A Recompense from the Lord

Posted inSuffering
Merriam Webster defines recompense as an equivalent or a return for something done, suffered, or given. The verb means to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred), to pay for, to return in kind. The basic idea is that there is a correspondence between what is received…

The Restoration of Job and His Friends

Posted inJob
The last eleven verses of Job describe God’s work of restoring first Job’s friends (vv. 7–9) and then Job (vv. 10–17). But these two restorations are different. The restoration of the three friends is to the favor of God through the forgiveness of their sins. The restoration of Job is to the prosperity he had…

Job 16 and 17: O Earth, Do Not Cover My Blood

Posted inJob
Chapters 15 to 17 in the book of Job record the second interchange between Eliphaz and Job. In chapter 15 Eliphaz is much more severe with Job than he had been in his first speech. After listening to Job’s protestations of innocence and complaints against God, he became convinced that Job had sinned and even…

Job 9-10: How Can I Contend with God?

Posted inJob
In chapter 8 Bildad, who had pretty bluntly accused both Job and his sons of sin (8:4), called Job to repentance (8:5), and promised blessings if Job became pure and upright (8:6f). In chapters 9 and 10 Job answers him by asking the question, “How can a man be righteous before God (9:2)?” I believe…

Job 6 and 7: No Help in Friends, Self, or God

Posted inJob
When Eliphaz spoke to Job the first time (Job 5) he gave him good advice (“Do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds but His hands make whole,” 5:17–18), but showed no compassion. In his response (chapters 6–7) Job focused on three things: 1) that his…

Leaving All for Christ

Posted inSuffering
Let's consider for a few minutes the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:29. In the context of the verse, a rich young ruler had come to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus had said, “Keep the commandments.” The young man’s reply was, “I’ve done that from my…