For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Tim. 2
For whom are we to pray, and why? Take a moment to do it. In 1 Timothy 1, Paul mentioned that the goal of confrontation in the Church should be restoration to truth. In chapter 2, he urges prayer as the means to this goal. He also extends this beyond just the Church to government and all authorities. Prayer is important, not just because it calls God’s power into the situation, but also because it helps us take our focus off of ourselves. Prayer helps us to regain a proper perspective and to set aside anger, disputing, self-promotion, and all ungodliness.
Job 15-17
How does Eliphaz characterize Job? How does Job respond; how does Job describe himself? At this point, Eliphaz believes that Job’s complaint before God and his claim of righteousness are further proof of his guilt. I find it rather ironic that part of his argument for this is that no man can be righteous before God. If he believed that to be true, then who was he to point an accusing finger at Job? As Job said, “I also could speak like you, if you were in my place” (Job 16:4a). Job, however, continued to hope for what we have in Jesus. “Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” (Job 16:19-21).
Ps. 94
I seem to be getting a lot of the “hold fast – Jesus is our hope through suffering” message lately. All three of John’s letters, as well as the book of Revelation, speak to that point. I have also been seeing it in Job in a way I never have before. And now it appears in this Psalm as well. Though the wicked seem to prevail, this Psalm declares that the LORD gives us help. He grants us relief, support, and consolation until the day He puts the wicked in their place. The unspoken answer to how God gives us this help is in the questions. “Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?” (Ps. 94:16). The answer is Jesus, through whom we receive victory and the Holy Spirit, who is our advocate, counselor, and comforter.