God Speaks
Job Declares His Faith and Innocence Despite Ridicule and Rebuke
Verse of the Day: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes–I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27 NIV)
Read or listen on BibleGateway.com
Watch TBR Day 008: Job 17-20
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Job 17-20:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Job 17
1. God knows who is truly innocent and comes to their defense in His time and in His perfect way.
2. Mockers continually surround the righteous (those who stand up for God and His principles) and maliciously taunt them.
Job 18
1. God gives those who rely on Him children and grandchildren (be they physical or spiritual) to carry on their legacy.
2. Wicked people who reject God will have no descendants to remember their history fondly.
Job 19
1. We can be as assured as Job was that our Redeemer lives and that He will stand upon the earth.
2. People can cry out to God for help and justice, and He will answer even though for now their way is blocked and the path ahead is very dark.
Job 20
1. God will deal with the wicked in His time and way. He will not let them ultimately or permanently succeed.
2. The triumph, joy, and prosperity of the wicked will be short lived, temporary, and make them sick.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Job 17-20?
Without Your great mercy and grace, O LORD, my spirit would be utterly crushed, my life would be snuffed out, and the grave would receive my lifeless body. Mockers bitterly taunt me and many others of Your obedient children. It is You who must defend the cause of those You have declared righteous. No one else can or will stand up for us. The ungodly have closed their minds to understanding; but I beg You, do not let them triumph. I leave it to You to deal with them. Please help those You have made righteous in Christ to keep moving forward with clean hands, becoming stronger and stronger. I want to be an example to my children and grandchildren (be they physical or spiritual) of what it means to rely on and not reject You, LORD God. I affirm, along with Job, that I know that my Redeemer lives and that He will stand upon the earth (again). I also agree that You will not let the wicked ultimately or permanently succeed. Their triumph, joy, and prosperity will be short lived, temporary, and make them sick. They will eventually be humbled, bow the knee to Jesus, and bring You glory, LORD. AMEN.
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Job 17-20? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- Whenever I am maligned, I will trust God to come to my defense.
- I will pray for specific people I know who are being maligned, tormented, and falsely accused to trust their case to Almighty God.
- I will study news reports for ways that God is dealing with the wicked and/or building a legacy for the righteous.
- I will discuss with a friend or stranger how I am looking forward to Christ’s return to rule on the earth.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.