Our Daily Scripture – 11/16/23 (Thursday)

SCRIPTURE;  JOB 31

JOB FINAL DEFENSE: 

  1.  I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. (v. 1)
  2.  I have not walked in falsehood and my foot has not hurried after deceit (v. 5)
  3.  My steps have not turned from the path.  My heart has not been led by my eyes and my hands have not been defiled. (v. 7)
  4.  My heart has not been enticed by a woman and I have not lurked at my neighbor’s door. (v. 9)
  5.  I have not denied justice to my menservants and maidservants when they had a grievance against me. (v. 13)
  6.  I have not denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary. (v. 16)
  7.  I have not kept my bread to myself; I share it with the fatherless. (v. 17)
  8.  I reared the fatherless as would a father and guided the widow. (v. 18)
  9.  I have not seen anyone perished for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a garment. (v. 19)
  10.  I have not raised my hand against the fatherless even though I had influence in court. (v. 21)
  11.  I have not put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, “You are my security”. (v. 24)
  12.  I have not rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortuned my hands had gained. (v. 25)
  13.  My hearts was not secretly enticed with the sun in its radiance; my hand never over a kiss of homage to the moon in splendor. (v. 26-27)
  14.  I have not rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him. (v. 29)
  15.  I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against my enemy. (v. 30)
  16.  No stranger had to spend the night in the street for my door was always open to the traveler. (v. 32)
  17.  I have not concealed my sin as men do nor hide my guilt in my heart. (v. 33)
  18.  My land did not cry out against me nor its furrows are wet with tears. (v. 38)
  19.  I have not devoured my land’s yield without payment nor broke the spirit of its tenants. (v. 29)

THOUGHTS:

Job reviewed his good deeds and listed sins that he had not committed in his heart against his neighbor or against God.  He affirmed that depending on wealth for happiness is denying the God of heaven.  As true believers, we must purge ourselves of the deep desire for more power, prestige and possessions.  We must show compassion and be generous to those in need.

May this chapter help us to take an inventory of how you live your life:

  1.  Do your eyes wander lustfully?
  2.  Do your feet walk deceitfully?
  3.  How do you treat others?
  4.  Do you covet wealth?
  5.  Are you proud of what you possess?
  6.  How do you respond to the suffering of an enemy?
  7.  Do you help the needs of a stranger?
  8.  Are you a faithful steward of what God has given you?