Taste and See

The book of Job is included in that section of the Bible titled “Wisdom Literature” for a reason. 

The difficult paths of believers and unbelievers may seem similar. But Job says there are big distinctions! 

Hypocrisy in our day uses the best of Christian beliefs to disguise the worst of Christian behavior. 

“The ways of creation are wrapt in mystery. We may only marvel, and bow our head.” —Albert Einstein 

Yes, God helps those who help themselves—to the resources He's made available to us in Christ.

“How Thou canst think so well of us, Yet be the God Thou art, Is darkness to my intellect, But sunshine to my heart.” —F.W. Faber 

Oh the tragedy that the unrepentant wicked will see the Lamb all right, but in His wrath, not His love. 

We're not only the richest people in the world, but the richest in all of history. We'll give account for that!

“When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong” (Eccl 8:11, NLT). Job agrees.

Job is not only disturbed that he is being punished—and for what?—but that the wicked are not.

As much as possible, look up, not down; look forward, not back; look after others, not just yourself. 

We need to be careful of our wishes—we might just get them! Did Job really want to confront God? 

“Nothing is so near to me as God. God is nearer to me than I am to myself.” —Meister Eckhart (c 1260–1328) 

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit” (Ps 51:12).

Job raises a warning to his friends that we all need to heed—the danger of judgmental shortsightedness. 

Jesus called the people to notice the image on their coins' obverse, and then see the image on them!

Half full or half empty? It all depends on whether you're pouring something in or drinking it up. 

In an unexpected way, the grim waves of words crashing against Job drove him into the arms of God. 

There was no “tooting your own horn” in those days. This is more like Zophar on his shofar! 

“Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!'” —Thomas S. Monson 

Truth is progressively revealed, but that doesn't deny that seeds of future full-grown truths are found early on. 

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Php 1:6, ESV). 

Satan's watchword: “Prey without ceasing.” So you can probably guess what ours should be.

God is working in our waiting. He's committed to answering us, but He knows when it's best received. 

“You would-be plotters of the curves of life…bound for me the mystic wild parabola of love.” —A. Rutledge 

We who rally 'round the Cross know that, even there, “our God turned the curse into a blessing” (Neh 13:2). 

Christ not only passed through every grief for us, but He passes on to us the comfort He found there. 

If you think the worst of others, it may say more about your heart than it does about theirs. 

When the verse says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov 27:6), it probably means surgery, not savagery! 

Death and resurrection [have] even been muttered in conversations between…the vegetables. —C.S. Lewis 

No man can dream dreams lofty enough to touch the fringes of God's ultimate plans for us in Christ. 

If we only seek the Lord in hard times, would it surprise us if He kept us in hard times so we do? 

Here's God's message in Acts: “Go, stand…and speak to the people all the words of this life” (5:20). It still is.

In the midst of a chaotic world, the child of God stands because we know the Lord understands.

The evolutionist wants to silence nature as the voice of God, but it eloquently speaks everywhere.

Foolishness is more than stupidity. It is the deadly combination of ignorance and arrogance. 

There's an African proverb: “If a donkey kicks you and you kick back, you're both donkeys.” 

Who released “those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:15)? 

This section goes more deeply into our souls and God's mind. But it's just not deep enough! 

Wrestling with that Man may leave us limping, but it's also how we become princes with God.

Isn't it amazing! Our Mediator is completely even-handed in dealing with both the holy God and us sinners. 

“‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16). 

Jesus taught that, in true communion, we ask for God's will before we ask for our daily needs. 

Logic can deftly dissect the butterfly to prove decisively that it can fly—and then it can't. 

“If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Cor 8:2). 

Job shifts the topic from external influences to internal ones. What happens when hope dies?

“How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove?” (Job 6:25). Good question! 

In French (Avise la fin), these are the wise words over the entry of Scotland's Culzean Castle. 

Weak hands and wobbly knees rob me of my doing and my going. Thank God for strengtheners! 

Are you “able to comfort those who are in any trouble”? You can if you share the comfort of God (2 Cor 1:4). 

A hedge might be called the evidence of God's sovereign care. But what if the hedge is breached?