Job's ninth speech

The Book of Job Chapters 26 & 27

In chapter 26, Job speaks again to Bildad's criticism. He asks Bildad how he thinks he has helped Job, and what wisdom does he think he has he imparted. Job lists some of the minor things God does with just a whisper of his power, like: God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the clouds on nothing. God wraps the rain in thick clouds and the clouds do not burst with the weight. He shrouds his throne with clouds, he created a horizon when he separated the waters and set the boundaries for day and night. By his power, the sea grew calm and by his skill he crushed the sea monster and his spirit made the heavens beautiful.

In Chaper 27, Job continues to speak saying: He (himself)makes a vow to the living God ,who has taken away his rights, by the Almighty who has embittered his soul. That as long as he lives, his lips won't speak evil or lies and he will defend his own innocence and his conscience will be clear for as long as he lives.
He says his enemies may be punished but what hope do they have when God cuts them off? God won't listen to their cry when trouble comes and they can't take delight in the Almighty. But he (Job) will teach you (his friends) about God's power even though you have seen all this, yet you are saying useless things to me.
This, Job says, is what the wicked will receive from God: if they have a multitude of children, their children will die in war or starve to death. If they survive, they will be brought down by plague. Evil people have all the money in the world and store mounds of clothing, but the righteous will wear that clothing and the innocent will divide all the money. The houses of the wicked are as fragile as a spiderweb, as flimsy as a shelter of branches. They go to bed rich and wake up to find their wealth is gone. They are blown away in the storms of the night. They struggle to flee from the power of the wind, but everyone mocks them.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Job has the distinction of giving the longest speech in the book and weaves together pictures of God's mystery and power. He tells his friends that they can't possibly know everything about God and wisdom comes from God not from the human mind.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? In the midst of accusations, Job is able to declare his conscience is clear. And that only God can be the foregiver. How important was Job's record as he was being accused? Will our records be as spotless?Probably not, but remember God forgives us.
Job is still maintaining his innocence and continually pleads for God to vindicate him. In this world, we can pray for God's mercy and be secure in the knowledge that God hears us and answers our prayers.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is out of rehab after many months for a crushed leg and doing well and being cared for by her ex. Pray for Gabe and Wanda. Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.