约伯记13:1-28；14:1-22

约伯记13章和14章是接着12章约伯对琐法的回答的后半部分。约伯再次提到他所知道的并非不及他的几位朋友（13:2；12:3），也提出他们的诊断和治疗建议都是无用的（13:4），他们还不如沉默显得有智慧（v.5）。接着约伯连续问了他们好几个问题后（13:6-13）便将分诉的对象从“你们”（几位朋友）变为了“你”（神），约伯希望直接与神理论，并从与神的交流中找到他想知道的答案。

在约伯与朋友的对话中可以看出，约伯不是想赢得争辩，更多的是在思索神的真理对他个人生命的应用。很多道理他都明白，他敬畏神也肯定神的公义，他承认自己幼年的罪（13:26），但也相信神已饶恕他（14:17）。他与神大胆的对话令我惊讶，与神有何等亲密的关系才能如此袒露在神面前，与神理论呢？试问有多少信徒可以在朋友或神面前承认自己有义？又有多少人可以在患难中依然有希望并且不从言语犯罪？约伯所有的话不过是在呼求神，渴望神的回答（13:22；14:15）。我想最让约伯痛苦的除了这些灾难和朋友的不理解，神的暂时不回应是他最感悲伤的原因。

我时常因神对我一点点的回应便得满足。在遇到难处时会有伤心，但一想到正是与神建立更深的关系，完全寻求、依靠神的时候又倍感珍贵、满得安慰。然而，我很难想象如果不断的遭患难却不得神的及时回应将是一件多么可怕的事情，这样的试验肯定是极难熬的。与神分离或暂时与神分离是多么可怕的事情，就像耶稣亲自担当我们所有人的罪被钉在十字架而死的那一刻，最痛苦的不是经历肉身的折磨，而是那一刻的与父神分离。然而耶稣在第三天复活升天，因祂就是神，凡信祂的人便不再经历因罪而死，反而有与神面对面的盼望。这样的新生命是极其可贵的。你如何看待神这极昂贵的恩典呢？

— Fiona Liu

约伯记12章
这一章的前半段(1-12节)，约伯的语气充满了讽刺，一句“你们所说的，谁不知道呢？”道尽了他心里抑制不住地愤慨。然而到了后半段，约伯的情绪有了明显的变化，所有诗句的主语从“我”转化成了“他(神),”内容也从讽刺意味十足的反问变为对神奥秘作为的描述。纵观前后文，这一章是约伯对第三位朋友琐法的回应。对于琐法的指控，约伯表达了他的不认同，12:4～6节所描述的这些场景，无一不反映了残酷的现实:犯罪的人安然无恙，敬畏神的人却受人讥笑。不同与琐法毫无怜悯的责问，约伯用神无法测度的智慧与无上的主权来解释这些看似是颠倒了公义的事。
读完这一段，心里是很沉重的，无法想象约伯这样一个潜心爱神的人在遭遇这一连串致命打击之后，仍然可以在困惑，委屈，不解中作出这样的回应。这回应背后的心意是显而易见的：纵然我无法用我渺小的理性去理解神的公义与作为，我也完全不明白为什么爱神的人反而受亏损，我仍然相信神的智慧高过我的智慧，他的主权高于一切的规则，他是神！他有权做任何他要做的事！然而，我们的信仰最宝贵的不单单是这样一位独行奇事的神(诗72:18，136:4)，更重要的是这位神他爱我们！而约伯的结局也恰恰说明了神的公义，良善，信实与慈爱是超乎人所能想象的。

诗篇25篇
在希伯来原文中这是一首字母诗，顾名思义就是每一句词的首字母可以串联成希伯来字母表，但是，在这一诗篇中，有一个希伯来字母被省略了，但有一个字母使用了两次。这篇诗篇更像是一个多种祷告的合成，有恳切求告保护的祷告，有寻求指引的祷告，有求赦免的祷告…在祷告之外，这一诗篇中也有许多陈述神的慈爱与信实的词句，如12-15节。
读完这一诗篇，心里涌起无以言表的感动。我们的神是何等慈爱信实的神，在主耶稣与我们立了新约以后，这位神藉着圣灵时时刻刻与我们同在，垂听着我们每一个有声或无声的祷告。很多时候我们的祷告就像这篇诗篇一样，时而认罪，时而被圣灵提醒神的慈爱与信实，时而恳切求神帮助保护。在数不清的黑夜中，患难里，这位神亲自引导并安慰了我们软弱无助的心。
诗人大卫在本篇最后一节更是由个人的祷告转向了为以色列众百姓的祈求。也愿他的祷告成为我们的祷告：神啊，求你救赎你的百姓，我们的骨肉同胞脱离一切的愁苦。
— Lois Ling

Job 11
Zophar takes his stab at rebuking Job. Notice he is trying to point out even though Job is flawless before God, God knows he is still a sinner (v. 5-6). However, God is greater than the tallest mountains and deepest sea (v. 7-12). Zophar encouraged Job to direct his heart to God to repent (v. 13-14). In times of trouble, iniquity, Zophar encourages Job put them away, repent to Him, and have hope in the great God we have (v. 17). When you look at the greatness and vastness of God, you have hope to move on from your sins (v. 18-19).

Critical Thinking Questions
How have your hope in God grew through your repentance?  —- Isaac Chang

Job 10:1-22

The lament continued and Job refused to be ‘comforted’ by his friends’ ‘kind words’. Chapter 9 and 10 recorded Job’s third response. Interestingly, when Job refer to God in chapter 9, he used the third person sentences ‘He…’ to describe God’s mighty power and majestic creation – ending chapter 9 with a personal fearful feeling. As Job’s emotion built up, in chapter 10, Job spoke up and said to God using the pronoun ‘You…’ for the second person narrative, narrowing down the audience that he was seeking comfort, and, maybe seeking a reason, for his suffering.

In agony, Job still chose to pour his heart to God. The same God who created heaven and earth in Job’s ‘He…’ sentences; in chapter 10, became so personable from Job’s perspective (mixed with affections, sorrow, and fear) – someone to have a direct conversation with – ‘You’, the almighty God, created me, clothed me, and loved me. So tell me, what are the charges you have against me?

This reminds us how satan the accuser was trying to pull Job’s leg. In chapter 1 and 2, santan held the position that Job would not fear God for no reason, and would desert God if his blessings were taken away and his life were threatened.

Another interesting point in chapter 10 can be found at verse 13, not sure if it was out of resentment, or it was truly an insight given by God. Job acknowledged that his suffering was allowed by God. Job’s personal relationship with God must be very close, so that he understood (to his capacity and God’s revelation) that it was okay to speak up and that he could plead his case in front of God, knowing that the faithful God is in control.

Oh, may we all have the faith of Job and approach/rely on Him only. We all have our weaknesses and at times overcome by them, but Jesus, our Advocate, Lord, and Savior becomes our strength and the only source of salvation. Lord, help us to seek your will while remaining in you. Amen.    —-Ivy Lin

Job 9
As Job speaks in chapter 9, his words are filled with images of a courtroom. He does not claim to be sinless, but he wants his day in court because he believes he is innocent of the kind of sin that warrants the suffering he is enduring. At the end of this chapter, he wishes for a mediator to help him – someone who could argue his case in God’s court. Again, he does not declare himself sinless, but wishes for help in proving himself innocent of sin that equals this level of suffering.
Nestled in this chapter in verses 5-10 is a beautiful hymn about God’s greatness, but Job is not blessed by it. He continues to voice passionate complaints against God. He does not see God’s goodness and justice in God’s power. By verse 15, Job sees no recourse but to plead for God’s mercy. He does not know God’s higher purpose in his suffering. Yet, he continues to refuse to abandon or curse God.
For me, reading of Job’s misery is painful. But I know that God sent His only Son, Jesus, who chose to endure the horrific punishment of the Cross, to take the eternal sting of suffering and death away. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter in times of great angst. I am reminded to look only to Him, for nothing else can sustain us through the difficulties of this life. Christ is the Almighty Judge – the one who has forgiven my sin by His death on the Cross. All Praise and Glory are due Him.           —- Mary Mauderer

約伯記8章
這一章約伯的另一位友人比勒達發言了，對於約伯發的痛苦的怨言，他進行了冷酷的責備。他認為神是絕對公平公正的，“8:3神豈能偏離公平？全能者豈能偏離公義？“。人受苦是因為人（或兒女）犯罪，指責約伯或他兒女犯罪冒犯了神，因而遭受苦難。他勸誡約伯”殷勤尋求神，向全能者懇求“，要“清潔正直“，神必回應–”他必定為你起來，使你公義的居所興旺“。

友人進而引用古代人的智慧言語來勸誡約伯，“蒲草沒有泥，豈能發長？蘆荻沒有水，豈能生發？“，比喻用這些當時人熟識的植物跟泥土、水的關係，來說明人若沒有了神，就沒有生命；人若離開了神，生命就會像蜘蛛網一樣脆弱(8:14)，像爬牆的蔓子很容易被連根拔出(8:17)。
  友人進一步勸誡說“神必不丟棄完全人，也不扶助邪惡人。他還要以喜笑充滿你的口，以歡呼充滿你的嘴”。神的公義獎罰分明，義人得福，惡人遭報。

讀過這章，儘管約伯是義人，仍可能有得罪神的地方，友人的指責或許有冤枉的地方，但重要的是明確地重申了神的公義和公正，也讓人明白人的生命不能離開神，需要常常生長在神的沃土之中，才能不斷成長。這時也讓我們在遭受苦難的時候，自己省察，有何得罪神的地方，不討神的喜悅的地方，盡快改正；也要像耶穌教導的一樣，如同葡萄常常連在枝子上，把生命於神連接，依靠神，不斷成長，以致有一天長成有耶穌的身量。       —- Yong Shao

約伯記 七章
約伯在這一章吐露出了自己心中的苦楚。經文裡面處處可以看到他對生命的無奈。第一節：『人在世上豈無爭戰嗎？他的日子不像雇工人的日子嗎？』 這裏看到人生像是戰場，打打殺殺的沒有平安。人生又像工人，每天辛苦的工作，就盼望著拿工資，下班休息。第六節：『我的日子比梭更快，都消耗在無指望之中。』這邊講的是，人生過得極快，就像是中文的歲月如梭，時間轉眼就過去了。時間不僅僅是短，還過得沒有希望。第七節：『求你想念，我的生命不過是一口氣；我的眼睛必不再見福樂。』第八節：『雲彩消散而過；照樣，人下陰間也不再上來。』這邊也說到約伯覺得他說人生好像一口氣，脆弱到不堪一擊，也 好像雲彩，變幻莫測，頃刻之間消失得無影無蹤。後面約伯說得更是直接『我不禁止我口；我靈愁苦，要發出言語；我心苦惱，要吐露哀情。』（第十一節）

我相信約伯這樣的哭訴，這樣的反應，我們每個人都在人生中的某個階段有過同樣的經歷。但這邊倒是可以學到一個重要的功課， 碰到人生不順的時期，或是有什麼壞事發生在身上的時候，這些不一定是犯罪的結果。許多時候不好的事情就是撒旦的攻擊，使我們去犯罪。越是碰到不順心的時候，越是去驗查我們自己的心和行為，看它們是否符合神心意的。若是符合，那就更在困境中倚靠神，因這時候反倒可以更多的感受到神的同在。Pastor Sanchez上次來我們教會證道時分享了他爸爸的見證。Pastor Sanchez的父母剛生下一個女嬰，也就是 Pastor Sanchez 的姊姊，但是這嬰兒有先天的缺損，導致她活不到幾天。嬰兒過世的那天，Pastor Sanchez 的爸爸聽到了這消息就趕緊趕到病房去。當他走進病房，眼前看到的是自己的孩子安安靜靜的躺臥在自己的妻子的懷裏。他說當下他感受到神的同在，神就在那病房裡面，神的安慰充滿了整個病房。 這是一個多麼美好的見證，失去自己的新生兒女是多麼痛苦的事情，但是因為倚靠神，反倒是感受到了無比的平安和安慰，每一天也因經歷過神的陪伴而充滿了能力和盼望。感謝主，我們是一群蒙福的人，有神這樣愛我們的天父陪伴著我們。讓我們學會倚靠祂，使我們能夠常常感受到神的同在，充滿了神的安慰與平安。   — Bob Liu

約伯記6:1-30；詩篇24:1-10

「義人」約伯竟被好友以利法責備為「罪孽之輩」(5:16)，又以約伯的遭遇是耶和華神的「懲治」，使約伯的心更為傷痛。

是的，以利法所言誠然是真理。我自己在卅多年前親身經歷神的管教，神所懲治的人是有福的！因為祂打破，又纏裹；祂擊傷，用手醫治。(5:17, 18) 神讓我經歷了神的醫治，一次神蹟的醫治。
神讓我的膽囊結石，膽管堵塞，導致膽囊發炎，感染肋膜發炎，再感染肺發炎。醫師以超音波確認結石，待發炎現象稍緩，將以手術摘取結石。
那時，我在住院期間的靈修讀經，讀的正是約伯記，在神的話語中清楚明白是神在管教我，於是向神認罪悔改；數日後，醫師為預備手術再作超音波檢查，神蹟奇事發生，結石消失了！不必動手術了！哈利路亞！感謝讚美主！

我是罪人，是神管教了我，但約伯不是這樣，約伯是義人，是在神的允許之下，被撒但試探，是約伯並不預先知道的。
約伯深感傷痛，無盡的委屈，不敢埋怨神，只好咒詛自己的出生，也只有求死得解脫。
「惟願我的煩惱稱一稱，我一切的災害放在天平裏；現今都比海沙更重，所以我的言語急躁。」
「惟願我得著所求的，願神賜我所切望的；就是願神把我壓碎，伸手將我剪除。」

約伯自忖，是「將要灰心、離棄全能者、不敬畏神的人」，約伯對他的朋友的期望是「以慈愛待他」，期待他們的教導，「我便不作聲；使我明白在何事上有錯。正直的言語力量何其大！」
然而，朋友的態度，竟是妄加責備，「但你們責備是責備甚麼呢？」

我們基督徒的主內團契，最喜歡彼此關懷、代禱、扶持、「勸勉」，這是好的，但如果我們不明白事實的真相－－神允許撒但試探約伯，以驗證約伯的信心。我們的勸勉就成為責備，甚至控告，雪上加霜，更深的傷害受傷的肢體。
我們應當要體恤在委屈傷痛中的主內肢體，要安慰、陪伴、鼓勵、同心禱告，不需要替正在委屈傷痛的肢體研判是否因為罪惡過犯而遭致神的管教；主耶穌基督沒有要我們定人的罪，定罪是神的權柄，赦罪是神的憐憫。
我們所應該做的，是陪伴我們的主內肢體，一同經歷主的同在、安慰、醫治與保守，並且一同在過程中得到生命的成長。

眾城門哪，你們要抬起頭來！永久的門戶，你們要被舉起！那榮耀的王將要進來！(詩24:7)
看哪，我站在門外叩門；若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裡去，我與他、他與我一同坐席。(啟3:20)

讓我們與有委屈憂傷的人，一同打開我們的心門，迎接榮耀的王，主耶穌基督進入我們的心，主必安慰，主必醫治，主必施恩。
誰能登耶和華的山？誰能站在他的聖所？
就是手潔心清、不向虛妄、起誓不懷詭詐的人。
他必蒙耶和華賜福，又蒙救他的神使他成義。(詩24:3-5)         —- Solomon Liu

 

Job 5
Eliphaz continues his spiel for Job. You can see it can be divided into 3 sections. The first part goes from v.1-7, second part v.8-16, and third part v.17-27. The first part describes the negative mindset, the lens a mourning person like Job sees in a dire situation. However, the tone changed from negativity to positivity as Eliphaz shifts his gear toward a word of praise God in the second part. Eliphaz continues to mention the hope of God in the third part of this chapter. The third part of this chapter becomes a bit more personal for Job and readers.

Critical Thinking Questions

How do you face God during your difficult times? With praises or mourning?          —- Isaac Chang

Job 4:1-21

After seven days of silence, Job spoke up in chapter 3 in front of his friends.
What Job said were not happy words or even being positive. He was so deeply discouraged and saddened that his wish was that he had never been born.

What would a friend do? Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, heard about what happened and came to sympathize with him and comfort him. They kept company with Job for seven days and received a load of depressive language.

The first part of Eliphaz’s response was recorded in chapter 4, today’s chapter.
From this first part of the response, Eliphaz was trying to normalize what Job encountered, the causal relationship and the interpretation of God’s righteousness; later on, preparing to pass judgment on Job in his second part of response.
Not sure if this was the best thing Eliphaz could say, but it did not sound very comforting.

What would Jesus do? Our Bible reading not long ago was in the gospel of John. When Jesus saw the agony of Lazarus’ family, he wept with them (John 11). There were some complaints from Martha and Mary, Jesus listened, but did not pass on judgment on them.

It is hard to comfort someone, and it is also not easy to be comforted.
Maybe we are taking it too lightly. It takes the compassion, not the pity, to attempt to comfort someone; it takes the maturity, not self-pity, to receive the comfort. Both take faith in God to carry through and carry on.

(Isaiah 50:4) The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, awakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

May the Lord give us the wisdom of comfort, because He is the comfort and the source of all good things. May others find us faithful, no matter comforting, or comforted.
—- Ivy Lin