Then Job answered and said:
2     “Today also my complaint is bitter;
my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
 
3     Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his seat!
 
4     I would lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
 
5     I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
 
6     Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
 
7     There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8     “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9     on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
 
10    But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
 
11    My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
 
12    I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
 
13    But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
 
14    For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind.
 
15    Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
 
16    God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
17    yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.
 
Meditation
God uses trials to reveal the treasure of faith in Jesus. Peter challenges Christians to rejoice in trials, “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
 
The trials of Job have been amplified by the assault of his “friends,” motivating Job’s passion to prove his suffering is not punitive. Job is focused on being vindicated before God.
 
God promises that if we diligently seek the Lord then we will find Him (Proverbs 8:17), yet Job says he has searched forward, backward, left, and right (8-9, the words are literally “north, south, east, and west”) and yet God seems nowhere to be found. Job’s earnest search is motivated by his desire to be vindicated, convinced over and against the accusations of his “friends” that he would be acquitted if he stood before God’s judgement seat. More than having his worldly losses restored, Job desires to find God and celebrate his vindication.
 
Fruit of Job’s life proves his saving faith. Job walks in God’s ways (10-11), treasures God’s word in His heart (12), and trusts God’s will (14). While terrified at the idea of coming before God’s face (16-17), Job longs to show how his trials have refined his faith.
 
The fruit of faith refined by suffering is a focus on seeking God.  In Christ, there is no condemnation from Him and Christians are free to seek Him!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about Job’s focus to prove his faith before the Lord through being vindicated?
 
-Is it difficult for you to identify with Job? Why or why not?
 
-How does the work of Christ give you confidence, knowing you have no condemnation before God when in Him, to steward your suffering by more steadfastly seeking God?
 
Key Verse
7     There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. 

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
 
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
       “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
       and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
       “The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and
       “A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Submission to Authority
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
 
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
 
Meditation
Submission is central to God’s mission, a beautiful concept when interpreted through the word and work of Christ.
 
Situating this section within the story of Scripture by aligning Christian identity with Israel’s call to be a Holy Priesthood (1-9), a people in God’s possession (10), Peter propounds God’s purpose for the persecuted Christians: Live distinct lives among pagan people “that they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of His visitation” (11-13) through submission. Submission is essential to God’s mission.
 
The imperative “be subject” (13) governs Peter’s writing through chapter 3. Christians are to submit to “every human institution,” even the Roman emperor (corrupt politicians), as a display of Christian freedom and confidence in God’s sovereign rule (13-17). Christians endure even in unjust situations because “when you do good and suffer for it, it is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” Peter details the duty of Christian mission through submission to such an extent that if we are not uncomfortable then we do not understand the implications of what he is saying.
 
The submission of Christians highlights the submission of Christ, the epicenter of God’s mission to the world. Jesus submitted to unjust authority. Jesus submitted to the Father in the work of His salvation. Jesus submitted for the benefit of His Bride, “that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed” (24).
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the radical submission Peter proposes to the Church?
 
-Why is submission difficult?
 
-How does Christ’s submission to the Father, praying “not my will by thine be done” before going to suffer and die for you, fuel your understanding of the role of submission within God’s mission to the world?
 
Key Verse
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

​Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. 2 And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.
 
4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing. 5 So he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6 And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 So Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8 And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”
 
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure. 12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.
13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. 14 And he captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men. 15 And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’ ” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17 And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
 
18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” 19 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” 20 So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.
Gideon’s Ephod
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
The Death of Gideon
29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, 35 and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.
 
Meditation
Hard hearts have no home for the rule of Jesus. Grace softens hearts to believe the gospel and receive the spoils of King Jesus’ victory. “For the good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them because they were not united by faith…” (Hebrews 4:2)
 
God’s surpassing power saved Israel from Midian oppression. God mercifully heard their cry for rescue. God’s faithfulness raised up a deliverer. God defeated Israel’s enemy… And they turned to ask Gideon, “Will you rule over us”? (22) God rescued Israel but Israel “did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side” (34).
 
Gideon had the right response, denying Israel’s request for him to rule, “the Lord will rule over you” (22). But Gideon did not have the right practice. Gideon took the spoils of victory as a king, making an ephod, an ornate garment associated with High Priests (Exodus 39) and worship (2 Samuel 6), causing Israel to stumble. And Gideon named his son, “Abimalech” meaning, “My father the king” (22-32). Gideon let victory go to his head and he (and all Israel with him) missed the heart of responding faithfully to God’s victory, rejoicing in the Lord who alone is King.
 
Jesus accomplished the ultimate victory of God and is declared King of kings, offering the greatest spoils of victory to all who believe- forgiveness for sin and freedom from the power of sin (Romans 1:1-4). Rejoice! Jesus is King.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about Israel’s response to God’s victory over Midian as recorded in this chapter?
 
-Where do you identify with Gideon, having the right answers but the wrong practice, or like the Israelites- receiving victory from God but not giving your heart to God? Be honest.
 
-The victory of Jesus over the grave not only establishes Him as King but also guarantees the spoils of victory for you. Where do you need to believe this truth and return to rejoicing in Jesus being king, allowing Him to rule in your heart?
 
Key Verse
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
       “Hallelujah!
       Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2         for his judgments are true and just;
       for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
       and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 Once more they cried out,
       “Hallelujah!
       The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
       “Praise our God,
all you his servants,
       you who fear him,
small and great.”
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
       “Hallelujah!
       For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7     Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
       for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8     it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”--
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The Rider on a White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
 
Meditation
God’s steadfast love for His people is captured by a groom’s love for his bride. Hosea 2:14-20 speaks of a day when God will betroth Himself to His people, “forever… in righteousness and in justice… and…  in faithfulness,” a longing ultimately made possible through the work of Jesus who prepares the Church to be presented as a “holy and blameless” bride at the end of time (Ephesians 5:25).
 
The marriage supper of the Lamb will soon begin, and the invitations have been sent out through the gospel of Jesus Christ! Blessed are all who are invited (9). Rejoicing in Heaven commences after the comprehensive defeat of Babylon (1-5), praises and shouting celebrating salvation belonging to God alone. The destruction of God’s enemies makes way for the celebration of God’s covenant relationship with us.
 
The fine linen garments are gifts of grace, fruit of a transformed life lived in response to justification Christ gives to all who believe. The righteous acts are fruit of faith, evidenced by the perseverance of the saints through the fire of persecution. Grace sends the invitation and clothes the saints for celebration of God’s love for them and our love for Him. We are our beloved and our beloved is ours!
 
Jesus will remain faithful to His promises. The comprehensive victory over the wicked makes way for joyous celebration of the day when the wedding supper of the Lamb begins!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the image of God as groom and the church as Bride?
 
-How do you respond to such an intimate image of love and invitation for relationship?
 
-Where do you see your need for Jesus to prepare you by purifying you, extending the gracious invitation to garments of glory to ready you for participation in the eternal celebration?
 
Key Verse
7     Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8  it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— 

​Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
       “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
 
Meditation
Grace is the ground from which generosity grows. To know God’s grace in Christ moves us to live generously with others in the name of Christ. When the gospel opens your heart to God’s love then you will cheerfully open your hands to share what God has entrusted to you.
 
After additional clarification for sending a delegation to Corinth to prepare the gift for the Jerusalem church (1-5), Paul emphasizes five God-centered reasons for Christians to live generously, culminating in celebration of God’s “inexpressible gift” of His love for us in Christ (15):
 
1-God will grow our generosity into a harvest (6).
 
2-God loves a cheerful giver (7). God’s love transforms our heart and from the heart the tone of our giving is set. A heart gladdened by grace will cheerfully give.
 
3-God will abundantly provide for you, supplying your daily bread, and multiplying what He has entrusted to you to overflowing (8-11). God supplies in every way for His people to be generous in every way.
 
4-God is to be thanked for the Church’s generosity and God will be glorified by the obedience of Christians giving (12-13).
 
5-God will unite His people through generosity (14).
 
Christian generosity begins and ends with God. To live in God’s lavish love is to learn to love as God has loved us, joyfully sharing with the saints and in service to God’s world.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which God-centered reason for generosity jumps out to you from today’s reading? Why?
 
-Where do you see the connection in your heart between knowing God’s grace on a more personal level and showing His grace through a high level of generosity?
 
-How can you focus more on the riches of God’s kindness toward you in Christ so you can share the riches of His kindness with others? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Testimony Concerning the Son of God
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
That You May Know
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
 
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
 
Meditation
The grace and love of God gives new perspective of the commands of God for His children. Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest, stating that His commands are easy and His burdens light (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart, and when we know His love, we will show our love by joyfully obeying His commands.
 
John continues detailing marks of true believers by doubling down on how we “know we are children of God,” namely “that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1-5). The steadfast love of God secures believers as children of God so our perspectives on the commands of God are transformed from a sense of duty to delight.
 
The work of Jesus testifies with the Spirit to transform how we see our work for God. The “water and the blood” refer to the baptism and death of Jesus, summarizing Jesus’ earthly ministry. With the Spirit, these three testify to eternal life given to children of God (6-12). Note the emphasis on “testimony” as the root word is repeated ten times in this section. Their testimony assures us of salvation (13), affirms our prayers (14-15), anchors us in God’s forgiveness for sins (16-18), and turns our affections from idols (19-21).
 
The fact of knowing the love of God is revealed in the fruit of love for God, welcoming the commands of our Father, and loving our spiritual siblings as He loves us. Grace transforms God’s commands from duty to delight.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What is your response to the second half of our key verse, that God’s commands are not burdensome? What does this reveal about your understanding of God and His love for you?
 
-What fresh perspective on God’s commands does this Chapter highlight for you?
 
-How can you grow in showing your love for God by obeying the commands of God? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.