E-pistle for April 28, 2014
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation April 28, 2014
Job longs for a mediator
(Job 9:1-35)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Job acknowledged his inadequacies before God, Who is omniscient and
omnipotent, Who is the Creator of the universe, and Who is omnipresent
and invisible, vv. 1-13.
2. Job spoke of his helplessness in doing battle against God with no hope
of victory, and he accused the Lord of being unfair: ("He) multiplies my
wounds without cause . . . I am blameless . . . He destroys the blameless
and the wicked," (vv. 17, 21-22).
3. In frustration, Job tried to think of something he could do to alleviate his
suffering: "wear a smile" . . . "wash myself with snow," vv. 25-31.
4. Realizing the chasm between God and man, Job longed for a mediator
who could bridge the gap and bring them together, vv. 32-35.
II. Meditation: on some key verses in this chapter
1. "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength," v. 4.
2. "If I called and He answered me, I would not believe that He was listening
to my voice," v. 16.
3. "If it is not He, who else could it be?" v. 24.
4. "Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both,"
v. 33.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual lessons found in these verses
1. As Paul wrote to Timothy: "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to
God Who also is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen"
I Timothy 1:17.
2. It is almost inconceivable that the Almighty God of Creation listens to an
Individual's prayer and answers him . . . "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
Mark 9:24.
3. Wise persons pause to reflect upon the circumstances and conditions of
their lives, asking whether each event or situation is God's providence or
Satan's work; discerning individuals seek to gain spiritual insight and
understanding from all things that occur.
4. Job's plea for a mediator was answered with the coming of Christ: "There
Is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,"
I Timothy 2:5.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Give praise and worship, glory and honor to the Lord God.
2. Pray to God and listen to His "still small voice" in response.
3. Meditate upon God's word and the circumstances of my life, being open to
The Holy Spirit's personal and practical revelations to me.
4. Come boldly to the Father in the name of my Mediator, Jesus Christ.
Your people shall be my people
(Ruth 1:1-22)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the characters introduced in this chapter
1. Elimelech – a man of the tribe of Judah whose name means
"MY GOD IS KING" VV. 1-2.
2. Naomi – wife of Elimelech; her name means
"Pleasant, Delightful, and Lovely," v. 2.
3. Mahlon and Chilion – sons of Elimelech and Naomi; their names mean
"Weak, Sickly" and "Failing, Pining," v. 2.
4. Orpah and Ruth – Moabite women who married Mahlon and Chilion;
their names mean: Fawn" and "Friend," v. 4.
II. Meditation: on the background and circumstances of this book
1. The events described here occurred between the death of Joshua and the
birth of Samuel, about 1100 B.C. during the period of the Judges, v. 1.
2. Elimelech and his family were natives of Bethlehem in Judah, but due to a
famine they moved east of the Dead Sea into Moab, where Lot's descendants
had settled, v. 1; Genesis 19:30-38.
3. Within a ten year period in Moab, all three men died leaving Naomi, Orpah,
and Ruth widows, vv. 3-5.
4. Naomi heard that the famine in Judah was over, so she decided to return to
her homeland, v. 6.
III. Revelation: on the words of Naomi and Ruth
1. Naomi instructed her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab to find new husbands
there, vv. 7-13.
2. Orpah remained in Moab, but Ruth insisted on going to Judah with her mother-
in-law Naomi, vv. 14-15.
3. Ruth's oft-quoted poem of commitment (vv. 16-17) reached beyond mere emotions,
family ties, and friendship; she expressed her personal faith in the living Lord,
invoking His name with an oath.
4. In contrast to Ruth, Naomi blamed God for the destructive and painful things she
had experienced, vv. 13, 19-22.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Deal kindly in the gentle Spirit of Christ with all persons, especially with family
members, such as in-laws, v. 8.
2. Choose to associate with persons who know and serve God.
3. Witness to non-believing family members; no doubt Ruth came to an understanding
of the Lord through the testimony of Naomi.
4. Do not blame God for the tragedies which occur in life; these occurrences (famine,
death, etc.) are a result of sin's presence on the earth as a consequence of man's
deliberate decision to rebel and disobey God, thus removing himself from the
protective canopy of God's blessings.
"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."
--William James
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