the future tense is often used. Eloah" (the mighty one, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ coming in His Father's might) WILL come from the south (Teman) - the arena of operation when El (God the Father) via angelic ministration. And He will precede His people. The events of the Exodus occurred 900 years before the prophet's vision. These future events, under Christ, will soon occur when the Middle East is inundated by the great northern army. God's mighty arm and Almighty power will be unleashed on the oppressor and He, Yahweh, will be known and exalted in the earth (Ezekiel 38 and 39; Joel 3 - particularly verse 17). The measuring for judgment is a common Bible metaphor. The ancient nations, represented by the hills, were brought low (humbled). The rivers - the invading nations in particular - experienced the Almighty's wrath. But, as with Pharaoh's chariots (Exodus 14 and 15) these instruments of war are proven vain and useless when they are overwhelmed by Yahweh's salvation chariots (Psalm 68verses18-21). The sun and the moon will stand still in their place echoing the victory of Joshua over the Canaanites, in the land of their inheritance (Joshua 10). The 'head' (Rosh) of the wicked is to be crushed (v13). The sharp victory arrows shall pierce the hearts of the King's enemies (Psalm 45verses5). The whirlwind of Yahweh will scatter His enemies before Him, like the chaff before the wind (v14). And the enemy is trampled underfoot (Exodus 15). This awesome and majestic power of his Sovereign leaves the prophet trembling. The Psalm of Habakkuk concludes from verses 17-19 with precisely the reverse mood to the mood of despondency at its beginning. The prophet has had his fears answered and calmed by his Almighty Sovereign. And so, he now he patiently awaits the salvation of Yahweh - as one of the LORD's just ones, living by faith. Despite all current appearances, our King is of Zion - meaning "exultation". This is the city of our spiritual birth (Psalms 48; 84; 87). The fig and olive trees (are symbols of Israel) will not flourish. Today our God stills the storms that rage in our minds and will soon do so throughout the entire world (2 Samuel 23verses1-4verses Psalm 18; Psalm 46; Isaiah 26verses1-4). Our hope and trust in our Almighty Deliverer is sure and steadfast. 2 Peter is also written to the dispersed Jews in Asia Minor i.e. Turkey. It commences in the same way as the first letter. The time of writing is in 66-67 AD and the persecution by Nero is now at its fiercest. According to tradition, the two foremost leaders of the believers, Paul and Peter, were both executed in 67 AD. Clues in Peter's 2nd epistle indicate that the most likely date of the epistle is 67 AD. Believers in Christ Jesus had attained to the same precious faith as the great Apostle to the Jews. From verses 3-15 these disciples are urged to make their calling and election i.e. selection by God sure. Peter tells them in verses 2-4 that our Father has given them all things that are necessary for a godly life; and that these great promises, which they now share, are graciously granted them offering believers a sharing of the Father's character and life. From verses 5-7 Peter enumerates the virtues being developed by God in their lives. These virtues are not sequential, but rather they are a group of traits befitting saints, and to be cultivated simultaneously. They summarise the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, outlined in Matthew 5verses1-12. Great blessings accompany such saints who, in measure, develop the character of their Lord Jesus Christ. These divine virtues are called by brother Marshall - "The Portrait of a Saint". Belief is the foundation upon which the faithful build (and that foundation is Christ Jesus see 1 Corinthians 3 verses 10-15 and Ephesians 2verses19-22. Peter elaborates further on this theme at the start of chapter 2). The last 2 are at the apex of the developing saint's life - brotherly kindness (Philadelphos) and love (agape, self-sacrificing love); embody both of these fully exemplified in our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Where these qualities abound, fruit is produced in the disciple. But a short-sighted approach stultifies the life of a disciple; and is the product of forgetting and neglect. In the practising of these qualities the disciples will attain the glory and the kingdom, which they seek. Peter would strive with his last breath to remind them of this. The Apostle speaks of "departure" (Greek "exodus" verse 15). The Tabernacle; of "the ecclesia in the wilderness" (Acts 7verses44). This was emblematic of the LORD going with them. Peter talks of the entrance ("eisodus") into the kingdom. How frequently is the theme stated, "Yahweh BROUGHT you out of Egypt, that He might BRING you into the land promised to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). Verses 16-21 speak of Christ's incomparable glory and the transcending greatness of the prophetic Word of our God (compare 1 Peter 1verses22-25). There can be no mistaking what we (Peter, James and John) saw on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Luke 9verses28-38). The glory of Moses and Elijah paled into insignificance alongside the glory of the Son of God - John 1verses14-15. And that glory was reminiscent of the Father's own glory (Hebrews 1-1-4). As great as the prophetic Word was when spoken through Moses and Elijah the Father's Word from heaven boomed, "This is my Beloved Son, HEAR HIM". If this witness was not enough, we have the added testimony of the prophetic Word centred on, and embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ. The prophetic Word shines more brightly as we see its fulfilment day by day - Proverbs 4verses18-19. Prophecy never originated from the prophet's own mind. Instead, the inspired Word of God found its source in holy men of God being "impelled", or "driven along" by God's power. And so, although the style of the prophet is individual, the message is infallibly that of the Almighty (see 2 Timothy 3 verses 14-17). In chapter 2 Peter deals with the tragedy of false teaching. Peter uses Biblical history to show that those who would attempt to deflect God's elect are always active among the believers. The Apostle Peter uses 3 historical examples. These examples are similar to those in Jude's letter - one from before the flood; one from the era of Abraham; and another from the time of the Wilderness wanderings in Moses' epoch. Peter explains the inevitability of false teachers arising from their midst (compare Acts 20verses29-32). Peter says that the errorists are not genuine - the words that these false teachers use are called "feigned" (Greek "plastos") - taught for effect, with no concern for truth. The doctrine is moulded to fit the teacher's designs (2 Timothy 4verses1-5). But God has long ago decided to destroy people like this (Revelation 22verses15). The first example is in verse 5 and speaks of the gainsayers opposing Noah (cp Jude verses 14-16). The second is from the era of faithful Abraham (2 Peter 2verses6-10). ). These verses tell of total detesting by God of homosexuality. And lastly, verses 10 (the second half) to verse 11. Here Peter deals with the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram against Moses (also in Jude verses 5-7; the original account being in Numbers 14). All of those historical events highlight two Divine principles - 1) Yahweh demonstrated His capacity to deliver the righteous out of their trial; and 2) that the ungodly have been earmarked by the Almighty for judgment and destruction (Acts 17verses30-31). Verse 17 uses metaphors to describe these vain talkers. Verses 18-19 reveal the true motives of those apostates. And verses 20-22 a further two metaphors describe their sickening behaviours. Those who once knew God's truth, but chose to turn away are described in two tragic pictures which illustrate God's perspective. These reprobates are like dogs eating their own vomit; or like washed pigs returning to their miry muddy past. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-bible-readings-december-14th-job-16-17-habakkuk-3-2-peter-1-2/?feed_id=107327&_unique_id=693d4847d8bf1