Read: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 22:1
Job called his friends miserable comforters and asks them why they have to keep on talking. He told them that if he was in their place he could have said the same thing to them and shamed them. But, all who could have witnessed on his behalf have deserted him. God has broken him down to total disgrace. It is obvious by his appearance that he is not strong and sickly. All his friends and acquaintances have abandoned him.
In spite of all this, Job says that his witnesses are in heaven. They know he is innocent. One day he will die and not return.
In Job’s mind, his only adversary is God. He doesn’t seem to realize his real enemy and the cause of all this is not God, but Satan. God has set Job up as his representative of a godly man before the heavenly host. Job couldn’t see that it was really an honor to be thought of so highly by God to be chosen as his champion on the earth.
In Chapter 17, Job has his worse pity party yet. Then in Chapter 18 Bildad decides to add insult to injury and compare Job’s life to the wicked man. We get a good description of the consequences of the wicked but this is not who Job is.
Job answers and asks how much longer are they going to accuse him wrongly. He claims that God has put him in this trial and he is not coming to his rescue. He describes in detail how God has taken his life from him and given him bitterness in its place.
But, in the end of his ranting he says that he knows that his Redeemer lives and will one day stand on the earth. When Job dies he knows he will see God. One day everyone will face God’s judgment.
In Corinthians, Paul directs them put something aside every week as an offering, just like he told the churches in Galatia to do. When he comes, Paul will collect their gifts and send it to the church in Jerusalem who were experiencing the worse of the famine and the persecution. They were invited to go with him to Jerusalem to present their gift.
Paul plans to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, then come visit them in Corinth.
Paul is sending Timothy and asks them to welcome him and honor him even though he is young. Apollos will come when he can.
Paul encourages them to be watchful, stand firm in the faith and be strong. He tells them to let everything they do be done in love. He recognizes the faithfulness of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus who refreshed them.
Paul sent them greetings from Aquila and Prisca and all the brothers there. He prays that God’s grace and love would be with them.
Lord, we pray for your grace and love to be with us and in us so that others may come to know you. You are our Redeemer who has come to bring your salvation to all the earth. May your kingdom come!
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