E-pistle for October 3, 2014
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation October 3, 2014
Bathed with cream; anointed with oil
(Job 29:1-25)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Job wished for a return to the days past, when God watched over him
and his family was around him enjoying health and prosperity, vv. 1-6.
2. Job remembered with longing his former position of influences in the
community, when even the noble class respected, approved, and
blessed him, vv. 7-11.
3. Job stated his belief that his former placed of prosperity and blessedness
had been a result of his life of generosity and righteousness, vv. 12-17.
4. Job spoke of his earlier lost hope and expectation that his prominence,
contentment, respect, and influence would continue throughout his entire
lifetime, vv. 18-25.
II. Meditation: on Job's list of his good deeds
1. Job delivered assistance to the poor, the perishing (dying), the orphans,
and the widows, vv. 12-13.
2. Job's clothing, robe, and turban (lifestyle) were garments of righteousness
and justice, v. 14.
3. Job was "eyes to the blind" and "feet to the lame" . . . the guide and helper
of the helpless, v. 5.
4. Job investigated cases of injustice and rescued victims from their wicked
oppressors, vv. 16-17.
III. Revelation: on God's blessings upon Job's life
1. God watched over him, providing him protection and security, v. 2.
2. God enlightened his pathway, giving him guidance and direction through
the darkness, v. 3.
3. God was near to him (over his tent), offering him friendly counsel and
spiritual communion, along with his family, vv. 4-5.
4. God supplied all his needs: "my steps were bathed with cream" (food
and other necessities of life in abundance) and "the rock poured out
rivers of oil for me" (spiritual anointing and healing), v. 6.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to be a channel of blessings . . .
1. Receiving God's protection and security (III – 1), I should help to rescue
those who are victims of oppression (II – 4).
2. Receiving God's guidance and direction (III – 2), I should serve as the
"EYES" (or guide) to those in spiritual darkness (II – 3).
3. Receiving God's communion and counsel (III – 3), I should exemplify a life
of righteousness and justice before others (II – 2) . . . demonstrating some
of the characteristics of the Lord.
4. Receiving God's abundant supply for all my physical and spiritual needs
(III – 4), should provide generously for the poor and dying, for the widows
and orphans (II – 1).
Turn us back to you, o lord
(Lamentations 5:1-22)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. This chapter begins with a prayer that the Lord will remember the pitiful
condition of the nation: in disgrace, property confiscated by foreigners,
only orphans and widows remaining, forced to pay for basic necessities,
enduring forced labor, subject to occupying armies, ruled by puppet
governors, in danger of marauding robbers, feverish and ill, vv. 1-10.
2. Everyone is suffering: women, girls, elders, young men, and boys . . .
all are enduring mistreatment and severe persecution, vv. 11-14.
3. All of the nation's joy, pride, glory, honor, and hope is gone, vv. 15-18.
4. This book closes with a final, desperate plea for restoration, based on
their belief that God was still on His throne, and with the faint hope
that perhaps the Lord had not utterly (completely, totally, and
irrevocably) rejected them, vv. 19-22.
II. Meditation and Revelation: on some key verses in this chapter
1. "Remember, O Lord, what has come upon us," v. 1. The Lord will
not forget His chosen and beloved people, nor will He forget His
covenant promises to them.
2. "Woe to us, for we have sinned!" v. 16. The suffering they were
enduring was a direct result of their disobeying God's laws, because
sin always brings its wages; however, God's discipline is administered
to His children in love, and it is intended to bring them spiritual
understanding and redemption.
3. "You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to
generation," v. 19. Almighty God is eternal, and He is in control of
the universe and all the events of history.
4. "Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; renew our
days as of old," v. 21. The Lord God alone has the power to restore
and renew His disobedient, fallen people; He extends mercy and grace
when persons repent and confess their sins.
III. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Remember that the Lord never forgets His people or His promises.
2. Realize that sin brings divine discipline, and that God's purpose in
chastening me is both instructive and redemptive.
3. Rejoice in the assurance that God is in control of all the circumstances
of my life and my ministry.
4. Repent immediately when the Holy Spirit convicts my heart of sin, receive
the Lord's forgiveness and renewal . . . minute by minute, hour by hour,
day, by day.
"God gave us two ears bur only one mouth.
Some people say that's because He wanted
us to spend twice as much time listening
as talking. Other claim it's because He
knew that listening was twice as hard."
From: Good Stuff
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