Thoughts on the Bible Readings readings December 7th (Job 9; Micah 5; James 1)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Job contends as an answer to Bildad (particularly, and the three friends generally) in chapter 9 verses 1- 35 that there is none to arbitrate or Job's behalf. The Almighty's greatness and understanding make arguments with the Lord futile. Job uses examples from their understanding of nature - the sun and the stars obey His voice; Ursa (the bear) and Orion (the giant) act at His command. It is impossible, says Job, for a human to comprehend God's ways; and to discern how He has acted. Any contest between the Almighty and humanity can only have one winner - our Sovereign's power renders the contest unequal and useless. Even were I to be innocent it could not be contested with God. An individual whose life is so short is of no consequence to the Sovereign Lord, says Job. How can the finite being, which I am, come to terms with my infinite Maker. Micah 5 is a magnificent prophecy of the birth and roots (origin) of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was the reference point of the Jewish elders at the time of Jesus' birth to his town of birth (Matthew 2verses1-6). Note in verse 1 that the judge of Israel was to be struck on the cheek (this happened to our Lord, contrary to the Law of Moses, during his trial before the high priest - Matthew 26verses68). Verse 2 tells us that the ruler (the judge) of Israel would be born in Bethlehem (the house of bread - and like his illustrious ancestor, David, Jesus would be the "bread of life" John 6). Jesus' birth was in Judah, meaning "praise", and our Lord's life was an endless outpouring of praise to his God. The prophet Micah tells us that Jesus's ancestral roots were before David's, in so far that our Lord was the Son of God (and thus David's Lord - Psalm 110verses1; Revelation 22verses16). Jesus was to be the great shepherd who will return the flock of the "lost sheep of Israel to his God and Father. His greatness would extend to earth's remotest boundaries (Psalm 72; Romans 4verses13). And at the end time when the Assyrian of the last days (Gog and his host) invades Israel Jesus Christ will be their saviour (deliverer). Seven shepherds would be more than enough to defeat the enemy - but the Lord's might far exceeds that (8 principal men will be at his command); and they will waste the enemy. In verses 7-15 the prophet declares that the remnant of God's people, Israel, will be saved. The lion of Judah, who together with natural Israel, will rend their adversaries. No army and no religious persuasion can withstand that divinely aided army. And the vengeance of the Almighty will be poured upon the disobedient nations. In the epistle of James, we have the first of the New Testament writings - written sometime between 42- 44 AD. Of the many James’s in the New Testament the author is most likely the half-brother of Jesus Christ. The use of the word "synagogue" tells us that believers had not yet formed ecclesias. The style of teaching in the letter is more like that of our Lord than any of the other letters. There are frequent references to nature and the use of parables is profuse. The early believers were already suffering persecution at the hands of the Jewish leaders. Verse 1 tells us that the letter was for the diaspora (those Jews living outside the Holy Land). Verses 2-18, of chapter 1, outline the purpose of trials (testing) in our life. The expression in verse 4, "perfect and complete, lacking nothing" was used to describe the athlete who had finished first in each of the disciplines of the pentathlon. The trials are to develop trust, character and perseverance. No believer will be exempted from testing. If we fail to understand why the test has befallen us, then ask God with Whom wisdom and understanding lays. But let the asking come from a mind that is assured God knows why, and He knows what He is doing. Both rich and poor will experience the withering winds of trial and in the fact that their Father treats them equally, they ought to rejoice. James echoes the message of Isaiah 40 as to our transient and weak state. He contrasts that with the power of the Word of the Almighty, which is eternal and when it has become the stabilising force in the believer's life it can bring eternal life to that person (compare 1 Peter 1verses22-25). From verse 13 to 15 James tells us of the source and site of the conflict (our mind). He explains that the mind of God, unlike ours, is incapable of being prompted by evil thoughts. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ shared in the trials common to humanity - but unlike us was victorious in the realm of his thinking. The process of sin, the writer tells us, is like baiting and luring a fish into a trap. Our Lord, although tempted (as he was man and not God), never succumbed to the temptation. Verses 17-18 tell us that God is a Father who gives only good gifts (see Matthew 7verses7-11). God is not subject to being eclipsed, nor to parallax error, as the moon is with respect to our sun. The natural world sometimes appears to look different than it really is. From verses 19-27 we are instructed in "hearing and doing the word". Matthew 7 concluded with the parable of the two builders (Vv24-27). We have learned to talk the talk, but have we learned to walk the walk. James' advice to his hearers is that they be swift to hear, but slow to speak. There is an old Jewish proverb that God gave us two ears and one mouth as he wants us to listen twice as much as we talk. He follows this with the need to be calm - be slow to anger (Greek "macrotheumia", literally long before boiling). When we look closely at the mirror of the Word of God we see a mirror of what we are as natural men and women - humans are comfortable with the picture which they see. We are repulsed by what God's Word shows us to truly be. But we must delve deeply into its transforming power to produce a metamorphosis (the changing of an ugly grub into a beautiful butterfly) in us (Romans 12verses1-2). This process liberates our minds from their normal condition of serving self (sin). Our actions will be blessed and a blessing to others. We will learn to practice pure religion in the eyes of our Father. This consists in internal motivations and external actions. Firstly, we must learn to control our tongue (elaborated in chapter 3). The objective of our acts will be to benefit and support the afflicted (here the widows are mentioned). But we also have a personal responsibility to be holy - this involves the rejection of worldly ways and thoughts. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 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-readings-december-7th-job-9-micah-5-james-1/?feed_id=106869&_unique_id=6933d28f0492a