SPEAKER_00: Good morning, it's Dan and welcome to your daily walk.
SPEAKER_00: Today's scripture is Job 13, 13 through 16.
SPEAKER_00: But first I need to give you some context.
SPEAKER_00: Job is in the middle of a fierce and lengthy reply to his friends after they diagnosed his problems.
SPEAKER_00: They pretty well just told Job that he was suffering because of his sin.
SPEAKER_00: And Job's wife didn't do any better.
SPEAKER_00: Remember what she said to her husband?
SPEAKER_00: Curse God and die.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that'll bless you, won't it?
SPEAKER_00: You know the old adage, with friends like these, who needs enemies?
SPEAKER_00: Anyway, here is a small portion of Job's defense to his friends.
SPEAKER_00: He says in Job 13, Let me have silence and I will speak, and let come on me what may.
SPEAKER_00: Why should I take my flesh and my teeth and put my life in my hand?
SPEAKER_00: Though he slay me, I will hope in him, yet I will argue my ways to his face.
SPEAKER_00: This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.
SPEAKER_00: In chapter 16, Job calls his so-called friends miserable comforters.
SPEAKER_00: Though they truly believed God always punishes the wicked and rewards the good, God later said they were wrong because they misrepresented his character.
SPEAKER_00: Yes, Job knew the character of God and worshipped him even in his suffering.
SPEAKER_00: And speaking of suffering, our text last Sunday from Philippians included a verse where Paul completely lays it on the line when he says, With full courage, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
SPEAKER_00: Paul certainly knew suffering, and he wasn't afraid to die for the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: In another letter, this one to the Romans, he famously said that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
SPEAKER_00: And included in all things are things that are not necessarily pleasant.
SPEAKER_00: Nevertheless, we know and trust God's character, that he is good and that he loves us.
SPEAKER_00: I hope that encourages you.
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining me today.