E-pistle for January 16, 2015
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation January 16, 2015 Dr. Curt Scarborough, President
The Ear Should "test words"
(Job 34:1-37)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. In this chapter, Elihu preaches to Job by addressing his remarks to his friends;
Elihu accuses Job of lying by claiming innocence and charging God with
injustice, vv. 1-9.
2. Elihu tells these friends ("wise men," vv. 2, 34; "men of understanding," vv. 10, 16,
34) that Almighty God will never do wickedness nor pervert justice, and that He
treats every person, regardless of rank, with fairness and equity, vv. 10-22.
3. Elihu speaks of the all-seeing eyes of God, who knows all things and who reigns
In absolute sovereignty, vv. 12-30.
4. Elihu points out that Job has never confessed or repented of his sins . . . therefore,
Job's words are wicked rebellion against God, vv. 31-37.
II. Meditation: on some interesting verses in this chapter
1. "For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food," v. 3.
2. "If He )god) should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would
Perish together, and man would return to dust," vv. 14-15.
3. "When He (God) gives quietness, who then can make trouble?" v. 29.
4. "Teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more," v. 32.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of these verses
1. A man's spiritual discernment ("ears") can evaluate words to determine whether they
are good or bad, just as taste buds can reveal whether food is sweet or sour,
Psalm 34:8; Matthew 11:15.
2. God created the world, and His power sustains it: "All things were created through
Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist,"
Colossians 1:16-17.
3. The peace which the Lord gives cannot be disturbed: "Peace be still," Mark 4:39;
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you . . . Let not your heart be troubled,"
John 14:27; "The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus," Philippians 4:7.
4. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins (John 16:8); "Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults," Psalm 19:12.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Cultivate spiritual discernment through prayer and meditation.
2. Worship Almighty God, the Creator and the Sustainer of my life.
3. Receive the peace, comfort, and assurance which Jesus offers to me.
4. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's voice, repenting and confessing immediately whenever
He convicts me of any sin against God.
How to know god's will
(James 1:5-8, 17-22)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on what believers should do when they lack Godly wisdom
1. Ask of God . . . He gives (answers) to all liberally, v. 5.
2. Ask of God . . . He gives (answers) without reproach, v. 5.
3. Ask in faith, not doubting or wavering, v. 6.
4. Ask with sincerity and integrity (single-mindedness), vv. 7-8.
II. Meditation: on God's gifts (including wisdom)
1. God's gifts are always good and only good, v. 17.
2. God's gifts are reliable because He is unchangeable, v. 17.
3. God's will is that we understand (receive wisdom) about the word of
truth that brought us salvation, v. 18.
4. God's gifts of eternal life in Christ makes believers a kind of first fruits of
His creatures . . . "new creations" v. 18.
III. Revelation: on how believers should respond to God's gifts
1. Be swift to hear and slow to speak, v. 19.
2. Be slow to wrath, v. 19 . . . because "the wrath of man does not produce
the righteousness of God," v. 20.
3. Be repentant; laying aside wickedness and receiving with humility God's
Implanted word, v. 21.
4. Be doers of the word, not hears only, v. 22.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Ask God for wisdom, insight, and spiritual perception as I seek to find and
follow His will for my life.
2. Believe that God is gracious, answering my prayer of faith and integrity with
His generosity and understanding.
3. Know that God's gifts always are good and beneficial for my spiritual growth
and fruitfulness.
4. "Practice what I preach!" . . . Be a doer and not merely a hearer of His word,
especially His word of revelation to me regarding His will, for God will not
reveal to me His purpose and destiny for my life if I continue to ignore it or
to neglect following it.
"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day."
--Alexander Woolcott, Long, Long Ago
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