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The Bible: Day 27- “Staying On Track With God.” (Psalm 17:1-5, Matthew 19:1-15, & Job 4-7:21)

Introduction:

In the journey of staying on track with God, the steadfast prayer of Psalm 17:1-5 guides us to seek His refuge and protection. Matthew 19:1-15 emphasizes the significance of childlike faith and obedience, while the wisdom found in Job 4:1-7:21 encourages resilience and trust in God's sovereign plan amidst life's challenges. These passages inspire a harmonious path of devotion, faith, and unwavering confidence in our spiritual journey.


Wisdom Reading Psalm 17:1-5

Psalm 17:1-5 is a prayer attributed to David, seeking divine intervention and protection. Here's a breakdown of spiritual teachings:


1. Verse 1 - Appeal for Justice:

- Psalm 17:1: "Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—no deceit is on my lips."


- Teaching: The psalmist begins with a plea for God's attention, emphasizing the sincerity of his request. This teaches us to approach God honestly in our prayers.


2. Verse 2 - Purity of Heart:

- Psalm 17:2: "Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right."


- Teaching: Acknowledging God as the ultimate judge, this verse teaches us to seek righteousness and trust in God's judgment rather than our own.


3. Verse 3 - Testing the Heart:

- Psalm 17:3: "Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed."


- Teaching: The psalmist invites God's scrutiny, demonstrating a heart of integrity. It encourages us to willingly undergo God's examination, knowing that sincerity will be revealed.


4. Verse 4 - Walking in Righteous Paths:

- Psalm 17:4: "Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded."


- Teaching: This verse underscores the commitment to following God's commandments despite external pressures. It teaches us to resist temptations that lead away from God's path.


5. Verse 5 - Confident Trust in God:

- Psalm 17:5: "My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled."


- Teaching: The psalmist expresses confidence in his faithfulness to God's ways. This teaches us the assurance and stability of walking steadfastly in God's paths.


In summary, Psalm 17:1-5 guides believers to approach God honestly, seek His righteous judgment, welcome examination of the heart, commit to God's commandments, and find confidence and stability in faithfully walking in His paths.


The New Testament Reading Matthew 19:1-15


Matthew 19:1-15 Outline with Spiritual Teachings:

1. Verses 1-2 - Jesus' Departure from Galilee:

- Matthew 19:1-2: "When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan."


2. Verses 3-6 - Question on Divorce and Jésus' Réponse:

- Matthew 19:3-6: Pharisees test Jesus on divorce. Jesus affirms God's plan for marriage, stating, "What God has joined together, let no one separate."


- Teaching: Emphasizes the sanctity and permanence of marriage, highlighting God's original intention for the marital bond.


3. Verses 7-9 - Further Discussion on Divorce:

- Matthew 19:7-9: Disciples question Jesus, and He explains that divorce is allowed only in cases of marital unfaithfulness.


- Teaching: Provides clarity on the conditions under which divorce is permissible, stressing the importance of faithfulness in relationships.


4. Verses 10-12 - Jesus' Teaching on Celibacy:

- Matthew 19:10-12: Jesus discusses celibacy's value for the kingdom's sake and acknowledges that not everyone can accept this teaching.


- Teaching: Highlights the honorable choice of celibacy and recognizes the diversity of God's calling for individuals.


5. Verses 13-15 - Blessing the Children:

- Matthew 19:13-15: People bring children to Jesus for His blessing; disciples try to send them away, but Jesus welcomes them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."


- Teaching: Demonstrates the importance of childlike faith and humility in entering God's kingdom, challenging societal norms, and emphasizing the value of innocence and sincerity.

In summary, Matthew 19:1-15 addresses marriage, divorce, celibacy, and the significance of childlike faith, offering valuable spiritual teachings on these aspects of life and faith.


The Old Testament Reading: Job 4:1-7:21

Job 4:1-7:21 Breakdown and Outline with Spiritual Teachings:

1. Job 4:1-11 - Eliphaz's First Speech:

- Job 4:1-6: Eliphaz expresses concern for Job's suffering, encouraging him to seek God.


- Teaching: Acknowledges the importance of turning to God in times of trouble, highlighting the role of friends in providing support.


2. Job 4:12-21 - Eliphaz's Vision:

- Job 4:12-16: Eliphaz recounts a mysterious vision, suggesting that humans are inherently flawed.


- Teaching: Raises questions about human nature and the need for humility before God's wisdom.


3. Job 5:1-7 - Eliphaz Continues:

- Job 5:1-7: Eliphaz urges Job to turn to God, emphasizing that hardship often results from sin.


- Teaching: Reflects the common belief in retribution theology, where suffering is seen as a consequence of wrongdoing.


Retribution theology is a belief system that associates divine justice with punishment or reward based on one's actions, often in an afterlife. It suggests that individuals will be rewarded for virtuous deeds and punished for wrongdoing, serving as a moral framework in various religious and stoic traditions.


4. Job 5:8-27 - Eliphaz Advises Job:

- Job 5:8-16: Eliphaz advises Job to seek God's mercy, promising restoration.


- Teaching: Encourages reliance on God's mercy and trust in divine justice during trials.


5. Job 6:1-7:21 - Job's Response:

- Job 6:1-13: Job expresses his anguish and desires a compassionate friend.


- Teaching: Acknowledges the human need for empathy and understanding in times of suffering.

- Job 6:14-30: Job questions the loyalty of his friends, feeling abandoned.


- Teaching: Highlights the importance of true friendship and support during difficult times.

- Job 7:1-21: Job laments the brevity and hardship of life, expressing his despair.


- Teaching: Explores the theme of the human experience of suffering and the quest for meaning during trials.


In Summary:

Job 4:1-7:21 portrays the initial dialogues between Job and his friends, reflecting on themes of suffering, divine justice, human nature, friendship, and the search for meaning amid adversity. It invites reflection on how individuals respond to hardship and the importance of empathy, humility, and trust in God's wisdom.


The psychological aspect here reflects the human struggle to understand and find meaning in the face of adversity, exploring themes of morality, justice, and the nature of God.


Overall, this section digs into the complex interplay between faith, suffering, and the search for meaning, showcasing the psychological depth of the characters as they grapple with profound practical questions.


Theodicy refers to the rational and theological attempt to address why a gracious and all-powerful God allows evil and suffering. In the Book of Job, theodicy is a central theme as Job grapples with his immense suffering despite being described as righteous and blameless.


Job's friends, including Eliphaz in Job 4, present a theodicy that links suffering to sin, suggesting that Job must have committed some wrongdoing to deserve such affliction. However, Job challenges this perspective and raises questions about the fairness of his suffering, expressing a desire for a direct audience with God to seek answers.


The Book of Job doesn't provide a straightforward theodicy but instead invites an examination of the entanglements of divine justice, human suffering, and the limits of human understanding. Job's journey reflects the tension between human questioning and the mystery of God's ways, contributing to the broader discussion of theodicy within religious and rational discourse.


In Christ, love Jared W. Campbell

 






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