You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
Job 23:16
16 For God ['el] maketh my heart [leb] soft [rakak], and the
Almighty [Shadday] troubleth [bahal] me: KJV-Interlinear
16 'It is God who has made my
heart faint, And the Almighty who has dismayed me, NASB
The contrast, in our study of these verses is the
power of God verses the power of the world.
'El' is a reference to fearful, terrifying, awesome, beyond
comprehension. This is one characteristic
of God.
God has many descriptive terms attributed to Him. Terms which describe His attributes and
character. 'Shadday' stands for power,
omnipotent power. Take up all of the
power of the entire universe and pack it into one person and that tremendous
power still won't even begin to scratch the surface of the infinite power of
God.
When we honestly consider the power of God, and the
smallness of our own nature, then we have only one legitimate response, and
that is one of weakness, smallness, faint, pale, soft, which all refer to true
humility.
When people disregard God, then they tend to become
bold, brass, arrogant. They overestimate
their own importance and presume that others see just how important they are,
too.
Indifference, apathy, antagonism, self-pity and such
attitudes, are all characteristics of arrogance. They are the presumption that one does not
need God, or perhaps that God is incapable of dealing with our problems.
Even self-righteousness is a function of arrogance in
that we presume that God needs our help in solving the world's problems or in
straightening other people out. After
all, God doesn't seem to be doing anything right away, so shouldn't we get the
job done for Him?
However, in contrast, God expects an attitude of
humility. That does not means hanging
your head down and saying, 'Awe shucks!'
Humility is an attitude of respect for the authority and power of
God.
Spiritual growth leads to confidence and through
confidence you can be vocal and aggressive while still being respectful and
non-threatening. If you are a soldier,
you do your job and do it well. You kill or capture the enemy. If you are a ball player, you drive and
score. If you are in the service
industry, you help those whom you serve. Whatever it is that you do in life,
you practice, you educate yourself, and you do your job well. You do not have to back away from bullies, or
hide in the corner staring at the floor.
David was humble when he faced Goliath. Gideon was humble when he led 300 against
many tens of thousands. Jesus was humble
when He was falsely accused and beaten.
God created this universe. God set human history into motion. God controls history in its every
respect. God created man from the dust,
and that is what we are, dust.
It is God who created the distance between Him and us,
who knows the details of all of the tomorrows, whereas we do not.
Life is filled with uncertainties as far as we are
concerned. Look back at your records
from three or four years ago. How much
did you pay back then for insurance, for groceries, for electricity, for gas,
and how much do you pay now. I'll bet
your increase has been much more than the publicized one or two percent.
Government measurements are created by people who have
flaws, therefore their statistics are flawed. We are all faced with the growing
uncertainties of all of the tomorrows and the bad information of all of the
yesterdays.
But, believers who are advancing toward spiritual
maturity, have God, and Gods information is flawless and perfect.
We may wonder how we are going to make it next month or
next year, but God does not worry about that.
Moses will refer to Jesus Christ, who was in the
burning bush, as 'I Am'. The technical
term means He who has endless resources, or the infinitely self-sufficient one.
Gods resources are endless. There is nothing that He cannot provide. You, the mature believer, are the apple of
His eye, and there is nothing that He will not do for you.
Psa. 17:7-8
7 Wondrously show Thy lovingkindness, O Savior of
those who take refuge at Thy right hand From those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings, NASB
Isa. 41:10
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. KJV
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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