Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jun 10th, 2014 Hush, Listen and Pray – by Camille Stahl

Today’s Reading – Job 19 – 21 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – Colossians 1 – 4; Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 55:17

Read the “0610 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read a previous post from this passage – “The Words of My Mouth“

“They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?”  (Job 21:13-15)

After several conversations with his friends, Job seems to be getting angry.  Jobs tells his friends if they want to help him just listen and then they could mock him.

Job had lived a good life. He had many animals, and many children. He was a good man. But thieves had taken his animals, and his children were dead.  In the middle of it all, his wife told him to curse God and die.  But Job stayed faithful to his God.  He knew the advice his friends were giving, was not true.

Job described the good life of some evil people, and knew they enjoyed their lives.  Their power, they believe, came from their own doings.  These people did not want to serve anyone, especially God. They only cared about their own pleasure. They didn’t pray because they said, ‘We will not benefit if we pray. Prayer is a waste of time.’

Job did not behave like they did. He was glad to serve God.  He would pray even if he didn’t received benefits from it. He didn’t care if evil people lived a better life than him. He would not listen to wicked people’s advice. Job respected God, and Job loved God. God mattered more to Job than Job’s wealth.

Throughout the Bible we read about so many people whose lives changed because of seemingly bad times in their life.  When Noah, who was mocked by the people for building a boat on dry land, was saved, him and his family, from the flood.  When the male children were to be drowned in the Nile, God had His hand on Moses.  Moses later freed the children of Israel out of Egypt.  Joseph’s brothers sold him to be a slave.  Later in life, Joseph saved his people from the famine.  There are so many other examples.  But they all had one thing in common, they relied on God when the times got ruff.   Jesus himself, in His darkest hour, was praying and drawing closer to our Heavenly Father.

Testing will come to all believers.  If God is allowing it, we must remember it’s for our good and He is in control over everything.  We must trust.  If we know someone going through a trial, let’s remember to be a great friend and listen and pray.

Like Job, God may be saying to Satan, “Have you considered my servant,” and put your name there.

Thank You

1 John 5:13