PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE RIGHT PLACE!  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. —Psalm 1:1-3  Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD…

CHANGE OF HEART, MIND AND DIRECTION!  Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. —Job 40:1-6  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be…

SEEK GODLY COUNSEL & BEWARE OF UNGODLY COUNSEL!  Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” —Job 38:1-2              Job had said things that were utterly wrong. He spoke as if he had the answers and yet his words, and surely his “friends” words, were darkened counsel spoken without knowledge. Oh how much of this darkened “counsel by words without knowledge” happens today!   People from all strata of life— social, economic, racial, ethnic, political… think they have the answers as they purely give their own “counsel by words without knowledge.” They think they are intelligent, they…

REASONS FOR STORMS  From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen. —Job 37:9-13              In this passage above we find out why storms come. The whirlwind is a violent storm with wind from the south and then there are the cold winds from the north.…

  SAFE IN HIS HANDS!  Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world? If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. —Job 34:12-15  Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” —Psalm 142:4-5              My…

  THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”  And Job again took up his discourse, and said: “Oh, that I were as in the months of old…” —Job 29:1-2             How we long for the “good old days” when today is not going well, especially when calamity is upon us. This is how Job was feeling with all that has happened to Him. Oh, the days when— God’s favor was upon Him He walked in the light of God He was in was in his prime He knew the friendship of God He had God’s presence with him His children were still with him He was not in material…

FEAR THE LORD!  But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? —Job 28:12  And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ —Job 28:28              What is wisdom? It is a fear of the Lord and and desire to love His as He desires. It is to turn away from evil and to follow His ways.   That is what understanding is. So with that in mind— Are you wise? Do you have understanding?             Those who do not fear the Lord live like they want to live without any regards to…

DEATH COMES TO US ALL!   When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb. The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable. —Job 21:32-34              150,000 people die every day… every day. Yet how many people personally do we know that have died today… or yesterday… or this past week? We may know of one or two, but surely just a few. But 150,000 die every day. They all have families and friends. They all have a story to tell. Each life is so valuable and the pain and grief of those left…

BE WISE IN INFORMATION GATHERING!  Then Job answered and said:  “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. —Job 12:1  In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. —Job 12:10              What a joy to know that the life of every living thing is in the hand of our Lord God Almighty. It is a delight to know that the breath of every single person is in His hand. Each person that you see today will be breathing because He is allowing it, causing it to happen. How many people will thank God that He is causing them…

DON’T HARDEN AGAINST GOD!  He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? — Job 9:4  Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. —Job 11:7-9  It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever. —Psalm 136:23  Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. —Psalm 136:26              There is none like our Lord God…