Thought for Today: Sunday May 14:
This is the day Adonai have made! As you rejoice in this day of life, it will yield up to you precious gifts and beneficial training. Walk with YHVH along the high-road of thanksgiving and you will find all the delights He has made ready for you. To protect your thankfulness, you must remember that you reside in a fallen world, where blessings and sorrows intermingle freely. A constant focus on adversity defeats many believers. They walk through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only the greyness of their thoughts. Neglecting the practice of giving thanks, has darkened their minds. How precious are YHVH’s children who remembers to thank Him at all times. They can walk through the darkest days with joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of YHVH’s Presence is still shining on them. Rejoice in this day YHVH has made, for He is a steadfast Companion.
SERIES O --- RETURN TO THE LAND --- LESSON 22
JOB’S TROUBLES
From Job 1
There once lived in the land of Uz a good and upright man of YHVH named Job, a man who worshiped YHVH and turned away from evil. Job had seven sons and three daughters and was very rich. He had many servants and great possessions -- seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys. Job was so wealthy that he was considered one of the greatest men in all the east. Each of Job’s sons held a feast on his birthday and invited his brothers and three sisters to eat and drink with him at his home. Sometimes the eating and drinking would go on for days. But when it ended, Job would call his children together and consecrate them, rising early in the morning to offer a burnt offering for each of them. [Perhaps they may have sinned and offended YHVH in their hearts,] Job would say. He made a practice of doing this after each birthday feast. Now it happened that on a certain day the sons of YHVH came to present themselves before Adonai, and Satan also came. [Where have you been?] Adonai asked Satan. [Roaming about the earth,] he answered. [I have been going here and there and everywhere.] [Have you noticed My servant, Job?] Adonai asked. [He is such an outstanding man, he never does anything wrong, and he always worships Me.] [You’ve given him everything,] said Satan. [Why shouldn’t he worship You? You’ve built a hedge around his house to protect him from the world and given him all that he needs. Take these things away from him, and then he will surely curse You.] [I will put him into your power,] Adonai told Satan. [You may do anything you like with his possessions, but you must not hurt him personally.] Not long after that one of Job’s sons had a feast at his home with his brothers and sisters. At the same time a messenger suddenly rushed to Job with news of tragedy. [We were ploughing with the oxen, and donkeys were feeding nearby when the Sabeans attacked,] he said. [They have taken everything and killed all your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you the news.] While this servant was still talking, another ran up to Job. [The fire of YHVH fell from heaven and burned up your sheep and shepherds,] he said. [I am the only one who escaped to tell you about it.] While this servant was still speaking, a third messenger came running to Job. [The Chaldeans formed three bands and attacked us,] he said. [They have stolen your camels and killed your servants with the sword. I am the only one who escaped to tell you the news.] This servant was still talking when a fourth messenger came to Job. [Your children were all at their oldest brother’s house, eating and drinking wine together. But a great wind swept across the wilderness and destroyed the house, making it crumble upon them and killing them. I am the only one who escaped to tell you the news.] When he heard these reports, Job arose and tore his clothes to show his sorrow. Then he shaved his head and fell on the ground before Adonai.
[I came into this world naked,
And naked I shall leave it.
Adonai gave, and Adonai has taken away.
Blessed be the Name of Adonai.]
Through all this tragedy, Job would not sin against Adonai or blame Him foolishly.
COMMENTARY
ANCIENT FEASTS
Feasts were very much a way of life in the ancient world. The Egyptians not only had frequent celebrations throughout the land, the wealthy among them also held large banquets for purely social reasons. All important events were celebrated -- food and drink were present in abundance even at funerals. But most feasts in the ancient world were meant to mark more serious matters: agricultural seasons and the seasons of the year, and religious events. The Sumerians in Mesopotamia held regular monthly feasts on the day of the new moon, and on the seventh, fifteenth and last day of the month. They had numerous feasts throughout the year, some of which lasted for several days. The Hittites had an exceptionally large number and variety of festivals -- at least eighteen. They ranged from a celebration of the seasons of the year to feasts in honour of certain plants. Religion and sacrifice played an important role in all of the feasts. Hymns and prayers accompanied offerings meant to make peace with the gods who controlled the earth’s fertility and the people’s lives. Everything from animals and humans, to food and clothes was sacrificed.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
Mt 5
The #holyspirit ruack hakodesh causes us to obey the law. Marris cerullo god's victorious army bible spiritual warfare reference edition II page 1062
(From a conversation. :) )
Indeed, as it is clear from a scriptural perspective that it is impossible for a part of your body to lead you into sin, this can only be referring to cutting off fellowship with evil men: "a companion of fools shall be destroyed".
It is the pagan Gnostic idea that our physical bodies are intrinsically sinful, and actually tempt us as if they are separate sinners or demons. Paul uses the term "flesh" figuratively sometimes for sinful desires, saying the lusts of the flesh are various sins - not the desires of our actual physical bodies, such as desires for food and sleep.
The idea that our actual bodies are intrinsically evil is impossible to make agree with God's Word, who made our bodies in his own image and called them very good before sin existed: the body is a Temple, which is why it should be veiled/clothed, and kept holy to God.
"So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church" Ep 5
We are to love our physical bodies the way Christ loves us, and on this is based the love of a husband!
To the above comment I would add this: the same applies to "the world": it is some places in Scripture used figuratively to refer to the world of sinners because of their commonality and how they have defiled the world.
It is again an extrabiblically invasive idea to condemn the physical world as intrinsically bad. Again, when "world" refers to sinners, the "things of the world" are listed as various sins that are committed; Scripture never lists as evils the things of the actual physical world, such as mountains and trees and stars.
Again, the world was created by God for his glory and was called very good. Rather than being put down in Scripture, the world is the exaltation of God:
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead" Ro 1
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." Ps 19
God's rebuke to Job could be summed up as, look at the world around you, and see me.
#sabbathposts 2023/05/13
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