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Morning Bible Reading - Job 40

  1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,  2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.  3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,  4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.  5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.  6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,  7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.  8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?  9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?  10 Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.  11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him.  12 Look on every one [that is] proud, [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.  13 Hide them in the dust together; [and] bind their faces in secret.  14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.  15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.  16 Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly.  17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.  18 His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron.  19 He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [unto him].  20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.  21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.  22 The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.  23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.  24 He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   0-999 Chapter Outline Job humbles himself to God. (1-5) The Lord reasons with Job to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom. (6-14) God|s power shown in Behemoth. (15-24)

Matthew Henry Commentary:   1-5 Communion with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins. There is need to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare us for remarkable deliverances. After God had shown Job, by his manifest ignorance of the works of nature, how unable he was to judge of the methods and designs of Providence, he puts a convincing question to him; Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? Now Job began to melt into godly sorrow: when his friends reasoned with him, he did not yield; but the voice of the Lord is powerful. When the Spirit of truth is come, he shall convince. Job yields himself to the grace of God. He owns himself an offender, and has nothing to say to justify himself. He is now sensible that he has sinned; and therefore he calls himself vile. Repentance changes men|s opinion of themselves. Job is now convinced of his error. Those who are truly sensible of their own sinfulness and vileness, dare not justify themselves before God. He perceived that he was a poor, mean, foolish, and sinful creature, who ought not to have uttered one word against the Divine conduct. One glimpse of God|s holy nature would appal the stoutest rebel. How, then will the wicked bear the sight of his glory at the day of judgment? But when we see this glory revealed in Jesus Christ, we shall be humbled without being terrified; self-abasement agrees with filial love. (Job 40:6-14)

Matthew Henry Commentary:   6-14 Those who profit by what they have heard from God, shall hear more from him. And those who are truly convinced of sin, yet need to be more thoroughly convinced and more humbled. No doubt God, and he only, has power to humble and bring down proud men; he has wisdom to know when and how to do it, and it is not for us to teach him how to govern the world. Our own hands cannot save us by recommending us to God|s grace, much less rescuing us from his justice; and therefore into his hand we must commit ourselves. The renewal of a believer proceeds in the same way of conviction, humbling, and watchfulness against remaining sin, as his first conversion. When convinced of many evils in our conduct, we still need convincing of many more.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   15-24 God, for the further proving of his own power, describes two vast animals, far exceeding man in bulk and strength. Behemoth signifies beasts. Most understand it of an animal well known in Egypt, called the river-horse, or hippopotamus. This vast animal is noticed as an argument to humble ourselves before the great God; for he created this vast animal, which is so fearfully and wonderfully made. Whatever strength this or any other creature has, it is derived from God. He that made the soul of man, knows all the ways to it, and can make the sword of justice, his wrath, to approach and touch it. Every godly man has spiritual weapons, the whole armour of God, to resist, yea, to overcome the tempter, that his never-dying soul may be safe, whatever becomes of his frail flesh and mortal body.

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Job 40:5-999 

Morning Bible Reading - Job 41

  1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down?  2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?  3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft [words] unto thee?  4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?  5 Wilt thou play with him as [with] a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?  6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?  7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?  8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.  9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not [one] be cast down even at the sight of him?  10 None [is so] fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?  11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.  12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.  13 Who can discover the face of his garment? [or] who can come [to him] with his double bridle?  14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth [are] terrible round about.  15 [His] scales [are his] pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.  16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.  17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.  18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes [are] like the eyelids of the morning.  19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, [and] sparks of fire leap out.  20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as [out] of a seething pot or caldron.  21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.  22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.  23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.  24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether [millstone].  25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.  26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.  27 He esteemeth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.  28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.  29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.  30 Sharp stones [are] under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.  31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.  32 He maketh a path to shine after him; [one] would think the deep [to be] hoary.  33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.  34 He beholdeth all high [things]: he [is] a king over all the children of pride.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   15-24 Concerning Leviathan. --The description of the Leviathan, is yet further to convince Job of his own weakness, and of God|s almighty power. Whether this Leviathan be a whale or a crocodile, is disputed. The Lord, having showed Job how unable he was to deal with the Leviathan, sets forth his own power in that mighty creature. If such language describes the terrible force of Leviathan, what words can express the power of God|s wrath? Under a humbling sense of our own vileness, let us revere the Divine Majesty; take and fill our allotted place, cease from our own wisdom, and give all glory to our gracious God and Saviour. Remembering from whom every good gift cometh, and for what end it was given, let us walk humbly with the Lord.

NO J Vernon Mcgee Found

Morning Bible Reading - Job 42

  1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,  2 I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.  3 Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.  4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.  5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.  6 Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.  7 And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].  8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you [after your] folly, in that ye have not spoken of me [the thing which is] right, like my servant Job.  9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite [and] Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.  10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.  11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.  12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.  13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.  14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.  15 And in all the land were no women found [so] fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.  16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, [even] four generations.  17 So Job died, [being] old and full of days.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   0-999 Chapter Outline Job humbly submits unto God. (1-6) Job intercedes for his friends. (7-9) His renewed prosperity. (10-17)

Matthew Henry Commentary:   1-6 Job was now sensible of his guilt; he would no longer speak in his own excuse; he abhorred himself as a sinner in heart and life, especially for murmuring against God, and took shame to himself. When the understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of grace, our knowledge of Divine things as far exceeds what we had before, as the sight of the eyes excels report and common fame. By the teachings of men, God reveals his Son to us; but by the teachings of his Spirit he reveals his Son in us, Ga 1:16, and changes us into the same image, 2Co 3:18. It concerns us to be deeply humbled for the sins of which we are convinced. Self-loathing is ever the companion of true repentance. The Lord will bring those whom he loveth, to adore him in self-abasement; while true grace will always lead them to confess their sins without self-justifying.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   7-9 After the Lord had convinced and humbled Job, and brought him to repentance, he owned him, comforted him, and put honour upon him. The devil had undertaken to prove Job a hypocrite, and his three friends had condemned him as a wicked man; but if God say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant, it is of little consequence who says otherwise. Job|s friends had wronged God, by making prosperity a mark of the true church, and affliction a certain proof of God|s wrath. Job had referred things to the future judgment and the future state, more than his friends, therefore he spake of God that which was right, better than his friends had done. And as Job prayed and offered sacrifice for those that had grieved and wounded his spirit, so Christ prayed for his persecutors, and ever lives, making intercession for the transgressors. Job|s friends were good men, and belonged to God, and He would not let them be in their mistake any more than Job; but having humbled him by a discourse out of the whirlwind, he takes another way to humble them. They are not to argue the matter again, but they must agree in a sacrifice and a prayer, and that must reconcile them, Those who differ in judgment about lesser things, yet are one in Christ the great Sacrifice, and ought therefore to love and bear with one another. When God was angry with Job|s friends, he put them in a way to make peace with him. Our quarrels with God always begin on our part, but the making peace begins on his. Peace with God is to be had only in his own way, and upon his own terms. These will never seem hard to those who know how to value this blessing: they will be glad of it, like Job|s friends, upon any terms, though ever so humbling. Job did not insult over his friends, but God being graciously reconciled to him, he was easily reconciled to them. In all our prayers and services we should aim to be accepted of the Lord; not to have praise of men, but to please God. (Job 42:10-17)

Matthew Henry Commentary:   10-17 In the beginning of this book we had Job|s patience under his troubles, for an example; here, for our encouragement to follow that example, we have his happy end. His troubles began in Satan|s malice, which God restrained; his restoration began in God|s mercy, which Satan could not oppose. Mercy did not return when Job was disputing with his friends, but when he was praying for them. God is served and pleased with our warm devotions, not with our warm disputes. God doubled Job|s possessions. We may lose much for the Lord, but we shall not lose any thing by him. Whether the Lord gives us health and temporal blessings or not, if we patiently suffer according to his will, in the end we shall be happy. Job|s estate increased. The blessing of the Lord makes rich; it is he that gives us power to get wealth, and gives success in honest endeavours. The last days of a good man sometimes prove his best, his last works his best works, his last comforts his best comforts; for his path, like that of the morning light, shines more and more unto the perfect day.

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Job 42:1-999 

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Job 42:7-999 

Evening Bible Reading - Acts 15

  22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:  23 And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:  24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment:  25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth.  28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;  29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.  30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:  31 [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.  32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them].  33 And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.  34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.  35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.  36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they do.  37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.  38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.  39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;  40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.  41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   22-35 Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good unto God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things before mentioned, which were necessary, either on their own account, or from present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were no longer imposed on them, which perplexed the conscience, but could not purify or pacify it; and that those who troubled their minds were silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored, and that which threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for which they blessed God. Many others were at Antioch. Where many labour in the word and doctrine, yet there may be opportunity for us: the zeal and usefulness of others should stir us up, not lay us asleep.

Matthew Henry Commentary:   36-41 Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, no less than Paul and Barnabas, yet made to end well. Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them. We should suspect ourselves of being partial, and guard against this in putting our relations forward. Paul did not think him worthy of the honour, nor fit for the service, who had departed from them without their knowledge, or without their consent: see ch. 13:13. Neither would yield, therefore there was no remedy but they must part. We see that the best of men are but men, subject to like passions as we are. Perhaps there were faults on both sides, as usual in such contentions. Christ|s example alone, is a copy without a blot. Yet we are not to think it strange, if there are differences among wise and good men. It will be so while we are in this imperfect state; we shall never be all of one mind till we come to heaven. But what mischief the remainders of pride and passion which are found even in good men, do in the world, and do in the church! Many who dwelt at Antioch, who had heard but little of the devotedness and piety of Paul and Barnabas, heard of their dispute and separation; and thus it will be with ourselves, if we give way to contention. Believers must be constant in prayer, that they may never be led by the allowance of unholy tempers, to hurt the cause they really desire to serve. Paul speaks with esteem and affection both of Barnabas and Mark, in his epistles, written after this event. May all who profess thy name, O loving Saviour, be thoroughly reconciled by that love derived from thee which is not easily provoked, and which soon forgets and buries injuries.

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Acts 15:22-41 

A Commentary By J Vernon MCgee For Acts 15:36-41