SCRIPTURE

Studied: Job 17

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

Job 17:1-4 ~ My spirit is crushed, and my life is nearly snuffed out. The grave is ready to receive me. I am surrounded by mockers. I watch how bitterly they taunt me. “You must defend my innocence, O God, since no one else will stand up for me. You have closed their minds to understanding, but do not let them triumph. (NLT)

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I believe that often we find ourselves in what we believe to be a vacuum where we feel like there is only us in this world, and definitely only us with the serious problems that we are encountering at the time. However, in reading this passage this morning I am reassured that God’s Word is vital to us in ALL circumstances of our lives, for we can find situations very similar to what we, or friends that we are praying for, are facing today. Once we find those biblical illustrations, we also find God’s answers to those challenging times. In the verses copied here in my ‘Observation’ we can see where Job was very discouraged and feeling like he had been beaten up on by his peers, to the extent that he is now having to share the blame for the condition in which he has found himself, so he blames God. This sounds so much like us today. Let’s pass the blame along, for surely it’s not me that caused my friends to act like my enemies. In fact, we may even go as far as to blame God – for had it not been for our trying to please Him, we would still be on the best side of our friends’ admiration like we had been all along! Job was really distraught here in this chapter, and friends we get very distraught at times also. Bottom line is, those who keep their eye upon heaven as their end, will keep their feet in the paths of religion as their way, whatever difficulties and discouragements they may meet with. Let’s remember that our goal is to be like Christ while here on this earth, and being with Him in Heaven is our ultimate destination. All else we can handle, with God’s help and our determination.

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father I feel like I become stronger in my faith and understanding of the awesome God that You are, as I face challenges such as Job tells us about in this chapter. Please continue to give me strength, and the wisdom to look beyond my challenges, and full into Your wonderful face, with constant reminders of the ultimate place that You have prepared for me in Heaven, for it is through these type of spiritual eyes that I will gain strength to overcome the struggles and challenges around me today.