Daily Bible Devotionals

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Job 34. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“So, Job, please, hear my speech; listen to all my words. Look, I am opening my mouth; the words are on the tip of my tongue. I will say exactly what is on my mind; what my lips know they will speak sincerely. It is the Spirit of God that made me, the breath of Shaddai that gives me life. So refute me, if you can; organize your words, take your stand! Look, before God, I’m the same as you; I too am fashioned from clay. You don’t need to be afraid of me; my pressure on you will not be heavy.” Job33:1-7 (CJB)

Over the past few years, I have noticed a bumper sticker on more and more cars. It is a sticker that reads “coexist,” and the letters are made up of religious symbols: Muslim crescent & star, Satanic pentagram, “e” from the theory of relativity, yin-yang, Karma wheel dotting an “I,” and of course, the Cross. The problem with this bumper sticker is that these religions can’t coexist! If you study the teachings of these religions, devout followers of each would always be trying to kill or convert the others. Given these religions’ various conflicting claims to truth, it is a naive notion that they could ever live in harmony.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

We should indeed be respectful to all mankind, remembering that all life is a gift from God. At the same time, we must be certain that the object of our worship is the one that leads to eternal life.

“Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

The young Elihu claimed to speak from the Spirit, which was breathed into him by God and gave him life. But just because he was alive, that was no grounds for Elihu to be an emissary of God’s saving grace. Satan is obviously speaking lies through this young man.   Notice how Elihu’s promise of lightening Job’s spiritual burden mimics the words of Jesus. The best heresies are those which closely resemble the real thing. They claim the same God to divine new revelations from the same Spirit, and they bend God’s Word to mean the opposite of its intended message. “From such, turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5b (NKJV)  

“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30 (NKJV)

While we are all called to share the gospel, ultimately, it is Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who reveals the Father to the unbeliever at the soul level.

“Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: ‘I am young in years, and you are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not declare my opinion to you. I said, “Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.” But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’” Job 32:4-10 (NKJV)

In today’s chapter, we are introduced to Elihu. Elihu has been silently present for all the conversations leading up to this point. Perhaps because he was young, he felt the voices of age-old wisdom should speak. Not only did the old guys fail to put Job in his place, but Job ended up silencing them by proclaiming the truth of God’s Word. Job’s older friends’ failure to coerce a confession teaches us two important lessons about departing from God’s Word: 1) You lose your moral ground, and 2) You eventually lose your followers!

“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

Elihu casts off his restraint. Because there was no Godly leadership and clear direction from God’s Word, Elihu lost his faith in the establishment. A youth movement was born.  We see that same scenario developing in the Church at large today, and often for obvious reasons. Many young people are frustrated with the hypocrisy and inefficiency they have experienced in the Church. But some of the assumptions put forth from certain emerging strains are just as off base as Elihu’s rebuke of Job! The way to combat a lack of Godliness in the establishment is not just to be more creative and mysterious but to be adherent to God’s Word.

There is nothing wrong with youthful passion or even rebuking the establishment as long as one is meek. “Meekness” is power under submission, and Godly meekness for young people means submitting all that youthful energy to the authority of Scripture and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Contrast Elihu’s words with Paul’s exhortation to Timothy:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:12-13 (NIV)

The source of Elihu’s boldness was nothing more than old-fashioned, youthful, rebellious gut feelings: “The spirit in a person.” But Paul reveals how a young person can be justified in boldly leading people much older than himself: By being an example in all that he is & does through reading, preaching, and teaching the Bible.

“I wish I had someone who would listen to me! Here is my signature; let Shaddai answer me! I wish I had the indictment my adversary has written! I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown. I would declare every one of my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.” Job 31:35-37 (CJB)

In today’s chapter, every curse/judgment that Job calls upon himself (in the event he is found unrighteous) is found in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was called to communicate God’s certain judgment if Israel remained unrepentant. Of course, Israel refused to repent, so many years later, Jeremiah reported how God fulfilled everything that was prophesied through Isaiah.  

Reading the opening lines of today’s passage, I am thankful that we have someone who will listen to us! Jesus is the advocate before God for all believers, defending us as the Adversary accuses us. In the days of the priesthood, the high priest wore two black stones on the shoulders of his garment. These black stones represented the sin of Israel and symbolized the priest’s duty to atone for them, literally “shouldering” the sin and guilt of the people.

“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel – six of their names on the one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings and put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Israel. Aaron is to carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder.” Exodus 28:9-12 (CJB)

The inefficiency of the priesthood to provide lasting atonement for Israel was replaced by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus “shouldered” the sin of the World.  

“Now every priest stands every day doing his service, offering over and over the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this one (Jesus), after He had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, from then on to wait until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy.” Hebrews 10:11-14 (CJB)

Jesus paid the sin debt we owe, the same sin debt the Adversary accuses us of in his indictment against us before the Lord. But his accusation cannot stand because Messiah’s atonement has covered our sins, and God remembers it no more.

“But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’” Hebrews 10:15-17 (NKJV)

“I call out to You God, but You don’t answer me; I stand up to plead but You just look at me. You have turned cruelly against me; with Your powerful hand You keep persecuting me. You snatch me up on the wind and make me ride it; You toss me about in the tempest. For I know that you will bring me death, the house assigned to everyone living.” Job 30:20-23 (CJB)

One of the hardest things for followers of Jesus to comprehend is the problem of pain and hardship in the lives of believers. It is easy to take the stance of Job’s friends whenever non-believers suffer. Perhaps we could say they earned it. But what about the suffering of the righteous? Is God not paying attention? Does He not have the power to save? Or worse, does He not exist after all? These questions can go through the minds of even the most ardent followers of Jesus when serious trials come upon them.

While it is unimaginable for me to answer the “why” of everyone’s individual troubles, at least it is comforting to know that Jesus can relate to whatever pain you may be going through. Job had it bad - but Jesus had it worse. This is primarily because Satan was ordered to stop short of killing Job. With Jesus, Satan was permitted to go all the way. Job may have felt close to the edge, but Jesus got pushed over it! In those final moments on the cross, Jesus cried out with words that seemed to come from Job’s own mouth.  

“Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ Matthew 27:45-46 (NASB)

“Why?” It is not as if Jesus did not know God’s plan of salvation or His role in the salvation of mankind. You see, as Jesus was paying a debt He did not owe, He was also demonstrating the response (to God) of all who would die apart from His atonement. Furthermore, when we analyze the psalm Jesus quoted at that moment, we recognize His cry was also a song of hope, of enduring to the end. It was a hope based on the testimony of God’s Word concerning His faithfulness throughout the generations.

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning. My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You rescued them. To You they cried out and they fled to safety; In You they trusted and were not disappointed.” Psalm 22:1-5 (NASB)

Believer, are you suffering at the moment, wondering, “Why, God?” It is a logical human response. But be encouraged! Even if all hope seems lost and your present situation carries you to the grave, God’s promise of eternity with Him in Heaven endures. It was true for those believers who came before you and will be true for you.

“Job again took up his discourse and said, ‘Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me; When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; Just as I was in the days of my youth, When the protection of God was over my tent; When the Almighty was still with me, And my children were around me; When my steps were bathed in cream, And the rock poured out streams of oil for me!’”  Job 29:1-6 (NASB)

When I was a new believer, young in the faith, I was blessed to be invited to join a group of fiery young men bent on building the Kingdom through Bible study, fellowship, and personal evangelism. I’ll never forget the closeness of that community and how it seemed to come together organically without much effort on anyone’s part. Later in my life, I was involved in several ministry efforts that seemed forced and unnatural, but those early discipleship days for me were truly amazing. Each of us went on to pursue full-time ministry, and we have all been highly successful. That group of guys was a gift from the Lord to each of us, but as naturally as it came together, it fell apart. Each one of us heeded the Lord’s calling to other places, much like friends in Army boot camp must eventually be deployed to their areas of specialty for the good of the Army’s greater mission.  

I miss those early Christian days when heeding God’s call was more rooted in “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) than “You will be hated by everyone because of Me.” (Matthew 10:22; John 15:15-18; Mark 13:13) In today’s chapter, Job is lamenting bygone days when “God watched over me…”.  But Job had a lesson to learn: God was as close as He had ever been or ever could be.  It is just that Job’s personal theology placed Job in the center of the world, not God.  God does not exist to accomplish our purposes; we exist to accomplish His through the power of His Spirit and to the glory of His Son, Messiah Jesus. How can I say that?  Because God’s Word teaches it.  In that idea, we share Job’s struggle to cling to God’s Word when the road ahead is dark and uncertain.

“Through Your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments”.  Psalm 119:104-106 (NKJV)

We serve a God who never leaves or forsakes us, even when the valley darkens with the shadow of death.  (Hebrews 13:5 - Deuteronomy 31:6;8 - Joshua 1:5 – Psalm 23:4)  And our “job” (pun intended) is to take Him at His Word. Job may not have possessed a copy of the Bible as we know it, but God made His Word abundantly clear to Job, as He has to us, through His Spirit when we read the Bible. Not only did God have a lesson for Job, but He also used Job (as He sometimes uses us) to teach lessons to onlookers. Does your faith have the capacity to be used as a lesson on faithfulness?

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”  John 14:26 (HCSB)

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28 (NKJV)

I became a follower of Jesus when I was almost 21 years old. I was raised by parents who took me to church, but for some reason, religion didn’t seem to have worked on me. Some kids have drug problems. I was drug to church, and that was a problem for me!  When I reached 18, I left home and went to college on a track scholarship. For me, happiness was Fort Smith, Arkansas, in my rearview mirror.

When I got to college, I had three priorities: 1) Running track, 2) Looking for girls, and 3) Figuring out the meaning of life. Part of fulfilling  #3 was taking a World Religion course. At the time, I wasn’t real high on Jesus, so I was willing to swap religions if I found one that suited my needs better. Interestingly, a survey put out by UCLA a few years ago found that only 13% of college students search religion to find out what God requires of them. The vast majority only want to know what God can do for them as if He is some cosmic genie obligated to fulfill our wishes.

I will never forget my first day in World Religion class. The lady teaching the course stated that she was a devout Christian (an Episcopalian) but wasn’t convinced that Christianity was the only way to Heaven. Even as a non-believer, I thought that was an oxymoron: “Devout believer” who isn’t sold out! Nobody could question her knowledge of the Bible. She had memorized many long passages and knew certain nuts and bolts, but all her knowledge had not gained her wisdom. That is, she had not fully committed herself to the truth of God’s Word. She had read all about God but did not know Him personally. Because she did not know Him personally, she opened herself up to all sorts of non-Biblical ideas and life choices.

Biblical wisdom is a gift from God, and so is understanding. Wisdom & understanding must be spiritually enabled, so it is of utmost importance that people who seek God’s wisdom & understanding be filled with His Spirit. Now, the gift of the Holy Spirit is only available to those who believe in Jesus, yet it is immediately given to believers the moment we place our faith & trust in Him. Furthermore, wisdom & understanding are things the Bible recommends we seek & petition God for.

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.’ James 1:5-6 (HCSB)

Godly wisdom brings about understanding as to Who He is and how the World works in relation to Him. Understanding is applied wisdom. Understanding says, “Based on what I know about God, I am making these specific changes to my life.” In short: fearing the Lord and shunning evil.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Job 27. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“But Job answered and said: ‘How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength? How have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many? To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit came from you? The dead tremble, those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering.’” Job 26:1-6 (NKJV)

After Bildad’s scathing “How can humans be righteous with God?” rebuke, Job snaps back with the response, “With friends like you, who needs enemies?”  

Speaking of “enemies,” Job pinpoints the source of Bildad’s argument as Satan. This information is not new to us. It was Elifaz who first revealed the enemy’s counsel.

“For a word was stealthily brought to me, my ear caught only a whisper of it. In passing thoughts flashing through visions at night, when sleep lies heavy on people, a shiver of horror came over me; it made all my bones tremble. A spirit passed in front of my face; the hair on my flesh stood on end. It stood still, but I couldn’t make out its appearance; yet the form stayed there before my eyes. Then I heard a subdued voice, ‘Can a human be seen by God as righteous? Can a mortal be pure before his maker? God doesn’t trust His own servants, He finds fault even with His angels; much more those living in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust.’” Job 4:12-19 (CJB)

Now that Job has established that he is aware of who is actually speaking to him, he goes on the offensive - not just against Bildad but also against the demon counseling him. Job recalls how God judged demonic influence in the days of Noah through the flood. How, then, could such counsel override God’s Word? Demons had already been proven subject to God’s power. Job’s insight should remind us of the true source of the Worldly, non-Biblical counsel we are often subjected to. Not only is it demonic, but more importantly, its demonic source has already been judged and sentenced to an ultimate Hellish end!

The concept that Job brings up, that “the ghosts of the dead tremble beneath the water with its living creatures,” was the source of a superstition prevalent in Jesus’ day. Many people held that demons lived at the bottom of large bodies of water. The idea behind the superstition was that since spirits are eternal, they must still live at the bottom of the seas, held over from when Noah’s flood subsided. This is most likely the source of the disciples’ exclamation upon seeing Jesus walking in the water in the midst of the storm.

“Around three in the morning, He came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost!’ they said, and cried out in fear. Immediately Jesus spoke to them. ‘Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” Matthew 14:25-27 (HCSB)