Job and Psalm on Day 39

Good morning and welcome to day 39 of our 90 day bible challenge that I call, Bible Food Daily.  To me, this has become more necessary than my physical foods I need daily.

Let us continue and we will begin in the last chapter of Job and go into Psalm chapter 24.

After the Lord asked Job some extremely difficult questions; Job realized that he is nothing and did not have any rights to ask the Lord why this has happened to him, and worse he certainly wasn't too righteous to have calamity come upon him.  So he responds to the Lord now:

Job 42

 ¹Then Job answered the LORD, and said, ²I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. ³Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

Job admits that he has spoken without understanding nor knowledge things that were a wonder to him and that he knew not.  It's like people who speak without knowing a topic; eventually they run into someone who is an expert and they will be busted or humbled.  After you make errors like this you have to hate yourself; just as when you sin you hate yourself for your actions or thoughts.

⁶Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Now as for Job's three friends; the Lord addressed them too telling them to apologize to Him by bringing a sacrifice and to have Job approve because they spoke erroneously of God and to Job.  At a time of grief, friends should be sympathetic and comforting, not pointing out or figuring out why one is going through their hardships.

The men did as the Lord commanded them.  Job prayed for his friends and the Lord turned the captivity of Job (as it was called) around and gave him double of all his possessions he had.  ¹⁰And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: in other scriptures we've read where the Lord is going to bless Israel's end even better than their beginning with Moses, Samuel, David, Solomon, and they had it great in the beginning.  So when in your trials; remember to keep your eyes on the goal of being with God.

Job have seven more sons, and three beautiful daughters, in fact they were the most beautiful women in the land and were given inheritance along with their brothers.  Job lived another 140 years seeing his children down four generations.  Weather the storm and you will be fine with God.

We now move into the Psalms

Psalm 1

 ¹Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
 ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

These are a compilation of songs, poems, prayers, and prophesy written by David and Asaph (music chairman) and a few others.  It is a very important book in the bible; as Jesus even mentioned to read these thoroughly as they are written of Him.  A great deal of what David wrote, being a prototype of Jesus, it sounds like it is for David; however it is a dialogue between the Father and Jesus.

As we read we will see a lot of it.  It starts out with saying blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.  Do not take advice or counsel from ungodly men, only delight in keeping the law of the Lord, day and night.  As the priest made sacrifice at even and in the morning; that is how we are to keep the law of the Lord near us.

The way of the righteous will stand; but the ways of the wicked will not in the day of Judgment.

Psalm 2

 ¹Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
 ²The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
 ³Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

I'll quote a great deal in the Psalms because there are plenty of powerful scriptures such as the first three here.  The nations rage and people imagine things that are pointless and profitless.  The kings of the earth, you know the Obamas, Chavezs, Putins, etc. have all joined together against God (the Father) and His Anointed One (Jesus Christ (Christ meaning Anointed One)).  The kings of the earth want to break the bands and cast away the Lord's cords from them.

The cords are His laws, statues, and judgments.  Those cannot be cast away; but we see the world doing it when they through the 10 Commandments out of school and say you cannot pray while in public places.  However, God is laughing in the heavens at them because they do not know that the Father has given an inheritance to His Anointed (Jesus) who became His son to have all the nations on the earth.

Jesus will rule the earth very soon and He will rule with a very strict government; so some advice was given:

Be wise now kings of the earth, and serve God with fear and trembling, and kiss the Son of God because when He is angry just a little, people die in the bundles.  We all read and remember the flood in Noah's day.  Then we end with the theme in the Psalms, blessed are they that put their trust in Jesus.

Psalm 3

David asked how are his enemies increasing in number?  Easy, the more people that hate God will hate his servants; but salvation belongs to the LORD; and blessings is upon His people.

Psalm 4

 ¹Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
 ²O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

These first verses in chapter four are pretty profound; in this prayer, the Lord asks men how long will they turn the Lord's glory to shame.  This is a shot at men and women who claim to be servants of God but in reality are shameful because they are hypocrites who shame God as His representatives.  Mainly because they love vanity and seek after leasing.

Vanity is nothing and leasing is what we are doing in the flesh.  We are leasing because we will die sooner or later; but when you own that is when you live forever.  To many people are happy with the life of renting and are not pursuing ownership at all.

⁵Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

Saul wanted to offer animals that the Lord said to destroy; and Samuel had to tell him it is better to obey than to sacrifice.  However, if you are going to sacrifice, sacrifice righteousness and trust the Lord always.

Psalm 5

 ¹Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
 ²Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

David calls the One he is praying to here, my king (King Jesus), and my God.  Jesus is both king and God.  He just did not become God; He was God, became man, then went back to being God.  We'll see that clearly later on.  I just want to point out scriptures so we read with understanding.

⁷But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.


When you see Muslims praying towards the east, and Jewish people praying at what is thought to be a Temple wall, and Christians with deep understanding praying towards Jerusalem (the east), they are praying towards the Lord's Holy Temple.  This is common; and did not begin with Solomon's prayer, but Solomon's prayer did add some zing to it.

¹¹But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.


They pray for wickedness to be uprooted; but those that trust in the Lord shall be joyfully happy.

Psalm chapter 6 is a prayer for healing and reference to the after life is made: ⁵For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

In death there is no remembering God and no one can give God thanks or praise in the grave.  That is opposite what is known about dying. If you went to heaven once you died you would be able to remember the Lord; and you would be giving Him plenty of thanks for allowing you to be with Him in heaven.  But the dead do not go to heaven; they remain in the grave until the return of the Lord.

Psalm 7

 ¹O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:  If you have trust issues; settle it by putting ALL your trust in God.  Many people make up what they think God is in their mind; all loving never upset.  We have read what the Anointed One is going to do to the kings of the earth.  God has emotions just like His creation; the big difference is that He is in total control of them and He performs all things in righteousness.

¹¹God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
God is angry with the wicked every day.  He does not take a break and say I'm going to be happy with the wicked today.  Every day He is angry with them.

Psalm 8

 ¹O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
 ²Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 

We've seen this verse quoted in the New Testament by Jesus Christ.
David was perplexed at this earth thing as I am and probably you are.  He asked, after seeing all the Lord has created, the moon, stars, planets, why is man important to Him, why does God even deal with sinful men?  Man was made lower than the angels yet God crowd him with glory and honor.  What for?

 ⁶Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

God made man to dominate all the things He created, and to rule and control it for Him.  That's why He is putting man through a strict obeying school and training to be able to operate the world He has created.  You may be in charge of a planet one day; so God needs to see you obeying Him so you can learn from Him.

In Psalm 9 we are reminded that the enemies of the Lord, the wicked of the earth will soon be removed and perish; but the LORD will endure for ever: he has prepared His throne for judgment.

¹⁰And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.  You must know His name; and we'll learn it soon (although we know it's Jesus), when we read it right from the Bible.  You must know His name and put your trust in Him and He never forsakes those that seek Him.

Psalm chapter 10

This chapter again is praying to God to deal with the wicked.  The wicked will not seek God; nor attempt to do His ways.  That's a problem when you have to live with men that don't believe thou shall not kill or steal.  Many wicked persons do not think God sees all of their wickedness, even in the night hours.  But God sees it all.  There are cameras in your head called eyes; and whatever you see; God sees.

Let us all be mindful of how we treat the fatherless and the widow.  The wicked looks to take advantage of them; but the Lord keeps an eye on how the fatherless and widow are treated.

Psalm 11

 ¹In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  Here we start off with the theme again of putting your trust in the Lord.  The Lord is watching from heaven; trying the righteous but the wicked the Lord hates.  If you are struggling a bit in life; stick with the Lord, He is trying you to see if you will weather it and remain with Him.

In Psalm 12 it is interesting to see that the Lord will stop all flattering lips.  They say flattery gets one no where; but it actually get people who use it everywhere.  And preachers use it a lot as well; flattering their congregation by telling them what they want to hear.  We tend to think that this was just in Bible times or in Israel.  No; things are the same and are happening now as well.

⁶The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  This is how to avoid the flattery of men concerning the Word of God, by reading it as we are with understanding because it is pure words.  It is like silver tried in the furnace purified seven times; that is pure so you can trust in it; and not in flattery.

Psalm chapter 13

This is a Psalm prayer for help.  Lord help us before we sleep.  ³Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.  Death is only a sleep; the Lord will wake you up again and judge you so prepare now so you can pass into the kingdom of God.  And again, if you are asleep in death, then you cannot be awake in heaven.

Psalm 14

 ¹The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  This is a common scripture in the churches; and I agree with it whole heartedly.  You'd have to be a fool to think everything on earth just appeared and that there is no God or Creator of it all.  And according to this chapter, not too many people even seek God fully, He didn't see one.  That is why no one was clean enough to die for the sins of the people; and God had to do it Himself.

⁷Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.


David wrote this before Assyria and Babylon took out the 10 tribes and Judah respectively.  That is why I said the Psalm is a book of prophesy, in that salvation of Israel were to come out of Zion.  He is wishing that Jesus (the salvation of Israel & the world) would come to Zion (Jerusalem) and bring back the captivity of His people Jacob, they will rejoice and be glad (remember Deuteronomy chapter 30).

Psalm 15 points out that only the righteous will abide with the Lord in His Holy hill or tabernacle.  Want to be in the Lord's kingdom; you must practice righteousness and avoid evil. 

Psalm 16

Begins with putting our trust in God for Him to preserve us.  If you got after other gods (which do not exist), you will have your sorrows multiplied.  I don't know where yours are now; but I have a few and to have those multiplied will drive me insane.

The verses below are not speaking of David, but is Jesus speaking to the Father:

 ⁸I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

 ⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

 ¹⁰For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.


Jesus set the Lord before Him; that is all He focuses on, that is why His heart is glad knowing that His flesh will rest in hope of being raised from the dead.  We know that when Jesus died on the cross and was buried, His body did not remain in the ground to see corruption as other men do when they die.
Jesus rose from the grave the 3 day and night; so His body could not see corruption, but David is still dead till this day and waiting for the resurrection we are all waiting for when Jesus returns.

Psalm 17

This Psalm prays for protection and guidance continually, and spiritual strength to walk in God's ways.  However we learn that the wicked, if they will not serve the Lord the right way; He will use them as His sword, for violence.
¹³Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:


Satan was the original light bringer; then iniquity was found in him; so as we read in Job he still shows up at the annual meetings the Lord has and his new job is to destroy.  If you are wicked, the Lord will send another wicked person to hurt you.  

And if you are wicked, and love violence, you then will be a sword to the Lord.  That is why our jails are full; because wicked people beget violence.
Verse 14 comments to on the wicked who have more than their fair share in this life, they are full and have no needs, they have huge saving and monies in the bank and when they die they pass it on to all the children they have had.  

But the righteous is not suppose to want to be like that, instead we are to seek the Lord so that when we die we are content to be resurrected being exactly like the Lord.  We want to be God as it was planned for us; not angels, but God.

It's like a boy who says, "when I'm a man, I want to be a doctor."  A man would then say, "when I'm a god, I want to be controller of the 5th universe."  And we will see God and behold His face when we are like Him.  Right now we are only in His image; but we are not like Him.

In Psalm 18, we read this exact Psalm in 2nd Samuel chapter 22.  David was extremely grateful to God for helping Him; but if we read this closer we will definitely see graphic depictions of Jesus talking to the Father.  In a conversation that took place when Jesus was on the cross (a conversation in His head).

As Jesus feared being killed by the Pharisees; the sorrows of death came on Him.  In His fear, He called on the Father: ⁶In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
⁷Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
 ⁸There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
 ⁹He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
 ¹⁰And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
 ¹¹He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

Jesus cry to the Father was heard and acted upon; the Father came off of the Throne in the third Heaven and came down to see about Jesus.  The earth shook and trembled, the foundations were moved because of the Father's anger.

Smoke went out of the Father's nostrils, showing extreme anger and He put darkness under His feet as He came down to the earth.  If you remember the story of Jesus death (we will read in a few days), when He died at noon, the earth was completely dark at that time, which is unheard of in science.  This is why; the Father came down to support Jesus in the painful mission He undertook.

Lightnings, thunders, and other tirades the Lord did to show the people they did kill the son of God.  It could be coincidence for nonbelievers, but for those who understand the Bible it is prophesy.  And keep in mind, this is all in the Old Testament.

Psalm 19

The law of the LORD is perfect, it converts the soul who trust in it.  The testimony of the LORD is sure, it makes the simple-minded very wise.  
The law of the Lord is known as the Old Testament or the books of Moses; and the testimony is known as the New Testament of apostles testifying that the Old Testament is good.  So the law is perfect and the testimony sure; there is no reason for Christians not to believe the entire Bible.

In essence there should not really be a New Testament Christians, or an Old Testament Scholar according to verse seven in Psalm.  Furthermore, the statutes of the LORD are right, they make you rejoice inside; the commandment of the LORD is pure, it enlightens your eyes.  

You all of the sudden realize you cannot just sleep with your neighbors wife because God will deal with you harshly.

The fear of the LORD is clean, it will endure forever.  It is sometimes frowned upon in some churches to fear the Lord; but it is a clean thing to do and it endures forever.  Also, the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  So I ask, can things this good ever be done away with?
Verses 10 tells us that seeking these are far better than seeking gold and worldly riches.  

I certainly concur with this.  ¹⁴Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  A famous verse quoted often.

Psalm 20

⁶Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

The Father will save His Christ; verse six wants us to know this and know this because Jesus rose from the dead.  ⁷Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Even today, some trust in their cars, their war weapons, but true servants of God trust in the name of the Lord God.

Psalm 21

 ¹The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
 ²Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

This is not speaking of king David; but it is speaking of Jesus the king.  Normally, people forget that Jesus is a king; and specifically will be the king of Israel.  That is why David is a prototype of Jesus (and a man after the Lord's own heart), because he was king over Israel in his days.

God has given Jesus all His heart's desires; the same was granted of king David as well.  So how are we sure this is referring to Jesus?  ⁶For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.  The Lord made Jesus most blessed forever.  David was not and is not more blessed than Jesus.

Psalm 22 ²⁶The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.  These are self explanatory verses in chapter 22 here; that the meek will be satisfied and live forever.  Jesus told us in the sermon on the mount that the meek will inherit the earth.
 ²⁷All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

 ²⁸For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.  The Lord is going to eventually return and govern the nations.  We will have a governor who is God and I am sure there will be no 'pay-to-play' in this government.  Verse 29 - no one can keep alive their own soul.  As I mentioned before, man in all his brilliance has not been able to produce a cure to live forever biologically.  And the Lord confirmed that in verse 29.

Psalm 23 is a very prophetic prayer, perhaps the most well known psalm in the Bible, verse one sums it up for me: ¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  If the Lord is your shepherd, you really should not have any wants because everything will be provided for you if you have faith in your shepherd.

Psalm 24

 ¹The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.  I remember reading about a man who wanted to buy the earth.  I wondered who he would have to pay or buy it from.  It would be God; but how do you buy something that is not for sale?  The earth is the Lord's and everything in it... including the people.

Only the pure can come into the Lord's Temple and Kingdom; and the prophet asked who is the king of glory...

¹⁰Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
It is Jesus!

This concludes today; thank you for joining us and see you tomorrow.

-- 
Peace & Grace

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Day 36 Bible Food -Esther and Job

Well here we go again reading through the Bible - and we are going to get right to it because of the amount we have to read today.  Let's go into the book of Ester.

Esther 1

 ¹Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

We are in the days of Ahasuerus who was a king in the Persian and Media empire and he reign as far as India all the way to Ethiopia.  He was a very prosperous king and decided to make a feast to his nobles.

This king had a wife called Vashti whom he asked to come and pretty much model herself before the men because she was very pretty to look upon and she refused.  This made him angry and he wanted something done.  His counselors said to remove her because if the women of the nation see her do this to the king, they will all treat their husbands likewise.

We see that the men here were certainly keeping their wives in a bit of a bondage.  So they removed her and gave her royal estate to another, who they went out in all the countries to recruit someone very beautiful to be the kings queen.  I guess we'd call this the Miss Universe pageant.

Esther Chapter 2 

So the king put it out to help him find a beautiful virgin to be his queen.  In Shushan the palace, there was Jew named Mordecai, a Benjamite who was carried away in the captivity of Nebuchadnezzar.  He brought up Hadassah (Esther) because she had no mother and father, because they died, and she was gorgeous to look upon, and Mordecai raised her as his daughter.
  
She entered the competition and the king loved her and she was chosen to win.    ¹⁷And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Esther 3 The king promoted Haman and told all his servants to bow down to him.  Mordecai would not, and it slowly brought conflict to him as word got back to Haman.  Haman thought to kill Mordecai and he should have left it there; but instead he wanted to kill all the Jews dispersed in the nations.  So he spoke with the king giving an ill manner and report and the king signed it to have the JEWS, destroyed.

¹³And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

Esther 4

Quite naturally, a great cry among the Jews went out; there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.  Esther was made known of the news and she was in sorry as well.  I bet they were trying to figure how to get out of this horrible situation.

Esther asked Mordecai to find out why a decree like this was put out and when it was told of her; thus Mordecai told her to step up for her people.  But there was a rule in the land for the queens of the king that they couldn't see the king whenever they wanted.  Sometimes it took up to 30 to 45 days before they could see their husbands.  Wow!

Mordecai pressed her to do something because she can be killed and also; perhaps she was given a high rank to secure the people.  So she declared a three day fast among all Jews while she went to see if she can see the king.

Esther 5

The king nor Haman know that Esther is a Jew because she held it privily; so she approached the king looking good and all and he delighted to see her and allowed her to come in.  She requested that he and Haman come to a dinner she is preparing and the king agreed.

Haman was so happy to be promoted and advanced in the kings administration and to be invited to the dinner Esther organized for the king; things couldn't be better for Haman.  However, he let one man who wouldn't bow down to him cause him he set sin in his heart.

His wife gave him some advice to finish Mordecai; men be careful in listening to your wives bad advice.  ¹⁴Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Esther 6

Now this is how the Lord works; on that night the king couldn't sleep and he went browsing through the records of the kingdom and found how Mordecai prevented the assassination of the king.  

The king also saw that nothing was done for Mordecai, and while he is thinking about this, Haman comes up to tell the king he has gallows to hang Mordecai.

So Haman first tries to butter up the king with a cloth gift and the king tells him to give it to Mordecai.  This angered Haman as he went home to cry; before his wife and servants could give him advice he was summoned to dinner with the king and Esther.

Esther 7

So Esther and the king and Haman are eating and the king ask her what is her request and she request that her life and the life of her people be spared.  The king asks why and she points out Haman who mandated that the Jews be destroyed.

The king left to think about it and when he returned Haman was begging for his life even kneeling on the bed of Esther and the king saw it and said you want to have her by force as well.  The king ordered Haman to be hung.  ¹⁰So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

Esther 8

So everything Haman owned they gave to Mordecai; and Esther made him oversee everything that Haman was chairman over.
And Esther begged the king to reverse the decree that the Haman had set out for the Jews and the king agreed.  Thus the Jews were loved by the people for the works of Esther that God had done for His people, even in their captivity.

¹⁶The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
¹⁷And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.


Many people converted to the Jews faith because they saw how the Lord helped them out of such a horrible situation.

Esther Chapter 9

Some people in the kingdom probably did not respect the decree being reverse so the Jews had to defend themselves.  They smote many of their enemies and were saved.  Thus making a feast and a memorial out of it.

¹⁷On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
 ¹⁸But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

This is where Friday the 13th comes from.  It was not scary for the Jews; it was scary for their enemies.

²⁶Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

This is the feast of Purim that Jesus later attended; it is not a feast commanded by God; but is a feast commemorated as a memorial for God delivering the Jews.

Esther 10

This chapter ends; but king Ahasuerus was a respected king to the Jews and their history.

Job Chapter 1

Now we move into the book of Job and it begins by telling us about him.   ¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 
Job feared God, hated evil and was upright in his dealings; he was a wealthy man and had an established family.

Now we learn in Job that the sons of God presented themselves before the Lord to report and guess who showed up but is not considered a son, Satan.  The Lord spoke with him asking him what he has been doing and he told God walking through the earth checking out people to deceive.

The Lord asked him if he tried Job; and Satan made it seem that Job only served God because he was plenty rich and very successful.  So Satan went to work to show God that Job was a fair weathered servant, at God's permission.
So a bunch of calamities came on Job, house destroyed, family hurt, children killed, and through it all; he did not give up on God.

 ²¹And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
 ²²In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 2

So the sons of God came again; and Satan showed up again; and God told him that Job was a sure servant; and Satan asked for another chance with Job, this time to do him and not his possessions.  And it was granted by God, letting us know that God is still Satan's boss and it is not a war against each other.

Satan still works for God.  God tells Satan not to kill him; and Satan obeyed.

⁶And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

So Satan hit Job with boils all over his body; so bad that he was scraping them off with a pot; and his wife said to him lose your integrity and curse God and be dead.  However, Job feared God; if he only loved God he may have lost his integrity.  But when you have fear; it stops you from crossing someone or disobeying a statue.

⁹Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
 ¹⁰But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

 This is how men are to respond to their wives; not like Adam did in listening to her foolishness.

Job's friends came and comforted him; but when they saw him none spoke for seven days until Job opened his mouth.

Job 3

 ¹After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.  Job cursed the day he was born.  He says a lot of things including things we should think about... ²⁵For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

When you think about something or fear something; you may just be thinking it into existence!

Job 4 

Eliphaz the Temanite answered and basically said Job must have done something to get all this.  He must have sinned against God for all this destruction to come upon him.

Job Chapter 5
¹⁷Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Eliphaz continues his point that God is suffering Job because of sin; so he says to be happy when the Lord corrects you.  This is true; but shouldn't Job's friends be here to comfort him and not condemn him?

Job 6 and 7 has Job responding to Eliphaz and making good points.  One is ¹⁶I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.  Job hates the fact that he won't live forever, or at least he won't live always, thus his days on earth are in vain.  

That is so powerful; that he hated the fact that he had to die and suffer in life; this is a great vanity in the world.


This concludes today's reading; hope to see you tomorrow.
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Peace & Grace

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