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“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… And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning….” Job 42: 5-6, 12a 
 
Job comes to the end of his prolonged period of suffering in chapter 42. The Book of Job addresses pain and suffering in a believer’s life. Job suffered profound material and personal loss, and then agonized from sore boils all over his body from head to foot. Already in despair, his friends visited and further tormented him, each in turn offering Job different “counsel” about why God was treating him this way. 
 
Finally, God himself broke into the conversation, and gave Job His account of His great work of Creation. As Job listened, he saw with increasing clarity the vast greatness and glory of God, and his own comparative tininess in the universe. Job confessed to the pride and rebellion against God that he now saw in his own heart and repented. Now he felt contentment just to be in fellowship with His God. 
 
The main point of Job’s story is God’s sovereignty. He created the universe, put everything in place, and keeps it all going. He’s in control, and doesn’t owe anyone explanations for why he does what he does. He knows what he’s doing, and His children can trust Him. 
 
Job’s “friends” had explained much to him about God, and even got a lot of it right. But one error all three repeated misrepresented God and made Him angry. All three said that God rewards the righteous, but punishes the unrighteous. Therefore, Job must be suffering because God is punishing him for sin. 
 
Job’s ordeal was a trial permitted by God, who had already told Satan that Job was “blameless and upright” and “There is none like him on the earth”. God knew that Job would remain faithful no matter what. 
 
Yet the extreme trial did bring to the surface a serious flaw in Job’s thinking about God and his relationship with him. Before the trial, Job saw himself as somewhat a Sheik worthy to walk with God. Now he recognizes his smallness in the universe; and understands how blessed he is to be in relationship with its Creator. Job confessed his sinful pride and repented. 
 
Now, God turns to address Job’s friends. Not only had they further tormented Job in his agony by their wrong understanding of God and accusations against him. But they offended God by repeating a serious falsehood about his character. 
 
He would forgive them, but after they went to Job and made sacrifice to God. Then Job would intercede on their behalf, and God would hear Job’s prayers for them. This, of course, necessitated on Job’s part that he first himself forgive his friends. (Job is a type of Christ, who suffered greatly during his earthly life, and made sacrifice and intercession on others behalf.) 
 
After this, the Lord delivered Job out of his painful circumstances, and blessed him with twice as much as he had before. God graciously restored to Job twice what he had before this testing, though he wasn’t obligated to return anything at all. 
 
Job lived a full life for another 140, enjoying his great-grandchildren. 
 
---Beverly Nickles

“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… And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning….”  Job 42: 5-6, 12a

Job comes to the end of his prolonged period of suffering in chapter 42. The Book of Job addresses pain and suffering in a believer’s life. Job suffered profound material and personal loss, and then agonized from sore boils all over his body from head to foot.  Already in despair, his friends visited and further tormented him, each in turn offering Job different “counsel” about why God was treating him this way.

Finally, God himself broke into the conversation, and gave Job His account of His great work of Creation.  As Job listened, he saw with increasing clarity the vast greatness and glory of God, and his own comparative tininess in the universe. Job confessed to the pride and rebellion against God that he now saw in his own heart and repented.  Now he felt content

Job repented, God raised him higher (Job 42:5-6,12a)

Fear God, and nothing else 
Proverbs 14:26 
 
Heard a preacher say recently, “Fear God. For if you fear God, you won’t fear anything else.” That caught my attention. 
 
People face so many fears these days and the frequency keeps dialing up. Exalting the Lord onto his ruling throne in our hearts is the right thing to do toward him and for ourselves. 
 
The command to “fear God” runs throughout the Bible. This was Paul’s recurring message to the church. A book could be written on the topic, but I’ll keep these comments brief. 
 
First, what does it mean to “fear God”? It doesn’t mean to feel afraid, but rather to properly reverence him. To take God more seriously than anything else and acknowledge his right to govern our lives. Recognizing him as the all-knowing, all-powerful God that he is. Allowing him his rightful place on the throne in our hearts, and never allowing him to get pushed aside. 
 
Fear of God is the central theme that winds through Proverbs. We learn that godly fear turns us away from evil, and instead leads to good things, such as humility, hard work, abundant life and honor. 
 
Two specific proverbs especially reveal fear of God as an antidote to earthly fear: 
 
Proverbs 14:26 says that fear of the Lord is “strong confidence”. It makes us fearless. Remembering that Almighty God holds our lives in his hands drives out the fear of adverse circumstances and of what other people might do against us. 
 
Proverbs 19:23 says that fear of the Lord leads to “fullness of life”. When fear of God moves in, fear of people and circumstances move out. They cannot live together in the same heart. This puts life in proper order, and leads to satisfying sleep and productivity. 
 
What’s the alternative? According to the Bible, the one who refuses to fear the Lord is a “fool”. 
 
---Beverly Nickles

Fear God, and nothing else
Proverbs 14:26

Heard a preacher say recently, “Fear God. For if you fear God, you won’t fear anything else.” That caught my attention. 

People face so many fears these days and the frequency keeps dialing up. Exalting the Lord onto his ruling throne in our hearts is the right thing to do toward him and for ourselves.

The command to “fear God” runs throughout the Bible. This was Paul’s recurring message to the church. A book could be written on the topic, but I’ll keep these comments brief.

First, what does it mean to “fear God”? It doesn’t mean to feel afraid, but rather to properly reverence him. To take God more seriously than anything else and acknowledge his right to govern our lives. Recognizing him as the all-knowing, all-powerful God that he is. Allowing him his rightful place on the throne in our hearts, and never allowing him to get pushed aside.

Fear of God is the central theme that winds through Proverbs. We learn that godly fear turns us away

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Job repented, God raised him higher (Job 42:5-6,12a)

Fear God, and nothing else (Proverbs 14:26)

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Job repented, God raised him higher (Job 42:5-6,12a)

Fear God, and nothing else (Proverbs 14:26)

Description

Group of Brands