READINGS FOR APRIL 17, 2024: JOB 42, 1 CORINTHIANS 9, PSALM 32:1-5
JOB 42
This chapter can be broken down into two parts. The first is Job’s response to God’s questions and proclamations. The second part wraps up the story and tells how things end up for Job.
Verses 1-6 – Job admits that his words, his questions were out of a place of misunderstanding. God’s actions and thoughts are far greater than anything that Job can understand. Job confesses that he needs to repent of his words that were spoken out of ignorance.
Verses 7-9 – These verses give us a brief overview about what happens after God has spoken to Job. First, God chastises Eliphaz, Bildad, and Elihu for their words. Even though they may have spoken many theological truths about God, they were wrong about one key thing. Job’s suffering was not a punishment by God because of Job’s sin.
God tells Job’s three friends to offer up a burnt sacrifice of seven bulls and seven rams. The animals offered for this sacrifice were to be without defect. The number seven is a Biblical “perfect” number.
God instructs the three to have Job pray for them. God will accept Job’s prayer and not punish the three friends according to their errors. Job prays for his friends and God accepts their sacrifice and forgives them.
Verses 10 – 17 – These verses detail the restoration of Job. Once the trials have ceased, Job is able to restore his fortunes. Through God’s blessings, Job is able to have a family. Job’s amasses livestock and material wealth. He lives to the age of 140 and is able to see his descendants to the fourth generation.
When we overcome adversity and remain faithful, God is able to use us. If we are faithful, God is able to use our adversity for good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, NIV)
God does not cause our struggles but can use them in order for us to follow Christ.
1 CORINTHIANS 9
Verses 1-18 - In this chapter, Paul addresses the rights of the Apostle. When Paul uses this term, he talks about a particular position in the early church. At the time of Paul’s writing, this term was reserved specifically for the twelve that Jesus had called as leaders of the church. The apostles consisted of the original eleven (minus Judas who had committed suicide) and Matthias who was elected to take Judas’ place in Acts 2.
It seems that Paul has detractors in the Corinthian church who have questioned his authority as an Apostle. He is not one of the original twelve. However, in verse 1 he cites his qualification. Paul has seen the resurrected Jesus (see Acts 9). His ministry among the people of Corinth has produced fruit.
Paul then lists the rights of someone who is an apostle. Essentially, Paul is suggesting that an Apostle has the right to have the church to supply their needs (food, lodging, etc.)
Paul argues to require them to work at anything else to provide for their family and needs would distract them from the work. The ministry of the Apostle is so crucial to the Christian faith.
Paul then asks a rhetorical question. If the Corinthian church has reaped the fruitful spiritual harvest from Paul’s ministry, then doesn’t that prove his Apostleship? Shouldn’t Paul have the same rights as Peter, James, and the others? Shouldn’t Paul be able to receive support from the people of Corinth?
And then, Paul changes course. Even though he has the right to demand these things, he will not. In Paul’s other letters (1 Thessalonians 2:9 & 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8) and in Acts 18:2-3, we see that Paul often worked at a trade to pay for his daily needs. In Acts, we see that Paul was a tentmaker. Since Paul traveled so much and probably could only carry a small number of tools, he was most likely a repairman. He also probably worked on more than just tents (https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2021/was-paul-a-tentmaker-part-1-did-paul-make-literal-tents).
Verses 19-23 – In this section Paul expounds upon his ministry. He sums it up by saying:
I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:22b-23, NIV)
Paul is essentially stating that he meets people where they are to share the Gospel with them. He presented himself and followed their customs to show them the truth of life in Jesus’ name.
Verses 24-27 – Paul uses the image of the preparation of running a race to emphasize the need for the Christian to have discipline. To follow Christ, we need to engage in specific training. We need to be willing to discipline our spiritual lives and learn from Christ to live lives worthy of the Gospel.
PSALM 32:1-5
This psalm is a grateful testimony of joy. The psalm is a dialogue between God and the writer. It is presented as a form of worship amid worshippers in the sanctuary. The psalm lifts God’s gift of forgiveness for those who confess their sin and choose to repent.
The psalm begins by lifting the blessed. It uses repetition to emphasize the reason for the blessing. Those who are forgiven, whose sins are covered, and those whose sins are not counted against them are the ones who are blessed. It is God who chooses to forgive and is the source of our blessing.
Verses 3-4 give an experience of what it feels like to not acknowledge your sin before God. There can be a weight upon you. When you are not living in accordance with God’s commandments, you can feel that oppressiveness that comes from known disobedience. You know you are out of line and the guilt can affect you in several ways. Again, repetition is used to emphasize what is going on. One the writer (David) acknowledged his sin, did not cover up his iniquity, confessed his transgressions, Daivid was able to receive God’s forgiveness. When we confess our sins to God, we will be forgiven.
