MEN OF THE BIBLE

Although you won't find this mans name in the bible I felt it appropriate to post in this section.

St. Polycarp: Christian Hero
Sarah Phillips, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5: 12

Christian. When you hear the word, what images come to mind? It's too easy
for me to approach the faith only in a modern context.

But there is so much more to professing
faith in Christ
than what we see today. Whenever I need a little dose of context, I read
about heroic Christians from other eras. This week, I came across a
Christian
in a unique position: he was among the first generation of Church leaders
after the apostles passed away.

St. Polycarp, a 2nd century bishop of what is now part of Turkey, was a
disciple of John the Apostle. St. John, often known as the "beloved
disciple," was
privileged to stand at the foot of the Cross. He knew and cared for Mary,
Jesus' mother. He was in the upper room after the Resurrection and was a
member
of the original twelve.

St. Polycarp was one of the first Church leaders who did not get to do any
of these things. Perhaps this seems like an easy position to be in. After
all,
Polycarp knew those who witnessed Christ's life with their own eyes. But
being a second generation Church leader wasn't a comfortable position. It
meant
you were entering unknown territory - territory filled with disputes and
heresies that threatened to destroy Christianity in its infancy. These
leaders
had to place incredible faith in the
Holy Spirit
to guide them.

Not only did Polycarp and his peers face disagreements within the Church,
but they also faced pagan persecution from the outside. During this time,
Christians
were called "atheists" because they rejected the predominant polytheistic
beliefs of their culture. In these early days, pagans would burn Christian
"atheists"
or feed them to wild animals.

Polycarp stayed grounded by keeping his focus on Christ. He was known for
being very tough on heresy but gentle on fellow believers who disagreed with
him
on non-essential details of the faith. When the eastern and western churches
could not agree on how and when to celebrate Passover and Easter, Polycarp
did not force the issue with other leaders when it became apparent that both
approaches were true to the gospel.

St. Polycarp also relied heavily on a deep prayer life. He prayed
specifically for people he encountered and the needs of his particular era.
He was committed
to leading his fellow Christians effectively and never sought glory for
himself.

Although Polycarp was well-loved and respected by both pagans and
Christians, he was keenly aware that one day he may face martyrdom. When his
time finally
came, he was already eighty-six years old, and he went willingly. He could
have pledged his allegiance to Caesar to save himself, but instead Polycarp
told his captors, "If you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not
know who I am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian."

After his death, Christians kept his bones in his memory and as a reminder
of the persecution the early Christians faced.

In some ways, Polycarp faced situations unfamiliar to us and yet in other
ways, his story reminds us that the trials we face today are not as unique
as
they may appear. If we keep our focus on Christ and our days filled with
prayer, we can continue the legacy the faithful left to us almost 2,000
years
ago.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Do you find yourself distracted from love of
Christ because of bickering in your local church or challenges from those
who don't
believe? Take a lesson from Polycarp. Spend additional time in prayer this
week to refocus, refuel and discern the best way to proceed.

Reference:
"Saint Polycarp," Catholic.org

Elijah:
If there was ever a larger-than-life superhero in the Bible it is Elijah. This mountain man of Gilead was a one-man wrecking crew in Israel, speaking truth to power at great risk to his life.
Elijah was just the man Israel needed. It was ruled by the corrupt duo of Ahab and Jezebel, who introduced the worship of the weather god, Baal, and his mistress, Ashterah. For three-and-a-half years, Elijah spoke out against the worship of this false god and called Israel and its leaders to repentance.
When you read the story in 1 Kings, its hard to believe Elijah was human. Consider all he accomplished:
He defiantly prophesied to King Ahab that God would stop the rain in Israel for three years. The Israelites depended on early rains in the fall season and the latter rains in the springtime to grow their crops. A drought of this magnitude would usher in a country-wide famine. But Eljiah boldly declared that God, not Baal, was in charge of the rain. (1 Kings 17:1).
He miraculously expanded a God-fearing widow’s meager provisions of food in the midst of the country-wide famine. (1 Kings 17:7-16)
He raised this same widow’s only son from the dead. (1 Kings 17:17-24)
He engaged the prophets of Baal in a duel of the gods on Mt. Carmel, testifying before all of Israel that Jehovah was the one true God and that Baal was an impotent god of stone. (1 Kings 18:1-40)
He prayed down rain from Heaven again as God stopped the famine in Israel. (1 Kings 18:41-45)
He outran Ahab’s chariot. (1 Kings 18:46)
Did you get that last one? He even outran Ahab’s chariot. Amazing stuff. If there was ever a Bible character that makes you blush, it’s Elijah. He’s seemingly super-human. He’s the Jack Bauer of the Old Testament.
But there’s a part of Elijah’s life that doesn’t often get told. This is the scene that would get left on the cutting room floor. This is the chapter the editor would delete.
You turn to 1 Kings 19 and you can hardly believe what you read.
This is just after Elijah’s epic spiritual victory on Mt. Carmel, so you’d think you’d find Elijah celebrating. But there’s no postgame champagne for this guy.
Intead, we find this Bible superhero in the fetal position, miles from the city, under a juniper tree. He’s crying and asking God to take his life.
This is not something we expect from our superheroes. They are made of something bigger than this. They don’t cry. They don’t break down. They certainly don’t ask God to take their lives.
But Elijah does. Why? Well it turns out that while all of Israel returned to the worship of Jehovah, Queen Jezebel didn’t. In fact, she threatened Elijah with death.
Now you would think Elijah would easily say, “Okay, God just brought down fire on the altar, I think He can handle this one.” But Elijah was physically and emotionally spent. And the one person he wished would have come to faith rejected him. He didn’t see the entire nation bowing down. He only saw Jezebel rejecting him.
But something happened under that juniper tree that redirected Elijah. God changed Elijah’s theology.
You see, there really are no spiritual superheroes. The Bible only has one hero, Jesus. All the rest are humans like the rest of us (James 5:17). Because God doesn’t expect us to be superhuman, only human.
I find it interesting how God cured Elijah’s depression. He didn’t sign him up for a Tuesday night Bible study. He didn’t lash him with the Scriptures. He didn’t tell him to fast and pray.
Instead, God brought him a meal. Apparently Elijah had thought so much of his mission he forgot to eat. He forgot to take care of his body. Then God brought Elijah another meal. Then Elijah rested for forty days.
Then, and only then, did God begin to talk sense into this prophet. And the lessons God taught him were powerful.
Elijah, like most of us, had the mistaken idea that God’s entire mission depended on him. He looked at Israel and the corruption and sin and bore the entire weight on his shoulders. He adopted a martyr complex. He saw himself as the solution, instead of God.
And this is what God did. God first reminded him, through a series of natural phenomena, that it’s not always the big audacious works of God that matter. Sometimes God speaks in the little things. Secondly, God corrected Elijah’s martyr complex by reminding him that there were 7,000 other able-bodied believers standing in line. Elijah wasn’t irreplaceable.
Lastly, God set up Elijah’s replacement in ministry. Yes, the work that was there when Elijah arrived would be there when Elijah was gone. And in fact, Elisha would have a “double portion” of God’s blessing. In other words, the guy coming after Elijah might even be better at the job than he was.
Here’s the point. God doesn’t really need us. God is sovereign. He’s in control. And God gives us permission to be human. After all, that’s how He created us. He doesn’t expect us to be superhuman. This means it’s okay to get tired, okay to rest, okay to put your Bible down and grab a bite to eat and feed your stomach. God isn’t up in Heaven, crossing his fingers, hoping you work another 16 hour day.
Because the mission isn’t dependent upon the faithfulness and fatigue of Daniel Darling or Jack Bauer or Elijah. It’s dependent on the faithfulness and sovereignty of Almighty God.
You can read more about Elijah’s exploits in Daniel Darling’s latest book, iFaith, Connecting to God in the 21st Century. You can find more info at his website: http://www.danieldarling.com/

MEN OF THE BIBLE - Malachi
messenger of jehovah or my messenger.
1. The last of the Old Testament prophets, and author of the last book of The Minor Prophets.
The Man Who Believed in God's Electing Love
Nothing is known of Malachi save what his prophecy tells us. Ancient writers looked upon him as an angel incarnate, while a great number of Jews believed him to be Ezra the Scribe. It would seem as if he was connected with Nehemiah's work. Perhaps he prepared the way for it, helped in it and followed it up. Compare Malachi 1:8 with Nehemiah 5:15, 18, where it seems clear that he prophesied either during Nehemiah's absence in Persia (Neh. 13:6) or after Nehemiah assumed governorship. As the last of the prophets, he was the seal of all the goodly fellowship of prophets.
While Malachi's prominent message was the rebuke of the remnant and the announcement of future purging and blessing, the keynote of his book appears to be the unchangeableness of God, and His unceasing love (Mal. 1:2; 3:6). The tone of his message is expostulation blended with judgment. Yet gracious promises and assurances are interspersed like pearls gleaming against a dark background.
Features to note are the whereins repeated by Malachi's hearers. Against such the prophet amplifies and enforces his original charge (Mal. 1:2, 6, 7; 2:17; 3:7-9). We have:
I. The charge made against God involving an utter disregard of Him (Mal. 1:1, 2).
II. The rejection of the worship of God (Mal. 1:6-14).
III. The intense oration of His law (Mal. 2:1-9).
IV. Social wrongs and disorder in the home (Mal. 2:10, 16).
V. The blatant perversion of judgment (Mal. 2:17).
VI. Gross immorality and degradation (Mal. 3:5).
VII. Robbery in the service of the Temple (Mal. 3:7-9).
Other features to develop are:
Priestly qualifications - holiness, communion with God, usefulness and knowledge (Mal. 2:6, 7).
Ritual may be valuable. Only our capacity limits God's gifts (Mal. 3:10). Give and get (Mal. 3:12).
An ideal picture of the true gospel ministry (Mal. 2:5, 6).
The Lord's care for and interest in His people (Mal. 3:16, 18).

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MEN OF THE BIBLE - Daniel
[Dﾄ�'iel] - god is my judge.

1. The second son of David, also called Chileol (1 Chron. 3:1).

2. A son or descendant of Ithamar who, after the return from exile, sealed the
covenant (Ezra 8:2; Neh. 10:6).

3. The celebrated Jewish prophet, fourth of the so-called Major Prophets, of
royal or noble descent. Daniel was taken to Babylon and trained with others for
the king's service (Ezek. 14:14, 20; 28:3; Dan. 1:6, 21).

The Man Who Kept His Window Open

Nothing is known of the ancestry and early life of this celebrated Jewish
prophet who exercised tremendous influence in the Babylonian court, and whose
name can mean: "Who in the name of God does Justice." Daniel was not a priest
like Jeremiah or Ezekiel but like Isaiah he was descended from the time of Judah
and was probably of royal blood (Dan. 1:3-6). A comparison of 2 Kings 20:17, 18
with Isaiah 29:6, 7 seems to indicate that Daniel was descended from king
Hezekiah.

As a youth of the age of fifteen or thereabouts, Daniel was carried captive to
Babylon (Dan. 1:1-4) in the third year of Jehoiakim. From then on his whole life
was spent in exile. What Daniel was like we are not expressly told but the
details given in the first chapter of his book suggest he must have been a
handsome youth. There is a tradition to the effect that "he had a spare, dry,
tall figure with a beautiful expression." Dr. Alexander Whyte says of Daniel:
"There is always a singular lustre and nobility and stately distinction about
him. There is a note of birth and breeding and aristocracy about his whole name
and character." As we study his character we cannot but be impressed with
his refinement, his reserve and the high sculpture of his life.

Daniel comes before us as an interpreter of dreams and of signs, a conspicuous
seer, an official of kings. He lived a long and active life in the courts and
councils of some of the greatest monarchs the world has known, like
Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus and Darius. Close intimacy with heaven made Daniel the
courtier, statesman, man of business and prophet he was. Bishop Ken reminds us
that "Daniel was one that kept his station in the greatest of revolutions,
reconciling politics and religion, business and devotion, magnanimity with
humility, authority with affability, conversation with retirement, Heaven and
the Court, the favour of God and of the King."

The significant meaning of Daniel's name accords with the character and contents
of the Book of Daniel, written by the prophet himself - the first six chapters
in the third person, the last six in the first person.

As the distinguished historian of some of the most important dispensational
teaching given in the Bible, Daniel's book sets forth:

A statement of God's judgment on history.

The purpose of God until the final consummation.

The vindication of righteousness.

It would take a whole book to deal with Daniel's prophetic visions of Gentile
dominion and defeat. Profitable homiletical material can be used showing
Daniel's self-control (Dan. 1:8; 10:3), undaunted courage (5:22, 23), constant
integrity (Dan. 6:4), unceasing prayerfulness (Dan. 2:17, 18; 6:16), native
humility (Dan. 10:17) and spiritual vision (Dan. 7:9, 12; 10:5, 6).

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Teaching on: "The Life of David, 2nd King of Israel"

Please remember that these are outlines only. I have always taught
from my outlines. This was a 3 credit, 15 week course.
COPYRIGHTED

TEACHING ON DAVID

I. INTRODUCTION

People have heard of the Biblical "Psalmist David", but who and what
was he? That is what this course will teach you.

Much can be said about David the young shepherd boy who rose to be
the second King of Israel. He was a colorful young man, ancestor of
Jesus, who, though he made mistakes, really and truly loved God.
Volumnes have been written about this historical figure. We will
condense his life for this course. Part of your assignment will be
to read through the books 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Samuel during this
course.

David, the son of Jesse and descendant of Ruth, became king of
Israel after the death of the rebellious Saul, and thus began the
golden age of Israel.

It was David's responsibility as a young boy to care for his
father's sheep in the fields. This Shepherd Boy often played his
harp which helped to quiet them down. Though David was strong and a
courageous man, who fought off animals to protect his sheep as a
young boy, he was
also a very gentle and caring person, both a a young man, and, as
king of Israel. Much can be said about this powerful individual, and
volumes can be written about David and his life, but only a few
facts about David's life will be offered. The story of David can be
found in scripture between 1 Samuel 16 and Kings 2.

David's life is the story of a fair and just man with weaknesses, as
well as strengths, a true leader, who, regardless of his flaws, had
unusual charm and extraordinary leadership ability. He was also a
very physically strong young man because he was able to deal with
fierce animals, the Bible tells us in order to protect his sheep.
God was with him, and he knew it.

At this particular time while David was tending his sheep in his
father's fields, God was not pleased with Saul, the present king of
Israel, or of his attitude and performance as "king". Saul had made
decisions which weren't good and this angered God. God prepared a
young man in the wings who would eventually replace Saul. This young
man was David.

II. WHO WAS DAVID?

David's story begins as a young boy in Bethlehem, the youngest son
of Jesse, who was descended from Ruth, the Moabite. He is known as a
Jewish folk hero who lived around 1000 B.C.E.. The lineage through
which eventually Mary, the mother of Jesus would be born. A young
shepherd boy who rose to be the second king of Israel.

If we read both books of Samuel, we realize that David was
constantly at war, until he won all the lands occupied by the native
peoples who lived in both the Northern and Southern kingdoms of
Israel.

A. SINGER OF PSALMS, SONGWRITER, HARP PLAYER

Many of the Psalms are attributed to David as writer.
David is believed to be the author for most but not all of the
psalms. Seventy-three (73) of the Psalms are attributed to David.

B. GOLIATH

Earlier in life before becoming king, David accomplished a great
victory over the Philistine enemies during the time of king Saul. At
age 17, he was summoned by King Saul to the battlefield to play
music for Saul. Meanwhile the giant Philistine Goliath taunted the
Israelites and dared them to send out their strongest soldier to do
battle, a one-on-one battle to prove which side was the strongest.
Of course, Goliath, being about 320 cms tall, had no doubts he would
win.

When David, son of Jesse, heard Goliath cursing the God of Israel,
he asked: "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine
and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the
living God?"

Although he had never been a soldier, David was so shocked to hear
Goliath's insults and the lack of action by the Israelites that he
was moved to do something. He approached Saul and recounted how he
had killed a lion and a bear that had threatened his family's
sheep, "and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them,
seeing he has defied the armies of the living God... The LORD, who
delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear,
He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel
17:36).

Saul offered David his armour, but it was too big and heavy for
David. So he went out to battle with his sling, some pebbles and his
staff. When Goliath saw how small young David was, he mocked him,
saying "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? ...Come to me,
and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of
the field!" (1 Samuel 17:43-44).

David's response: "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and
with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the
LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take
your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the
camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts
of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in
Israel (verses 45-46).

David rushed forward, took a stone out of his bag, and slung it at
Goliath. It struck the giant's forehead and he fell over, and David
then took Goliath's sword and cut off his head. The stunned
Philistines then fled as the Israelites routed them.

III. DAVID CALLED TO BE KING

First Samuel 16: 1 - 13 God Calls David to Be King, and Samuel
Anoints Him with Oil.

A. SOOTHED THE TROUBLED KING SAUL

1. We know him as a songwriter and harpist, who soothed the
irritated King Saul.
First Samuel 16:14-23 David Sings & Plays His Harp for King Saul
The evil spirits would come upon Saul and trouble him and nothing
would soothe him except for young David's harp playing. His music
and playing was comfort to Saul.

2. We know him as the slayer of Goliath, the Philistine
giant. We believe that David wrote many of the Psalms.
First Samuel 17:12-54 David Kills the Philistine Giant Goliath.

B. FRIENDSHIP WITH JONATHAN

Eventually David came to live at the palace. Saul, the first king of
Isarel was Saul who had a son named Jonathan. David and Jonathan
became fast friends. His friendship with Jonathan, the son of Saul,
included promises that their children and grandchildren would also
be best friends. David kept his word and cared for Jonathan's
crippled son, Mephibosheth.
First Samuel 20: 12 - 16 David and Jonathan Are Best Friends

C. DAVID CARES FOR JONATHAN'S SON

Later, Second Samuel 9 tells us that David Cares for Jonathan's Son

D. SAUL TRIES TO KILL DAVID

Eventually a spirit of hatred for David entered Saul and he became
jealous of David. He tried on numerous occasions to kill him and
David was forced to flee for his life.

David fled to the Philistines and others who did not like Saul
joined him. At one point, David was hiding in a cave at En-Gedi (by
the Dead Sea), when Saul entered the cave to relieve himself. David
had the opportunity to kill king Saul and take the throne, but David
refrained, because his character was so strong. He was a man after
God's heart (Acts 13:22).

David refused to kill Saul on numerous occasions, despite his army
chiefs suggesting he take over right away by killing Saul. When Saul
finally died in battle, David was sad, but he knew his destiny and
returned to Judah where he was made king over Judah. Eventually the
other tribes of Israel accepted him and he ruled the whole nation.

David did much more than all this of course, and you can read for
yourself about his life in the Bible, especially in 1 Samuel, 2
Samuel, 1 Kings and 1 Chronicles. He was also an ancestor of Jesus
Christ (Matthew 1:1), and today the Royal Family of England are also
descended from him.
Queen Elizabeth II is of the House of David, of the tribe of Judah.

IV. DAVID THE KING (2 Samuel)

At the time of King Saul's death, David was in exile in Philisita.
His first task ws to put himself in a strategic position from which
his political shcee to set himself up as a ruler over the tribes of
Israel could be achieved.

David was 30 years old when he became king about 1000 B.C. and
reigned in Israel's golden age. He helped to unify Israel by
capturing the city of Jerusalem, which was in the middle of the
country, and making it his capital. Under David's leadership a
series of successful military campaigns secured Israel's borders
against the neighboring peoples. He reigned for forty years.

A. POLITICAL STRUGGLES

The political struggle between Dvid and the House of Saul came to an
end when Abner, hurting under a deserved rebuke from Ishbaal,
offered to deliver the remnant of Saul's kingdom to David. Part of
the deal was for David to receive Michal, Saul's daughter in
marriage and DAvid's first wife. Michael's tearful parting form her
own husband is described with great pathos (2 Samuel 3:12-15).

David sought to establish a claim upon Saul's throne by making
Michael into his harem. Saul's male descendants were either
liquidated in typical orinetal style or put under careful custody (2
Samuel 21:1-14).

He extended Israel's lands in the north (1 Chron. 18:3, 14),
triumphing over Israel's enemies the Canaanites and the Philistines.
Prosperity followed, which is confirmed today by archaeology.

This powerful king wisely governed the tribes of Israel, forging
them into a united nation. God blessed this man to be a valiant
musician and psalmist, a soldier, a great military strategist, an
able administrator, a diplomat and king.

B. HEBRON

David was originally based in Hebron in southern Judah, but when all
13 tribes of Israel accepted his rulership he needed a central
location from which to govern. An ideal place was on the northern
border of Judah, the city of Jebus, also called Jerusalem (City of
Peace), but the Jebusites (Canaanites) held the city (1 Chron. 11:4).

The city was built on a hill and seemed inpenetrable. But David
found a way to enter the city, via a water shaft. He said that
whoever could enter the city would become the commander of his army,
and Joab the son of Zeruiah went up the shaft and thus David
conquered the city and called it the City of David (1 Chron. 11:6-7).

NOTE: On Mount Moriah, next to the city, he moved the Ark of the
Covenant, and there his son Solomon later built the first temple.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in
Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years
(2S.5:4-5).

C. POLITICAL FIGURE

In the Books of Samuel and Kings, David is presented as a political
figure. He was a man that had both strengths and weaknesses that
endeared him to the people who loved him.

D. ARK OF THE COVENANT

David made sure the Ark of the Covenant got to Jerusalem. This Ark
was eventually lost, but the Bible says it will be found again at
the end of the world with a Great Miracle to come.
Actually, some say the Ark lays deep below the earth. The location
is known, just not able
to get to it

E. SIN WITH BATHSHEBA

In 2 Samuel chapter 11 David Covets Bathsheba, the Wife of Uriah.
Though he had many wives already, he coveted Bathsheba, the wife of
Uriah the Hittite. Artemisia Gentileschi' s beautiful painting of
David and Bathsheba clearly illustrates the relationship.
Some theologians believe that since the house of Uriah was next door
to the palace, Bathsheba knew of King David's routines, as to when
he took walks out on the balcony, etc., and most likely planned that
she should take a bath when she knew that he would be out on the
balcony and could watch her. Whether this is true, we have no way of
knowing. But whether it was planned by Bathsheba or not, the fact
remained, while she bathed, King David lusted after her and desired
her.

Since Bathsheba was a married woman, the wife of Uriah, the
honorable King David could not touch her. So he made up a plan to
send her husband to the front lines.

D. PROPHET NATHAN

2 Samuel 12: 1-15 Nathan Shows David the Sin in His Heart.

After David sent Uriah deliberately into battle so he would be
killed, and the prophet Nathan showed David the sinfulness of his
heart. After the death of Uriah, David married Bathsheba and she
became the mother of King Solomon.

The Adultery of David with Bathsaba and Murder of Uriah, in chapter
11, marks the turning point from good to bad in the life of David,
with 7 severe punishments of God, including the rebellion of his son
Absalom. David wrote the 7 Penitential Psalms corresponding to the
7 punishments.
Prophet Nathan: Repentance of David (2 Samuel 12).

The story of David's domestic troubles is recorded in
2 Samuel 9-20 and 1 Kings 1,2.

V. DAVID & BATHSHEBA'S SON

2 Samuel 12: 24-25 David and Bathsheba's Son, Solomon, Is Born

Solomon became a wise and respected king, completing the work David
could not do, building the Temple in Jerusalem. He had a much wisdom.

A. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ABOUT DAVID

1. He was the first king to unite the two kingdoms,
making the Jebusite city of Jerusalem their capital.
2. Very often he married women of the captured tribes,
ending up with an extraordinary number of wives and children.
3. Many of the children did not turn out well, and
Absalom, Amnon, and Adonijah have their own stories.

B. GOD'S PROMISE TO DAVID

God promised David that his descendants would always hold the throne
of Israel. Remember that Jesus was directly descended from the
lineage of David.

VI. CONCLUSION

Thus is the life of David, King of Judah; later of Israel; son of
Jesse; husband of Abigail, Ahinoam, Bathsheba, Michal, etc.; father
of Absalom, Adonijah, Amnon, Solomon, Tamar.
Copyright©1999 Theresa Quinto Pavone,A.TH, B.TH
Revised 2005. Theresa Quinto Pavone,A.TH, B.TH
All rights reserved.
Do not use without permission.
Copyright policy in effect.

MEN OF THE BIBLE
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MEN OF THE BIBLE - Gog

[Gŏg] - a roof or a mountain.

1. A Reubenite, and grandson of Joel (1 Chron. 5:4).

2. A prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and not the mystic character of
Revelation 20:8-15. Who is this dominant figure Ezekiel pictures as leading a
great host of Northern nations against Israel? Ezekiel 38:2, 3, 14, 16, 18;
39:1, 11 are passages to be closely studied.

The Man of the Future

Gog is mentioned as the son of Shemaiah, in the line of Reuben, as above. Here
in Ezekiel Gog appears as the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and is foretold
as being defeated and five-sixths of his army destroyed as he comes up from "the
north parts" and invades "the mountains of Israel."

There are those who affirm that Gog merely represents a title of royal dignity,
similar to the Egyptian word Pharaoh. It has also been suggested that as Ezekiel
represents Gog as being accompanied in his invasion of the land of Israel by the
Persians, Ethiopians, Libyans and others, that the term may be a general
designation for all the enemies of Israel. Those who hold this theory find
confirmation for it in Revelation 20:8-10 where Gog and Magog are linked
together as if they were persons who seem to symbolize all the future foes of
Israel. This may be the reason why various writers in the seventh century
identified Gog with the Antichrist.

Historically, Gog may have been an actual ruler of a non-Semitic nation over
against the north of Palestine and Asia Minor, Armenia, Syria or Scythia.

Prophetically, Gog is to be the chief prince, the fearsome force in the great
Northern Confederacy in which Russia will play a prominent part.

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

I. INTRODUCTION

The Book of Joshua is considered a "historical book" of the Bible.
It is named for the man "Joshua", the son of Nun, a descendent from
the tribe of Ephraim as recorded in the Bible in Numbers 13:8). It
tells the continuing story of the children of Israel. The 2nd and 3rd
generation Israelites didn't see or remember the crossing over on
dry land and the many miracles that their forefathers had known,
didn't trust God and obey God as they should have and so had many
problems because of it. Joshua, whose name also interpreted
is "Jesus", was in no way representative of our Lord and Savior
other than the fact that Joshua led his people to the promised land
and our Lord Jesus Christ will lead "His own" into the Promised Land
of Heaven some day.

The name "Joshua" in the New Testament also
means "Jehovah is Salvation" referring to Jesus being our Salvation.
According to the Jewish "Talmud" Joshua himself wrote and is the
author of the "Book of Joshua", all but the last five verses which
speaks of Joshua's death and burial. Many Bible scholars concur.
Webster's dictionary defines the "Talmud" as: "a collection of
sacred writings constituting the Jewish civil and religious law".
Although the Talmud claims this to be so, it may not necessarily be
true. Many Bible Scholars and Theologians do not go along with this
theory. They feel strongly that the Book of Joshua was, in fact,
written after the death of Joshua.

The Book of Joshua gives accounts of the battles that the
descendants of the children of Israel fought in order to get the
land that was promised to their fore-fathers by God through His
covenant.

Joshua, who became a great general, was born into a slave
family when the original Israelites were in bondage in Egypt. He was
approximately forty (40) years of age at the time of the "Exodus"
when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Also at
approximately that age, Joshua was one of the two spies (Caleb was
the other) sent out to check out the land of Canaan and who came
back with a "good report".

II. CHAPTER 1

Looking at chapter 1......At approximately eighty (80) years of age
Joshua received his commission directly from the Lord (Joshua 1:2)
to take over for Moses.

Joshua was a man of great faith who truly loved and trusted God. He
was a courageous man and had excellent leadership qualities which
was most likely why God chose him as a replacement for Moses to lead
the Israelites and, with the assurance that He (God), would be with
him and gave him a promise in verses 3-5, but especially verse 5.

A. TIME TO MOVE

Joshua told the people it was time to move (Joshua 1:11). It was
time to go and possess the land God had promised them. Then, for a
second time, they would cross a river (river Jordan) on dry ground
(Recorded in Joshua 3).

The study of the Book of Joshua gives a good look at the history of
the battles lost and those won to gain the land that God had
promised to them. The problem came, however, with the second and
third generations of Israelites who had heard about, but hadn't
witnessed the miracles their forefathers had.

III. CHAPTER 2

A prime example of a battle won with God on their side was the
battle of Jericho. Joshua had sent out two spies (Joshua 2:1) to spy
out Jericho. With the help of "Rahab", one of the town's harlots,
who hid the two spies in her house, the spies were able to get back
to Joshua (Joshua 2:4). God told Joshua exactly what to do to
capture the land. Joshua told the children of Israel, and they
listened to him; to a point. They found a woman, even though she was
of disputable character (what we would today call a "woman of the
evening"), she befriended and helped these 2 men, and hid them from
the king and from his men. Since she helped them, and believed them,
she begged them not to harm her or her family when they would come
into town to do battle (verses 12,13). Here is a prime example of
where FAITH comes in. This woman, in FAITH, believed that these 2
men would be kind to her and her family, and believed that they were
of God.

III. CHAPTER 3

In chapter 3 we find that Joshua rose up early in the
morning and went from Shittim and came to the land of Jordan, he
along with the children of Israel and stayed there before they were to
pass over the river.

IV. CHAPTER 4

In chapter 4 of Joshua, the bible records that the Lord spoke to
Joshua again and told him to take twelve men out of the people and
command them to take twelve stones from where the priests stood. He
then told him that they were to leave them in the lodging place
where they would lodge that night to keep as a memoriam for future
generations.

When God tells us to obey, He means just that. All but one man
obeyed when God told Joshua that none, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, of the
spoils of the land were to be taken. Did the Israelites obey? All of
them but one man. Joshua 5:13-15 tells us Joshua met "the captain of
the host of the Lord" who came to assist them. He was most likely
the Lord Himself (a "Theophany" it is called when Jesus appears in
the Old Testament), as He didn't stop Joshua when he knelt down to
worship Him, and the Bible tells us clearly that only the Lord is to
be worshiped. Have you taken time today to "worship" the Lord?

It was probably nerve-wrecking for the children of Israel to watch
for six days as the troops marched around the walls of Jericho
(Joshua 6), but that was what the Lord had told them to
do. And then, finally, on the seventh day, after they
had marched around it seven times, the trumpeters
sounded their trumpets and, with a shout from the people,
the walls of Jericho came tumbling down as stated in
Joshua 6:20. It would seem that the Lord had a "thing"
about the 7 times bit. For example, in 1 Kings 18:43 it
says: "And said to his servants (Elijah speaking), "Go
up now, look toward the sea; and he went up and
looked and said, there is nothing. And he said, Go again
seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time,
that he said, behold there ariseth a little cloud out
of the sea, like a man's hand." Then, (speaking about Naaman)the
prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 5:10 states: "And Elisha sent a messenger
unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times and thy flesh
shall come again to thee and thou shalt be clean".
And in 2 Kings 5:14 - "Then went he down and dipped himself seven
times in Jordan, according to the sayings of the man of
God and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a
little child and he was clean."

Take a look at the Book of Proverbs 24:16: "For a just man
falleth seven times and riseth up again, but the wicked
shall fall into mischief." The Israelites had been
duly warned by God through Joshua not to take any of
the spoils of the land, including the silver and the
gold. After the walls collapsed, the children of Israel
entered the city. They took possession, killed all the
people and livestock, destroyed everything and then
burned the city just as God had told them to do, careful
not to take anything. All except....one man.

Joshua, a faithful obedient servant of the Lord, "kept
his word" as he promised (Joshua 6:25) regarding
saving the lives of Rahab, her family and her father's
household because of the help she had given to the two
spies of Israel by hiding them in her house after they
had come to spy out the city of Jericho. She had
helped Israel because she had "faith" to believe that
the God of the Israelites was the true God. In the
New Testament the book of Hebrews 11:31 tells us: "By
faith the harlot Rahab perished NOT with them that
believed not, when she had received the spies with peace".

Rahab's action in harboring the spies and hiding them in
her house was not done out of fear for her life. It
wasn't because she felt they would come in and "win the
battle" and she wanted to live. No, that wasn't it. It
was because she believed in the God of the children
of Israel that He was the TRUE GOD. She had heard
about what the Lord had done for the children of Israel
since leaving the land of Egypt regarding the crossing
of the Red Sea, crossing the river Jordan, etc. and
she believed those reports. She knew that the Lord
God was with them. Joshua 2:9 records Rehab as
saying: "....I know that the Lord hath given you the
land...." She goes on to say in Joshua 2, verse 10: "For we
have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red
sea for you when ye came out of Egypt and what ye did
unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the
other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly
destroyed." Verse 27 of chapter 6 tells us the ".....Lord was
with Joshua and his fame was noised (spread)
throughout all the country." The people of Jericho were
aware that the Israelites were on their way toward
them, and, they had heard the stories of what God had
done for them. The reason the children of Israel were
able to win at Jericho was because God was on their
side and they had obeyed the Lord and His words, that
is, all but one.

What happened at Jericho with the walls falling down and the burning
of the city has been verified by many different kinds of people from
various walks of life. For example, "Archaeologists" who long
studied ruins in Jerusalem, have found evidence to
substantiate the recording in the Bible of the fall of
Jericho. One Archaeologist in particular, a Dr. John
Garstang (who is the Director of the British School of
Archaeology in Jerusalem and of the Department of Antiquities
of the Palestine Government), did excavation of the
ruins of Jericho during the time period of from 1929
through 1936. While he was digging, his finds were
astonishing. He found some pottery and other evidence that the
city had been destroyed about the year 1400 B.C.
Dr. Garstang found other evidence which confirmed the
account as recorded in scripture. He found that the walls
did, in fact, "fall down flat" as the Bible records.
Halley's Handbook of the Bible agrees with Dr. Garstang's
findings and states that the wall was "double and thick".
Did all the children of Israel obey when God
commanded them not to take of the spoils of Jericho? No.
The one man we mentioned earlier, did not obey. The
one man, Achan, sinned. He didn't think anyone
would notice if he "stole a few things". Whenever
there is "sin in the camp" it costs. Sometimes there is
"sin in the church". We wonder sometimes why God
doesn't move in churches today. We have to "get rid of
the sin". God hates sin. He won't tolerate it. He
deals with it. Just as He dealt with the sin of Achan
and also with Kora who was swallowed up in the earth
because of his rebellion and disobedience. With Christian
Clubs, many of you will notice that a club doesn't go
anywhere; isn't moving, God isn't blessing; leadership
perhaps, not real active. Reason could be: SIN IN THE
CAMP. On the other hand, look at this club. Here there
is growth and God is blessing and is moving.

The city of "Ai" was the next objective for the children of Israael.
Joshua sent out the men from Jericho to the city of Ai
to view the land. (Joshua 7 verses 1-3). They came
back and told Joshua to let about two or three
thousand men go up and smite the city, because "they were
only a few" (Joshua 7:3). But what followed was sheer
disaster due to the sin of one man (Achan) in Jericho
which as yet, Joshua was unaware of. If only the
children of Israel had totally depended upon and trusted
God, and not disobeyed His instructions, then none of
the battles would have been lost and they would have
entered the "Promised Land" a lot sooner than they did.
What should have taken them only a few weeks to
conquer, took them years because of their constant
disobedience.

Continuing on with our study (chapter 7). Not realizing that there
was sin in the camp and God's heart was angered toward them for
their disobedience, the Israelites went on to war against the "city
of Ai" (verse 4) thinking they would conquer it, but subsequently,
lost the battle. Losing that first battle at Ai was a great shock
to the children of Israel. This came right after the
miraculous things God had done for them, such as, the
crossing of the Red Sea on dry land, the subsequent
crossing of Jordan, the victory over the two kings of the
Amorites, and the miraculous fall of the city of Jericho.
They didn't realize that the only reason this first
"battle of Ai" was lost was because there was "sin in the
camp" and God was angry. God will not bless sin. Sin
has to be revealed and dealt with. Achan didn't
think anyone would notice if he took "a few things",
such as a lovely robe, some silver and some gold. He
hid them under his tent thinking no one would know.
But God knew. Had there NOT been any looting at
Jericho by the one greedy man, the ensuing battle at Ai
(after the battle of Jericho) should have been a very
easy battle to win. However, because of the sin of
Achan, when Joshua sent out the men of war from Jericho
to the city of Ai to take the land, they lost the
battle and thirty-six (36) men died. Achan's "sin" cost
36 men their lives. Not wanting to lose any more
men, the Israelites retreated. This retreat made them
look bad in the eyes of their Canaanite enemies. God
requires absolute obedience to His Word and the
disobedience of one individual affects the whole people of
God, just as one rotten apple in a barrel, affects the
whole bunch. God had to discipline them. It's the same
with our churches today. If one person in a
congregation is a rebel it could destroy the whole church and
it usually does. God does not tolerate sin.

Verse 4 tells us the Israelites were about 3000 men.
They should have won. Instead, they fled, ran like
scared rabbits. Oh yes, with sin there is always a price
to pay. Sin costs. God will not tolerate and
certainly not bless sin. God did not help the children of
Israel that day and they lost the battle.

Losing the battle was a lesson to the children of Israel. After the
battle was lost Joshua knew something was dreadfully wrong. In verse
6, Joshua fell to the ground upon his face before the Ark of the
Lord until evening.

Verse 7 Joshua asks the Lord why He allowed them to lose the battle.

In verses 10 and 11 the Lord tells Joshua that there was SIN IN THE
CAMP. Verse 15 is very strong, "And it shall be that he that is
taken with the accursed thing (sin) shall be BURNT with fire, he and
all that he hath.." (God didn't spare even His family)
"....because he hath transgressed (sinned) the covenant of the
Lord and because he hath wrought folly in Israel." It
was the LORD Himself who decided the fate of the
sinning individual. Joshua went around and inquired
in the camp to find out why this dreadful thing had
happened. It was then that the man who had taken of the
spoils of the land, Achan, came forward and admitted
what he had done. (Joshua 7:20 - "Indeed I have sinned
against the Lord God of Isarel and thus and thus have I
done..."). This sin had proved to be fatal, for it cost him
not only his life, but that of his entire family. For
Achan, along with all his family who were innocent of
this sin of disobedience, were stoned and
subsequently, destroyed as directed by God in verse 15. It is a
terrible shame that his innocent family had to die, as
well. Many times the innocent suffer because of the
guilty.

The Bible tells us that if we sin, the ultimate
end is "death". Romans 6:23, it says: "For the wages
of sin is death....". But after the sin in the camp
had been dealt with, the Israelites picked themselves
up, repented of their sin, sanctified themselves and
with God's aid, went on to win various other battles.

Achan tried to explain why he sinned in verses 20 and 21:
"And Achan answered Joshua and said, indeed I have
sinned against the Lord God of Israel and thus and thus
have I done." He owned up to what he did, but owning
up was not good enough. His sin cost him his life
and the life of his family, and for the children of
Israel, the battle at Ai.

In verse 22 Joshua sent his messengers (his men) and
they ran to Achan's tent and found
the "stolen" things. It doesn't matter how little or
big SIN is. Stealing a robe, or robbing a bank.
Committing adultery one-time, or living in sin. SIN is SIN.
God hates SIN and absolutely will not tolerate sin.
There will always be a price to pay for SIN.

In verse 23 they took them from the tent and brought them
to Joshua. Then, in verse 24 we see that Joshua
followed God's command and did what the Lord told Joshua
to do. Verse 25 tells us that Joshua said, "why hast
thou troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this
day. And all Isarel stoned him with stones and burned
them with fire, after they had stoned them with
stones."

And finally, in verse 26, "And they raised over
him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord
turned from the fierceness of his anger, wherefore the
name of that place was called, the VALLEY OF ACHOR,
unto this day." Joshua and the children of Israel
followed the Lord's command when they stoned, and
subsequently burned him.

We are very fortunate today, that the
Lord does not come against us with fire and brimstone.
He actually permits us to continue in our sin
without intervening. But some day, there will be the
price to pay. As we move into chapter 8 we will see the
Hand of God working on them and how He continually
spoke to Joshua. He can speak to us today if we open up
our spiritual ears.

CHAPTER 8

In chapter 8 verse 1 the Lord speaks to Joshua again and tells him
to take the men of war with him, (meaning his soldiers) and assures
him that He has delivered the people of Ai into his hand now and to
go again to battle with them. They obeyed the word of the Lord.
ACHAN disobeyed God's command that He had made through Joshua, and
it cost him and his family their lives. Now that the sin in the camp
was gone, God could once again bless the Israelites and help them
win the battles. It is that way with us, too. If we have no sin in
the camp; no sin in our lives, then God will bless. Look at this
club how God is blessing us! Clubmembers I urge you to keep this
club in your prayers that no sin will come near us. That is why I
plead the Blood over this club and its members to preserves us and
keep sin and evildoers away. Keep your founder Dorothy in your
prayers, as well. She is a true woman of God and used mightily by
Him.

Chapters 9-23 tell of the various battles that took place and how
God increased the lands to Israel, the inheritance that they would
share among the tribes eventually. It is believed by bible scholars
that all the book of Joshua was written by Joshua, save the last
chapter, because it speaks of his death.

Chapter 24, the lands that were conquered were divided up as an
inheritance to the children of Israel. Our inheritance is waiting for us
in Glory. We have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Copyright 2001 Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH
All rights reserved

MEN OF THE BIBLE - Felix

- happy, prosperous.

A cruel Roman governor of Judea, appointed by the Emperor Claudius, whose
freedman he was (Acts 23:24-26; Acts 24:2-27; Acts 25:14). Felix is described by
Tacitus as a bad and cruel governor, even though the title of "most excellent"
was given to him.

The Man Who Procrastinated

As a true preacher, Paul pressed home the truth until it pricked the conscience
of Felix so much so that he "trembled." He did not resent Paul's plain speaking
but postponed the interview "till a more convenient season." Such a "convenient
season," however, did not come, and Felix became a type of many whose
consciences are stirred by the preached Word, but whose hopes of eternal
security are ruined by a like procrastination. The two sworn enemies of the soul
are "Yesterday" and "Tomorrow."

Yesterday slays its thousands. Past sins plunge many into darkness and despair.
Priceless opportunities were trampled upon, and the harvest is past. But God
says there is mercy still and free forgiveness through repentance.

Tomorrow slays its tens of thousands. Vows, promises, resolutions are never
fulfilled. "Some other time," many say, when urged to repent and believe. They
fail to realize that now is the acceptable time. How pitiful it is that the
convenient season never dawns for them! The pathway to their hell is strewn with
good resolutions, and as they cross "The Great Divide," the mocking voice cries
out: "Too late! Too late!"

MEN OF THE BIBLE - Lot
- concealed or myrrh.

The son of Haran, Abraham's brother, who accompanied Abraham from Mesopotamia to
Canaan (Gen. 11:27, 31; 12:4; 13:1).

The Man with a Worldly Mind

We deem it necessary to spend a little time with this character because we
believe Lot to be a representative man. Perhaps there is no Bible figure who
represents so many men of today as Lot of Sodom. Where you can find one Abraham,
one Daniel or one Joshua you will find a thousand Lots.

Lot started out well. But he acquired riches and with his wealth came trouble.
He and his uncle, Abraham, came out of Egypt with great possessions. Then came
the strife among the herdsmen of both men. Lot could not pick a quarrel with his
uncle, so he separated from him and made the greatest mistake of his life in
doing so. If determined to have the well-watered plain, Lot should have asked
Abraham to choose for him. But no, when he lifted up his eyes and saw the
fruitful land, his decision was made.

The moments of solemn, decisive choice reveal the character of the two men
involved. Lot's choice was a bad and selfish one, ending in disaster. Abraham's
choice was lofty, unworldly, superior to all petty consideration. Although, as
elder of the two, he had the undisputable right to precedence in the choice,
Abraham behaved like the high-minded, noble-hearted gentleman he was and so left
the choice to Lot. The meanness of Lot is seen in that he took the best. The
crisis of that moment was decided by the tenor of Lot's life. In spite of his
general righteousness, Lot must have had a vein of great selfishness within.

In one of his unique speeches - The Subject of Salaries - Benjamin Franklin
said, "There are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of
men. These are Ambition and Avarice: the love of power and the love of money.
Separately, each of these has great force in prompting man to action; but when
united in view of the same object they have in many minds the most violent
effects." It was thus that Lot became "a bad lot." In his choice ambition and
avarice became one. Points to ponder are:

I. His wealth (Gen. 13:5). Lot had a house - Abraham was content with a tent
(Gen. 18:1; 19:3). Lot was no pilgrim (Heb. 11:13).

II. His choice (Gen. 13:10, 11). Lot was guided by selfishness, and pitching his
tent toward Sodom was soon living in it (Gen. 14:12).

III. His righteous soul (2 Pet. 2:8). Lot did many things that were inconsistent
with his true character and that were dishonoring to God. He sat down with the
ungodly. Yet he showed some good qualities. He entertained the angels - believed
their message - endeavored to restrain the wicked Sodomites. His good, however,
was mixed with evil.

IV. His loss (Gen. 19:17-28). Lot narrowly escaped judgment. He lost everything,
his wife was turned into a pillar of salt, he lost his wealth, he sacrificed his
influence, for the people of Sodom despised him, his relatives mocked him, his
two daughters shamed him. Lot offered no prayer for Sodom and manifested no
desire for the salvation of its people. His only concern was for his own safety,
and angels delivered him.

Overview of the Book of Job

The author of this book is not known. Some believe that Elihu may
have written it. Some thing it is really a parable that God wanted
us to know and not really a true story. In any event, it is a good
lesson for us.

The theme of the Book of Job is one that deals with one of the
greatest of mysteries that of "suffering". The question that is
sepelled out through the book is, "why do the righteous suffer?"

The breakdown of the book is this:
We first see satan's attack on Job in Job 1:1 to chapter 2:10.
We read about Job and his friends in Job 2:11 and Job 31:40.

Elihu's message is in chapters 32-37.
Jehovah's Answer to Job is found in chapters 38 to 42:6.

Author: The Book of Job does not specifically name its author. The most likely candidates are Job, Elihu, Moses and Solomon.

Date of Writing: The date of the authorship of the Book of Job would be determined by the author of the Book of Job. If Moses was the author, the date would be around 1440 B.C. If Solomon was the author, the date would be around 950 B.C. Because we don’t know the author, we can’t know the date of writing.

Purpose of Writing: The Book of Job helps us to understand the following: Satan cannot bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless it is by God's permission. God has power over what Satan can and cannot do. It is beyond our human ability to understand the "why's" behind all the suffering in the world. The wicked will receive their just dues. We cannot always blame suffering and sin on our lifestyles. Suffering may sometimes be allowed in our lives to purify, test, teach or strengthen the soul. God remains enough, deserves and requests our love and praise in all circumstances of life.

Key Verses: Job 1:1, "In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil."

Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Job 38:1-2, "Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said, 'Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?'"

Job 42:5-6, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Brief Summary: The book opens with a scene in heaven where Satan comes to accuse Job before God. He insists Job only serves God because God protects him and seeks God’s permission to test Job’s faith and loyalty. God grants His permission, only within certain boundaries. Why do the righteous suffer? This is the question raised after Job loses his family, his wealth, and his health. Job's three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, come to “comfort” him and to discuss his crushing series of tragedies. They insist his suffering is punishment for sin in his life. Job, though, remains devoted to God through all of this and contends that his life has not been one of sin. A fourth man, Elihu, tells Job he needs to humble himself and submit to God's use of trials to purify his life. Finally, Job questions God Himself and learns valuable lessons about the sovereignty of God and his need to totally trust in the Lord. Job is then restored to health, happiness and prosperity beyond his earlier state.

Foreshadowings: As Job was pondering the cause of his misery, three questions came to his mind, all of which are answered only in our Lord Jesus Christ. These questions occur in chapter 14. First, in verse 4, Job asks, "Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!?" Job’s question comes from a heart that recognizes it cannot possibly please God or become justified in His sight. God is holy; we are not. Therefore, a great gulf exists between man and God, caused by sin. But the answer to Job’s anguished question is found in Jesus Christ. He has paid the penalty for our sin and has exchanged it for His righteousness, thereby making us acceptable in God’s sight (Hebrews 10:14; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Job’s second question, "But man dies and lies prostrate; Man expires, and where is he?" (vs. 14), is another question about eternity and life and death that is answered only in Christ. With Christ, the answer to ‘where is he?’ is eternal life in heaven. Without Christ, the answer is an eternity in “outer darkness” where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).

Job’s third question, found in verse 14, is “If a man dies, will he live again?” Once again, the answer is found in Christ. We do indeed live again if we are in Him. “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).

Practical Application: The Book of Job reminds us that there is a "cosmic conflict" going on the behind the scenes that we usually know nothing about. Often we wonder why God allows something, and we question or doubt God's goodness, without seeing the full picture. The Book of Job teaches us to trust God under all circumstances. We must trust God, not only WHEN we do not understand, but BECAUSE we do not understand. The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30). If God’s ways are “perfect,” then we can trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also perfect. This may not seem possible to us, but our minds are not God’s mind. It is true that we can’t expect to understand His mind perfectly, as He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Nevertheless, our responsibility to God is to obey Him, to trust Him and to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not.Now lets look closer.

Job, a man described as being perfect, is stripped of wealth (he was
a rich man), children, and health. He bears these afflictions with
fortitude. He does not understand the cause of these calamities, but
resigns himself ot the thought that God sends evil upon mankind,
just as He sends good, and that being God, He has that right to do
so and therefore men must accept evil uncomplainingly. Those are
Job's thoughts, but not necessarily true. God is a loving and caring
God, and, it rains on the just and the unjust. Our ways are not His
Ways.

We don't understand everything in this life, but some day, in Glory,
we will understand it all better.

Job's friends argued that since suffering was the result of sin that
Job was the most afflicted of men, therefore, Job must be the most
wicked of men. How ridiculous that is. Just because one is afflicted
with cancer or heart trouble, it does not mean that person is
in SIN. God has a purpose in ALLOWING certain things to happen.
God holds up Job as a perfect God-fearing man, one has has escaped
the corruption of the world. Satan admits the fact, but also
stresses that Job has life easy. Satan's contention isi that Job is
serving God for the sake of policy because it brings him prosperity.
Satan thinks that Job will fail if he loses everything in holding on
too his loyalty to God. It is very comforting to know that as
children of God satan's attack on us is only with the permission of
God, for satan cannot cross the BLOOD LINE. We are saved through the
Blood of Jesus Christ shed on calvary for the remission of our sin.
Hallelujah!

We know that Job's afflictions are placed upon him by satan, but
ALLOWED by God. His friends contend that suffering is the result of
sin. Many people feel that way. It is not true. Just because someone
is suffering in life, does not mean that person is in sin. It rains
on the just and the unjust.

Job's friends argued that the measure of affliction indicates the
degree of sin. They argue that since Job is the most afflicted of
men, he must be the greatest of sinners. How ridiculous. People sin
is not the cause of everyone's troubles. Sin does open the door for
things to happen in life its true, but not all mankind's troubles
can be blamed on sin in their life.

Job stands up to his friends and maintains that it is possible for a
righteous man to be afflicted. He considers it cruelty on the part
of his friends to accuse him of sin because of his afflictions. He
himself does not understand God's purpose in allowing affliction
upon himself, but he knows that God is just and does not turn
against Him.

The Book of Job consists of:
a prose introduction and conclusion which may have existed separately
from the rest, and of a large poetic core. Satan - who seems not to
be the same as the devil, merely an opponent - tells God that Job
would not obey if he were afflicted.
God gives permission to afflict Job greatly. So Job's suffering is
permitted as a test - an idea that is a bit new, for usually
suffering had been considered as a divine punishment for sin (and it
could be that).

Three friends of Job come, but do not really console
him: they say he must have sinned or the affliction would not
have come. Job insists on his innocence. The fact that God
could afflict an innocent man disturbs Job, he almost becomes
angry with God at some points. Finally he asks the Almighty to
answer him. God does speak from a storm: Would Job condemn God
so he, Job could seem just? Job confesses he has not reacted
well, he has tried to deal with things above him, he repents
in dust and ashes. God directs Job's friends to ask Job to
pray for them, so their fault may be pardoned. In the prose
conclusion Job gets back much more than what he had lost.

The Book of Job is concerned with the problem of
suffering. Only part of the truth had been revealed at that
time. Before, people had tended to think suffering was a
punishment for sin. It sometimes is that,but not always.Yet
that belief persisted even into the time of Christ.Cf.the
question:"who has sinned" This man or his parents? (Jn 9.2-3).

Job will make a degree of progress,namely, that it comes
out clearly that not always is suffering a punishment for sin.
Yet the positive value of suffering remained to be made clear
by Jesus.

There is however a problem: We know we are adopted
children of God. Children, precisely because they are
children, have a claim to be in their Father's house,which is
heaven.

The Council of Trent (DS 1532 and 1582) taught three
things:

1)that we receive justification with no merit at all.
Justification means the first reception of sanctifying
grace,which in turn means that the indwelling of the Holy
Trinity in our souls makes us sharers in the divine nature
(2.Peter 1.4) and adopted children of God.

2) So we have a *claim* to go to our Father's house. A claim can be
called a merit.Yet it is a different kind of merit. Although it is as
it were a ticket to heaven, it is a ticket we get for
free,without at all earning it.

3) Once we have this status of children sharing in the very nature of
the Father, He increase our ability to know Him face to face.

In this sense we could say what one student once said in
a class about salvation: "You can't earn it,but you can blow
it". That is, children do not have to earn the love and care
of their parents. Yet they could earn to lose it.

So now we have focused our problem. We can rightly say:
All we have to do it to keep from earning to lose this ticket.

How then does this fit in with this such texts as
Romans 8.17: "We are heirs of God,fellow heirs with Christ,
PROVIDED THAT we suffer with Him,so we may also be glorified
with Him"? Similarly Jesus Himself said that He is the vine,
and we the branches (John 15.1-6). The Father will prune a
fruitful branch, to make it bear still more fruit. Again, the
Epistle to the Hebrews (12.5-13) quotes the Old Testament
(Proverbs 3.11-12) saying that the Father disciplines us as
children.That is a sign He cares for us,loves us.

The solution is really easy: If we remained always
perfectly innocent children,there would be no need at all for
purification. But the problem is that we all do sin (1 John
1.8).

Therefore: a)The Holiness of our Father wants His
children clean enough to enter His house. Some sin so gravely
as to even lose divine sonship. Others do not lose it,but
become dirty children,who need a cleanup.

We could explain it this way:The Holiness of the Father
loves all that is right and good.But a sinner disturbs the
harmony of order,and disturbs His image which He had given us,
not only in creating us to His own image and likeness, but
still more by making us conformed to the image of His
son (Romans 8.29). Sin disturbs that image,Mortal sin destroys
the image of His Son in us; venial sin may as it were tarnish
it. Put it another way: The scales of the objective order need
to be rebalanced if we, His children,have put it even somewhat
out of order by our personal sins. The sinner takes from one
pan of a two pan scales something he has no right to have. It
might he so grave as to cause him to lose divine sonship--
mortal sin.But it can be something lesser,which while it does
not cause us to lose that sonship, yet it does mean we are
bad,we might say,dirty children.We need to be cleaned up. The
essential, the infinite work of rebalancing the scales is done
by Jesus,our Brother, with whom He are heirs as Romans 8.17
says. Yet the same line, Romans 8.17 also says we are heirs
"provided that we suffer with Him."

Just as a really good Father trains His children by discipline to
make them grow up and be what they should be, so our Father in
heaven, disciplines us.

What was known of this beautiful picture at the tome of
Job? As we said, many, such as Job's so-called friends,
insisted that all suffering comes from sin. The book makes it
finally clear that not always does suffering come from sin.
But clearly, Job did not see the full expanses of the splendid
picture we have just unfolded.

Could they have reached at least part of this picture?
There were grounds for doing that.

Isaiah 63:16: "Even if Abraham were not to know us
or Israel to acknowledge us, You ,Lord, are our Father." And

Hosea 11.1: "Out of Egypt I have called my son".

Jeremiah 31.9.

Where else is Job mentioned in Scripture? Ezekiel 14:14; James 5:11.

TO RECAP THEN:
THE BOOK OF JOB is one of the most widely quoted stories in the TORAH, the history of the Hebrew people and their god. A version of the TORAH, including the BOOK OF JOB, was later translated and edited into the first five books of the Christian BIBLE, referred to as the THE OLD TESTAMENT. The stories of the TORAH, stemming from a long oral tradition in the ancient world, were probably first written down between the eighth and second centuries B.C.E. The BOOK OF JOB relates the suffering and resolve of Job, a godly man and possible candidate for 'World’s Earliest Intellectual' since he dares to question his existence. As a spiritual lesson, the story of Job poses a number of questions on the nature of God and the unnecessary pain inflicted on the righteous in what often seems a pointlessly cruel world. The BOOK OF JOB is also notable for its use of an informed prologue in which the audience is privy to a secret knowledge that the protagonist in the story is not. This use of dramatic irony is most commonly seen in Greek tragedies and adds an element of suspense to the telling of Job’s tribulations. PLOT: In the first two chapters, or prologue, of the BOOK OF JOB, God decides to use Job as a demonstration to his skeptical subordinate, Satan, who doubts Job's unflappable faith in God. God tells Satan that he may take away everything from Job. Satan wastes no time and plagues the old man in short thrift; Job soon loses his family, his farm and riches, and is finally covered in hideous boils. Job has no knowledge of God and Satan’s conversations in the prologue nor of the resultant bet on his spiritual faith. Meanwhile, back on the earthly plane, Job’s wife tells Job to turn away from God, while his three friends tell him to repent, assuming that Job has committed an egregious sin to be punished by God so completely. Job keeps his faith but he neither curses God nor openly repents for any mysterious sins. Instead, he sits quietly and waits for God to explain himself. The answer finally comes in the form of a divine whirlwind. From the heart of the raging storm, God speaks to the frightened Job, telling him that God's reasons are incomprehensible to the human mind. Job’s health, family and riches are restored at the end of the book -- a reward for his faithfulness
In Christ's Ministry,
Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH
Researched, prepared and put together by Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH

Recommended Resources: Job, Holman Old Testament Commentary by Steven Lawson.
Job, New International Commentary on the Old Testament by John Hartley.