Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

If we are followers of Yshua, then we are called to preach His Word. It is dangerous to measure success in ministry in the first place, let alone counting the number of spirits we have saved. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Our mission is to preach His Good News. And the way we do this is to encourage as well as to correct, and to do this with patience and correct teaching. This is to be done all the time, not just some time we set aside for this purpose.

Preach the word!

2 timothy 4:2
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching

Preach the word is one of the many things this chapter encourages believers to do. Hence we are called to preach and we do so at different extent. It does not say we have to get recognition for our ability to preach nor any kind of certification. When we are grounded in the word, the Holy Spirit would help us overcome other obstacles so that His word is made known.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me

The letter to the lukewarm church of Laodicea is to warn them against their self-reliance and self-satisfaction leading to arrogance since they did not need any material things from God. The harsh rebuke is such that God would rather they be cold like unbelievers, which still had a chance of listening to the gospel. The state of being lukewarm means that the people already know about God, but have no apparent need for God, these are the people most at risk of sliding away unknowingly.

God reminds them that although they are materially self-sufficient, they are in fact wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked unless they walk with God. They are urged to take God's gold and white garments which are the free gifts of salvation. They are reminded to be zealous and repent, and that Yshua is always ready to meet them where they are. Those who overcome are rewarded by sitting next to Yshua's throne.



Revelations 3
The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans[f] write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[g] I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

Paul gives the strong command to preach the word, warning that in the last days, people will fall away from the true doctrine. They will be seduced by false teachings which give people what they want to hear. So it is so much more important to be watchful and continue to preach the word with patience.

Paul acknowledges that his end is coming soon. He is pleased that he has done his utmost, "fought the good fight" and "kept the faith". He knows what is in store for him - "the crown of righteousness".

Paul reveals his challenges to his readers. One of his co-workers Demas, have abandoned him, and he now calls for Mark who had come back to the ministry. Also he warns against detractors including Alexander the coppersmith. Paul gives thanks to God who continues to sustain him against these opposition. Finally Paul closes the letter by mentioning a few of his fellow workers.



2 Timothy 4
Preach the Word

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at[a] His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

21 Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

22 The Lord Jesus Christ[b] be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure

In this chapter Paul teaches about relationship or how to treat others. In particular the ways to treat widows are listed. For the younger widows, since they are still generally active, Paul was suggesting that they re-marry. In the second part of this chapter, we are taught to honour the elders. These teachings rather than rules are meant to promote a fairer and more tolerant society, even among a society of believers. This is also to prevent incorrect judgment being made too quickly or too easily overlooking sinfulness.




1 Timothy 5
Treatment of Church Members

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Honor True Widows

3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and[a] acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or[b] woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Honor the Elders

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,”[c] and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”[d] 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels

There is second account of mass feeding and this is with seven loaves of bread feeding four thousand people. Jesus showed them how to give thanks, broke the bread, then distributed the food. A short mention of the Pharisees asking for a sign, and Jesus flatly denied them of such signs - but elsewhere He does give signs to His people.

Jesus seemed to have a difficult teaching for His disciples. He told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. However, since the disciples were preoccupied with their own lack of bread on the boat, they thought Jesus must be talking about the same situation. Then Jesus asked them how many baskets of bread He created when He broke the few pieces of bread. Although they answered the number of baskets correctly, it appeared that they still did not understand and Jesus did not reveal the answer here. Perhaps it is to do with the fact that a few bad teachings such as in the Pharisees, can affect a large population.

Another curious account of Jesus healing a blind man. The interesting facts were that Jesus spit on the man's eyes during the healing process. Also the first healing, resulting in partial healing since the man saw other people like walking trees. And only in the second healing that the man received clear sight.

Jesus asked his disciples who others say He was and who they think He was. Peter was first to answer that Jesus is the Christ. And Jesus told them not to tell others yet. Jesus also revealed to them the detail of His death and resurrection. Peter rebuked Jesus but Jesus scolded Peter that he was not thinking in terms of God's plan and will.

Finally Jesus calls on His people to follow Him in the most demanding way yet. This is where He asks us to carry the cross, to follow in His footsteps of suffering for the Kingdom. Important point to note that it is not a call to any kind of suffering, but suffering for His cause. He expands this to warn people who are ashamed of His name or His words, that He will also be ashamed of them at His Second Coming.




Mark 8
Feeding the Four Thousand

1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”

4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”

5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”

And they said, “Seven.”

6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees Seek a Sign

11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples[a] had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still[b] hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

They said to Him, “Twelve.”

20 “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

And they said, “Seven.”

21 So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”


A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida

22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.

24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”[c]


Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”

28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.


Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”


Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

He Awakens Me Morning by Morning

This chapter starts with the description of Israel's situation of sin and transgression. God pointed out the consequences were the result of their own transgressions. God again tells of the future Messiah, and although the references can be quite general, there are some specific ones which were written of Messiah Yeshua. These includes "I gave My back to those who struck Me, And I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. Messiah was also referred to as Servant.



Isaiah 50
The Servant, Israel’s Hope

1 Thus says the Lord:
“Where is the certificate of your mother’s divorce,
Whom I have put away?
Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you?
For your iniquities you have sold yourselves,
And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.
2 Why, when I came, was there no man?
Why, when I called, was there none to answer?
Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink because there is no water,
And die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness,
And I make sackcloth their covering.”
4 “The Lord God has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
5 The Lord God has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 “For the Lord God will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the Lord God will help Me;
Who is he who will condemn Me?
Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;
The moth will eat them up.
10 “Who among you fears the Lord?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness
And has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord
And rely upon his God.
11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with sparks:
Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—
This you shall have from My hand:
You shall lie down in torment.

Let My Prayer Be Set Before You As Incense

The psalmist, David, cries out to God to hear him. A few interesting prayer request he makes to God which is not only for improving his character but to improve his relationship with God. He prays that God watch over his lips mouth, guard his heart from wicked and evil things, let himself be rebuked and disciplined by righteous people when he needs it.

Such is an honest prayer by a man after God's heart. His eyes are constantly focused on God, whom he takes refuge in. He asks God to nourish his soul. Finally, for a man with many enemies, he asks God to help him escape the traps of his enemies.


Psalm 141
Prayer for Safekeeping from Wickedness
A Psalm of David.

1 Lord, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.

7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.

8 But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
Do not leave my soul destitute.

9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely.

The Mighty One, God the LORD Has Spoken and Called the Earth

This psalm opens with the description of the majesty of the LORD God. He is preceded by fire and conditions are very tempestuous. God calls out to His people as a Judge. God will testify against His people Israel and remember their sacrifices. However God does not depend on the sacrifices themselves. In fact God reminds them to call upon Him when they are in trouble and He will deliver them and they would glorify Him.
God will rebuke the wicked, whether or not they declare His statutes. God delivers a stern warning to those who forget him. There is still a chance for the wicked if they repent, and turn to praise and glorify God and walk in His ways, and God will show them salvation. 

Psalm 50
A Psalm of Asaph.

 1 The Mighty One, God the LORD,
         Has spoken and called the earth
         From the rising of the sun to its going down.
 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
         God will shine forth.
 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;
         A fire shall devour before Him,
         And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.
        
 4 He shall call to the heavens from above,
         And to the earth, that He may judge His people:
 5 “Gather My saints together to Me,
         Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
 6 Let the heavens declare His righteousness,
         For God Himself is Judge.  Selah 
        
 7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak,
         O Israel, and I will testify against you;
         I am God, your God!
 8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices
         Or your burnt offerings,
         Which are continually before Me.
 9 I will not take a bull from your house,
         Nor goats out of your folds.
 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine,
         And the cattle on a thousand hills.
 11 I know all the birds of the mountains,
         And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
        
 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you;
         For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.
 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls,
         Or drink the blood of goats?
 14 Offer to God thanksgiving,
         And pay your vows to the Most High.
 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
         I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
        
 16 But to the wicked God says:
         “What right have you to declare My statutes,
         Or take My covenant in your mouth,
 17 Seeing you hate instruction
         And cast My words behind you?
 18 When you saw a thief, you consented[a] with him,
         And have been a partaker with adulterers.
 19 You give your mouth to evil,
         And your tongue frames deceit.
 20 You sit and speak against your brother;
         You slander your own mother’s son.
 21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;
         You thought that I was altogether like you;
         But I will rebuke you,
         And set them in order before your eyes.
        
 22 “Now consider this, you who forget God,
         Lest I tear you in pieces,
         And there be none to deliver:
 23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
         And to him who orders his conduct aright
         I will show the salvation of God.”

O LORD, Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Wrath

David is pleading to God to forgive his wrongdoings which includes sin, iniquities, foolishness. He then describes his weaknesses physically, and perhaps spiritually. The first half of this psalm may be an example of what a person with contrite heart and humble spirit is.

In the second part of the psalm David describes what seem to be an incredibly sorry state where his friends and relatives are of no help or comfort to him. So David turns fully to God and has the confidence that God listens to him. The final verse pleads for God not to forsake him and not be too far from him.


Psalm 38

A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.

 1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,
         Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!
 2 For Your arrows pierce me deeply,
         And Your hand presses me down.
       
 3 There is no soundness in my flesh
         Because of Your anger,
         Nor any health in my bones
         Because of my sin.
 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
         Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
 5 My wounds are foul and festering
         Because of my foolishness.
       
 6 I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly;
         I go mourning all the day long.
 7 For my loins are full of inflammation,
         And there is no soundness in my flesh.
 8 I am feeble and severely broken;
         I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.
       
 9 Lord, all my desire is before You;
         And my sighing is not hidden from You.
 10 My heart pants, my strength fails me;
         As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
       
 11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague,
         And my relatives stand afar off.
 12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;
         Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction,
         And plan deception all the day long.
       
 13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;
         And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
 14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear,
         And in whose mouth is no response.
       
 15 For in You, O LORD, I hope;
         You will hear, O Lord my God.
 16 For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me,
         Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.”
       
 17 For I am ready to fall,
         And my sorrow is continually before me.
 18 For I will declare my iniquity;
         I will be in anguish over my sin.
 19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong;
         And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.
 20 Those also who render evil for good,
         They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.
       
 21 Do not forsake me, O LORD;
         O my God, be not far from me!
 22 Make haste to help me,
         O Lord, my salvation!

Give Ear to my Words, O LORD; Do Not Rebuke me in Your Anger

In prayer, cry out to God, that's how David approaches God. God is merciful and faithful and David can always turn to God when faced with his enemies. God defends those who trust in him and bless the righteous; surrounds them with a shield. Obviously none is righteous by our own means - but only through faith which God counts as righteousness.

The next psalm sounds like David has displeased the LORD in some way and he realized this. Instead of denying it, he brings his sins up to God and asks God not to be angry at him. Not sure if the Psalm was written at David's old age hence the reference of weakness and bone trouble, but it can also mean weakness in spirit which led David to cry out to God. He comes to God with a lowly spirit and a contrite heart. In this psalm, David expresses his grief; but following his prayers to God, he had full confidence that his prayers is heard by God who will deal with his enemies.



Psalm 6

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp.[b] A Psalm of David.

 1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
         Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
 2 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;
         O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
 3 My soul also is greatly troubled;
         But You, O LORD—how long?
       
 4 Return, O LORD, deliver me!
         Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
 5 For in death there is no remembrance of You;
         In the grave who will give You thanks?
       
 6 I am weary with my groaning;
         All night I make my bed swim;
         I drench my couch with my tears.
 7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
         It grows old because of all my enemies.
       
 8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
         For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
 9 The LORD has heard my supplication;
         The LORD will receive my prayer.
 10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
         Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

Psalm 5

To the Chief Musician. With flutes.[a] A Psalm of David.

 1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,

         Consider my meditation.

 2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,

         My King and my God,

         For to You I will pray.

 3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;

         In the morning I will direct it to You,

         And I will look up.

       

 4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,

         Nor shall evil dwell with You.

 5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;

         You hate all workers of iniquity.

 6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;

         The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

       

 7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;

         In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.

 8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;

         Make Your way straight before my face.

       

 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;

         Their inward part is destruction;

         Their throat is an open tomb;

         They flatter with their tongue.

 10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!

         Let them fall by their own counsels;

         Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,

         For they have rebelled against You.

       

 11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

         Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

         Let those also who love Your name

         Be joyful in You.

 12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

         With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Job's 1st response

After the advice from his friend Eliphaz, Job continues to lament. He expresses how he wished to be dead than to face such misery. Then he rebukes his friends, for instead of listening to Job in a comforting manner, his friends tried to find fault with Job. In his deepest despair, Job was able to proclaim his righteousness and also challenging his friends. 


It is tempting for us to judge Job as having to much self-pity, but not many of us has lost what Job had lost. We cannot imagine the pain Job felt.The positive aspect of all this is that we see Job's righteous character and faithfulness to God. Imagine Job must be so confused as he knew he did not do anything wrong and yet he was faced with disaster in supernatural proportions. Yet he would not blame or curse God.


Job 6:
¹ Then Job answered and said:
 ² “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
      And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
 ³ For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
      Therefore my words have been rash.
 ⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
      My spirit drinks in their poison;
      The terrors of God are arrayed against me.
 ⁵ Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass,
      Or does the ox low over its fodder?
 ⁶ Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
      Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
 ⁷ My soul refuses to touch them;
      They are as loathsome food to me.
 ⁸ “Oh, that I might have my request,
      That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
 ⁹ That it would please God to crush me,
      That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
 ¹⁰ Then I would still have comfort;
      Though in anguish I would exult,
      He will not spare;
      For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
 ¹¹ “What strength do I have, that I should hope?
      And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
 ¹² Is my strength the strength of stones?
      Or is my flesh bronze?
 ¹³ Is my help not within me?
      And is success driven from me?
 ¹⁴ “To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
      Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
 ¹⁵ My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
      Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
 ¹⁶ Which are dark because of the ice,
      And into which the snow vanishes.
 ¹⁷ When it is warm, they cease to flow;
      When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
 ¹⁸ The paths of their way turn aside,
      They go nowhere and perish.
 ¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look,
      The travelers of Sheba hope for them.
 ²⁰ They are disappointed because they were confident;
      They come there and are confused.
 ²¹ For now you are nothing,
      You see terror and are afraid.
 ²² Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’?
      Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
 ²³ Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’?
      Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?
 ²⁴ “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
      Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
 ²⁵ How forceful are right words!
      But what does your arguing prove?
 ²⁶ Do you intend to rebuke my words,
      And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
 ²⁷ Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
      And you undermine your friend.
 ²⁸ Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
      For I would never lie to your face.
 ²⁹ Yield now, let there be no injustice!
      Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!
 ³⁰ Is there injustice on my tongue?
      Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?