Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. -LORD God
Key Verse: Job 24:24 “They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.”
Experiences in life differ from person to person. Sometimes, those who seem to be faring better are those least expected. This is more so when the best things in life seem to be happening to people we consider to be undeserving of God’s favor and mercy. What many lose sight of is that irrespective of how successful a sinner is on earth, if he does not repent, he will meet with an ignoble end.
Job’s friends had concluded that the enormity of the suffering and pain he was experiencing could only be because he was a great sinner. In his response, Job did not dispute that God reserves harsh punishment for the sinner. In seeking to show himself as undeserving of their negative characterization as a sinner, he outlined what a wicked man looks like. He likened such a person to a murderer who takes the poor and needy unawares and kills them. He is like an adulterer who disguises himself and commits immorality under the cover of darkness. He said such a wicked person goes to any length to device his evil acts and cover up his tracks.
But in the end, he is consumed by drought and heat. He is broken, forgotten and eaten by worms in the grave. Though exalted, he is soon cut down, withered and cast off with no remembrance any more. He obviously considered that he was not like the person he had been describing and therefore, wondered who could successfully contradict what he had said.
Sometimes, God allows such experiences to draw our attention to the fact that sin will always be judged and the outcome will be fearful and fiery. It is therefore necessary for the sinner to retrace his steps, turn from his life of indulgence and evil, and follow Christ without wavering. Otherwise, he is courting unmitigated disaster.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: No sinner can escape the long arms of heaven’s law.
Key Verse: “Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them” (Job 24:12).
@beholy404
There are many things about God and His dealings that we seem not to understand. One of such is the spate of wickedness and atrocities being perpetrated by wicked people and judgment does not seem to quickly catch up with them. Evils and crimes are committed in many places with impunity. The rights and privileges of the less privileged are forcefully trodden with no one to speak for them. And God seems to be silent!
Many people wonder why God delays judgment on the wicked. They want Him to unleash His wrath as they observe all the wickedness going on in the world. This was the same question Job raised in our passage as he tried to show his friends that God was not punishing him for his sins as they thought. He pointed their attention to all the wickedness going on daily around them which they were quite aware of and yet God seems to be silent about them. If God were punishing him for his sins, why then were all the wicked and terrible people around him in the society walking about free and judgment is not coming upon them, he queried.
Many people have been tempted to think that God is not fair. In fact, there are people who have concluded that it is either God does not exist or that He has abandoned the world to self-destruction. But the truth is, God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He has a set time for everything and a day of judgment for every wicked person.
Our attitude then is to have faith in His righteousness and justice. We cannot have a sense of justice more than the almighty God. Let us leave the judgment of the wicked in His Hands and strive to maintain an upright and just life. He will certainly judge the wicked and reward the upright with good.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God’s sense of justice will not overlook wickedness.
Key verse: “Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high” (Job 21:22)
@beholy404
Things are not always what we expect them to be. Irrespective of how prepared we are to face life, situations may arise that would severely test our staying power and prove how resolute we are in standing with God.
None was ever so tested in history like Job. He suffered a deluge of calamities and disasters. Yet, he was convinced that he had done nothing to merit such an experience. He became confused though as to why God could have caused such misfortune to befall him. Yet, he never doubted God’s sovereignty and superior understanding. He recognized that He is the ultimate Judge of all men. The wicked who are mighty in this life would suffer the fate of all sinners for their evil deeds. What bothered Job most though were the wrong thoughts of his friends who concluded that he was suffering because of his great sin. In frustration, he queried them: “How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?”
As humans, there are times when events and situations weigh dangerously around a believer that he/she begins to wonder why things are so. But we must realize that at such a period, only absolute trust in the never-failing word of God is all that we need to keep going. Someone said, “The only way God can show us He’s in control is to put us in situations we can’t control.”
When troubles arise in life, especially those that are inexplicable, we must realize that it is a time to show our true attitude towards God. We must never yield to the temptation to become angry and bitter at Him. Even if we are wrongfully accused by those who should know better, we should understand that ultimate vindication awaits those who trust in God. So, when you are tried, ensure you shine forth as gold.
*THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:* When God is with you, storms should not alarm you.
aggelos/ἄγγελος: In the Greek, an angel or messenger, generally a supernatural messenger from God conveying news or behests from God to men.
malak: In the Hebrew, a messenger. -Strong’s Concordance
What does the Bible have to say about Angels? God’s word does not give an account about how angels were created. The Bible does not say when angels were created. But we do know that angels were created before the universe and humanity.
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The context of this verse is a line of questioning directed to Job by God. Job is being asked if he was present prior to the creation of the world. God is explaining to Job that He laid the foundation and measured it out. Then God informs Job that the “morning stars” and the “sons of God” observed this event, sang, and shouted. “Sons of God” is an idiomatic expression for angels in the Old Testament. “Morning stars” is a term for angels. These beings saw God create the earth.
We do know that God, specifically Christ, created the angels.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Psalm 148:2, 5 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created.
In comparing angels to resurrected humanity, Jesus tells us that angels are immortal and they do not marry. Apparently, marriage is not intended in God’s program for angels.
Luke 20:35-36. But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Psalm 148:6 He has also established them (angels and host) forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.
Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
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There are two groups of angels, the elect and those fallen. There are those elect angels who follow God the Father and Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
1 Kings 22:19 Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!
The fallen angels are those who are evil and follow Satan. Of the fallen angels, there are two groups. Some of the fallen are incarcerated.
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment…
Some of the fallen angels are currently loose and free. These angels are currently under the leadership of Satan.
Revelation 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back.
Granted the book of Jasher is an extra Biblical source, but there is an interesting note in regards to the ratio of fallen angels who are incarcerated and those who are not. Noah made the following comment when praying to God about angels and demons. These comments indicated 90% are bound and only 10% are free to maneuver under the will of Satan.
Jasher, Book of Jubilees 10: 9, 11 And He said: Let the tenth part of them remain before him, and let nine parts descend into the place of condemnation.’ And we did according to all His words: all the malignant evil ones we bound in the place of condemnation and a tenth part of them we left that they might be subject before Satan on the earth.
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Angels will ultimately be judged by humanity.
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
Humanity was not created to go to a fiery end. Man was originally created perfect and eternal. Hell was designed for fallen angels. These are the words of Jesus Himself.
Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels…'”
There is fire in Sheol. Deuteronomy 32:22a For a fire is kindled in My anger, and burns to the lowest part of Sheol…The rich man confirms this as fact in Luke 16:24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
Sheol is not the Lake of Fire. They are different. Sheol/Hades is not permanent. It is a temporary holding place. Revelation 20:13-14 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Hades follows Death closely. One dies, then they go to the Pit/Sheol/Hades. Revelation 6:8a I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him…
We all have a set time and date with the grave. It does not matter what our bodies look like. One cannot diet, vitamin, or exercise their way from the Pit. It does not matter if you are rich or poor. One cannot buy their way out of Sheol.
Psalm 89:48 What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
Psalm 49:14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall rule over them in the morning, and their form shall be for Sheol to consume so that they have no habitation.
Death always wants more and more. It is never satisfied. Proverbs 30:16 Sheol, and the barren womb, earth that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”
Proverbs 27:20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.
Habakkuk 2:5 Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, so that he does not stay at home. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples.
There are consciousness and awareness of the inhabitants and Sheol itself. There are examples of this in Scripture in the Old Testament and the New Testament. While in the grave, King Samuel was contacted by a medium from Endor on behalf of King Saul 1 Samuel 28:11-15. The rich man Lazarus is clearly in misery, agony, and torment in Luke 16:19-31. Sheol itself was stimulated with the arrival of the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:9 Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; it arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; it raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.
Job 26:6 Naked is Sheol before Him, and Abaddon has no covering. The meaning of Abaddon is “destruction”. Sin is naked before God. In the final analysis, there is no covering of sin apart from the cross work of Christ. God has always made provision for the sin of humanity. Apart from God, sin will be exposed, bare, and raw. Its path leads to destruction. Proverbs 15:11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, How much more the hearts of men!
1 Samuel 2:6 The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
Per Strong’s Concordance, Sheol is the Old Testament designation for the abode of the dead. It means: underworld (place to which people descend at death); place of no return; grave; or the pit.
It is the unseen world. Sheol is the equivalent of the Greek Hades (word translated in the Septuagint, Greek Old Testament). Hades is a synonymous term used in the New Testament.
Per Strong’s Concordance, Hades means: Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead; later use of this word: the grave, death, hell.
Sheol is synonymous with the Pit. Proverbs 1:12: Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, even whole, as those who go down to the Pit.
God is present in Sheol as noted by the Psalmist. Psalm 139:8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
Even though God is present in Sheol, there is no discussion of Him there. Psalm 6:5 For there is no mention of You in death; in Sheol who will give You thanks?
Despite His presence, God’s reliability and stability are absent in the grave. God’s truth and sureness are nowhere to be found. Isaiah 38:18 For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
Per David, God apparently does not respond or speak to those in the Pit. Psalm 28:1 To You, O LORD, I call; my rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit.
The grave is a very quiet place. Psalm 115:17The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence…
Sheol is a place of darkness, physically and mentally. One cannot clearly remember or think in the grave. There is an absence of sensory stimulation. There is no kindness or goodness, only shame and reproach.
Job 17:13 If I look for Sheol as my home, I make my bed in the darkness…
Psalm 88:10-12 Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah. Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Jesus spoke of the outer darkness. Sounds like angst and despair. Matthew 25:30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
When you are dead there is nothing to do. There is no work. There is no thinking. There is no pondering. There is no way to put information to work. To those of you who want to sit on your butt and do nothing, you will get your wish. Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
Some would say the idea of a “resurrection” is only noted in the New Testament. Resurrection is not a New Testament only concept. There are many examples of the idea of resurrection in the Old Testament. Resurrection events are promised and noted from the arguably the oldest book of the Bible, Job, to the end of the Bible in the Book of Revelation. We will all be resurrected one way or another. At issue is the eternal destination of our individual resurrected body.
Job 14:13-15 “Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, that You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, that You would set a limit for me and remember me! If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes. You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands.”
Job is aware of the concept of resurrection and being brought back to life. He is pleading with God. Will I live again? Job expresses awareness of his bodily change to come. Job knows that God will call before this change.
Job 19:25-27a “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!”
The Hebrew word for “Redeemer” is ga’al. This is the same word used in the Book of Ruth of Boaz who is the kinsman-redeemer. A kinsman-redeemer will pay off one’s debts, defend the family, avenge a killing, and marry the widow of the deceased (definition of kinsman redeemer provided by NET Bible). Job knows his debt for sin will be taken care of. Job knows his Redeemer will avenge the killing of his family members and defend him. Job knows he is going to physically die. Job 42:17 verifies he died. And Job died, an old man and full of days. But, he knows he will be resurrected to see his Redeemer with his restored body. His flesh and his eyes will be renewed. The Redeemer lives. This verse reveals the timing of the resurrection…at the last.
Who is our kinsman-redeemer? Jesus. Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
God the Father will judge the world through His Son Jesus. Based on what, the fact of the resurrection.
What does the Bible have to say about Angels? God’s word does not give an account about how angels were created. The Bible does not say when angels were created. But we do know that angels were created before the universe and humanity. Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? The context of this verse is a line of questioning directed to Job by God. Job is being asked if he was present prior to the creation of the world. God is explaining to Job that He laid the foundation and measured it out. Then God informs Job that the “morning stars” and the “sons of God” observed this event, sang, and shouted. “Sons of God” is an idiomatic expression for angels in the Old Testament. “Morning stars” is a term for angels. These beings saw God create the earth.
We do know that God, specifically Christ, created the angels in Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Jesus tells us that angels are immortal and they do not marry in Luke 20:35-36. He is comparing angels to resurrected humanity. But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
There are two groups of angels, the elect and those fallen. There are the angels who follow Christ as noted in 1 Timothy 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
The fallen angels are those who are evil and follow Satan. Of the fallen angels, there are two groups. Some of the fallen are incarcerated. 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment… Some of the fallen angels are currently loose and free. Jesus encounters these demons in Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him.
Man will ultimately judge angels. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
Humanity was not created to go to a fiery end. Man was originally created perfect and eternal. Hell was designed for fallen angels. Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.
Isaiah 5:3-5 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My vineyard.What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground.
God is calling on those who live in Jerusalem and the region of Judah to make the judgment. God is asking those who live in the vineyard to make the determination. God is asking with a rhetorical question. He has done all He can do and He has offered up the best He has.
There is expectation and accountability. God had given Israel His best and He expected productive fruit. In our world today, it is no different. God has given us His perfect and blameless Son. He expects us to respond to what Jesus has done for us on the cross. He paid for our transgressions against God.
Israel’s response to God was stinking, wild grapes. That was their choice. God countered in return. “So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard…”
Step one; the hedge of protection will be removed by God. Scripture tells us of another situation in Job where Satan requested the hedge of protection to be removed from around Job. The hedge was allowed to be removed by God. We all know that did not initially turn out well for Job.
Step two; the wall will be broken down. Psalm 80:12-13 points out what happens when the wall comes tumbling down. A boar from the forest eats it away and whatever moves in the field feeds on it.
The result for Israel, it will be consumed and it will become trampled ground. These verses are prophetic as J. Vernon McGee points out in his commentary. Israel was subsequently invaded by Syria, Assyria, and Babylon. The place was a baron wasteland for centuries.
What about us? Does it matter how we respond to what God has given us in the person of Jesus? Does God still hold us accountable?
