Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.   It seems that Thanksgiving Day seems to almost be forgotten.  It has been turned into a day of commerce by some, and almost as a day to get through for Black Friday sales for others. I was watching the local news earlier when someone wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and nothing was said by them about Thanksgiving.  We need to recapture the true reason for celebrating Thanksgiving Day.  It should be a day to thank God for all our blessings, even if they seem small as they did when the Pilgrims celebrated that first Thanksgiving.  It should be a day of joy, not a day of stressing over how we are going to beat everyone else to the bargains tomorrow.  So, I will say a simple thank you to God and hope everyone else will to.  Thanksgiving Day is to important to be lost in commercialization or even swallowed up by Christmas.  Again, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Job 21:17 asks, How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.  Job asked his friends if they could give him examples of the wicked, even those who denied and defied God, always being cut down.  Job knew that many wicked people did live long and prosperous lives, but that in the day of judgment they would be cut down.  God sees things from an eternal point and not from a material, temporary one. Verse eighteen says, They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. I believe that Job was speaking about the judgment of God that would come one day.  The wicked may have felt secure and denied God's existence, but the day was coming when the would be no more powerful than stubble in the wind.  Their status in this world would not matter.  Verse nineteen states, God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.  I believe that Job was saying that one day those who denied God would know that He not only existed, but that He would judge their actions in this life.  Matthew Henry says that this means the children of the wicked will be punished for the sins of the fathers, but I don't believe that anyone is punished for the sins of another.  Verse twenty says, His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.  I believe that this is like the rich man looking up from hell.  Those who were rich and denied God will one day see how foolish they really were.  In verse twenty one Job asks, For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?   Job asked what a person would benefit from their material possessions when they died.  We can be certain that we will take nothing of this world into everlasting life.  Any treasure we have there will be simply those laid up by serving God, and even they won't matter.  Verse twenty two asks, Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.  Though someone might think that they are the most intelligent person in the world, there is nothing that they can teach God.  As Job states, God will judge even those who feel that they are above believing in Him.  Verse twenty three states, One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.  Then verse twenty four continues, His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.  Job said that some people, in the midst of health looking forward to a long life in contentment, die suddenly.  We can never guarantee that we have even another minute in this life, no matter how young or healthy we may be.  Verse twenty five says, And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.  Some people do indeed live long lives and seem to feel nothing but bitterness in life.  If a person is denying God, then they should feel bitter about life, because without God, there is no hope.  Then, verse twenty six states, They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.  Job said that the grave is the great equalizer.  It is the place where all will go until the return of Christ in victory.  Age and wealth cannot save a person from the grave.  In verse twenty seven Job declares, Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.  Job was telling his friends that he knew they already had their minds made up about Him, but that they were wrong.  We should never approach anyone with preconceived ideas about them, but must be willing to really listen to what they have to say.  Verse twenty eight says, For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?  Job said that his friends were asking where his house or his son's house was, and stating that they were torn down as were the houses of the wicked.  Once more, this was based on serving God for material rewards and not for spiritual rewards.  In verse twenty nine Job says, Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,  Job asks his three friends to ask anyone passing by, anyone who was not attempting to apply their preconceived ideas to Job, what they thought of the idea that his friends were claiming as God's teaching.  It would indeed be sad if just anyone passing by could give us a better understanding of God than those who are supposedly acting in His name.  Verse thirty states, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.  Job said that there was a day of judgment coming for the wicked, but it was not necessarily in this life.  Verse thirty one says, Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?  I believe that Job was saying that the wickedness of people might not be checked or punished during their lifetime.  Verse thirty two then adds, Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.  Job said that the grave equalized everything.  It doesn't matter how rich or how poor a person is.  The grave awaits everyone until Christ returns, and beyond the grave there will be the true judgment of God.  Verse thirty three states, The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.  Job said that many people had died before him and many would die after him, but this was not the final resting place of the soul.  Material things, even the body, may pass away, but the soul of people live forever.  In verse thirty four Job concludes, How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? Job asked his friends how long they were going to attempt to comfort him with words based on lies.  If we are to be a help and comfort to those who are suffering around us today, we need to make sure that what we are telling them is God's truth and not just our own truth.  I believe that Job's friends were sincere in what they were saying, but they were wrong.

Job 21:1 states, But Job answered and said,  Zophar may have thought that he had convinced Job that Job's iniquity was the source of his situation because God was punishing him, but Job knew this was not true.  If we are suffering and know that we have not brought the suffering on ourselves because of disobedience to God, we should always be ready to defend our faith.  Verse two says, Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.  Job once more asked his friends to really listen to what he had to say.  They had shown no evidence of really listening yet.  It is hard to get those with predetermined ideas to really listen to anyone else's ideas or understanding of the truth.  Verse three says, Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.  Job said listen to me, and if you don't agree, then continue to mock me.  In verse four Job asks, As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?  I believe that Job was asking if his suffering was only based on his relationship to other people, then why would his spirit, or his soul, be troubled.  As followers of Christ, we know when trouble in our life is a result of our failure in our relationship to God.  I believe that Job was saying his spirit was troubled because he didn't know what he had done to suffer so.  Verse five says, Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.  Job asked his friends to look at his situation, but to be astonished at what he had to say.  What Job was saying was totally in opposition to what his friends were saying, and Job said they needed to listen carefully to what he was saying.  God's truth will always astounded the sinner, even if they do not believe it.  Verse six says, Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.  I believe that Job was saying that when he remembered all that had happened to him he still was left trembling in fear.  I believe this was because he didn't think God was listening to him, so he could not understand why it was happening.  In verse seven Job asks, Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?  I believe that Job was saying that the evidence of the world disputed what his friends were saying.  The wicked did live long lives and were often mighty in their power over others, even those who were faithful to God.  We only need to look around us today to realize that this is true.  Verse eight says, Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.  Job declared that unlike what his friends were saying that the wicked did have children to carry on their name.  We know this is true.  God does not necessarily cut off evil people from having children.  Verse nine says, Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.  Job said that evil people felt secure at home and did not fear punishment from God.  There are many truly evil people who do not fear punishment from God today and who even deny His existence.  We might think that God would strike them down, but I believe that He would rather see them converted.  In verse ten, Job continues, Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.  Job had said they had children, were secure at home and prospered in spite of being evil by nature.  Verse eleven says, They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.  Then verse twelve states, They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.  I believe in these two verses Job was saying that not only did the wicked or evil people not suffer, but that they celebrated.  We can see so much celebrating by those who deny God today that we do not have to question Job's conclusion.  Sometimes, even those who follow Christ celebrate in ways that do not honor God.  Verse thirteen says, They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.  Job said the wicked often live their lives wealthy until the day they die.  In verse fourteen Job states, Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.  Job said that the wicked who lived successful lives defied God.  This would not be the case if God always struck down the wicked people of the world.  Verse fifteen continues this thought stating, What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?  I believe that Job was saying that these wicked people who were rich felt that they had attained their status by their own power and could see no profit, or benefit, from serving God.  Verse sixteen states, Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.  I believe that Job was saying that even if they didn't believe in God that their riches were ultimately in His hands.  It all belongs to God, whether we acknowledge that or not.

Job 20:16 says, He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.  Zophar warns that what had seemed the sweetness of sin would turn into a bitter poison in the end.  No matter how sweet the fruit of sin may taste to a person, it is still deadly, not only to the body, but to the everlasting torment of the soul as well.  Verse seventeen says, He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.  This was another way of saying that the sinner and hypocrite would not prosper, but we know this is not always the truth in this life, though it is true in the life to come.  Verse eighteen says, That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.  Basically, Zophar was saying that the sinner would not long enjoy the rewards of his labor.  We may wish that those who profit by dealing unfairly with others would always have their wealth taken away and returned to those they cheated or abused, but it doesn't often happen.  Verse nineteen states, Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;  This is a continuation of the warning to the wicked, listing some of their sins against others. Zophar said they oppressed the poor and violently took away what the poor had.  Zophar was still applying this to Job and his situation.  Verse twenty says, Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.  I believe this was another way of saying that there could be no peace and contentment for the sinner.  If sin always left us dissatisfied, poor and suffering, it would be easy to avoid, but often it is just the opposite at least in worldly terms.  Verse twenty one says, There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.  Once more, this is not always the fate of sinners, but would be if our relationship with God determined our material wealth.  Verse twenty two states, In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.  Now it is possible that Zophar was more accurate in this statement.  There will always be those who wish to take what belongs to someone else as their own, but it should not be God's people.  If we as followers of Christ are to have what belongs to another, there will be no doubt that God is giving it to us, and even then it is not to be because we covet what is someone else's.  Verse twenty three declares, When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.  Zophar, still referring to Job's status really, said that when the sinner became wealthy and felt secure that God would strike him down.  In verse twenty four Zophar states, He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.   I believe he was basically saying there is no escaping the wrath of God, but we know that through Christ we can.  Even our relationship with Christ does not guarantee material success.  Verse twenty five says, It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.  Zophar continued to speak of the horror of God's punishment, and saw this as what was happening to Job.  Verse twenty six states, All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.  I believe that Zophar was saying that even the descendants of sinners would suffer for the sins of a sinner, but we will each be judged for our sins alone.  Verse twenty seven says, The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.  Then, verse twenty eight says, The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.  These verses continue Zophar's basing of material wealth on faithfulness to God.  He said those secret inequities, which he felt Job was guilty of, would ultimately lead to material destruction.  Verse twenty nine declares, This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.  Zophar was correct from a spiritual view, but not from just a material one. If we only serve God because we think that is going to bring us material wealth, the we will ultimately be disappointed.  As followers of Christ, we are called on to take up our cross daily.

Job 20:1 says, Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,  Job's friends could not just remain quiet.  Zophar felt that he knew the nature and the works of God better than Job did.  We, like Zophar, would be better off listening for God's understanding of a situation than attempting to apply our own understanding.  Verse two says, Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. Zophar said that his thoughts forced him as to not only answer, but to do quickly.  He was correct about them being his thoughts, and he wasn't even going to take the time to consider what Job had said.  When we judge without considering what God tells us in any situation, we are indeed in danger of sharing only our own thoughts, and not God's teachings.  In verse three Zophar continues, I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.  Zophar was basically saying to Job that Job had reproached what he had said earlier, so now he felt compelled to set Job straight.  If someone questions what we feel to be the truth, we often cannot wait for them to be quiet so we can correct them.  Instead of waiting to declare Job wrong, Zophar would have been better off to wait and listen sincerely to what God had to say.  If our objective is to defend our belief about a particular situation, we may be too busy just waiting for the opportunity to respond to hear what God has to say.  We need to be certain that we, like Zophar, are not replying just on our own understanding.  In verse four Zophar asks, Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,  Zophar questions Job's understanding of the way the world had worked throughout history.  If we are going to base our arguments on the history of people and their relationship to God since the beginning of time, we need to make sure that our understanding comes from God, and not just our own interpretation of events.  In verse five Zophar continues, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?  Though what Zophar said was true from an everlasting prospective, that the triumph of evil over good is short, this did not apply to Job.  Even the truth can be used from a wrong understanding to attempt to justify our beliefs and dispute someone else's beliefs.  In verse six Zophar states, Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;  Zophar implies that the sinner can become so proud of themselves that they feel that they are in heaven.  Then, verse eight warns, Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?  Though speaking of sinners in general being brought down to destruction, I believe that Zophar was attempting to apply this to Job in particular.  Job had been brought from his position of wealth and influence to suffering and abandonment by his friends.  We cannot assume that when a person suffers in life that they are being punished by God, nor does success mean that they are being blessed by God.  Verse eight says, He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.  Zophar said that the sinners life would be as lasting as a dream.  Verse nine says, The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.  Zophar said that sinners would no longer be looked on with respect.  Verse ten says, His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.  Often, the children of the rich, instead of seeking to help the poor simply continue to attempt to further enrich themselves.  Verse eleven says, His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.  Zophar was saying that the sinner would not give up on the sins of his youth, which I believe meant the lusts of youth.  As a rule, young people do tend to be more self centered.  I believe Zophar was saying this should change as a person matures, especially spiritually.  Verse twelve says, Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;   Zophar said that wickedness tasted sweet to the sinner and they tried to hide it under their tongue to enjoy longer.  Verse thirteen states, Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:  I believe that Zophar was really referring to the hypocrite, who knew that certain things were wrong but continued to do them because they brought pleasure in life.  Verse fourteen says,  Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.  I believe that Zophar was saying that deep within the hypocrite, there was no real peace.  If we are living life based on the lies of hypocrisy, we will never be at ease.  Verse fifteen declares, He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.  Riches can never bring everlasting satisfaction to anyone.  Only following God's will can.  We may think we can live in the riches and sweetness of sin, but God will eventually cast them out.  It may not be in this life, but anything built on sin will ultimately be cast away by God.

Job 19:15 says, They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.  Job said that even those who lived in his house and had served him acted as though they didn't know who he was.  We may forget that even at this time at least some of Job's servants reminded.  Job had been a good master to his maids and servants, but now that he was in need of comfort, they did not even want to look on Him.  I believe it is safe to say that Job had treated his servants well, or God would not have held him up as an example of a truly righteous man.  Verse sixteen says, I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.  Since Job was seemingly cast down by God, his servants no longer answered his call.  We need to acknowledge that if we see a person in great need, especially a fellow Christian, we are called to minister to them, and are not called to abandon them.  Then in verse seventeen Job states,  My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.  Job was abandoned by the person who should have been his greatest source of comfort in this life, his wife.  Job said he would have gladly died in his children's place, and his wife should have known this.  We have to understand that we cannot die for another person.  Only Christ was able to do that.  Still, we would like to believe that if we suffer a great loss, if we are married, that our spouse would truly be with us in sickness and in health.  Verse eighteen says, Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. Children tend to follow the example of adults, and since the adults around him despised Job, so did they.  I believe that we could use this as an example of why we need to set a good example for our children.  They may not always follow our good example, but we certainly do not want them following a bad one that we set for them.  Verse nineteen says, All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.  It is bad enough if our casual acquaintances abandon us in time of need, but Job said his closest friends, those that he had loved, had turned against him.  I believe that is what happens when people base friendship on material things.  Job could no longer offer his closest friends anything, so they abandoned him.  Verse twenty declares, My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.  Job said that he was still alive, but that he was barely holding on.  There are people today, even Christians, who are barely holding on to hope in life, and we as followers of Christ need to be there with them to offer comfort in their hour of need.  In verse twenty one Job cries out, Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.  Job was pleading with his friends to show him compassion, even though he felt that Go d was punishing him.  If we feel that God has indeed punished us for whatever reason, then this is the time we need the comfort of friends the most. Verse twenty two asks,  Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?  Job believed that he was being punished by God, and asked his friends why they weren't satisfied with God's punishment but felt the need to punish him more.  We need to be satisfied with the way God deals with each person, and if we feel that He is punishing them, then they need our comfort even more.  Verse twenty three says, Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!  Fortunately for us they were, so we can learn from what happened to Job and his friends.  Verse twenty four says, That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!  They were preserved even better than by being chiseled in stone.  Job's words were preserved by God Himself.  In verse twenty five, Job declares, For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  We, like Job, have to know that our Redeemer lives and will return for us.  Verse twenty six says, And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Like Job, we need to declare that even if this body returns to dust, we will one day see God not only in the spirit, but in the flesh as well.  Job continues in verse twenty seven, Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.  We like Job need to stand firm in our faith that we will see God.  If the spirit alone were saved, there would be no reason for Christ to return.  Verse twenty eight says,  But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?  Job asked if the root of his persecution was found in him, why did his friends feel the need to persecute him.  If we feel that someone is being punished by God, it is not our role to add to persecute them.  We should pray for their restoration and not condemn them for their condition.  Verse twenty nine warns, Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.  I believe that Job was warning his friends that they were setting themselves up for God's judgment.  If we attempt to judge others today as though we are morally superior, then we too will face God's judgment of our actions.

Job 19:1 says, Then Job answered and said,  After Bildad stopped speaking, Job answered him.  Job did not interrupt or get in a shouting match with Bildad, but listened to him before answering.  Verse two asks, How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?  Job had already asked his friends to just be quiet if they could offer him no hope or understanding of why he was in this situation.  If we can offer no help or any solution to a person's current suffering we are better off simply sitting with them and praying for them.  Job's friends came to him with preconceived ideas about why he was suffering and would not listen to his reasoning, nor did they ask God for a better understanding so they could really comfort Job.  We cannot go into any situation and attempt to make it confirm our belief about that situation.  We must first seek God's guidance and then listen to what the person who is suffering has to say with compassion and not judgment.   Verse three says, These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.  We only know of five times that Job's friends spoke to him, but that does not mean that they hadn't spoken more often.  Matthew Henry says that this indicated that those five times they spoke were double in their condemnation of Job.  Either way, Job said that even though they weren't, they should be ashamed of their treatment of him.  Verse four states, And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.  Job said that if he had erred, or sinned, that was a matter between God and himself.  We cannot determine the relationship between God and any other person. We can only account for our own sins.  Verse five says, If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:  Job said that his friends were magnifying themselves and condemning him.  We must be careful to never view ourselves as above others.  If we are followers of Christ, we are still simply sinners saved by grace.  We should not magnify our relationship to God as being superior to anyone else's.  In verse six Job states,  Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.  Though Job was mistaken in thinking that God was directly responsible for his current situation, he still saw it as being between God and himself.  We will each answer for our own sins and that alone should keep us from trying to judge others.  We all have enough to answer for.  Verse seven says, Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.  Job still felt that God did not hear him.  If we feel isolated from God, we need to remember that He has not abandoned us.  Verse eight says, He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.  I believe that Job felt since he thought that God was the source of his suffering that there was no way out.  We need to remember that if God allows us to suffer, He will also provide a way out of that suffering if we remain true to Him.  In verse nine Job says,  He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.  I believe that Job thought that his success in life was a reward for his serving God faithfully, and that had been stripped away.  The truth is that we serve God for His glory and not our own.  That is one problem with a prosperity gospel.  If we suddenly face a material failure, then we have to blame God.  Verse ten states, He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.  Job saw no way to turn.  He felt that God had surrounded him with misery.  Verse eleven says, He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.  Though Job felt that God counted him as an enemy to be tormented and then destroyed, we know this was not the case.  As followers of Christ, God will never seek to destroy us, though our possessions may be destroyed.  God was still with Job, even if Job didn't feel God's presence.  We should never allow any situation to make us feel abandoned by God.  Verse twelve says, His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.  Job thought the whole army of God was against him.  Verse thirteen states, He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.  Job felt God was against him and his friends no longer wanted to be around him.  In verse fourteen Job declares, My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.  Job felt very alone in the world, abandoned by friends, family, and most importantly by God.  Even if our friends desert us, we would hope that our family would not.  If friends and family desert us, we need to know that God will not.  Just because we may not understand what is happening in life and may not feel the presence of God, as His followers we can be certain that He is always with us.