Short Reflection from Job 1-12

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DRU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[2:42 pm, 01/01/2022] S.R: 𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟙:𝟚𝟙

"He said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.'"

The first chapter of the first written book of the Bible deals with the most common experience of all people: suffering. Well, Job chose to bless God!

We have two choices in suffering: to bless God or to curse God.

Bless the Lord, O, my soul! 🎶

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟚:𝟙𝟚

"When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky."

Job's three friends have become a proverb to ridicule useless friends. However, they were very good in the beginning. I don't mean to suggest they became bad. Rather, I would like to say that most probably they are as good as any good people around us. If we live in their times, probably we would be reacting like them.

My takeaway from this verse and this story is, at least let's imitate these 3 friends in their good conduct! 👍🙏

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟛:𝟙

"Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth."

Job would rather curse anything related to him than curse God.

I have an old friend who had been to great trouble and sorrow, when I inquired about his day-to-day life, he said, "I have no complaints, only gratefulness to His grace upon grace"

By, the mercies of God, I have learned to say like that oftentimes! O, why would I curse my God who has never erred me!? I stand with Polycarp and the psalmist to bless the Lord!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟜:𝟜

"Your 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤 have helped the tottering to stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees."

This was spoken of Job by his friend (who had also become his accuser).

Let people say of me as it was said of Job. I have not much money, nor much strength to help the weak, feeble, and poor, but I have the word of God (the wisdom of God) to help them.

Job was a rich, powerful, and influential man, but he was known for his "words"

Wow! Every one of us in this group can be known for that as well because we read to know God's word! 😇

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟝:𝟙𝟟

"Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."

This is a true statement but unfortunately was irrelevant to Job because Job wasn't disciplined by God for any of his sins.

However, I think, we would be almost always right when we use this verse among us! 🙂

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟞:𝟚𝟜

"Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred."

Would we be like Job who doesn't have anything shameful to hide, but asked to be examined to be better?

Our Lord Jesus went further. He dared his haters to convict Him of any sins!

David experienced the joy of salvation, the joy of life, the goodness of God when he let God examine him!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟟:𝟙𝟞

"I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath."

Job was in pain, left alone by God, wife, friends, and all!

Actually, life no matter what it is, is short and has been wasted when it is not enjoying God.

There were times, like Job, when I felt I was being left to waste my time, energy, and life, and wanted God to leave me alone as He does with others! Not to live independently of God, but to be not examined deeply, for who can stand His examination?

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟠:𝟛

"Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?"

These questions are framed in such a way that the answer is an absolute "No!" It's not a question of doubt. It's a question of affirmation! All questionings in trials and temptations aren't bad.

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟡:𝟛𝟘-𝟛𝟙

"If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye, Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me."

Indeed, no matter how we strive to be holy, there's still indwelling sin in us. Still, God calls us to be obsessed with holiness. John Owen said that if the indwelling sin is not your greatest burden in life, you aren't a Christian!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟝

"If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery."

This was the word of Job in despair, but it's true. We dare not face the holy God without the person of Christ, our mediator!

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟟

"Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning."

It wasn't for Job. These words were so empty, so untrue to Job.

But no matter what, he chose to trust God!

Let's not read Bible only to find the motivation to live on. It may not mean what we think it means! But like Job, whether we understand it or not, like it or not, we keep going on...

 

𝕁𝕠𝕓 𝟙𝟚:𝟛

"But I have intelligence as well as you; I am not inferior to you. And who does not know such things as these?"

Indeed, I know godly people who do not speak like the world though they are very intelligent and even more intelligent than those worldly guys who flaunt their intelligence.

As Isaiah and Paul said, "Let him who boasts boast that he knows the Lord." Job knew God not just in word, he experienced the awesomeness of God through his deep suffering!

Short Reflection from Esther 1-10

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[7:22 am, 11/05/2022] S.R: 𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟙:𝟙𝟡

"If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she."

We aren't told why Vashti refused to come. But the wise men perceived it to be an act of contempt against the husband which wives must never do. And of course, in the providence of God, it was a way for Esther to be the Queen!

#Honor. #Providence

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟚:𝟙𝟟

"The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."

Esther, a Jew marrying the king, a Gentile. The best option among the worst. Still, a very odd story!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟛:𝟙𝟙

"The king said to Haman, ‘The silver is yours, and the people also, to do with them as you please.’"

Did the king love money? Did the king hate rebellions in the kingdom? Was the kingdom in a financial crisis? No matter what the motive of the king was, the king didn't examine the complaint and the plan. He was quick to trust Haman.

Don't quickly listen to complaints and plans like king Ahasuerus. Do your homework. Don't be too dependent on others. Don't be lazy.

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟜:𝟙𝟞

"Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish."

A necessary thing must be done even if it involves a great risk! That's why they are called heroes and heroines for their bravery, conviction, and execution!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟝:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

"Haman also said, ‘Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.’"

Seeking self-glory at the expense of killing a person is so evil. And in this case, the whole community, the very people of God. That has to be paid for by his own life. And so, Haman would be hanged, later on.

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟞:𝟛

"The king said, What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who attended him said, ‘Nothing has been done for him.’"

Honor comes from the Lord. Learn to rest in God!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟟:𝟝

"Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, 'Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?'"

God did fight for His people. God did fight for those who put their trust in Him. God did fight for the oppressed people. God did fight for the victims!

But through people like Mordecai, Esther, and the King! Mordecai was a tough man, a man of principle, who would not bow to pressure or intimidation.

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟠:𝟠

"Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's signet ring may not be revoked."

Permission for civil war, a community clash. It must happen!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟡:𝟚𝟝

"But when it came to the king's attention, he commanded by letter that his wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows."

Thou shall not devise wicked schemes against your neighbors!

 

𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟘:𝟛

"For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation."

We need statesmen like Mordecai!

Short Reflection from Nehemiah 1-13

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DRU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[9:43 pm, 08/05/2022] S.R: ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙:𝟙𝟙

"O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man. Now I was the cupbearer to the king."

Nehemiah knew his Bible well. He recalled the prophecy of Moses concerning God's judgment for the disobedient ones and the restoration for the repentant people. Nehemiah confessed their sins and was asking God to restore them. He trusted God's word. And he decided to be the repentant one to bring restoration.

Would we like Nehemiah see ourselves as the agent of change? But to do that we need to be saturated in the grace and knowledge of God!

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟠

"‘and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.’ And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me."

Nehemiah recognized the hand of God in this situation. He didn't credit himself or the king.

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛:𝟚𝟘

"After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest."

Only this verse described it differently. The addition of the adverb "zealously"

We may do the same work, but some are more passionate than others!

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜:𝟡

"But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night."

Prayer was their best strategy, weapon, and strength! Prayer was not enough, so, they set up a guard. But without prayer, the guards would be in vain!

"Priority of prayer"

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟝:𝟙𝟝-𝟙𝟞

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God. I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work."

We need leaders who fear God. Leaders ought to lead people in and to righteousness!

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟞:𝟙𝟙

"But I said, ‘Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.’"

We need to be brave and courageous like Nehemiah!

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟟:𝟜

"Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built."

Similarly, the earth is big and there's a need for development. Also, in the church!

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟠:𝟙𝟘

"He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law."

Enough of attention span! These people listened to sermons for 6 hours. People can watch a web series that last 20 hours.

It's the unsanctified mind that gets bored with the word of God. At least give credit to your brain. Have some self-respect! Don’t talk about attention span. Just tell you aren't that spiritual to listen to a long sermon.

And in this world, people respect smart people, not spiritual people!

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟡:𝟛𝟚

"Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day."

A good prayer model. Recalling the goodness of God and asking for His mercy again.

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟡

"are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;"

Where are the men and women of principle in our time? Hardly, anyone has biblical conviction. They live like the rest of the world. We should learn to separate ourselves even from other church members—to be more godly, to speak differently, and to conduct differently.

 

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟡

"Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were 172."

Even the names and list of the gatekeepers are recorded. God knows each one of us.

ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟚:𝟜𝟛

"and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar."

4 times the description of joy is repeated in this verse. It's given by the Lord. And btw, the Lord wants all of us to be joyful people at all times!

 

[11:40 am, 20/05/2022] S.R: ℕ𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟛:𝟚𝟠-𝟚𝟡

"Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites."

Nehemiah was zealous for purity! We need leaders like him, more in our time

Short Reflection from Ezra 1-10

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:34 am, 11/05/2022] S.R: 𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟙:𝟝

“Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.”

v1 and v5 talk about the stirring of the spirit of the king and the people by the Lord. We ought to desire after this that such stirring would be done in our hearts to live for God.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟚:𝟙

"Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city."

They were supposed to live in the promised land but were taken away. The next generation was brought back btw. After all, Babylon is not their destiny. Exceptions are exceptions. A rule is a rule!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟛:𝟙𝟚

"Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,"

It's sad when newer ones aren't good as the older ones. In fact, we expect the newer ones to be better. Not that old is gold in this story, but the glory of God was missing in this new temple.

And when younger ones were so glad even of this new temple, it was appropriate for the older ones to weep. How can you be satisfied with ordinary things when you were given the best thing? You trampled gold for mere iron.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟜:𝟜-𝟝

“Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

Don't underestimate what your opposition can do!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟝:𝟛

"At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, "Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?"

We need political leaders like this governor, Tattenai. He seemed fair, logical, and righteous. There was opposition, but he won't be intimidated to stop the work without a genuine cause.

Next time, when you pray for leaders, pray that they will be at least like Tattenai, even should they leap into hell!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟞:𝟙𝟛

"Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent."

This governor is of noble mind, noble works, and well appreciated by the Jews and the king!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟟:𝟚𝟞

'Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment."

Wow! The trust the king had in Ezra! It was a time when the king had authority over the kingdom.

Our present world is full of freedom—and freedom only to sin. The depraved sinner knows nothing except to sin. Even the redeemed saints are not free from sin, that's why we have to battle sin, not easily but as "do or die"

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟠:𝟚𝟙

"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions."

Ezra would rather depend on God than depend on the king. That sent a message to his people, enemy, and everyone that he believed and practiced what he read and taught!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟡:𝟙𝟘

"Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments,"

Ezra was pleading before God, interceding for the people.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕣𝕒 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟘-𝟙𝟙

"Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, ‘You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.’"

Admit you are wrong. Stop doing wrong. Start doing right.

In short, Confess and Be Separate unto God.

Short Reflection from Selected Chapters of 2 Chronicles

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (AG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

I shall put up only 4 updates for the book of 2 Chronicle. However, I have read all of them this evening. It's more interesting to read through the book in one sitting.

𝟚 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝟡:𝟠

"Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the LORD your God; because your God loved Israel establishing them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness."

The Queen of Sheba blessed Yahweh because of God's wisdom upon King Solomon. May people curse not our God because of our actions, words, or lifestyle! Let's live like God's children in this ungodly world.

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟚

"Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, 'Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD?'"

Jehoshaphat helped King Ahab but God was not pleased with him. Kings were placed by God in those days to represent God; it was a theocracy, not democracy form of government those days.

Nowadays, pastors are the ones who represent/deliver the message of God. It's imperative that we do not associate with those people who undermine the authority and sufficiency of the word of God, or else we shall be like Jehoshaphat.

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟚𝟚

"Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the LORD."

What do you do in your distress? Do you repent or rebel? There's no point in getting angry with God. He's not a man to change; it's you who must change your ways.

King Ahaz wasn't only unfaithful but increasingly unfaithful. And he died and his funeral wasn't an honorable one.

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟚

"When he was in distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers."

Ahaz was a bad king. God chastised him. However, instead of repenting he became increasingly unfaithful and died without an honorable funeral.

His grandson, Manasseh was the most wicked king of Judah. 🥶 And he reigned the longest for 55 years. Oh! What a saddest combination! 😭 The worst king reigning the longest. Imagine people wishing him to die soon but still outliving them.

Finally, the Assyrians overpowered him and tortured him badly. Many people must have wanted him to be skinned alive and be rubbed with chili powder. But v12 happened. Oh! No. He repented, and God heard him.

What's this? It's to demonstrate the love of God. The worst sinner was granted repentance. God can and did change the most wicked man. He did save Apostle Paul, the "chief sinner" too.

God can save and change your friends, siblings, neighbors, near and dear ones, if He could change Manasseh. There's hope. Don't give up.