Today's Scripture
Blessed be your name – Job 1
Today’s Reading Schedule: Job 1-5 (CEB)
1 A man in the land of Uz was named Job. That man was honest, a person of absolute integrity; he feared God and avoided evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred pairs of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a vast number of servants, so that he was greater than all the people of the east. 4 Each of his sons hosted a feast in his own house on his birthday. They invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of the feast had been completed, Job would send word and purify his children. Getting up early in the morning, he prepared entirely burned offerings for each one of them, for Job thought, Perhaps my children have sinned and then cursed God in their hearts. Job did this regularly.
6 One day the divine beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them. 7 The Lord said to the Adversary, “Where did you come from?”
The Adversary answered the Lord, “From wandering throughout the earth.”
8 The Lord said to the Adversary, “Have you thought about my servant Job; surely there is no one like him on earth, a man who is honest, who is of absolute integrity, who reveres God and avoids evil?”
9 The Adversary answered the Lord, “Does Job revere God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you fenced him in—his house and all he has—and blessed the work of his hands so that his possessions extend throughout the earth?11 But stretch out your hand and strike all he has. He will certainly curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to the Adversary, “Look, all he has is within your power; only don’t stretch out your hand against him.” So the Adversary left the Lord’s presence.
13 One day Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 14 A messenger came to Job and said: “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were grazing nearby 15 when the Sabeans took them and killed the young men with swords. I alone escaped to tell you.”
16 While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: “A raging fire fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and devoured the young men. I alone escaped to tell you.”
17 While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: “Chaldeans set up three companies, raided the camels and took them, killing the young men with swords. I alone escaped to tell you.”
18 While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 when a strong wind came from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people, and they died. I alone escaped to tell you.”
20 Job arose, tore his clothes, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and worshipped. 21 He said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb; naked I will return there. The Lord has given; the Lord has taken; bless the Lord’s name.” 22 In all this, Job didn’t sin or blame God.
RJ's Devotion
WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE say?
V. 1-5 Job was a righteous man in front of the Lord. His intention was to live righteously in front of the eyes of God.
V. 6-12 The passage inserts a dialogue between God and Adversary (Satan) regarding the faithfulness of Job. God allows Satan to prove his point.
V. 13-19 Job hears what happened to his children.
V. 20-22 “In all this, Job didn’t sin or blame God” (v. 22 The Message).
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
Some might wonder why the book of Job comes in between Genesis. Since we are reading the Bible chronologically, we will understand that the order of the books in the Bible is not placed according to the timeline. Now for Job, there are a couple of indications that this event has a background of the period after the flood and before Moses.
The Adversary (Satan) wants to prove that Job’s faithfulness to God is motivated by all the blessings God poured out to Job. So God allows Satan to do what Satan wants to do in Satan’s power. Soon Job loses everything he owns, but his response shocks not only Satan but also us.
“Job arose, tore his clothes, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and worshipped. 21 He said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb; naked I will return there. The Lord has given; the Lord has taken; bless the Lord’s name.” 22 In all this, Job didn’t sin or blame God.”
Tearing his clothes were considered as an act of repentance.
He falls to the ground with complete reverence and worship.
When everything seems to be going wrong, and the world tumbling down, he fixed his eyes on the Lord.
Instead of blaming, he worshiped at the time it seems impossible to worship.
Showing that those are the times we need to come closer to God in worship.
Prayer
Lord, help us worship your name in all our situations. Also, help us lead others going through tough times to focus their eyes on to you. Together, help us see your glory. In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN
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