Wednesday

14-August

Isaiah 23; Job 42; 1 Timothy 1

Isaiah 23: What will happen to Tarshish?

Job 42:  Why did Job’s family and friends return and what did they do for Job?

1 Timothy 1: Why did Paul write to Timothy to remain in Ephesus? Why did Paul receive mercy?

Journal Prompt: Paul urges the Thessalonians to trust God for salvation, rather than try to go back to the Law and ‘earn’ their salvation. How are you tempted to try to ‘earn’ your salvation?

Answers:

Isaiah 23: Tarshish will be devastated.

Job 42: Job performed the sacrifices that the Lord ordered him to perform for the sins of his friends, and he (Job) prayed to the Lord on their behalf.  After this, the Lord forgave them and then restored Job’s fortunes – actually giving him twice of what he had before.  Then his family and friends returned to him “And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil^[b]that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money^[c] and a ring of gold.”

Just for your information, since often names in the Bible carry great significance, I found these meanings for the names of Job’s daughters from David Guzik’s commentary:

· Jemimah: “Turtledove” or “Day-bright.”

· Keziah: “Cinnamon” or “Cassia,” a fragrant scent.

· Keren-Happuch: “A Jar of Eye Paint” or “Horn of Beauty”; the idea was that she was so beautiful that she needed no cosmetics.

1 Timothy 1: Paul told Timothy to stay in Ephesus so he could stop others from teaching doctrine that was contrary to the gospel – specifically that faith was not sufficient for salvation – they wanted to go back to the Law.

Paul was a ‘major’ sinner and he received mercy from Jesus so that Paul would be an example of Jesus’ patience with such a great sinner – and thus they would believe they too could receive eternal life.