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Study 4 : Job 16 - 19 Job continues to struggle, In these chapters Job says some truly astonishing things that we may otherwise overlook.  To give you an idea of what is to come these are: in chapters 16 and 17 he reckons that he has been attacked by God, which leads to him saying that he has been abused by God; and then after a further statement from Bildad in chapter 18, which implies that he, Job, must be a wicked man, Job says in chapter 19 that although God is against him he has a strong hope that he will be able to state his case before the heavenly court and he hopes to be supported by an effective advocate. Who exactly that advocate will be is not clear to him – though perhaps it is to us!   First, the relatively easy passage, Job 16:1–5, where Job is asking himself how he would do if he was trying to comfort a friend who was suffering as he is suffering. Here it is. If someone else is suffering it is so easy to stack up a heap of conventional phrases such as ‘you will soon feel better’ even when

Psalm 78 A maskil of Asaph. 1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old- 3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their forefathers- a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. 9 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; 10 they did not keep Go

Study 3 : Job 12 - 14 Job states his case.   Chapter 12 - after all his ‘friends’ have stated their cases and he has answered them Job makes a major statement in these 3 chapters of how he views the situation. Much of what he says could be regarded as very pessimistic as he expresses his, quite natural, unhappiness at what has happened to him and his family. But I think we are expected to learn several things from his experiences and what he says, so we will try to make the most of it! To repeat yet again what was said in the introduction to the first study: behind all the arguments of the 3 friends is what we are calling a CEP, a cause-effect principle, operating in moral theology. They are all, his friends and Job, saying that everything that happens to a person has a moral cause hidden behind it. In essence: good things happen to good people; bad things happen to bad people. From that starting point his ‘friends’ have deduced that however much Job may protest otherwise he is not a good person becau

Psalm 59 For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. 59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me. 59:2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men. 59:3 For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me,  not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh. 59:4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me! 59:5 You, Yahweh God of Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah 59:6 They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city. 59:7 Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For,” they say, “who hears us?” 59:8 But you, Yahweh, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations. 59:9 Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is

Study 2 : Job 3, 4, 6, 8 Job finds his voice; he and his friends argue.   The pattern of the book is simple. Within the frame given by the prose of the first two and the last chapters and following an opening speech from Job there are 3 cycles of speeches: Eliphaz, Job,  Bildad, Job, Zophar, Job and round twice more. That should be 3x6 = 18 speeches but the last speech of Zophar is lost, perhaps deliberately to show the answers are incomplete. The next chapter after these cycles of speeches (28) is a poem to Wisdom. That is followed by a speech of Job and a lengthy rant by a 4th guy, Elihu. Only then do we hear from the Lord God himself, pointing out how Job has failed to understand what has happened and to learn from it. Then, finally, there is an epilogue, probably drawn from the old tale, which is used to teach one final fundamental lesson about life. The poetic dialogue begins after those first 2 chapters of prose we thought about last time. Job expresses his total horror at what has happened to h

Psalm 73  A psalm of Asaph. 1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" 12 This is what the wicked are like- always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my

Study 1 : Job 1 - 2 Terrible disasters hit Job. The book of Job is totally fascinating – but difficult. It is deeply concerned with the question of wisdom – how does one live well – but we will leave consideration of that to later in our studies when the question rises to the surface. In particular the book deals with the questions that arise when disaster strikes. There are no clear answers to the questions it poses. Instead there are lengthy dialogues between Job and his three friends, then between him and a rather brash young fellow and only finally with God. We are left to think and puzzle over what is said and draw our own conclusions rather than treating it as an authoritative text that tells us things we should believe or do. One commentator says “we need to be transparent about the hazards of being human and teach the full witness of Scripture, which is messy, complex and, ultimately, wonderfully true.” That is nowhere more the case than in the book of Job. This is an attempt to teach that

Psalm 133 A song of ascents. Of David. 1 How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing,even life forevermore. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this Psalm as a MP3 file

Exploring The Bible 49. Old Testament Job G'day and welcome to our series, "Exploring the Bible" This is also the title of our latest book available on Amazon by clicking here or visiting PulpTheology.com Key Verses: Job 19:25 Job 42:1-6 The Book of Job is perhaps the earliest book in the Bible according to scholars. It tackles the always difficult question - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Set during the time of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Joseph), it is the story of a man who loses everything - his wealth, family & health and wrestles with the question “why?” Rather surprisingly when Job acknowledges the sovereignty of God in His life, he received everything back that he had lost and even more – which is not the solution to the difficult question! In so far as there is a solution, it is that we must trust ourselves wholly to the Lord however surprising and mysterious His ways are. Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file ~ You can now purchase o

Psalm 134 A Pilgrim Song     Come, bless God, all you servants of God! You priests of God, posted to the night watch in God's shrine, Lift your praising hands to the Holy Place, and bless God. In turn,  may God of Zion bless you- the God who made heaven and earth!   Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file

Psalm 55 For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. 55:1 Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication. 55:2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan, 55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me. 55:4 My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. 55:5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me. 55:6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. 55:7 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah. 55:8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.” 55:9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 55:10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

God Gets His Hands Dirty 14. Why is He called Jesus?   With all that has been said in this series so far, ask yourself this question in relation to Jesus: “What’s in a name?” I wonder what your name means. Parents usually name their children after the hopes and aspirations they have for that child. For example, the name John means “the gift of God”. I know somebody called Grace, and her nature is that of somebody full of grace. My name of David means “beloved” and when my parents named me, it was meant to symbolize the love they had for me. But what does the name Jesus mean? When Jesus was born, his very name imbued the reason he was born. The name Jesus as we discovered in an earlier message means “Saviour” or “One who saves or rescues.” The entirety of His birth, life and death was centred on this very role - saving and rescuing all those who would believe, receive and follow Him. We have seen in the testimony of the Apostles John, Peter and Paul how Jesus came to save sinners, to call people to follow,

God Gets His Hands Dirty 13. Jesus’ Kingdom   1 A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. 2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:1-5) As we saw in Isaiah 61 to 63, God has commenced doing a good thing

God Gets His Hands Dirty 12. Jesus’ Proclaimations   1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?Edom, Who is this, robed in splendour,Edom, striding forward in the greatness of his strength?Edom, ‘It is I, proclaiming victory,Edom, mighty to save.’Edom, 2 Why are your garments red,Edom, like those of one treading the winepress?Edom, 3 ‘I have trodden the winepress alone;Edom, from the nations no one was with me.Edom, I trampled them in my angerEdom, and trod them down in my wrath;Edom, their blood spattered my garments,Edom, and I stained all my clothing.Edom, 4 It was for me the day of vengeance;Edom, the year for me to redeem had come.Edom, 5 I looked, but there was no one to help,Edom, I was appalled that no one gave support;Edom, so my own arm achieved salvation for me,Edom, and my own wrath sustained me.Edom, 6 I trampled the nations in my anger;Edom, in my wrath I made them drunkEdom, and poured their blood on the ground.’Edom, Isaiah 63:1-6   Here the prophet Isaiah

Psalm 20 20:1 May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high, 20:2 send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion, 20:3 remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah. 20:4 May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your counsel. 20:5 We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests. 20:6 Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand. 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust the name of Yahweh our God. 20:8 They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright. 20:9 Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!   Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file

God Gets His Hands Dirty 11. Jesus' Rejection   1 Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars! 2 Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen; the stately trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down! 3 Listen to the wail of the shepherds: their rich pastures are destroyed! Listen to the roar of the lions; the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined! Zechariah 11:1-3 So far, we have seen that the future is glory for the Servant Messiah and all those who choose to follow Him! It is a future of hope, joy, excitement, awe, wonderment and glory. But that is only one side of the future. In Zechariah 11, we come to another part of the future; the part of the future which is for all those who would reject God’s Servant Messiah. While Zechariah talks in picture language and symbols, the overall message is startlingly clear: those who reject the Messiah, will in the future be rejected by Him! But we are not given the full details here, but rather are told the why it wil

God Gets His Hands Dirty 10. Jesus’ Invitation   1 ‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Isaiah 55:1-4 Remember recently we looked at the City of God to come at some point in the future. A time where all those who believe will live and worship the Lord God Almighty for ever! Who is this invitation for? This invitation to join is to all people of all races and nationalities! But they have to respond to the call! Come! See! Taste! To discover more about Jesus' invitation, please do download and/or listen to

Psalm 93 93:1 Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty! Yahweh is armed with strength. The world also is established. It can’t be moved. 93:2 Your throne is established from long ago. You are from everlasting. 93:3 The floods have lifted up, Yahweh, the floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their waves. 93:4 Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, Yahweh on high is mighty. 93:5 Your statutes stand firm. Holiness adorns your house, Yahweh, forevermore.   Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file

God Gets His Hands Dirty 9. Jesus’ Promise   16 ‘See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; 17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:16-17 God fulfils every promise made! In Isaiah 52, Isaiah started talking about a great homecoming for all those who believed. Then Isaiah gave a picture regarding the sacrificial suffering of the Messiah Servant. Now in Isaiah 54, we see the reason for the suffering. We see that because of this coming Messiah’s suffering and subsequent exultation and vindication, that God will make a New Covenant with all the peoples of the world! God has always kept the promises He made with people! Promises to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David were also kept by God! God is ever faithful and a

God Gets His Hands Dirty 8. Jesus’ Leadership 1 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. 2 The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. 3 ‘My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock, the people of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle. 4 From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle-bow, from him every ruler. 5 Together they will be like warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame   During the time of Zechariah, the Temple was being rebuilt. The Temple, as you may or may not be aware, was