Youth Bible Study Lessons > James

God at Work in Job

Feb 19th, 2009
by Anthony Delgado.
god-at-work-in-job

sachyn, www.sxc.hu/photo/940459

The final chapters of Job are a depiction of the true meaning of the book of Job. Certainly there are elements from the entire book which one can learn from, but the final chapters show God’s hand at work in the life of Job, calling him to Himself not just for righteousness, but for faithfulness. God first rebukes Job, then Job responds in faith and as a result, Job is restored to the blessing of God.

God rebukes Job first by pointing out his wrongdoing and then by contrasting his power with the humble existence of man. God tells Job that he is foolish because he makes judgment without knowledge (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.2). God then contrasts Himself and His power with Job when He asks if Job ever commanded the sun to rise and fall (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.12) and if he is able to judge the wicked versus the righteous (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.13). God asks if he is able to give wisdom (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.36). Job would know that these things are characteristics only of God because he has an apparent upbringing that has trained him to understand the law.

It is revealed that regardless of his perceived righteousness and adherence to commands, Job lacks true faith. He says that he has heard with his ears, suggesting that he has been told the law, but now he has seen with his eyes. Job now is able to see God in creation and working in his own life (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 42.5). Before this revelation he had a faith of works, which was dead (The MacArthur Study Bible, James 2:17). It is not that he was in sin in some way or another, as suggested by his friends, which caused him to lose everything and become sick; rather he did not recognize God’s salvation and therefore would perish eternally.

Job confesses his sins and repents (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 42.6). The confession comes in the word “retract”. The purpose of confession is to acknowledge before God that you recognize His definition of sin and acknowledge your participation in it. In retracting his challenge against God, Job meets this standard for confession. Repentance takes place as well, which is a statement that Job not only recognizes his fault, but that he will make every effort to not do it again. Job is then restored to the blessings of God through this demonstration of faith (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 42.10-17).

The greatest theme throughout Job is that everything that happens is God’s work in Job. From the beginning God removes His blessings from Job (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 1,2). The bulk of the story is Job trying to figure out why he has been forsaken by God. Then God rebukes Job for questioning His majesty and authority and wisdom (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38). The whole point of the story comes about when God challenges Job to repent. At this point, Job had the choice to either accept God at His word or to walk away, assuming that his own perspective was right. He acted in faith and chose forgiveness and repentance and restoration to the blessings of God.

Works Cited

The MacArthur Study Bible: Updated New American Standard Translation. MacArthur: Thomas Nelson

Inc., 2006.

How We Should Speak

Sep 19th, 2008
by Anthony Delgado.
juliaf, sxc.hu

juliaf, sxc.hu

Believe it or not, the way that you speak says more about you than everything else you do combined. James 3:5 says “the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts” (NIV). For this reason we should adhere to Paul’s advice; “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Our speech should build others up not tear them down. It should be a demonstration of everything we believe, everything that Christ taught. Here is a collection of scriptures intended to encourage us to speak in a way that would honor God.

as long as I have life within me,
the breath of God in my nostrils,
my lips will not speak wickedness,
and my tongue will utter no deceit.
Job 27:3, 4 NIV

My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.
Psalms 35:28 NIV

He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman…
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalm 15:2, 3, 5 NIV

Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
Proverbs 8:6 NIV

He who walks righteously
and speaks what is right,
who rejects gain from extortion
and keeps his hand from accepting bribes,
who stops his ears against plots of murder
and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil-
this is the man who will dwell on the heights,
whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
His bread will be supplied,
and water will not fail him.
Isaiah 33:15, 16 NIV

So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Luke 20:21 NIV

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James 3:1-12 NIV

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
1 Peter 3:10 NIV

Righteous Service

Jul 12th, 2008
by Anthony Delgado.

“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:2, 3)

There is a contrast in these verses. On one hand we have the Lord. On the other we have man. (more…)

Humility of Denominations

Jul 9th, 2008
by Anthony Delgado.

The following is a common view among Christians. Basically the question is if one denomination of Christianity is right or wrong. The following excerpt is particularly interesting because it also challenges the humility of the believer.


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Christians: Is believing that our religion is the only 100% correct religion being humble?

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