vs 11 My feet keep to the path He has set before me.
vs 12 I have never turned aside from His 10 Commandments.
I want to walk in His steps
and keep His ways. I want the words of His mouth to be more valuable than my
necessary food.
Don’t you?
I want to walk in His steps
and keep His ways. I want the words of His mouth to be more valuable than my
necessary food.
Don’t you?
Any commander losing a war (and who yet remains alive) should reasonably expect limitations and restrictions to be placed on his whereabouts and movements. And so, Lucifer (Satan) has faced restrictions of his freedom to act as he chooses and to move about as he chooses since the loss of the war. Satan’s activities were severely restricted by Jesus Himself (or Michael―when Jesus is in His role as Warrior and Commander of Heaven’s armies). Notice some of these restrictions. Notice also that the Bible uses the imagery of the Devil being restricted by a chain (see Restriction No 7 below).
Angels of God visited Adam and Eve, and told them of the fall of Satan, and warned them to be on their guard. They cautioned them not to separate from each other in their employment, for they might be brought in contact with this fallen foe. If one of them were alone, they would be in greater danger than if both were together. The angels enjoined upon them to closely follow the instructions God had given them, for in perfect obedience they were safe, and this fallen foe could then have no power to deceive them. God would not permit Satan to follow the holy pair with continual temptations. He could have access to them only at the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3, p. 39).
Bad things happen. The WHYS of it all, we may never understand. Sometimes we never accept. We may remain assured, however, that we are the apple of His eye (Zech 2:8), and that His tender care is always present even in the painful and dark moments Satan drags us through.
Very great troubles are coming upon the world, and the powers of Satan are stirring with intensity the powers from beneath to work suffering, disaster, and ruin. His work is to create all the misery upon human beings that is possible. The earth is the scene of his action, but he is held in check. He can go no farther than the Lord permits (Ellen G. White, That I May Know Him, p. 284).
Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted. Whatever attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as they came from the heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christ's brethren of being clothed with the garments of blackness and the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p 761).
I heard shouts of triumph from the angels and from the redeemed saints, which sounded like ten thousand musical instruments, because they were to be no more annoyed and tempted by Satan and because the inhabitants of other worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations (Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 290).
Jesus is still the One asking the questions. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8).
Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.
While the story of their lives may parallel, they are not identical. A man can never equal God. Job will always be a sinner. Jesus will always be the sin-pardoning Saviour. While Job may be declared righteous in his sphere, his righteousness comes from the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Job’s righteousness was lent to him―ascribed to him―righteousness was not inherent within Job himself.
Job was wealthy in lands and livestock. He was a respected leader in his community. A family man. But his greatest wealth was measured spiritually. As he was well-regarded by men on earth, he was highly-esteemed in heaven.
Satan Forcefully Thrust Himself into the Lives of Both
Forcefully
In his moment of trial, Job wished he had never been born―that he had never come from his mother’s womb. Jesus, however, unequivocally declared that for this purpose He had come to be born of a woman:
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour (John 12:27). These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee (John 17:1). He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (1John 3:8).
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Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him (Job 2:11).
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him (Matt 2:1,2).
Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.
No 5 Where are We
Going? What Will I Offer?
How do you memorialize someone who is already one of the most memorialized persons in history? Some 15,000 books have been written about Abraham Lincoln. More books have been written about Lincoln than any other person in history with the exception of Jesus Christ. And new books keep coming off the presses about both of them. Why do we need more? Because enough cannot be said about the greatness of their lives and the contribution each has made (in their respective sphere).
The same may be said regarding Will Hardin's new blog on the Book of Job―why do we need another one? The answer is the same. Because of the greatness of Job's life and the contribution he and his book have made to mankind.
I would not be writing a blog on Job and his book if I did not feel I had important things to say. I look at Job a bit differently than many. This blog will express those views.
What's New? What Will be Different?
What follows is by no means an outline of the studies that will be forthcoming. What follows does highlight some of the areas of emphasis. More will be said regarding each point, of course.
Having said this, many people still find the Book of Job to be helpful even though his story does not fit their own personal story. We all can identify with the "Why me?" part of his story.
7. What was It that Really Opened Job’s Eyes to Truth?
11. Mrs. Job was a Wonderful and Loving Wife--I Like Her!
15. Finally, if you have followed me to this point, I now give the greatest benefit of the Book of Job. It is one of the most sublime studies of the Character of God. The study of Job reveals Who God is.
It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth (COL415).
My purpose for this site is to do my part in removing the misapprehension and misunderstanding of God. I want to be an illuminating influence in making His character of love known.
Will you stay with me through these studies?
Please send questions and comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.
No 48 Job's Ladder Satan's Lies One of Satan’s many lies (installed in the Garden of Eden) is that God blesses you when you are goo...