Sunday, January 19, 2014

Who Has Hardened Himself Against Him (God Almighty) and Prospered?



Job 9:4

"He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?"

Here is a wonderful description of God; He is wise in heart, He is in fact wisdom personified. We find a resume of wisdom in the Proverbs, especially in chapter one, eight and nine. He also is mighty in strength, His chief power is exercised through His word (Hebrews tells us with it He created the worlds and with it He destroys His enemies, Revelations reveals a sharp two edged sword proceeds from His mouth to destroy His enemies). And so this really is a wonderful description of God who is wise in heart and His mouth speaks from that wise heart (for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; if the heart is full of wisdom then the lips are wise). We should add at this point other aspects to His nature that govern Him, if there is a being who is all knowing and all powerful then you certainly want Him to possess other qualities that would make Him temperate in the use of that wisdom and power.

God has those qualities and we see them identified for us in Exo 34:5-8 KJV "5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped." The mythical gods of antiquity possess wisdom and power but they are not temperate; they lack qualities such as mercy, graciousness, longsuffering, goodness, truth and above all the ability to forgive iniquity. These are very aspects of The Lord God's nature, He is more than wonderful and we are very fortunate to have Him as our God.


Who opposes Him and prospers? No one can stand toe to toe with God, although many make their boast while here on earth (It is just like a boaster to speak great words when they feel they are a safe distance from danger) but when they stand before the Almighty they will shake and quiver like a leaf before a fierce storm. No one can oppose Him and prosper; Psalm 2 says He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh at them; the Lord will have them in derision. There is another way men oppose Him and that is by living contrary to His commandments. Deuteronomy 28 governs the whole of life; if one keeps His commands then they prosper but if they turn their back on Him and walk contrary to His ways then they are cursed. We should seek Him diligently and walk fearfully before Him because none can oppose Him and prosper.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

The Storm, The Darkness, The Fire Will End Then There Will Be Joy!

Job 8:21 - "Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing."

This is the result of those who please God; though they suffer, though they have valleys and dark trials they are going to be filled with laughter and rejoicing. This is reminiscent of Psa 126:1-6 "1 A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

This is exactly why we should try not to be overly downcast when we suffer; suffering has its purpose and it has its work to do in our lives (God has not promised we would always have sunshine, He promised our end would be good if we please Him). For those who remember Him and strive to please Him (even in the midst of their weakness from their trial) they will always rise from the ashes and will worship Him again in strength and blessing. We should avoid forming harmful opinions and casting off restraint when it seems all is lost in a trial because everything eventually turns good for the righteous, everything rights itself again and God upholds them and turns again their captivity. This is going to be the way with Job as well; he will see better days, the sunshine and blessing of God will again rise upon this man.

Do you suffer yet again, are you again in a valley? Hold fast to your character, retain your integrity and God will bring you out! In despair you will be tempted to complain against the one who seeks to do you good, do not do it, resist the temptation because it will lead to casting off restraint and wicked works which will turn His favor permanently. The secret is to allow yourself the permission to say: "Come what may I know He does only wondrous things; blessed be His name" Lean on what we all know about the character of God, He is just, He is upright, he does not punish the righteous and He deeply loves humanity. At the end of every storm, when darkness comes to the end or the fire is finally extinguished the end of the righteous is always laughter and joy!

MY HEAVENLY FATHER WATCHES OVER ME

I trust in God wherever I may be,
Upon the land, or on the rolling sea,
For come what may, from day to day,
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

Refrain:
I trust in God, I know He cares for me;
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Though billows roll, He keeps my soul;
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

He makes the rose an object of His care,
He guides the eagle through the pathless air,
And surely He remembers me;
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

I trust in God, for, in the lion’s den,
On battlefield, or in the prison pen,
Through praise or blame, through flood or flame,
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

The valley may be dark, the shadows deep,
But, oh, the Shepherd guards His lonely sheep;
And through the gloom He’ll lead me home,
My heav’nly Father watches over me.