Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 54 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive! [Psalms 54:4] David is in hiding from King Saul, who wants to kill him; David prays this prayer after the Ziphites betray him to Saul. Were these the words he prayed after God rescued him, or what he prayed while he was still…

SCRIPTURE: Job 42 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. [Job 42:5] During his hardship, God seemed absent to Job; everything he believed about God was put to the test. Many of us, like Job, have beliefs about God that do not always fit with life…

SCRIPTURE: Job 41 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Nothing on earth is its equal, no other creature so fearless. Of all the creatures, it is the proudest. It is the king of beasts. [Job 41:33-34] In this conversation, God uses the largest beast known at the time [the behemoth or leviathon, Job 40:15, Job 41:1] to show His own greatness and our smallness….

SCRIPTURE: Job 40 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too…

SCRIPTURE: Job 39 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Do you know when the wild goats give birth? Have you watched as deer are born in the wild? Do you know how many months they carry their young? Are you aware of the time of their delivery? [Job 39:1-2] Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings…

SCRIPTURE: Job 38 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. [Job 38:3-4] Finally, after extended controversy between Job and his friends, we now get to God’s response. But…

SCRIPTURE: Job 37 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence. [Job 37:23-24] I have to admit it, I like much of what Elihu has to say; his reminder about…

SCRIPTURE: Job 36 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Let me go on, and I will show you the truth. For I have not finished defending God! [Job 36:2] Does God need to be defended by us? I often think about this when I hear about people or religions that impose punishments against people who speak against their God or their faith….

SCRIPTURE: Job 35 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. [Job 35:13] Have you ever felt that God wasn’t listening to you? Have you ever complained that God didn’t seem to care for you? Well, according to Elihu, this is wrong and you ought to be ashamed of…

SCRIPTURE: Job 34 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God. [Job 34:36-37] The book of Job presents two approaches to the struggle with evil and why suffering happens. Job’s friends…