From Gary.. Bible Reading and Study, August 16

Bible Reading and Study

August 16

The World English Bible

Aug. 16

Job 1-4

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

Job 1:2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

Job 1:3 His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

Job 1:4 His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Job 1:5 It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts." Job did so continually.

Job 1:6 Now it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them.

Job 1:7 Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

Job 1:8 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Job 1:10 Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Job 1:11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face."

Job 1:12 Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don't put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.

Job 1:13 It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

Job 1:14 that there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,

Job 1:15 and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Job 1:16 While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Job 1:17 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Job 1:18 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

Job 1:19 and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.

Job 1:21 He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh."

Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:1 Again it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh.

Job 2:2 Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

Job 2:3 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause."

Job 2:4 Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.

Job 2:5 But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face."

Job 2:6 Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life."

Job 2:7 So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.

Job 2:8 He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes.

Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die."

Job 2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job didn't sin with his lips.

Job 2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.

Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn't recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.

Job 2:13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

Job 3:1 After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth.

Job 3:2 Job answered:

Job 3:3 "Let the day perish in which I was born, the night which said, 'There is a boy conceived.'

Job 3:4 Let that day be darkness. Don't let God from above seek for it, neither let the light shine on it.

Job 3:5 Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell on it. Let all that makes black the day terrify it.

Job 3:6 As for that night, let thick darkness seize on it. Let it not rejoice among the days of the year. Let it not come into the number of the months.

Job 3:7 Behold, let that night be barren. Let no joyful voice come therein.

Job 3:8 Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.

Job 3:9 Let the stars of its twilight be dark. Let it look for light, but have none, neither let it see the eyelids of the morning,

Job 3:10 because it didn't shut up the doors of my mother's womb, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.

Job 3:11 "Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

Job 3:12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

Job 3:13 For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I should have slept, then I would have been at rest,

Job 3:14 with kings and counselors of the earth, who built up waste places for themselves;

Job 3:15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

Job 3:16 or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, as infants who never saw light.

Job 3:17 There the wicked cease from troubling. There the weary are at rest.

Job 3:18 There the prisoners are at ease together. They don't hear the voice of the taskmaster.

Job 3:19 The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his master.

Job 3:20 "Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,

Job 3:21 Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

Job 3:22 who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

Job 3:23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?

Job 3:24 For my sighing comes before I eat. My groanings are poured out like water.

Job 3:25 For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.

Job 3:26 I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble comes."

Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

Job 4:2 "If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Job 4:3 Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

Job 4:4 Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees.

Job 4:5 But now it is come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

Job 4:6 Isn't your piety your confidence? Isn't the integrity of your ways your hope?

Job 4:7 "Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

Job 4:8 According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.

Job 4:9 By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

Job 4:10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

Job 4:11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.

Job 4:12 "Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

Job 4:13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

Job 4:14 fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

Job 4:15 Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

Job 4:16 It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

Job 4:17 'Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

Job 4:18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

Job 4:19 How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

Job 4:20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

Job 4:21 Isn't their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.' 

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.

Job

Job 1 1

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and

one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and

upright, and one that feared God and abstained from evil.

A man there hath been in the land of Uz -- Job his name -- and that man hath been

perfect and upright -- both fearing God, and turning aside from evil.

Job 1 2

There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

And there are borne to him seven sons and three daughters,

Job 1 3

His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of

oxen, five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of

all the children of the east.

And his substance was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five

hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; and this man

was greater than all the children of the east.

and his substance is seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five

hundred pairs of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a service very abundant;

and that man is greater than any of the sons of the east.

Job 1 4

His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called

for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And his sons went and made a feast in the house of each one on his day; and they sent and

invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And his sons have gone and made a banquet -- the house of each [in] his day -- and

have sent and called to their three sisters to eat and to drink with them;

Job 1 5

It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified

them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of

them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts."

Thus did Job continually.

And it was so, when the days of the feasting were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed

them; and he rose up early in the morning, and offered up burnt-offerings [according to]

the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed

God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

and it cometh to pass, when they have gone round the days of the banquet, that Job

doth send and sanctify them, and hath risen early in the morning, and caused to

ascend burnt-offerings -- the number of them all -- for Job said, `Perhaps my sons

have sinned, yet blessed God in their heart.` Thus doth Job all the days.

Job 1 6

Now it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh,

that Satan also came among them.

And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and

Satan came also among them.

And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and

there doth come also the Adversary in their midst.

Job 1 7

Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said,

"From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and said,

From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Whence comest thou?` And the Adversary

answereth Jehovah and saith, `From going to and fro in the land, and from walking

up and down on it.`

Job 1 8

Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the

earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like

him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from

evil?

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Hast thou set thy heart against My servant

Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing

God, and turning aside from evil?`

Job 1 9

Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, `For nought is Job fearing God?

Job 1 10

Haven`t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on

every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on

every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is spread abroad

in the land.

Hast not Thou made a hedge for him, and for his house, and for all that he hath --

round about?

Job 1 11

But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face."

But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he hath, [and see] if he will not curse thee

to thy face!

The work of his hands Thou hast blessed, and his substance hath spread in the

land, and yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike against anything that he

hath -- if not: to Thy face he doth bless Thee!`

Job 1 12

Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don`t put forth

your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.

And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand; only upon himself put

not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Lo, all that he hath [is] in thy hand, only

unto him put not forth thy hand.` And the Adversary goeth out from the presence

of Jehovah.

Job 1 13

It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest

brother`s house,

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in

the house of their brother, the firstborn.

And the day is, that his sons and his daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in

the house of their brother, the first-born.

Job 1 14

that there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding

beside them,

And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses

feeding beside them;

And a messenger hath come in unto Job and saith, `The oxen have been plowing,

and the she-asses feeding by their sides,

Job 1 15

and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge

of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

and [they of] Sheba fell [upon them] and took them, and the servants have they smitten

with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.

and Sheba doth fall, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the

mouth of the sword, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare [it] to thee.`

Job 1 16

While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from

the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have

escaped to tell you."

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven

and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped,

alone, to tell thee.

While this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, `Fire of God hath

fallen from the heavens, and burneth among the flock, and among the young men,

and consumeth them, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare [it] to thee.`

Job 1 17

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three

bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants

with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans made three

bands, and fell upon the camels and took them, and the servants have they smitten with

the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.

While this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, `Chaldeans made

three heads, and rush on the camels, and take them, and the young men they have

smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare

[it] to thee.`

Job 1 18

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "Your sons and your daughters

were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother`s house,

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters

were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn;

While this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, `Thy sons and thy

daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-

born.

Job 1 19

and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the

house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."

and behold, there came a great wind from over the wilderness, and smote the four

corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they died; and I only am

escaped, alone, to tell thee.

And lo, a great wind hath come from over the wilderness, and striketh against the

four corners of the house, and it falleth on the young men, and they are dead, and

I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare [it] to thee.`

Job 1 20

Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and

worshipped.

And Job rose up, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground,

and worshipped;

And Job riseth, and rendeth his robe, and shaveth his head, and falleth to the

earth, and doth obeisance,

Job 1 21

He said, "Naked I came out of my mother`s womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave,

and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh."

and he said, Naked came I out of my mother`s womb, and naked shall I return thither:

Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah!

and he saith, `Naked came I forth from the womb of my mother, and naked I turn

back thither: Jehovah hath given and Jehovah hath taken: let the name of Jehovah

be blessed.`

Job 1 22

In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

In all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed anything unseemly to God.

In all this Job hath not sinned, nor given folly to God.

Job 2 1

Again it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh,

that Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh.

And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and

Satan also came among them to present himself before Jehovah.

And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and

there doth come also the Adversary in their midst to station himself by Jehovah.

Job 2 2

Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From

going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

And Jehovah said to Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and

said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Whence camest thou?` And the Adversary

answereth Jehovah and saith, `From going to and fro in the land, and from walking

up and down in it.`

Job 2 3

Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the

earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still

maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause."

And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like

him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from

evil? and still he remaineth firm in his integrity, though thou movedst me against him,

to swallow him up without cause.

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Hast thou set thy heart unto My servant

Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing

God and turning aside from evil? and still he is keeping hold on his integrity,

and thou dost move Me against him to swallow him up for nought!`

Job 2 4

Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has will he give for his life.

And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give

for his life;

And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, `A skin for a skin, and all that a

man hath he doth give for his life.

Job 2 5

But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your

face."

but put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, [and see] if he will not curse

thee to thy face!

Yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike unto his bone and unto his flesh --

if not: unto Thy face he doth bless Thee!`

Job 2 6

Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life."

And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Lo, he [is] in thy hand; only his life take

care of.`

Job 2 7

So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole

of his foot to his head.

And Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah; and he smote Job with a grievous

botch from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

And the Adversary goeth forth from the presence of Jehovah, and smiteth Job with

a sore ulcer from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Job 2 8

He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes.

And he took a potsherd to scrape himself with; and he sat among the ashes.

And he taketh to him a potsherd to scrape himself with it, and he is sitting in the

midst of the ashes.

Job 2 9

Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die."

And his wife said to him, Dost thou still remain firm in thine integrity? curse God and

And his wife saith to him, `Still thou art keeping hold on thine integrity: bless

God and die.`

Job 2 10

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive

good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job didn`t sin with his lips.

But he said to her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. We have also

received good from God, and should we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with

his lips.

And he saith unto her, `As one of the foolish women speaketh, thou speakest; yea,

the good we receive from God, and the evil we do not receive.` In all this Job hath

not sinned with his lips.

Job 2 11

Now when Job`s three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from

his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they

made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.

And three friends of Job heard of all this evil that was come upon him. And they came

each one from his place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the

Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to condole with him and to

comfort him.

And three of the friends of Job hear of all this evil that hath come upon him, and

they come in each from his place -- Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite,

and Zophar the Naamathite -- and they are met together to come in to bemoan

him, and to comfort him;

Job 2 12

When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn`t recognize him, they raised their

voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice

and wept. And they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads

toward the heavens.

and they lift up their eyes from afar and have not discerned him, and they lift up

their voice and weep, and rend each his robe, and sprinkle dust on their heads --

heavenward.

Job 2 13

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to

him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

And they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights; and none spoke a

word to him; for they saw that [his] anguish was very great.

And they sit with him on the earth seven days and seven nights, and there is none

speaking unto him a word when they have seen that the pain hath been very great.

Job 3 1

After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth.

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.

After this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day.

Job 3 2

Job answered:

And Job answered and said,

And Job answereth and saith: --

Job 3 3

"Let the day perish in which I was born, The night which said, `There is a man-child

Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night that said, There is a man child

conceived.

Let the day perish in which I am born, And the night that hath said: `A man-child

hath been conceived.`

Job 3 4

Let that day be darkness; Don`t let God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine on

That day -- let it be darkness, let not +God care for it from above, neither let light shine

upon it:

That day -- let it be darkness, Let not God require it from above, Nor let light

shine upon it.

Job 3 5

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell on it. Let all

that makes black the day terrify it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it; let clouds dwell upon it; let darkeners of

the day terrify it.

Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, Let a cloud tabernacle upon it, Let them

terrify it as the most bitter of days.

Job 3 6

As for that night, let thick darkness seize on it. Let it not rejoice among the days of the year.

Let it not come into the number of the months.

That night -- let gloom seize upon it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it

not come into the number of the months.

That night -- let thick darkness take it, Let it not be united to days of the year,

Into the number of months let it not come.

Job 3 7

Behold, let that night be barren. Let no joyful voice come therein.

Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful sound come therein;

Lo! that night -- let it be gloomy, Let no singing come into it.

Job 3 8

Let them curse it who curse the day, Who are ready to rouse up leviathan.

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse Leviathan;

Let the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.

Job 3 9

Let the stars of the twilight of it be dark. Let it look for light, but have none, Neither let it

see the eyelids of the morning,

Let the stars of its twilight be dark; let it wait for light, and have none, neither let it see

the eyelids of the dawn:

Let the stars of its twilight be dark, Let it wait for light, and there is none, And

let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn.

Job 3 10

Because it didn`t shut up the doors of my mother`s womb, Nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.

Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, and hid not trouble from

mine eyes.

Because it hath not shut the doors Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery

from mine eyes.

Job 3 11

"Why didn`t I die from the womb? Why didn`t I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

Wherefore did I not die from the womb, -- come forth from the belly and expire?

Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp!

Job 3 12

Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

Why did the knees meet me? and wherefore the breasts, that I should suck?

Wherefore have knees been before me? And what [are] breasts, that I suck?

Job 3 13

For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I should have slept, then I would have been at

rest,

For now should I have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept: then had I been at

rest,

For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept -- then there is rest to me,

Job 3 14

With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built up waste places for themselves;

With kings and counsellors of the earth, who build desolate places for themselves,

With kings and counsellors of earth, These building wastes for themselves.

Job 3 15

Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver:

Or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver;

Or with princes -- they have gold, They are filling their houses [with] silver.

Job 3 16

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants who never saw light.

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that have not seen the light.

(Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants -- they have not seen light.)

Job 3 17

There the wicked cease from troubling; There the weary are at rest.

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the wearied are at rest.

There the wicked have ceased troubling, And there rest do the wearied in power.

Job 3 18

There the prisoners are at ease together. They don`t hear the voice of the taskmaster.

The prisoners together are at ease; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

Together prisoners have been at ease, They have not heard the voice of an exactor,

Job 3 19

The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his master.

The small and great are there, and the bondman freed from his master.

Small and great [are] there the same. And a servant [is] free from his lord.

Job 3 20

"Why is light given to him who is in misery, Life to the bitter in soul,

Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,

Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?

Job 3 21

Who long for death, but it doesn`t come; Dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

Who long for death, and it [cometh] not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.

Job 3 22

Who rejoice exceedingly, Are glad, when they can find the grave?

Who rejoice even exultingly and are glad when they find the grave? --

Who are glad -- unto joy, They rejoice when they find a grave.

Job 3 23

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, Whom God has hedged in?

To the man whose way is hidden, and whom +God hath hedged in?

To a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up?

Job 3 24

For my sighing comes before I eat, My groanings are poured out like water.

For my sighing cometh before my bread, and my groanings are poured out like the

waters.

For before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters [are] my

roarings.

Job 3 25

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.

For I feared a fear, and it hath come upon me, and that which I dreaded hath come to me.

For a fear I feared and it meeteth me, And what I was afraid of doth come to me.

Job 3 26

I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; But trouble comes."

I was not in safety, neither had I quietness, neither was I at rest, and trouble came.

I was not safe -- nor was I quiet -- Nor was I at rest -- and trouble cometh!

Job 4 1

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: --

Job 4 2

"If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from

speaking?

If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from

speaking?

Hath one tried a word with thee? -- Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is

able?

Job 4 3

Behold, you have instructed many, You have strengthened the weak hands.

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;

Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.

Job 4 4

Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees.

Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending

knees:

The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.

Job 4 5

But now it is come to you, and you faint; It touches you, and you are troubled.

But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

But now, it cometh in unto thee, And thou art weary; It striketh unto thee, and

thou art troubled.

Job 4 6

Isn`t your piety your confidence, The integrity of your ways your hope?

Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?

Is not thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope -- the perfection of thy ways?

Job 4 7

"Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright

cut off?

Remember, I pray thee, Who, being innocent, hath perished? And where have the

upright been cut off?

Job 4 8

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, And sow trouble, Reap the same.

Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.

As I have seen -- ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!

Job 4 9

By the breath of God they perish, By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

By the breath of +God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.

From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger consumed.

Job 4 10

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, The teeth of the young lions, are

broken.

The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are

broken;

The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have

been broken.

Job 4 11

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, The whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.

Job 4 12

"Now a thing was secretly brought to me, My ear received a whisper of it.

Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.

Job 4 13

In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,

In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: --

In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,

Job 4 14

Fear came on me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake.

Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;

Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.

Job 4 15

Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh stood up.

And a spirit passed before my face -- the hair of my flesh stood up --

And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;

Job 4 16

It stood still, but I couldn`t discern the appearance of it; A form was before my eyes. Silence,

then I heard a voice, saying,

It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I

heard a slight murmur and a voice:

It standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude [is] over-against mine eyes,

Silence! and a voice I hear:

Job 4 17

`Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

Shall [mortal] man be more just than +God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?

`Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?

Job 4 18

Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:

Lo, in His servants He putteth no credence, Nor in His messengers setteth praise.`

Job 4 19

How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are

crushed before the moth!

How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who

are crushed as the moth!

Also -- the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They

bruise them before a moth.)

Job 4 20

Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding

it.

From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.

From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they

perish.

Job 4 21

Isn`t their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.`

Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.

Hath not their excellency been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!

Study Questions

Describe Job? 1:1-5

What did the LORD allow? 1:12

Satan's second challenge was? 2:4, 5

How did Job's friends comfort Job? 2:12, 13

What did Job fear? 3:23-25' 4:6

Another way to describe vs. 4:7, 8 would be?

From Gary... Testimony from a thumb...

Deography

I spent some time and on the net yesterday, looking for pictures and I came across the "Deography" website. The author takes a lot of pictures from Australia and the above pictures of his family are touching.  When my wife was pregnant, we had no idea what the babies were going to be.  We found out when they came out.  I wish we could have known with an ultrasound, as it would have made the whole thing much more enjoyable, but the technology was just not there at that time.  I noticed the ultrasound showed that the baby was sucking its thumb- something that I am sure it did after birth.  And the wonder of it all struck me- and with it, this verse...

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11

 5 As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.

Humm, if the child in the womb and the child outside the womb do the same thing, then aren't they the same creature.  To my mind, using labels to change reality is arrogance in the extreme.  A baby is a baby is a baby. You can't make it something else just by calling it by a different name.  Human beings don't know everything (even though some think they do) and some day those whose arrogance have caused the death of the unborn will have to answer for it!!!  I specifically like this passage from the book of Jeremiah:

Jeremiah, Chapter 1

 1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:  2 to whom Yahweh’s word came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.  3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.  4 Now Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,  5 “Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”  6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.” 

  7  But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for to whoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatever I shall command you, you shall speak.  8 Don’t be afraid because of them; for I am with you to deliver you,” says Yahweh.  9 Then Yahweh stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth; and Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.  10 Behold, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” 

Both passages show that God is at work in the process of the creation of human life and to interfere with what God has ordained (put in order) is to argue with God.  I don't feel brave enough to do that, do you???  If God had a plan for Jeremiah, isn't it possible that God has a plan for you as well?  And if that is true, then how about that one who appears both in the ultrasound and in its mother's arms?  It is a FACT that everyone who supports abortion was once allowed to come to term and live their lives.  Preventing others from having the same God-given blessing is MURDER!!!  BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE ITS TRUE!!!!

From Mark Copeland... The Issue Of The Head Covering (1 Corinthians 11:2-16)

                 "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

                The Issue Of The Head Covering (11:2-16)

INTRODUCTION

1. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians addresses many issues...
   a. Some related to conduct as Christians in Corinthian society
   b. Others pertained to conduct in the assemblies of the saints

2. One issue involved women praying and prophesying with their heads
   uncovered...
   a. Covered in depth in 1Co 11:2-16
   b. About which brethren have different views regarding its
      application today

3. Views concerning "The Head Covering" generally fall into two camps...
   a. It was a custom of the church - intended for universal and
      permanent application
   b. It was a custom of society - and Paul's instructions were limited
      and temporary in application

[I understand that Paul was addressing a custom of society, not a custom
commanded by God for the church.  Here are reasons why I believe
that...]

I. THE ISSUE PERTAINED TO SOCIETAL CUSTOM

   A. PAUL'S COMMENDATION...
      1. Note carefully Paul's commendation as he begins - cf. 1Co 11:2
      2. "Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things
         and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you."
      3. If the wearing of a veil while praying or prophesying is
         something required of Christian women because it is God's law
         and not a social custom, it seems strange that he would begin
         by praising them for keeping apostolic traditions when in fact
         they were not!
      -- What they failed to keep was not apostolic tradition, but
         something else

   B. PAUL'S COMMENTS...
      1. Note carefully his comments regarding shame - cf. 1Co 11:5-6
      2. "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head
         uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as
         if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her
         also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or
         shaved, let her be covered."
      3. Paul argues on the basis of "if it is shameful..."
         a. If it was not shameful for a woman to have shorn hair (as is
            the case of some cultures), then Paul's argument here does
            not hold up
         b. He is evidently basing his argument on the cultural
            attitudes of their day, not on what is the revelation of
            God's will on the matter
      -- Paul's argument was contingent on what was considered shameful
         in their society

   C. PAUL'S APPEAL...
      1. Note carefully his appeal to propriety - cf. 1Co 11:13
      2. "Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to
         God with her head uncovered?"
      3. He asks "Is it proper...?"
         a. Again, he reasoned from a sense of cultural propriety, i.e.,
            what was considered proper or shameful in their culture
         b. When it was a matter of divine will, Paul exercised his
            apostolic authority to command, not ask people to "judge
            among yourselves" - cf. with 1Co 1:10
      -- Paul's appeal was based on their own judgment, not God's will

   D. PAUL'S CONCLUSION...
      1. Now consider his conclusion when all was said and done - cf.
         1Co 11:16
      2. "But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom,
         nor do the churches of God."
      3. Paul sought to reason with them on the basis of such things as
         what is proper according to their culture - 1Co 11:6,13
      4. He also reasoned on the basis of what is certainly in harmony
         with scriptural principles
         a. E.g., the headship of man - 1Co 11:3-5
         b. E.g., the subjection of angels - 1Co 11:10
      5. But in the final analysis, if anyone one wanted to be
         contentious...
         a. It was not an apostolic or church custom
         b. It was a cultural issue in which Paul sought to give his
            advice
      -- Neither the apostles or the church of God had a custom related
         to the issue at hand

[Thus I believe Paul dealt with a social custom important to the
brethren at Corinth, but limited and temporary in application.  This
understanding is further confirmed by answering this question:

   Were the women prophesying and praying with heads uncovered
   in the assembly of the saints, or in public places such as
   the marketplace?

Most assume that the issue involved conduct of women in church.  I
believe the evidence suggests...]

II. THE ISSUE PERTAINED TO CONDUCT IN PUBLIC

   A. PAUL'S QUESTION...
      1. Note carefully Paul's question later on in his discussion - cf.
         1Co 11:13
      2. "Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to
         God with her head uncovered?"
      3. This question implies a "no" answer; but if they were being
         asked concerning women in a religious assembly in Corinth, they
         would have answered "yes", for apparently Greek women
         worshipped in the temples with heads uncovered (Nicoll, The
         Expositors' Greek Testament)
      4. However, in Corinth it was a shame to take off the veil in
         public places
      -- The answer ("no") to his question makes sense only if he
         referred to conduct in public places like the market place, and
         not to conduct in a religious assembly

   B. PAUL'S REMARKS...
      1. Note carefully Paul's remarks after concluding his discussion
         - cf. 1Co 11:17-18
      2. "Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since
         you come together not for the better but for the worse. For
         first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that
         there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it."
      3. It is at verse 17 that he begins to discuss matters related to
         the assembly, such as their abuse of the Lord's Supper
         (11:17-34) and the exercise of spiritual gifts (chs. 12-14)
      4. Matters discussed beforehand, such as eating meats sacrificed
         to idols (chs. 8-10) and women prophesying with heads uncovered
         (11:2-16), were issues of conduct outside the assemblies of the
         saints
      -- Paul does not begin discussing matters related to the assembly
         until verse 17

   C. PAUL'S COMMANDMENTS...
      1. Note carefully his commandments concerning women in the
         assembly - cf. 1Co 14:34-37
      2. "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not
         permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law
         also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask
         their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to
         speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from
         you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks
         himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that
         the things which I write to you are the commandments of the
         Lord."
      3. Since it was shameful for women to speak in church, it is
         unlikely that Paul in chapter 11 was saying that women could
         prophesy in church as long as they wore the veil
      -- Women could not prophesy in the assembly, whether veiled or not

CONCLUSION

1. As I understand the circumstances that prompted Paul's discussion...
   a. Christian women were taking their veils off in public places to
      pray and prophesy
   b. Perhaps those with the gift of prophesy felt they were free to
      disregard societal norms
   c. While not considered shameful in Corinthian society to do so in a
      religious assembly, it was scandalous for a woman to remove the
      veil in public places like the market place

2. The circumstances in Corinth appear to have been similar to those in
   some Muslim countries...
   a. Where Muslim women will veil their faces when they walk in public
   b. But often remove the veils when they enter a private home, or a
      store that caters to women

3. If my understanding is correct, the issue was...
   a. Not:  "Should women put on the veil to prophesy and pray in
      church?"
   b. But:  "Should women take off the veil to prophesy and pray in
      public?"

4. Paul sought to encourage them to act in harmony with the customs of
   their day...
   a. Customs that were in harmony with the scriptural principles of
      headship and subjection
   b. But he acknowledges that the head covering was not custom of the
      apostles or the church

Thus I take his words regarding women and the head covering per se to be
limited and temporary in application.  But the idea of honoring societal
customs that reflect scriptural principles certainly has universal and
permanent application for Christians who seek to glorify God in this
world.  As Paul wrote in the previous chapter...

   "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all
   to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to
   the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all
   men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of
   many, that they may be saved."
                                                   - 1Co 10:31-33

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Jim McGuiggan... Lancing a boil again

Lancing a boil again

This piece is too long and rambling. I'm warning you before you start reading it so you can close it down if you're not up to something like that. Should you decide to go ahead and read it anyway, don't look for "answers"—there aren't any. At least none that are specific enough for a Western culture that has six year olds diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia and making television programmes about them. Six year olds for pity's sake! And don't look for balance either. I'm a bit too fed up for balance right now.

It's about the conflicting cultures (if I can use that word for established patterns) I think I can see when I look around me; all of them warped in one way or another and to some degree or another.

You go through periods, I think, when you look at the world (because you're tired of looking at yourself) and you feel like throwing up. You see the poverty and frustration and despair under injustice and oppression that drives people to the brink of insanity and then beyond. You know that anarchy or a bomb isn't the answer but you'll be damned if you know what the answer is.

I have no criticism for the tragically poor and oppressed at home or in foreign lands! I know they're sinners and I know that the plundered can and do plunder their own sometimes. You don't need to be a top-rank theologian or an especially sensitive observer of life to know that; but I'm going to leave it to God to talk to them about moral responsibility on that day when all wrongs will be righted. Being abused is no excuse for abusing others but savage and sustained abuse distorts the soul and it'll take more than a glib, full-bellied, happy Professor of Religion to convince me that that won't be taken into account when Jesus comes to right all wrongs! So I have nothing to say by way of criticism about these people whose world is all excruciating, ceaseless pain or dull deadening hopelessness. They're the centre of their world because they're in too much pain or too stunned by the world's great wrongs against them to get their eyes off themselves. Maybe God can criticize them but if he does he's the only one that knows enough about it to do it—the rest of us aren't fit for the job!

[And if you think I'm planning a ranting match against God, think again. Me, the paragon of virtue and the epitome of selfless devotion to humanity, I'm going to sit in judgment on the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Yeah, right! I've been persuaded by the biblical witness to God, a witness that includes the cross and the promise of the resurrected and glorified Jesus—I've been persuaded by that that we haven't seen the end of this human saga. Glory and joy and righteousness are ahead for all who want them! Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm all virtue and submission, a good little Christian who says the right thing; but it's too easy to dismiss the Story with a sneer and, anyway, I'll take Jesus' view of things before I'll swallow the ceaseless river of bilge poured out for our consumption by the media that either give it to us as they get it or puts their own spin on it. I'll throw in my pathetic little ounces with Jesus Christ rather than go along with this gloomy bleating or the smug sniping of "the wise" non-believer. Puddleglum has the right answer for all that stuff. Jesus likes Puddleglum though he likes Paul's gospel better—Romans 8:18-39.]

Then there are millions of thorough-going hedonists—their single driving thought is partying, more partying and partying after the partying. Whatever it takes! Nothing's to get in the way of having a good time; eating the best or the bizarre, drinking whatever, popping or snorting or injecting the next thing handed to them, travelling to the exotic and the exciting, having sex with whoever whenever however. A few coins in the charity baskets, buying tickets for the latest humanitarian gig, loads of criticism for governments, police, war lords, regular protests against war and then as soon as possible back again to the booze and the swinging centres with the deafening music, occasional moments when serious thought's attempted and as soon as the camera is turned off or the survey's been completed—back to the party! There they are, the happy helpers of the world's parasitic drug barons, the dependable support of the reptilian booze industry all, head and pelvis and no chest! "Look, Ma, made it, centre of the world!"

Then again, we have the millions of religious people who simply drift along thinking they've done God a favour by professing faith in him. They wish him well in his work with the world; they hope he'll be able to make the world a little better and a little safer for them and the ones they care about—well, all right, safer for everybody. They hate to hear the news about the awful things that are happening, they attend church frequently but there's no sense of destiny, no sense of mission in life, no conviction that they've been called by God to bless the world. It's all about them getting forgivness and going to heaven when they die. Faith in God must be taken seriously but it's easy, they tell us, to carry things too far and faith becomes toxic, a destroyer of inner peace and "joy" and everyone knows, surely, that God doesn't want us to be unhappy. No, don't let faith in Jesus Christ get in the way of being content and smiling—if it does, it's been distorted, it isn't true faith. "It must be true beyond debate that God wants us healthy and wealthy and wise. See? And I have a handful of verses that prove it."

Don't ask them to engage in their preferred form of outreach (that's bordering on toxicity) but let the government or some influential group try to take away their rights and they'll work harder than Paul did on his missionary journeys. "If you really believe in our Lord Jesus Christ you'll pass this email on to all your friends…"  "You'll write your MP or Senator…" "You'll boycott this or that…" The wrongs of others galvanise them into sustained effort to shore up any government or form of government that's favourable to their understanding of the Christian faith. But it isn't the Christian faith they're defending at the ballot box—they're defending a government that will take up weapons if need be to see to it that they get their rights and that's what Christianity is all about, don't you know. The "rights seekers" with a form of Christianity—the centre of their world!

Then we have that other group of Christian people who, whatever else they do, gaze long in the mirror, always looking for moral improvement, deeper spirituality; always searching for dialogue partners in that kind of endeavour. Some among them have turned the pursuit of holiness into a personal project, as if they lived in complete isolation from the world God has put them in. Inner transformation rather than outgoing righteousness is the order of the day. Often the seekers are disappointed that others aren't as interested as they are in such a quest; and they know they aren't as interested because they're not as religiously involved as they should be; as the seekers are.

But, sometimes, we get the impression that it isn't God they're looking at because they're always talking about and looking at themselves, can't get their eyes off themselves. For a while we admire them for their earnestness but finally it's pretty much a bore. They not only bore others, I'm guessing that subconsciously they bore themselves witless and only compound the initial problem. Now and then—hopefully not too often—we feel like saying, "For heaven's sake shut up about yourself and tell us something about the profound riches of God and his purposes for us all and just leave it at that!" Centre of the world all in the name of a deeper spirituality! [There are those who see their image in terms of a local church and spend their hours, waking and sleeping, trying to build a great church in their own image and dismissing as insignificant the multitude of tiny churches. Oh well.]

Finally, there are some poor souls that are too high-strung and they're sick, made sick by some sustained abuse and made worse by some brand of toxic religion. Much of what they say is understandable even if we shouldn't approve it or agree with it. In cases like these we can't know where sickness and self-centeredness begin and end, if they do at all. I suspect that some of what they say is what they've got into the habit of saying and if they can work to break the habit, so much the better. But having been so badly abused in one way or another and being subjected to a brand of religion that Jesus hates they're forever looking skyward, waiting for a demanding and irritable God to smash them to pieces.

That they feel ill, fed up, down at the mouth, wishing they were dead—all that I can understand, it isn't hard, and God understands it better than we ever can. Is there a cure for these people, in this life? I for one don't know but if there is, it would surely involve getting their eyes on the God who has shown himself in and as Jesus Christ. If reflecting on the meaning of Jesus Christ doesn't persuade them that they're safe with God and if that can't see them through what chance do the words of anyone else have? Why should they believe the words of the experts if they can't believe God's cross? It won't hurt—will it?—if we give them ladles of rich truth about a God who loves them more than the psychologists or this crazy world in general. It won't hurt—will it?—if we make him the centre of their pain-filled world.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.