Who Do You Say? Reading With the People of God #19Näide

Speeches of Truth

In today’s passages Job is giving his reply to his friend Zophar’s first speech to Job. Job severely criticizes Zophar and friends in these passages (Chapter 12 verse 1 through Chapter 13 verse 12). Job declares his own righteousness (Chapter 12:13-19) and then appeals to God on his own behalf (Chapter 13:20-28 and beyond).

It seems that in 12:5, Job is telling his friends that it is easy for them, living in their comfortable world, to mock Job. Have we done the same thing to others too?

Job's goal is to speak the truth from his heart, even as he laments to God. Job was not afraid to speak his honest feelings to God who held Job’s very life in His hands. Job knows he, himself, is blameless, so he wants to know from God why he's being afflicted. Note: We can be honest with God, but we can expect and should be prepared for God to be very honest with us. (See how that turns out for Job at the end of the book.)

Revelation Passage:

The Setting: The Apostle John saw a vision and wrote The Revelation of that vision while being held as a prisoner on the island of Patmos. The Revelation was written clearly during a period when Christians were being threatened/persecuted by the government of Rome. Pressure was on Christians to recant their faith and accept the cult of emperor worship.

Geography: The island of Patmos was in the Aegean Sea off the west Coast of Asia. It was just about midway between Rome and Jerusalem as the crow flies. It makes more sense to me now that I know that the seven churches that John was writing to were just east of Patmos on the continent of Asia. These were real cities, with real Christian churches, facing real persecution. The Apostle Paul had direct contact with four of these churches because of his travels on his third missionary journey.

Interesting Facts: The number 7 occurs 54 times in the Book of Revelation. Throughout the Bible the number 7 is associated with completion, fulfillment, and perfection. In The Revelation there are 7 churches, 7 spirits, 7 lampstands, 7 stars, 7 seals on the scroll, etc. Keep an eye out for the other “sevens” throughout the book.

The Message: In today's passage the vision begins, and Christ identifies Himself as “the first and the last” which connects with verse 8 where He's called the “Alpha and the Omega” in the vision. (ESV) The message given to the Ephesians is that their love should be as strong as it was when they first believed in Jesus. They had abandoned that “first love”.

Primer contributed by Loren York