Song of Solomon 5:1 — Solomon is enjoying fully the gift of intimacy without guilt and shame (Nelson, pg. 103).
Song of Solomon 5:2-3 — According to Nelson, this is a new event in the relationship. Solomon’s wife is in bed, but he is home late. His wife is in bed and upset (Nelson, pg. 110).
Song of Solomon 5:4-6 — By the time his new wife gets to the door to let him in, Solomon leaves upset (Nelson, pg. 111).
Song of Solomon 5:7 — The watchmen are much rougher than in Song of Solomon 3:3. If your beloved is so special, why is he gone?
Song of Solomon 5:10-16 — The wife responds by sharing why she loves her husband, renewing the lost affection.
Song of Solomon 6:3 — A great summary of the marriage relationship – “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” There is no “you” and “me,” just “us” (Nelson, pg. 129)!
Song of Solomon 6:4-7 —
Rather than displaying silence in expectation of an apology or an angry response, Solomon greeted his bride with genuine compliments, telling her essentially, “You are as lovely as I remember you on our wedding night, and I respect you fully as my wife. You are my delight (Tirzah) and my soul’s refuge of peace (Jerusalem).
Nelson, pg. 145
He was forgiving his bride even before she had a chance to ask for forgiveness.
Nelson, pg. 146
Song of Solomon 6:13 — The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary (JFB) notes that the Shulamite is a variation of Solomon. A reference to her taking his name.
Song of Solomon 7:1-2 —
Solomon complimented what he alone knew to be true about his wife. Wives in Solomon’s time didn’t wear bikinis to the beach.
Nelson, pg. 164
Song of Solomon 7:11-12 — Men can and should be romantic (Nelson, pg. 157).
2 Corinthians 9:5-7 — God’s model for giving:
Planned
Resulting
Cheerful
2 Corinthians 9:15 — No matter how much you give, you can never outgive the LORD!
Psalm 51:3 — As Ron Hamilton shares in his song based on this verse, “My Sin Is Ever Before Me!”
Psalm 51:16 — We’ve read this before and will read this again: God doesn’t want sacrifice as much as He wants obedience; if we fail at that, He wants contrition.
Proverbs 22:24 — No, we are not to be friends with all men.
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Song of Solomon 1:1 — You’re more likely to hear a message from Ephesians than from the Song of Solomon. But there is value to this book! As part of my premarital counseling, my pastor gave me Tommy Nelson’s video set on the Song of Solomon. You can listen for free to the sermon set at his church’s website. Models of courtship vary from family to family and church to church, so don’t think this is a substitute for your own family and church. Tommy does a good job at explaining a very confusing book. In addition to Tommy’s interpretation, though, there is one other perspective of the Song of Solomon you should be aware of. Myron Kauk believes in the “three character hypothesis” which argues that “(t)he main characters in the story include King Solomon, a shepherd girl, and her beloved shepherd, who is understood to be someone separate from the king.” Our study will not follow this interpretation.
The same God who has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, the same God who calls us to righteousness, holiness, and a life without compromise, the same God who forgives sin and guides those who seek wisdom, this same God is the foremost expert on your need for romance, your sex drive, and your future or current marriage. Based on what He knows about us and desires for us, He has provided an instruction manual so that we might truly live with the joy and intensity of satisfaction that He created us to experience. That instruction manual of God is the book of the Bible titled the Song of Solomon.
Introduction to The Book of Romance by Tommy Nelson
Song of Solomon 1:2-3 — I’ll be borrowing from Tommy Nelson’s thoughts because he’s done a great job at expositing this book. In the first couple of verses, we see the physical attraction and the spiritual attraction. “Thy name” is the same as a person’s reputation.
Song of Solomon 1:6 — She is sunburned from diligently working in the fields (see Proverbs 31:13).
Song of Solomon 1:7 — Nelson points out that she refuses to be one of the prostitutes who “turneth aside by the flocks;” he holds her up as a model of a woman of conviction.
Song of Solomon 2:1 — Nelson shows how Solomon’s love for the woman raised her self-esteem (Song of Solomon 1:6).
Song of Solomon 2:4 — Many in church history who were bothered by the vivid language used in this book have interpreted this as an allegory of Christ’s love for His church. Thus, this verse has been incorporated into a classic junior church song:
Song of Solomon 2:15 — Romance is not just about vague generalities; a commitment to dealing with details (little foxes) is necessary.
Song of Solomon 3:7 — The wedding bed approaches – Nelson shares these stats about marriage:
80% of couples that shack up before marriage end up splitting up
60% of marriages by a justice of the peace end up divorcing
The problem is that as few as 11% of American couples pray together on a daily basis outside of meals, even though over 25% identify as Evangelical Protestant.
Song of Solomon 4:1-7 — It’s okay to compliment your bride! As a newly married husband, one of the challenges to remember is not to take her for granted!
Song of Solomon 4:16 — As Solomon is consummating his marriage, this is a helpful reminder that sex outside of marriage is strongly warned against throughout the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8)!
2 Corinthians 8:16 — We’ll read Paul’s letter to Titus soon, but it’s obvious that Paul highly values his heart for the ministry!
2 Corinthians 8:20 — As Christians, we must strive to be blameless in all aspects of life, including our financial dealings. If you need examples of financial safeguards, go back and look at Ezra!
Psalm 50:4 — We’ve seen several reminders lately that God will judge His people.
Psalm 50:15 — God doesn’t desire sacrifice as much as He desires us to call upon Him! Let’s spend time with Him in prayer!
Proverbs 22:23 — O.J. Simpson’s legal team were legends: Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro, Robert Kardashian. But the greatest advocate in history is the one who pleads the cause of the poor (James 2:16).
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Ecclesiastes 10:1 — If you read about marketing, you’ll read about “brand consistency.” The thing that has always amazed me about “business books” is that most of the time they espouse principles that are based in Solomon’s words with illustrations from the author’s life.
Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 — In other words, elections matter!
Ecclesiastes 10:20 — Ever wonder where the expression “A little bird told me” came from?
Ecclesiastes 11:9 — Solomon keeps bringing the point back to this – yes, you can enjoy life, but remember God will bring you into judgment! So, remember your Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1)!
The context is aging, approaching death, and the call to remember the creator acknowledged in your youth. Verses 3 – 6 compare the aging body to a house where the keepers are the hands that become paralytic and shaky; the strong men are legs that begin to bow and no longer hold up the body; the grinders are teeth that have decayed with age, and can no longer chew strong meat; the windows are the eyes that dim and can no longer see well; the doors being shut in the streets are the lips and mouth which can no longer swallow; and the sound of grinding low is the lost teeth, and inability to chew properly; rising up at the sound of a bird is the inability to sleep soundly being disturbed at the least sound; the daughters of music being brought low is the weak and feeble voice of old age.
The silver cord is the nervous system breaking; the golden bowl breaking representing the brain and loss of memory; the pitcher broken at the fountain and the wheel broken at the cistern is the heart slowing and failing to pump; which then results in the death of the body.
Ecclesiastes 12:12 — There are approximately 130 million books in the world as of 2010, and over 2 million new titles every year are published. Solomon was right! And much studying can be fatal. While I was in law school, this news clipping from the New York Times was passed around:
Ecclesiastes 12:13 — Yes, what is the conclusion of the matter? Fear God, and obey Him!
Ecclesiastes 12:14 — Because one day God will bring every secret thing into the open!
2 Corinthians 8:5 — Vic Eliason shared with me a story that a pastor told him. Elvis Presley was religious according to his pastor – Elvis recorded religious songs, attended church, and even gave generously into the offering. But while Presley gave of his money, he didn’t give his heart. His pastor told him, “Elvis, God doesn’t want your money – He wants your heart!” Yes, it is good to give, but unless you have given your heart to the LORD, giving all of your goods profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).
2 Corinthians 8:14 — God did not give you an abundance to be hoarded, but so you could give to help others!
Psalm 49:6 — Speaking of money … you can’t buy salvation with it (Psalm 49:7). Souls are precious (Psalm 49:8). Use your earthly resources to lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21)!
Psalm 49:16-17 — You can’t take it with you (1 Timothy 6:7). This may be the only picture ever taken of a hearse with a U-Haul behind it:
Proverbs 22:21 — How can you know the truth? Read God’s Word!
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Ecclesiastes 7:15 — You can almost hear Job saying these words!
Ecclesiastes 7:20 — This theme echoes throughout the Bible:
Genesis 6:11 – the earth also was corrupt before God
1 Kings 8:46 – there is no man that sinneth not
Psalm 14:1 – there is none that doeth good
Psalm 14:3 – there is none that doeth good, no, not one
Psalm 53:1 – there is none that doeth good
Psalm 53:3 – there is none that doeth good, no, not one
Psalm 143:2 – in thy sight shall no man living be justified
Romans 3:9 – both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin
Romans 3:10 – there is none righteous, no not one
Romans 3:23 – all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
Galatians 3:22 – but the scripture hath concluded all under sin
Ecclesiastes 7:21 — Solomon is considering the words of his father in 2 Samuel 16:10.
Ecclesiastes 7:26 — Solomon has an extended discussion of this woman in Proverbs 7 (especially Proverbs 7:10-12).
Ecclesiastes 8:12 — In the midst of his depressed rant, he utters the truth of Job’s tale. It’s better to suffer for doing right than be rewarded for doing wrong.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 — Do the dead still exist? The Jehovah’s Witnesses say, “Therefore, when we die, we cease to exist. The dead can’t think, act, or feel anything.” The technical term for this is “annihilationism”. But what does the rest of Scripture say about the dead? GotQuestions.org discusses several problems including:
… Ecclesiastes 9:5 cannot contradict Ecclesiastes 4:2. There, Solomon states that the dead are “happier than the living.” However, when a person is dead, the opportunities to enjoy things on earth no longer exist.
Solomon, being a worldly person at this point in time, is speaking from his worldview which was limited to that of the present moment of his existence. This is opposed to a Christian outlook concerning life and death that gives one a proper perspective on how to understand the passage.
Secondly, Solomon is not talking about the afterlife or an annihilation but is speaking about the physical corpses of those who have died and are “in the grave” (see Eccl. 9:10). Thus, contextually speaking, Dr. Norman Geisler remarks,
“The passages that say there is no knowledge or remembrance after death, are speaking of no memory in this world, not of no memory of this world.” — When Critics Ask, p.259
IsAnnihilationTrue.com compares Solomon’s phrasing to the phrasing Potiphar used in Genesis:
We read in verse 6 that “he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand.” Potiphar entrusted everything that he had to Joseph because whatever Joseph did, the LORD blessed it. Then we read about Potiphar, “he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat.” Does this mean that Potiphar did not know anything about what he had except for the bread that he ate? … Rather, the phrase “he knew not ought he had” means that Potiphar did not pay any attention to what he had, except that which he did eat. Joseph was doing such a good job in managing Potiphar’s possessions that Potiphar did not need to pay any attention to them.
John 5:9 identifies the dangers of those who die in sins and then await the resurrection of damnation.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 — I am enjoying doing this with the wife that the LORD has given me!
Christ, who is man, though not a mere man, but God as well as man; who was so in purpose, covenant, and promise, before his incarnation, since truly and really so; and “poor”, as it was foretold he should be, and who became so for the sake of his church and people, (Zechariah 9:9, 2 Corinthians 8:9) ; yet “wise”, even as man, being filled with wisdom, in which he increased, and gave such evident proofs of; on whom the spirit of wisdom rested, and in whom the treasures of it were hid, (Luke 2:40, Luke 2:46, Luke 2:47, Luke 2:52, Isaiah 11:2, Colossians 2:3); he was found here by God his Father, who exalted one chosen out of the people, and made him Head over the church, who is the firstborn among many brethren, (Psalms 89:19, Psalms 89:20); Or “and”, or “but he found in it”; that is, Satan, the great king, found him here, contrary to his expectation, and to his great regret.
2 Corinthians 7:10 — There is “sorry I got caught,” and then there is godly sorrow that leads to repentance which ultimately leads to salvation!
Psalm 48:1-2, 11-12, 14 — Sing along since the Psalms were meant to be sung!
Proverbs 22:17 — Another double dose of Solomon. Wisdom is trusting in the LORD!
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Ecclesiastes 4:2 — What does the mindset “This is all there is in life!” lead to? Suicidal or even genocidal tendencies. If life has no meaning for humans, then perhaps humans are just keeping from the earth some other organism that has meaning.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 — Solomon shares more of his advice on marriage. Life is suffering/vanity/emptiness/a breath, but it’s better to be together than alone (excepting the examples Solomon shows us in Proverbs where in some cases it is better to dwell alone in the corner of a roof – Proverbs 21:9).
Ecclesiastes 4:13 — It’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, we might say.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 — Note the back and forth between Solomon and Job. Solomon gives Job advice, albeit after the fact, and Job gives wisdom that develops into the Proverbs.
Ecclesiastes 5:15 — Here’s another example, expounding on Job 1:21
Ecclesiastes 5:18 — Is Solomon teaching epicureanism? No, this isn’t hedonism being advocated, but rather a foreshadowing of 1 Corinthians 10:31.
2 Corinthians 6:14-7 — Many people today value unity at any cost. But Paul goes into an extended comparison, explaining that you cannot be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Speaking of the offerings to idols, he again brings up that you can’t belong to God’s temple and the idol’s temple at the same time. As my friend says, “If you work for Coke, you can’t drink Pepsi!” Yes, separation is painful, but it’s mandated. As John MacArthur says:
Not to be bound together with unbelievers is our greatest challenge. To live a separated life is a tremendous challenge, particularly in a culture which is bombarding us with all of the elements of paganism. It is not only our greatest challenge. It is our greatest source of joy and usefulness when we obey that command.
The pure and the polluted share nothing in common ultimately. And the people of God cannot form intimate relationships with those who don’t belong to God. All relationships like that are superficial. You cannot make a meaningful relationship with an enemy of the gospel.
2 Corinthians 6:18 — Why is separation important? Because if we abandon those wholly inadequate substitutes for our spiritual fathers, the LORD Almighty will be our Father. We’re not primarily separating FROM unbelievers, we’re separating TO the LORD.
Psalm 47:2 — The KJV uses the word “terrible”. Unfortunately, today we’ve corrupted the English language so much that we use “terrible” as hyperbole for “bad”. But as we rewind the English language, we can see from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary that at one time the meaning of the word was:
Adapted to impress dread, terror or solemn awe and reverence.
The LORD works terrors that should create the response of “the fear of the LORD.” He is not some lowly bureaucrat that we have to endure, He is a Great King over all the earth!
Proverbs 22:16 — What is a system today that oppresses the poor, takes money from those who have little, offers but empty dreams in return, and in many places subsidizes the rich? The lottery. $70 billion will be spent this year on the lottery. And it is the poor who are disproportionately the victims.
Those in the lowest fifth in terms of socioeconomic status (SES) had the “highest rate of lottery gambling (61%) and the highest mean level of days gambled in the past year (26.1 days).” Moreover, there were “very few observed differences in lottery gambling for those in the three upper SES groups — 42–43% gambled on the lottery and the three upper groups averaged about 10 days of gambling on the lottery in the past year.
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Ecclesiastes 1:1 — Welcome to a new book in the wisdom genre! Today we’ll be getting a double dose of Solomon (Ecclesiastes as well as Proverbs)! What does the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 4:30) want to tell us about life? From Bob Utley:
Its main purpose was to show the futility of human existence apart from God. It is a tract to convert self-sufficient materialists or intellectuals.
Let’s look at the futility of human existence apart from God.
Ecclesiastes 1:4 — Generations come and generations go, but the sun goes up and the sun goes down (Ecclesiastes 1:5).
… whirleth about continually … This is a remarkable anticipation of the modern discovery of the world’s great wind circuits, in the global circulation of the atmosphere.
Ecclesiastes 2:1 — What did Solomon try for contentment? Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1), wine (Ecclesiastes 2:3), building projects (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6), servants and possessions (Ecclesiastes 2:7), and silver and gold (Ecclesiastes 2:8).
Ecclesiastes 3:1 — The 1965 secular song from the Byrds “Turn, Turn, Turn” was based on this passage.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 — ”In His Time“, a gospel chorus, is based on this verse. Interesting that this verse talks about the capacity God has built within us.
Ecclesiastes 3:13-14 — Some call this book secular wisdom. But we know that God intends for us to enjoy His creation, and that His doings are far greater than our doings.
Ecclesiastes 3:17 — God will judge – there is a time we must give account.
Ecclesiastes 3:21 — Mark Lowry has humorously used Psalm 36:6 to say that dogs go to heaven. Unfortunately, his exegesis has skipped Ecclesiastes 3:21.
2 Corinthians 6:2 — There is no reason to delay salvation – now is the accepted time!
Psalm 46:3 — Did Shakespeare leave his mark on the King James Version? Kyle Butt says, “Yes!”
Proverbs 22:15 — Proverbs has much wisdom on child training. The point is not abuse but removing foolishness.
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Job 40:4 — Job has an Isaiah-like experience (Isaiah 6:5). He no longer wishes to take his case to the LORD. He wants to close his mouth and take back the foolish words he has said.
Job 40:9 — James Weldon Johnson communicated this verse by applying it to today’s society: “Young man, young man, your arm’s too short to box with God!”
Two great creatures, behemoth and leviathan, are described by God in Job. Some commentators have suggested behemoth was an elephant or hippo but the description simply doesn’t match (e.g. behemoth “moves his “tail like a cedar”). It’s appears God is describing a sauropod dinosaur and a fearsome now-extinct sea creature.
Behemoth and leviathan may well be now extinct species that were still living in Job’s day. While what is known about several species of dinosaurs may appear to fit some aspects of God’s description of behemoth and leviathan, the most we can say with confidence is that the descriptions do not match any known living species today. At the same time, to call them ‘mythological’ creatures is to do violence to the text and context of Job; therefore, we affirm that these were actual creatures of which Job had knowledge (although we cannot state whether Job had direct or indirect knowledge of them). They symbolize the power of evil, connected with Satan, who is mentioned in the first chapters of the book. The words of God humbled Job and showed him that God is above all powers in this world.
Job 42:2 — Job responds by admitting the LORD’s omnipotence and omniscience. He then declares his insufficiency (Job 42:3) and repents (Job 42:6).
Job 42:9 — God forgives Job and continues to accept him! What a merciful God we have!
Job 42:10 — If God gave Job twice what he had before – the sheep were doubled, the camels were doubled, the oxen were doubled, and the she asses were doubled. But notice that Job’s children were replaced but not doubled (Job 42:13). Job’s children did not succumb to nihilism and vanish. No … God had taken them. Job’s children had doubled as well – half were on earth with him and half were in heaven with the LORD.
Job 42:17 — Job died, not having cursed God but having been full of days. A godly legacy!
2 Corinthians 5:11 — Terror … not in the sense of the irrational fear that we’ve charged this word with today, but in the historic sense of “calculated to impress fear.” (Webster’s Dictionary 1848)
2 Corinthians 5:14 — What was the irresistible power behind Paul? The love of Christ!
So man has to be dramatically, transformed, but God also has to have His attitude dealt with because God cannot look upon iniquity and iniquity is going to have to be dealt with, right? Something has got to modify God’s wrath. Something’s got to deal with God’s attitude.
However you take it – it’s not the direction of reconciliation but the “causer” of reconciliation that’s important. As Oswald Chambers summarizes it:
Jesus Christ reconciled the human race, putting it back to where God designed it to be. And now anyone can experience that reconciliation, being brought into oneness with God, on the basis of what our Lord has done on the cross. A man cannot redeem himself— redemption is the work of God, and is absolutely finished and complete.
How was the reconciliation accomplished? Because of the substitutionary, vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ that allowed God’s imputed righteousness to be deposited in our account (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Proverbs 22:14 — A choice of companions can affect your life. And when your greatest companion is your lifelong spouse, it is important that you choose not the Strange Woman but the woman that fears the LORD (Proverbs 31:30)!
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Job 37:14 — Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God! I’ve seen the Planetarium Show at the Creation Museum many times, but it is still amazing every time!
Job 37:23 — The technical term is “inscrutable.” Elihu is right, we will not be able to “unscrute” the inscrutable!
Job 38:3 — God speaks to Job. He doesn’t explain to him why he went through the tragedies, but He asked Job some questions. Notice the question God asked man: He asked Adam to explain his behavior (Genesis 3:9). Israel Wayne exposited the Questions God Asks in his recent book.
Job 38:23 — God used hail as a weapon in the Exodus and in the conquest of Canaan (Exodus 9:13-18, Joshua 10:10-11).
Job 38:37 — Clouds, those harmless puffs of water vapor, are one of the main reasons your favorite meteorologist can’t predict Friday’s weather. “Clouds and precipitation are among the more challenging weather parameters to forecast accurately.”
Job 39:9-10 — But I thought unicorns weren’t real? The problem isn’t Scripture, but the gradual deterioration of the English language. Eric Hovind points out that the word “unicorn” is not only a transliteration from the Latin, but it also originally (per Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) referred to animals such as the rhinoceros.
2 Corinthians 4:14 — We’ve just read in Job about our God’s amazing power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise us up from the dead as well!
2 Corinthians 5:10 — The most sobering doctrine in the Bible is the Bema Seat. We aren’t just on a 80-some year cruise boat voyage to do our own pleasures. We are working towards a reviewal of our performance. Chuck Missler dispels some myths about the Bema:
This judgment is often taught as simply an awards ceremony, but that is not entirely correct. It was the tribunal seat, the judicial bench, the judgment seat, or throne of the one in charge. Herod Agrippa I addressed the people of Tyre and Sidon from his Bema seat. Jesus was brought before Pilate and his Bema seat. Paul was accused before Proconsul Gallio; and brought before Festus at Caesarea facing a Bema seat. A relic of one was found among the ruins in Corinth.
Psalm 44:9 — Did the psalmist just borrow from Job?
Psalm 44:23 — The proper response is not to dispute with God, but to continue to call upon the name of the LORD!
Proverbs 22:13 — When you need an excuse, any excuse will do!
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Job 34:18 — Elihu tells Job, “You wouldn’t accuse a king or a prince of being evil. Why are you accusing God of being evil, the One who is far more righteous than any human king?”
The Book of Job does not answer the question ‘Why does God allow the righteous to suffer?’ but rather answers the question, ‘How should the righteous suffer?’
You may be hurting, but don’t ever think you are more righteous than God. That is the pathway to atheism.
Job 36:3 — Elihu is continually begging permission to speak (Job 36:2) with a purpose not of attacking or defending Job but of glorifying God.
Job 36:26 — While God does act in certain ways (Job 36:15), He is great and unsearchable.
2 Corinthians 4:1 — What is this ministry? It’s addressing the conscience (2 Corinthians 4:2) because the god of this world is blinding people to the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4)!
2 Corinthians 4:8-12 — Suffering for Jesus? Join the club that Paul was a charter member of!
Psalm 44:3 — Remember our discussion of Ezra? He was afraid the people would fall back into trusting swords, armies, and bows (Psalm 44:6). Thou hast saved us from our enemies (Psalm 44:7)!
Proverbs 22:10 — The Christian School principal’s go-to verse! Yes, there are the students that you want to reach, but to keep the simple from following the scorner, you must separate the two. You do that by removing the scorner from your classroom. It is not out of malice for the scorner but out of love for the others.
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Job 31:1 — Job outlines the disciplines of a godly man. While we may want to dismiss it as just the posturing of a hurting individual, we must remember that this is the testimony of one who is perfect and upright, fearing God and eschewing evil. He’s worth imitating in my humble opinion.
Personal Purity —
Guarding the eyes (Job 31:1)
Guarding the heart (Job 31:9)
Guarding the feet (Job 31:9)
Relational Responsibility —
Relationship with employees (Job 31:13)
Relationship with the poor (Job 31:16)
Relationship with the widows (Job 31:16)
Relationship with the fatherless (Job 31:17)
Relationship with the wanters-of-clothing (Job 31:19)
Relationship with enemies (Job 31:29-30)
Relationship with strangers (Job 31:32)
Spiritual Fidelity —
Trusting not in wealth (Job 31:24-25)
Following no other gods (Job 31:26-28)
Hiding not sin from God (Job 31:33)
Job 31:15 — Slavery and abortion are both addressed with one verse. God made both master and slave (or employer and employee) – so how can one of God’s creation mistreat another of God’s creation?
Job 31:26 — Is Job saying we can’t enjoy a sunrise? No. Job is addressing those who worship the sun (Ezekiel 8:16).
Job 32:1 — The Great Debate is over … but not yet. Elihu enters the ring taking on all four debaters (Job 32:2-3)!
Job 32:19 — Many a talkative man has felt like Elihu, but unfortunately few have the wisdom of Elihu.
Job 33:8 — Having begged for the right to be heard, Elihu now seeks to confirm that he heard Job right. He will then go to the cross-examination of Job.
Job 33:12 — Job is not just, not because he has sinned and is being punished, but because he is becoming bitter against God. But God is greater than man and does not need to give account of Himself (Job 33:13)!
There is always a reason for every act of grace which God performs for man. He acts sovereignly, and therefore he is not bound to give any reason for his actions; but he always acts wisely, and therefore he has a reason for so acting. Writing to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul says that God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
Job 33:23-24 — The preacher steps forth, not spouting the conventional wisdom, but as one of a thousand. He is charged with a command from the gracious Lord, “Deliver the sinner from the pit – there is a ransom!” Like the ram in the thicket that was to be offered in the place of Isaac (Genesis 22:13), God has provided a ransom!
This is the only reason why any man shall be delivered from going clown to the pit, because God has found a ransom, There is no way of salvation but by the ransom; all who ever are saved are saved by the ransom; and if you, dear friend, would be saved, it must be by the ransom; and there is but one.
Observe that the text says, “I have found a ransom.” This ransom is an invention of divine wisdom. I do not think it would ever have occurred to any mind but the mind of God himself to save sinners by the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. The most astonishing novelty under heaven is the old, old story of the cross of Christ. That ever God should take upon himself the sin of his own creatures, that, in order to be able justly to forgive, God himself should bear the punishment which he must inflict for the creatures’ sin, this is something marvelous to the last degree. The rebel sins, and the King himself suffers the penalty for the rebellion. The offender commits the trespass, and the Judge bears the punishment. Such a plan was never heard of in human courts of law; or if it has ever been spoken of there, it was because, first of all, both the ears of him who heard it had been made to tingle while God revealed it out of his own heart. “I have found a ransom.” Nobody would have thought of that way of the deliverance of a sinner from the pit of hell through a ransom if God had not thought of it.
Job 33:25 — Salvation transforms the life of a person about to perish (Job 33:18). Job is no longer in pain (Job 33:19), unable to enjoy life (Job 33:20), wasting away (Job 33:21), drawing near the grave (Job 33:22). Now his flesh is fresher than a child’s (Job 33:25) which sounds a lot like Naaman (2 Kings 5:14)! God’s favor is upon him (Job 33:26), and He has given man His righteousness! (Job 33:26).
Job 33:27 — The three friends thought Job wasn’t trying hard enough to be righteous. Job thought he had been trying hard enough to be righteous. Elihu thinks Job has forgotten how a person becomes righteous.
Job is being reminded of his conversion. Why was Job righteous in the sight of the LORD? Not because he was perfect, but because he admitted he was a sinner. God delivered Job (Job 33:28) because he trusted the Ransom (Job 33:24).
2 Corinthians 3:1 — Like Elihu, Paul begs for a hearing from his audience. But unlike Elihu, Paul is not the younger man here.
2 Corinthians 3:6 — What is the New Testament? The declaration of the ransom! Isn’t it glorious (2 Corinthians 3:8)!
2 Corinthians 3:14 — Yes, it is sad that our dear Jewish friends can read the Old Testament (this is the only place in the Bible where this phrase occurs) and not see Jesus. It is amazing that we can see Jesus even in Job!
2 Corinthians 3:18 — Speaking of glory, we are being changed into the glory of the LORD by His Spirit!
Psalm 43:3 — May we be led by His truth and light unto His Holy Hill!
Proverbs 22:9 — God blesses those who give to the poor. Note that he didn’t give his stale bread to the poor. Today we often believe, “Give of your worst to the Master.” Reminds me of a song by Patch the Pirate – Any Ol’ Thing!
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