Category: OT Reflections

Reflections on Job 11-14

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Zophar bluntly tells Job that he is guilty and needs to repent.  Job responds by saying that God reigns over all and brings death to all.  Consider:

  • God holds life – God holds the life of all in his hand (12:10). He has numbered our days (14:5).  We exist by his power and will.  Let us flee proud thoughts of our own sufficiency, and let us humble ourselves before our Creator.
  • God’s wisdom – God has wisdom, counsel, and understanding, and he has might to carry out his wise plans (12:13). In the midst of trials, will we trust his wisdom instead of leaning on our own understanding?

Reflections on Job 8-10

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Bildad argues that sin leads to suffering, and so Job must repent.  Job again claims his innocence, wondering who can contend against God.  He feels as if God is contending against him.  Observe:

  • Great God – Job wonders how he can contend with God, going on to describe God’s greatness in his control over creation. Wander outside and ponder God’s great power over creation.
  • Mediator – Job longs for a mediator between God and himself (9:33). Jesus came to be that mediator (I Timothy 2:5) through whom we can approach God.

Reflections on Job 4-7

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Eliphaz argues that Job must have sinned and is being disciplined by God.  Job should accept the discipline (acknowledging his sin) so that he might be restored.  Job denies that he has sinned, continuing to struggle with questions, and wishing God would let him die.

  • “Can mortal man be in the right before God?” – This question in 4:17 has three contexts to consider. In the context of Job, Job is indeed upright before God in a general sense.  He is suffering for his righteousness, not his sin.  In the context of all of Scripture – we cannot on our own be perfectly right before God – we all sin.  But in the context of the cross, our sins are forgiven so we can be perfectly right before God.  May we strive to be upright before God in the general sense in response to the cross!
  • God’s greatness – God does great, unsearchable, marvelous things (5:9). Where have you seen God’s great work in your life?  Praise him!

Reflections on Job 1-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Job is an upright man who feared God.  God allows Satan to bring suffering upon him.  Note Job’s response:

  • Trust/Submission – Job begins by showing an incredible trust in God – accepting both blessing and suffering. He worships God, submitting his life to him.  In what situations do you need to trust God and submit your life to him?
  • Questions – And yet, in his pain Job struggles with questions of why. He even wishes he wasn’t born!  Job is a real person struggling with his suffering.  Have you ever struggled like this?  How might that trust and submission Job showed earlier help in the midst of questions?

Reflections on Song of Solomon 5-8

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Today’s passage speaks of love within marriage.

  • Delight in one another – These chapters speak clearly of the couple’s delight in one another. Why is this important in marriage?  If you are married, in what ways do you delight in your spouse?
  • Strength of love – Real love is strong; it cannot be quenched (8:6-7). Real love endures.  How is this truth an important complement to the book’s focus on love as a desire for one another?  If you are married, how do you need to apply both romance and endurance to your marriage?

Reflections on Song of Solomon 1-4

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Song of Solomon begins with a time of courtship leading ultimately to the wedding in chapter 4.

  • Awakening romantic love – Twice, we are called not to awaken love (the feelings and desires of romance) before it is time (2:7, 3:5). Why is this teaching more helpful than just “don’t do it”?  How might this teaching have helped you in the past?  If you are single, how might this teaching help you now?  Practically, what does living this out mean for you?
  • Wedding – The husband comes to the wedding (3:6-11). He is enraptured with his bride (4:1-15).  Following the wedding, the marriage is consummated (4:16-5:1).  What truths does this passage speak to our culture?  The church?  You?

Reflections on Ecclesiastes 10-12

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The writer continues to share wisdom, finally coming to his conclusion.

  • Remember your Creator – We are to remember our Creator (12:1). We ought to enjoy the good days that God gives us, and live in the reverent fear of God who will judge us (11:9).  If we begin this in our youth, it will help us later when days are tough.  Are you living each day remembering your Creator?  In what ways?
  • Fear God and keep his commands – What is life all about? Apart from God, all is vanity (12:8).  The conclusion is to fear God and keep his commands (12:13).  Live your life in reference to God.  In what ways are you doing this?  This is the path of wisdom and satisfaction.

Reflections on Ecclesiastes 7-9

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The writer compares wisdom and folly.

  • Listening – It is good to hear the rebuke of the wise (7:5). Yet we should not take to heart all that people say of us (7:21-22).  When has a rebuke been helpful to you?  What has a criticism hurt you?  What is the difference between the two?  How do you need to apply these verses today?
  • Sin – God created us upright, but we have left wisdom to chase after many schemes (7:29). There are none who always do good and never sin (7:20).  How do you see these truths in your life?  Are you daily looking to Jesus for forgiveness?

Reflections on Ecclesiastes 4-6

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The writer continues his discussion of vanity and calls us to fear God.

  • Fear God – Fearing God means we come before him to listen to him, rather than to make rash promises that we will not keep. Do you come into his presence on Sundays to listen?  Are you prone to make rash promises?
  • God’s gift of enjoyment – Again the writer reminds us that enjoyment of what God gives us comes from God (5:18-20). What are some reasons people might not enjoy what they have?  Are any of these reasons true in your life?  In what ways has God given you the ability to enjoy what you have?

Reflections on Ecclesiastes 1-3

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The writer speaks of vanity, and the true source of enjoyment.

  • Vanity – The writer sought wisdom and knowledge (1:16-18), pleasure (2:1-3), great works (2:4-6), and great possessions (2:7-8). Yet his conclusion is that in and of themselves, these things are meaningless, a striving after the wind (1:17-18, 2:11).  In what ways are you seeking meaning and satisfaction in these areas?
  • God’s gift of enjoyment – While work and food on their own cannot bring satisfaction, we can enjoy these things. This enjoyment comes from the hand of God as a gift to us (2:24-25, 3:13).  How has God enabled you to find enjoyment in daily life?