1 Corinthians 5. This is a stern chapter. Paul reminded the Corinthians that immorality defiles the church. Immorality must be judged, and somebody that continues to so do must be expelled.
Job 30. “But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.” Things were not going well for Job.
Job 31. Job ended his defense.
1 Corinthians 4. Paul reminded the Corinthians they are servants of Christ, stewards of the mysteries of God and fools for Christ’s Sake. Then Paul urged them to imitate him and not be arrogant. “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”
Job 27.Through it all Job maintained his integrity.
Job 28. Job continued with a discourse on wisdom.
Job 29. Job gave his best defense and recalled the good old days when God was with him.
1 Corinthians 3. Paul warned the Corinthians that sectarianism is carnal, we are all servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. One is planting, one is watering, but God gives the increase. Paul gave them another warning: Avoid worldly wisdom, “ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”
Job 24. Job complained of violence on earth.
Job 25. Bildad asked the question: How can man be righteous?
Job 26. Job replied and spoke of man’s frailty and God’s majesty.
1 Corinthians 2. Paul proclaimed Christ crucified, relying only on God’s power. This is God’s secret wisdom, spiritual wisdom, and in applying this “we have the mind of Christ“.
Job 22. Eliphaz the Temanite accused Job of wickedness.
Job 23. Job proclaimed God’s righteous judgments. Rejoice in the Lord. “ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.“
1 Corinthians 1 begins with greetings and thanksgiving from the Apostle Paul, who admonished the Corinthians their only leader is Christ and sectarianism is Sin, for Christ is the power and wisdom of God. The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, so glory only in the Lord.
Job 20. Zophar gave a sermon with regard to the wicked man.
Job 21. In reply Job gave a discourse on the wicked.
Romans 16. Sister Phoebe is commended, the Apostle Paul gave thanks, especially to Priscilla and Aquila, followed by a long list of greetings by name. Paul then warned the Romans to avoid divisive persons, followed by greetings from Paul’s friends, even Tertius, the scribe wrote a note. The letter ends with a benediction.
Job 17. Job continued praying for relief.
Job 18. Bildad pours it on; the wicked are punished.
Job 19. “I know that my redeemer liveth“.
Psalm 65, of David. A Psalm full of thanksgiving for atonement for iniquities, setting things straight in nature and among people, and providing for an abundant harvest, and the response is to burst out in song.
Romans 15. Bear each others’ burdens, look at Christ and glorify God together. The Apostle Paul had proclaimed the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum, but he really longed to visit Rome.
Job 15. Eliphaz unloaded on Job, accusing him of folly.
Job 16. Job replied: You pitiless comforters, you call yourself friends.
Taking a knee can refer to
This seems to have taken root in the Olympics this year, where both the U.S. and the Swedish women soccer team took a knee before the start of the game. The question is, do they even know what they were aligning themselves with in so doing?
Being a Christian myself I always came to think of the little chorus we sang from time to time during worship: (The words are an abbreviated paraphrase from Philippians 2:6-11)
The other image that is forever ingrained in my memory was when my wife and I were waiting for our daughter to come back from a few months in Sweden. We were standing outside the International arrivals building in Philadelphia when we heard a scream and a rather good looking black woman in her twenties came running out the door like she was pursued. Then she suddenly stopped, took a knee, went down on both knees, bent all the way down and kissed the ground and said in a strong but not loud voice, Thank you, God, thank you God. Then she rose up, and as we looked startled at her, she smiled at us and was gone. This was 30 years ago.
Romans 14. Some are weak in faith and those who are strong and can eat everything should not look down on vegetarians and vegans. Some observe the Lord’s day on the first day of the week, others still say “Sabbath is Sabbath.” Tolerate each other according too the law of liberty, for whatever is not of faith is sin, and it is not for you to judge. The law of love tells us not to flaunt one’s free drinking in front of an alcoholic among other things, for that could cause him to stumble.
Job 12. Job had heard enough and answered his critics.
Job 13. Job continued answering his three friends, and added a despondent prayer that contains this gem: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”
Job 14 contains the rest of Job’s prayer.
Romans 13. Paul reminded the Romans of all people to submit to government, follow the laws, pay their taxes and debts, love their neighbor and put on Christ. Any government is better than anarchy.
Job 9. Job: There is no mediator, no one is righteous before God, even though I am righteous.
Job 10. Job: I would Plead with God.
Job 11. It was time for Zophar the Naamathite to speak. He urged Job to repent.
