Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of Lutheran Church -- Canada. Located in Victoria, B.C., our worship services are Sunday mornings at 10:30am with Pastor Adam Chandler. All are welcome to join us. 

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church

Land/soil (adamah) is part of God's creation and the source of much of our prosperity. People do not own the land so much as lease it from God, especially in the case of ancient Israel. Sinning against God might involve improperly using His land or using its bounty for sinful ends. The original sin of Adam is manifested in the land by the land being corrupted by this sin as well, producing thorns and thistles. God's blessings in this world are still present, but evil is now present beside them. Job sees evil in his own life despite his righteousness, and we see it too despite us being made righteous by God. We hope to enter into Eden once more to be freed from the corruption of this world.

Job 31:38-40 Lease on God's Blessings

Job has his final great wish statement where he hopes to be brought before God in court. Job knows himself to be righteous and knows that God cannot convict him of guilt. Like us, Job has been forgiven by God through faith so our guilt is taken away. We are made righteous and enabled to practice righteousness because of God's action upon us. However, Job seems to be leaning too heavily on his acts of righteousness instead of relying on God as his own defense. Job is portraying God (not Satan) as his accuser, not the defense attorney (Redeemer). Satan's temptation is to making us despairing of God or prideful in our actions, making us look away from the true source of salvation: God Himself.

Job 31:35-37 Prideful Defense?

We come to the Eighth Commandment in Job's speech where he denies cursing even his enemies. People depend on others to assist them for at least part of their lives. Without a proper connection to others, you would be in trouble, which is why we need good reputation to interact in a healthy way. Having a bad reputation before God is worse since He offers all good things. Thankfully, Christ restores our reputation before God at the cross so we are not left in judgment for our sins but in possession of Christ's perfect reputation. For a properly functioning society, we need forgiveness, especially from God.

Job 31:29-34 Reputation and Society

Throughout this part of his defense, Job describes his relationships to people and things as understood in light of God. He is living in faith by the First Commandment, not making anything else the centre of his devotion. Therefore, Job devotes much of his wealth toward assisting vulnerable people. It is not enough not to harm them. We must also not neglect their needs. God's love and blessings for you are meant to be shared with everything so all people may be blessed by God.

Job 31:16-28 God Before Wealth

Job continues his defense by claiming he gave justice to his servants/slaves who were made by God just as he was. Slavery in the Bible is not the same type of slavery that was in the modern world. It was definitely different from a Hebrew (seen in Old Testament laws) and a Christian (seen in Paul's letters) perspective. You are to love slaves like you love everyone else. Christ became a servant/slave to us, dying on the cross, and this love of his we are to show to others, regardless of social standing. It is only servanthood to sin that results in the evil we witnessed in modern slavery.

Job 31:13-15 Slavery in Scripture

Job wraps up his description of being revered by the community prior to his sufferings. Now, even the criminal elements of society are openly mocking him. We need social support and loving relationships, especially those in the lowest rungs of society, especially criminals and now Job. God gives to us this social support by offering to His love and compassion through Christ, drawing us out of suffering into eternal care. He also guides people through the Holy Spirit and vocations to provide people and things we need.

Job 29:21 - 31:15 Where is God when people reject me?

Job sums up his exploration of wisdom with, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." People might be offended that wisdom is being defined by the God of the Bible, but if God exists then He is the true source of wisdom. He created the universe and directs it, therefore He knows more than any of us. The focus of discussion should always be over the existence of God, not over if believers are smarter than unbelievers. That said, if wisdom is linked to faith, then wisdom is also linked to God's grace in Christ. He forgives our sins, delivers us from evil, and guides us so we help others away from evils of this world.

Job 28:23-28 Devotion on True Wisdom

Jesus said the spring welling up to eternal life comes from his living water. The spring itself corresponds the creation of humanity from the watered ground in Genesis 2:6-7, to the spring of new life from the living water in baptism. It is from this living water well that we have life in Christ. <br />
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The shift in topic to marriage probably comes from Old Testament instances where people like Jacob find their bride at a well, and that baptism is preparation of the Christian to be in the Church, the bride of Christ (Eph 5:25-27). The Samaritan woman, having five husbands and a current lover, can be said to be adulterous and similar to ancient Samaria which was joined to five pagan nations. <br />
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Jesus points the woman and us to proper worship of God, away from a mountain or a temple, toward himself. We worship the Father in Spirit and truth. The Spirit is given to us in baptism and witnesses Christ (the way, the truth, and the life, John 14:6) to us. We are worshipping by faith in the Trinity. Jesus also uses an "I AM" statement in saying he is the Messiah, indicating to the woman that he is God in the flesh. The woman goes to her people, professing Christ to them. In so doing, she is like a spring of water, spreading living water so all may come to life in Christ.

Jesus said the spring welling up to eternal life comes from his living water. The spring itself corresponds the creation of humanity from the watered ground in Genesis 2:6-7, to the spring of new life from the living water in baptism. It is from this living water well that we have life in Christ. 

The shift in topic to marriage probably comes from Old Testament instances where people like Jacob find their bride at a well, and that baptism is preparation of the Christian to be in the Church, the bride of Christ (Eph 5:25-27). The Samaritan woman, having five husbands and a current lover, can be said to be adulterous and similar to ancient Samaria which was joined to five pagan nations. 

Jesus points the woman and us to proper worship of God, away from a mountain or a temple, toward himself. We worship the Father in Spirit and truth. The Spirit is given to us in baptism and witnesses Christ (the way, the truth, and the life, John 14:6) to us. We are worshipping by faith in the Trinity.

John Bible Study 12 (Properly Looking to God, John 4:13-29)

Even though Job said earlier that God does not seem to appoint times of judgment in this world, he recognizes that God can bring judgment to those who are wicked within this world. People generally try to hide their sinfulness or at least deny they should be punished for it. Truly, only those forgiven their sins in Christ through faith will not be punished for their sins. We find that generally the wicked will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded, but all this boils down to faith on a personal level. Those who are brought to the Lord through faith will be saved from the evils of this world.

Job 24:13-25 Judgment and Faith

This verse is plucked out alone to showcase how deep a faithful person's despair can become. Job uses two words for darkness in this verse which he uses previously in his speeches to talk about death, separation from God, Sheol, and uncreation. Although he has had some fantastic confessions in the faith of hope in the resurrection and the Redeemer so he may enjoy God's blessings, he is sorrowful now. Job feels like he can't even see God. However, just beyond the veil of darkness, God is still present with him--as God is present with all people in faith--and delivering Job unto everlasting life and blessedness.

Job 23:17 Devotion on Despair

Job continues his objection against the friends by stating there are wicked people who care nothing for the world beyond their death, and righteous people may receive nothing good before their death. Regardless, they both end in death. Job is not looking beyond this life (as he did earlier in Job 19:25-27 when he spoke of the Redeemer) that those who are righteous should be able to be brought out of death to be with God. Although all people suffer sin in their flesh, so all flesh must be put to death, only those who are made righteous by God will be raised apart from their sinfulness to receive blessing from God.

Job 21:17-26 Devotion on Judgment Beyond Death

The garments of the priests reflect the holiness of God, heaven, and the position of the priest. They bear the weight of the people on their shoulders (black onyx stones) but also display the righteousness of the people won by atoning sacrifices (breastplate). Christ is the fulfilment of the priestly image in that he lived out the role of priest: offering himself as a perfect sacrifice to deliver us from sin and death.

Exodus 39:1-31 Devotion on Priestly Garments

Jesus is bound and taken to Annas. Annas was the high priest before he was replaced by the Romans so now Caiaphas is the high priest. A person is supposed to remain the high priest until they die, so there could be a debate whether Annas or Caiaphas is the true high priest. Regardless, both condemn Jesus. Jesus is presented bound similar to a sacrificial offering (and Isaac, Genesis 22). Only the high priest can make the Atonement offering, so the sending of Jesus unto death for the people by both Annas and Caiaphas fulfills Old Testament Law for our forgiveness.

John 18:12-14, 19-24 Devotion on High Priestly Sacrifice

When Jesus claims he does not lose anyone, it means no one takes us from him. However, God allows those who act in unbelief to leave Him. The examples in the gospel of John are Judas and Peter. Peter commits evil and tries to avoid rightful punishment. If Jesus did not come to him to cause him to repent, Peter would have been condemned for his sins. The same is true for us. Although we sin in the faith (and may even break faith with God), our Lord still offers forgiveness through Christ for us. Our Lord calls through Word and Sacrament that we may repent and found once more in Him.

John 18:8-18, 25-27 Devotion on Peter's Denial

Job knows his righteousness can be defended by a heavenly witness before God. We know this to be true because Jesus Christ is the both our heavenly witness who is both our defense attorney and the one who makes us righteous. Yet, in this world, those who have given themselves over to their sin and argue against God falsely believe themselves to be righteous and all believers to be wicked despite them holding to God's law. Job experiences this with his friends and we experience this with people who reject the scriptures. But we persist in our struggle of faith with our Lord, pleading with Him to hear and deliver us, not because we believe ourselves to deserve it from being righteous but because we know we need our Lord.

Job 17:1-9 Devotion on Struggle of the Righteous

The people of Israel rebelled against their Saviour by turning to false worship. They were not completely destroyed but the punishments of execution (earthly authorities called by God) and plague (act of God). Justice in the universe must mean sin is counted as evil and is removed, prevented, etc. Punishment is what brings about the curbing or removing of sin. However, God still loves His people and sent Jesus to atone for our sin that he might take our sin and its punishment on himself. Delivered from evil, we persist in salvation by constantly receiving forgiveness through Word and Sacrament.

Exodus 32:20-33:6 Devotion on Punishment for Sin

Moses comes down Sinai with the stone tablets with the laws for proper worship at the Tabernacle. The people were fed up waiting and decided to worship whoever and however they like, making a golden calf from the gold God gave to them in Egypt. God is ready to destroy them, but stops at HIs word of promise and grace. Moses completely destroys the calf so not even the remnants can be used again. Worship is about us receiving and reflecting on the grace of God with the intent of sharing the goodness of God with others. Worship cannot be about our whims or desires, otherwise we would just be worshipping ourselves.

Exodus 31:18-32:20 Devotion on Worship and the Golden Calf

Job relates how he is an undeserved position of tribulation. He is coming before God in humility to request a reversal of his situation. He is forgiven and should not be tried according to his sins. To verify this, Job desires a witness in heaven who can defend him before God the judge. We have just this in the person of Jesus who is our heavenly witness providing testimony that we are forgiven our sins in him. We cannot be found guilty because our guilt is taken by Christ. Christ in turn gives us his righteousness. Therefore, in Christ's forgiveness, we are not guilty but righteous.

Job 16:15-22 Devotion on our Witness in Heaven

Job understands that his words have not altered his grief, so it is no wonder he persists in old concepts with new poetry. The stages of grief are not linear. A person can shift back and forth between them. Job returns to the notion of God seeming like a warrior against him. However, we know that God wars against this world's evil which afflicts us. We might blame Him for allowing evils to harm us, but we know He can deliver us from them. Like Job, we should remain steadfast in prayer. He will save us.

Job 16:6-17 Devotion Service

The tax of a half shekel (a weight, not a coin) at this time is similar to tithing in the Christian Church. You are offering an amount to assist the Church in upkeep and mission work. More importantly, the action of making an offering is a recognition of proper orientation in worship. You are giving something not because you seek to receive anything but that you have already received salvation from the Lord. The tax was also called "atonement money". The Lord had purchased the lives of His people by saving them from death, so now the people are living these God-given lives by following the Lord and helping their neighbours.

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