Restarting In-Person Services - Responding to the Tyrone Courier

 

“Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church in common with the policy of our governing body, the Presbytery of Ulster, has been taking the Covid-19 pandemic very seriously in light of the sixth commandment which requires us to protect our own lives and the lives of our neighbours.  As a Church, however, we view the public act of worship as something that is essential for our spiritual as well as our mental health.  Therefore throughout this pandemic we have been endeavouring to strike a balance by taking all sensible and practical precautions, observing the regulations laid down by law while caring for the spiritual and mental health of our people.

Since the onset of the pandemic a year ago Clogher Valley Presbyterian Church has been in a constant state of restriction and we do not foresee a return to normal worship anytime soon.  

On occasions the restrictions have involved a regrettable pausing of in person meetings. During these periods, as was the case in the Spring of 2020 and more recently in January and February of 2021 worship continued through online ministry and Zoom prayer meetings.  Rev Peter McIntyre also hosts a weekly Sunday radio broadcast on Radio Star Country and has produced a series of videos entitled “Hope for the Journey” which received thousands of views.  Despite the challenges of lockdown more people have been reached with the message of the Gospel than would have been the case in normal times.

On the occasions when we are able to gather in-person Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church adheres to all Government and health regulations in accordance with our risk assessments.  Only a portion of the congregation can gather each Sunday morning with attendees coming on a rota basis to ensure social distancing.  With hand sanitising while entering and leaving the building, with designated seating and exits, with mask wearing required (except for those who are exempt), with no hymn books in use to avoid contamination and with a fog machine sanitising the building afterwards these are far from normal times.  For those who cannot attend, the services are streamed live.  Sunday school, Children’s Bible Club and Youth Fellowship continue to operate remotely via Zoom.  The Church has invested in order to minister via online in these challenging times.   Therefore we are able, for example, to combine an in-person mid-week Bible Study & Prayer Meeting with a Zoom prayer meeting enabling those who cannot attend to share personally with those who can.

During the course of the pandemic the congregation has been meeting in-person from July 2020 to January 2021 (except for the two week lockdown imposed by the Northern Ireland Executive in November / December 2020) and from 3rd March 2021.  The Northern Ireland Executive has not imposed a lockdown upon churches during this current phase of the pandemic, which we wholeheartedly agree with because as Christians we are absolutely committed to acting with due care and attention balancing our responsibility to pastorally nurture the physical, spiritual and mental well being of our people.  Our return to restricted in-person meetings from the beginning of March was based upon the reductions in infections, of hospitalisations and of deaths as well the “R” rate - all of which we considered to be an answer to prayer.  The worshippers in Clogher Valley are supportive of this approach.  In person meetings are missed greatly and the opportunity to personally gather is greatly appreciated despite the restrictions we are under.

If the Northern Ireland Executive extends restrictions in the future, according to the health and scientific advice, Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church will abide by the rule of the Presbytery of Ulster which will consider this matter with the utmost care and attention.  We take our duty as Christian citizens very seriously as the Apostle Paul teaches us so to do in Romans 13.

We are much in prayer that our nation will turn to God, that the sick and bereaved will be comforted, that our doctors and nurses will 

be strengthened, that our businesses will be able to return to some normality and that there will be a merciful conclusion to this most difficult time."

Peter McIntyre

19th March 2021

2nd Chronicles 10; Rehoboam’s Hour of Crisis

                                                                     Studies in Chronicles

2nd Chronicles 10

REHOBOAM’S HOUR OF CRISIS

The shoes of leaders who have been powerful and dominant over a prolonged period of time are exceptionally difficult to fill.  This is true in every walk of life whether that be soccer management, business ownership and political authority as well as in church affairs.  Very often the one who follows immediately after a successful and good leader is destined for failure because the comparisons will prove to be his or her undoing.  

Rehoboam wasn’t  exactly a failure as king, his reign had some commendable aspects particularly in the early years.  History, however, has the habit of judging leaders on one incident  which will be seen as the definition their tenure.  

Rehoboam’s crisis moment came early in his reign.  He was challenged almost soon as he was  crowned.  This challenge would require an incredible amount of diplomatic skill on the part of the young king.  This was Rehoboam’s hour of crisis.  

Times of crisis visit everyone in their journey through life.  

They are defining points along the journey which test us and depending upon our response, we will stand justified or condemned for posterity.

1:  A Providential Crisis

The crisis that Rehoboam as presented with was a problem, which like most problems, had been brewing for some time.  Last week we noted the relevance of the ministry of Ahijah and his message of judgement that Solomon’s family would lose a portion of the kingdom to Jeroboam the son of Nebat who at one time was Solomon’s trusted advisor.  This loss would be the outcome of Solomon’s sin in failing to withstand the  encroachments of idolatry into the kingdom and compromising with the religions of his wives.   Therefore, it was determined by the providence of God that Rehoboam would face this moment. 

Every crisis we face in life is providential.  While we would much rather life did not involve challenges and tests they are part of the fabric of humanity and society.  They strike us personally as well as in our domestic, business, social and church affairs.  But ultimately God is in control and we must accept that he is unfolding a purpose in the darkest of circumstances.

Our society presently is passing through a crisis.  While it is not for us to guess the intentions of God in afflicting the world at this time we must be alive to the fact that we deserve judgement as a society and that we deserve collectively a judgement greater than Covid-19.  At the very least the speaking voice of God must be heard through this plague of suffering.

Tragically such is the manner in which our society is intoxicated with evil and wickedness the voice of God is unrecognised.  The liberal agenda continues to move ahead with its plans to implement abortion and further promote the LGBT agenda in our schools.  There seems to be no end to the depths of depravity to which our society is willing to plummet.  This deluge of evil is a greater judgement, however, than the virus which has caused such mayhem because it feels like the restraining hand of God has been removed.

(Please read this post which I have written this week upon this very subject:

https://cvfpc.blogspot.com/2021/03/depraved-contradictions.html )

We are in days of mounting crisis and the indications are that the darkness is encroaching...but we are called and chosen by God to face this time.

We need wisdom, we require spiritual discernment and we must have an understanding of these very challenging times -  because the Church has a most important role for these times in which we find ourselves.

2:  An Opportune Crisis

 The crisis faced by Rehoboam presented him with an opportunity to deal with the grievances that had been festering in the nation.  Solomon, in order to finance his great and ambitious schemes had imposed a significant tax burden on the people.  This situation could not continue.  When Jeroboam came out of hiding he challenged the king on this very issue.  Rehoboam could have averted the crisis by listening to the wise old men of Israel who understood the grievances.  They encouraged the young king to negotiate, to compromise, to win the heart of the nation by promising a fairer fiscal system.  Such an approach would without doubt have taken the wind from Jeroboam’s sails and enabled the kingdom to remain as one unit.

Crises are opportunities for us to make the correct judgement calls.  On occasions we are called to stand firmly on the side of truth while on other occasions standing for God means wisdom and discretion.  Beyond doubt the older men brought a message of hope based on their long experience.  The capacity to listen to others, to think about the voice of reason and experience is of great benefit in the time of trouble.  God in providence gives us others that we can lean on and consult who can help us through days of turmoil.  Let us not neglect wise counsel.

3:  A Tragic Crisis 

But the younger men fuelled by pride and a sense of self persuaded Rehoboam to impose a stricter regime and tax the nation even more.  These were men with whom the young King was most familiar.  They were ambitious and they feared lest Rehoboam would begin his reign by looking weak.  Their arguments won the heart of Rehoboam and they had tragic consequences that would forever define his monarchy.

They warn us against a proud spirit and an ambitious attitude which fails to assess the situation aright.  Rehoboam’s error was one of pride and shortsightedness which did not listen to the considered voice of reason and experience.  It led to a civil war, loss of life and a divided kingdom with Jeroboam ruling over ten tribes.

Bad decisions have bad consequences.  Let us learn to face our challenges and our crises in a considered way with prayer that God would show us His mind.

But even though the nation was divided God was in control...working out all events in spite of man’s incompetence.

Where we fail...God never fails...let us be comforted by that thought today.

DEPRAVED CONTRADICTIONS

 THE DEPRAVED CONTRADICTIONS 

OF 21ST CENTURY SOCIETY

There is no section of our society more vulnerable, yet more precious than our children.   Christ Himself prized highly the little ones, telling the disciples that they must be allowed to come to Him and condemning those who harmed the children with the strongest of words.

Last week television presenter, Lorraine Kelly, was a part of an excellent ITV production which looked back at the Dunblane massacre, twenty-five years ago, when almost an entire class of primary one children and their teacher were gunned down by a lone psychopath.  In this tearful encounter with the parents of these children the event was called the slaughter of the innocent.

Society quite rightly wrings its hands in despair at such barbarity while at the same time promoting and defending the depravity which will cause untold harm to our children and young people.  Herein lies the wicked contradictions of this generation.

Last week a report commissioned by the Department of Communities looking at a gender equalities strategy for Northern Ireland was published.  This department which is led by Sinn Fein Minister Deirdre Hargey received the report from the advisory panel made up of “experts” in the field.   

The report made some recommendations which I find most disturbing.  It concluded that sex education in Northern Ireland was insufficient because it was not inclusive of the experiences of all young people.  In a manner of speaking the report is recommending that LGBT experiences are included as part of the school curriculum, as well as abortion.  The panel recommended that the delivery of these proposals should not be dependent on the ethos of the school and to achieve this the teaching should be conducted by an outside body and not by the local teachers.  Therefore the principals and local governors would be disregarded and presumably the wishes of parents as well.

In a statement the DUP pointed out that the delivery of education in this way would need to be approved by the Department of Education and by the Northern Ireland Executive.  This certainly appears to be over reach by the Department of Communities and we are grateful that there are those in Government who will oppose these moves but it is troubling that there  are some who want to push such an extreme agenda of perversion and legalised murder onto the most vulnerable in our society.  

There seems to be no end to the liberal juggernaut and its depraved ambition to control and manipulate every part of our lives and to mould the thinking of our children.

Of those who would would dare to promote such a programme aimed at distorting young minds the words of Christ are as true as they were for the Dunblane gunman:

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."  (Matthew 18:6)

As a church and as parents we must be vigilant and pray much that the Lord would shelter our little ones.  

The most cruel contradiction of all, however, is the murderous act of abortion itself. Already more than 1,000 little babies have been slaughtered in Northern Ireland since the introduction of abortion less than one year ago.  People weep because of the deaths of sixteen primary one children in Dunblane twenty five years ago, plus their teacher who died trying to protect her “wee” class, but are completely without emotion when the law murders children who have a right to life, in the very place God designed for their nurture and safety.  Abortion in the western world, has strange depraved echoes of the Nazi death camps and gas chambers and it fills me with horror.  If there is one sin that will bring God’s wrath upon this United Kingdom, it is the slaughter of the innocent, approved by Parliament, consented to by our Queen and funded by our NHS.  

I am grateful that there is a push back against abortion in the Northern Ireland Assembly led by Paul Givan  MLA.  His Private Members Bill is designed to give disabled children in the womb the same rights as disabled people outside the womb.  If passed abortion will be illegal up to term on the basis of disability.  Our lives are greatly enriched by the disabled children who are blessed with the opportunity to live and contribute to the well being of society.  Nazism saw the disabled as a hindrance and sent them to their deaths with millions of others.  While we want to see abortion abolished all together, if Mr Givan can see his Bill through the Northern Ireland Assembly to Royal Assent, it will provide a platform for arguing against all abortion in totality.  If disabled children have a legal right to protection why not all children?

In the wake of the Sarah Everard murder in London, there has been a huge outpouring of grief, together with a highlighting  of the threats that many women face when walking alone. We rightly defend the rights of our ladies to feel safe and we share in the grief and thoughts that have been expressed.  

But we also must point out the cruel contradiction - we wish to defend the innocent against attack and murder while the same time millions of innocent babies have been robbed of life and little revulsion is expressed.  

While men are responsible for violence against women, which we rightly abhor, it is women who make the choice to have their unborn babies “terminated”.  Men, however, are responsible too , having fathered the children, and in many cases refusing to take responsibility for them, therefore persuading mothers that they have little option.  Depravity crosses the gender barrier and encompasses people of all generations and ethnic backgrounds reminding us that “all have sinned”.  Yet we must be sympathetic at the plight that some of these women find themselves in and accept that the moral and legal structures of society make it possible for them to make this tragic choice.  This is absolutely a society wide problem which we collectively must take ownership of.  We must stand up and say - Abortion is not the solution.

These cruel contradictions are symptomatic of a society sickened by selfish and heartless brutality. They illustrate most graphically the brokenness of a people who have ignored God and risks being abandoned by Him.

As a church we must must face the challenge biblically and prayerfully for the sake of the next generation.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” ( 2nd Chronicles 7:14).

Job 6; Suffering Saints Praying to the God of all Grace

SUFFERING SAINTS PRAYING TO THE GOD OF ALL GRACE

NEW TESTAMENT APPLICATION FROM JOB’S EXPERIENCES

1Pe 5:10  “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

We have spent the last five weeks learning about the “God of all grace”, in the life of Job.

By looking at key texts in the spiritual journey of a suffering giant we have observed the handiwork of God:

Job 1:21

Blessed be the Name of the Lord; Job’s Confession of Faith

“Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 19:25

My Redeemer Liveth; Job’s Hope in Christ

 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” 

Job 23:10

I Shall Come Forth As Gold; Job’s Trust in a Sovereign God

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”

Job 38:1

God in the Whirlwind; Job’s Experience with God

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind...”

Job 42:6 

Dust and Ashes; Job’s New Beginning

“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

This text from Peter, does much more than supply us with the title for this series of studies.  Peter’s words can be interpreted as a commentary on the life of Job.  This suffering saint was perfected, stablished. strengthened and settled by the God of all grace in his affliction.  While Job’s personal sorrows were extreme in their uniqueness - sorrow and suffering are not unique.  Quite the contrary - they are normal human experiences in a broken world.  Therefore Peter’s words are as relevant for 21st Century believers as they were for 1st Century Christians.  As sorrow and pain remain a feature of human life, so the God of all grace remains our constant and cherished companion.

Peter’s words are a prayer, a prayer to the God of all grace which is full of faith and promise.  The prayers of the apostles are valuable in that they are the inspired utterances of the Holy Spirit.  Such prayers can be claimed and recited with faith by every believing heart as they are prayers that are agreeable to the will of God.

SUFFERING SAINTS PRAYING TO THE GOD OF ALL GRACE

1:  Praying to be Perfected

The word perfected, while it means to make whole, carries the idea of repairing or mending.  For example when Jesus found the fishermen mending their nets (Matthew 4:21) this is the verb employed.

It easy to see how this applies to Job - his life was broken by grief and trauma but his latter end was greater than his beginning, because the Healer intervened.

Whatever our brokenness, our sorrow, our pain, our failure may be - we can trust the mending and restoring power of the God of all grace.

2:  Praying to be Stablished

This verb is very close in meaning to the verb translated stedfast, used by Peter earlier in this passage.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, Whom resist stedfast in the faith...” (1st Peter 5:8-9).

The word stedfast, linked to the attack of Satan, depicted as a roaring lion, highlights the reality of Christian warfare.  While we are under attack, God will give us the strength to be stedfast.  However weak we may feel ourselves to be, there is power flowing from the God of all grace to make us strong and stedfast in the faith.

This is the same word that Peter heard from the lips of Christ, when his days of testing at the hands of Satan were predicted:

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32).

Peter, through his failings, brought about by human pride, was equipped to strengthen his brothers, only because Christ’s prayers had stablished him.  We are not stedfast through our own convictions and resolve, only through the God of all grace.  A lesson that must be learned and relearned!

3:  Praying to be Strengthened

This verb, translated “strengthen”, while it appears to be similar to that which is translated “stablish”, is a different word.  This is a unique Greek verb, at least unique in the New Testament, employed in only one other place:

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).

The context in which Paul uses the word, also in a prayer, gives us the clue to the meaning, spiritual strength in the heart and soul, given by the Holy Ghost.

This is the strength that matters ; this is true power, that surpasses all physical energy.  The power of the Spirit alone, can make the weakest, feeblest Christian strong in days of great trouble.

4:  Praying to be Settled

The word “settled” refers to a foundation.  It is employed in Matthew 7:25, of the wise man’s house which was founded upon the rock:

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

The word is linked to the verb “rooted” employed in Paul’s great prayer in Ephesians 3:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17).

 

A house that is grounded on the rock survives the storms and a plant that is rooted lives and will therefore produce foliage, flowers and fruit.

We often use the metaphor “grounded” to describe a Christian who is solid, dependable and certain.  This grounding is drawn from the foundation of faith upon which a person rests, Christ alone.  

To be rooted is another metaphor we could use to describe such a Christian life.  The rooted Christian will produce evidence of that life by his or her conduct and Christ likeness.

Both the foundation and the root are hidden.  Yet the hidden aspect is the source of strength and fruitfulness.  So it is in the Christian life - if the hidden life is not proper, the outward life will be unsure.

Yet this hidden life, this grounding and rooting comes from God; the God of all grace.  Job had a hidden life that was solid, therefore he survived and was victorious as the storms raged.  His spiritual life stood firm and he continues to bless our souls today.  This is testament to the power of the God of all grace.

Let us pray today that these graces would be perfected in our hearts.  Claim the promise, step into victory:

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

JOB 5; Dust and Ashes

 THE GOD OF ALL GRACE IN THE LIFE OF JOB

PART 5 – DUST AND ASHES; Job’s New Beginning

 Job 42:5-6

“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

 This is our final key text in the Book of Job.

After a protracted period of conversation between suffering Job and his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, and after Elhiu the younger man entered the discussion God came and revealed Himself in all His power and glory.

 This is both a transforming moment and a turning point in the experience of Job.  His thinking is altered and life is turned around by the appearance of God.

 Job was not the only one who was changed when God came, but the other four men were also taught invaluable lessons, especially Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.

These men had talked and reasoned in their attempt to understand the mysteries of providence.  This is the question of the ages – Why good people are called to suffer?  As all humans do when attempting to comprehend the incomprehensible – they went round in circles.  How many times have we not talked and debated issues and after hours of discussion found ourselves no further forward?  When God appears, however, everything makes sense, even though we still do not understand His dark and mysterious ways.  Only when we are humbled before God can we move forward.

 Job needed a new beginning after his descent from happiness and prosperity to sorrow and bereavement.  This new beginning only took place when God revealed Himself to His servant.

Let us apply this to our immediate circumstances in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some have attempted to claim with great certainty that this is the judgement of God upon our world for the moral wickedness that abounds.  I do not say the world does not deserve judgement; but I do say that we deserve as a society much more than Covid-19.  If we argue that each terrible event is the specific judgement of God then we need to face the suffering that happens every day in all kinds of scenarios - suffering from which none of us are immune.  Suffering is not always judgement for specific events; if it were God becomes caricatured as a vindictive ogre, rather than a God of grace and mercy.  We ought to be careful with the manner in which we portray God to the world if we continual focus on the wrath of God without balancing His nature in a biblical manner – because He is also a God of longsuffering, of goodness and forgiveness. 

Others have gone down the conspiracy theory route – that the death rates are not what they all seem.  This pandemic is a stage-managed production by the globalists who want to lead us closer to a one world Government.  Some have even described it as dress rehearsal for the arrival of antichrist!  Such foolish talk ignores the fact that health services across the world have been overwhelmed with the sheer numbers of seriously ill people.  Covid-19 has not been a phoney illness. 

Among the unbelieving world conspiracy theories abound among those who see China as deliberating inventing the virus to order to move ahead of the West in power and prosperity.  There was the rather crazy notion that was mooted that 5G masts were transmitting the virus into Europe.  Some have even claimed that this is another desperate attempt to overthrow President Trump in the wake of the failed attempt to have him impeached.

The world at large places a heavy reliance upon science to get us out of the pandemonium that Covid-19 has brought upon the world.  The differentials in the lockdowns across the world and the variations in how the virus has affected nations has shown that science cannot supply all the solutions.

Both believers and unbelievers, the Church and the world have been guilty together of running around in circles looking for reasons, seeking solutions, attempting to make sense of this situation in which we all are involved.

The truth is – we cannot make sense of the world because no man of woman is God.  Only He knows the end from the beginning and His ways are unfathomable.

An unbeliever may well read this and accuse the writer of a cop-out.  If we are challenged to explain something, they say we blame God and by claiming that He knows best.  I certainly do not blame (because the word blame carries with it the implication of condemnation) but I accept that God has decreed every event that comes to pass and that He works His purpose out through it.  I rest on this and this brings peace to my soul.

When God visited Job, the man of God was taught this truth in a most demonstrative way, and therefore was made ready for a new beginning.

Job was not sinless.  He had got things wrong, as had His friends.  Therefore, he needed correction.

We too need a new beginning.  If a man like Job, who rose to the incredible heights of faith when facing bereavement, loss, ill health, betrayal and  condemnation needed correction – how much more do we?

We need to be corrected by the most high God.  When He visits us everything changes.  This was Job’s experience at the end of his story.  May it be ours likewise.

1:       Job’s Confession to God

Job 42:2-3

“I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.”

 When faced with His Creator, whose power and wisdom are fundamental to the world and the universe Job recognised the futility of his own reasoning and logic.  He confessed that He ought to have said nothing, even when accused by His friends.  Rather he ought to have waited on God.  A most vital lesson we all need to learn in our rush to either defend ourselves or accuse others!

As he was given this new experience with God he is described as abhorring himself and repenting with dust and ashes.  Job already knew God, he was a valued and highly commended servant of God.  Yet there was so much more of God for him to discover.  So, it is for us – let us seek more of His presence that we might be humbled before Him.

 2:       His Prayer to God

Job 42:7,10

“And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath…And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends”.

 It appears that Eliphaz, Bilbad and Zophar did not react with humility, as Job had done, when God appeared.  Why this was the case we cannot be sure but we do know that this brought about God’s disproval.

There is no doubting that the way in which these men had treated Job, in his suffering was wrong.  They accused him of sin, of hypocrisy especially, and insisted that God was judging him.  Despite these glaring failings, these men still did not admit their faults and humble themselves before the glory of God.  They tenaciously clung onto their opinions with an air of stubborn pride.  If Job had admitted his fault in the affair, these men had more reason to request forgiveness.

These men had sinned against God, they had certainly wronged Job and they remained fixed in their arrogant ways.  But before God would reverse Job’s circumstances it was important that he prayed for his failing and offensive friends.  I can imagine some Christians when challenged with this kind of situation refusing to pray for those who had treated them in such a cruel fashion.  But God does not want us to hold spite and bitterness against our brothers and sisters.  He wants us to settle our differences at the throne of grace.  It is a credit to Job that he rose above the selfishness and stubbornness of his friends – he claimed the higher ground on his knees before the God of Heaven.  Blessings flow from God to those who have the capacity to forgive.

James 5:16

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.

 Matthew 18:21-22

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

 3:  His Acceptance by God

 Job 42:10

“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

Job now had a life to rebuild.  This would involve much by way of industry and sacrifice.  We should not imagine that the events of the latter part of Chapter 42 took place over a few days or months.  But life went on and Job accepted the challenge as a man who had an encounter with God.  He regained acceptance by his family, the Lord replaced the loss of his children and his flocks and herds were replenished. 

Our nation is facing the deepest recession in history.  The economic impact of this pandemic will perhaps not be fully realised until the end of the year.  We have read of The Great Depression years in the 1930s and it is very possible that we will pass through a similar period. 

Like generations before us we will have to play our part in rebuilding the British nation.  This presents challenges for individuals, families, small and medium businesses, large companies as well as political leaders.

 But the lesson from Job is – that an encounter with God provides the strength for the task that lies ahead.  God is able to recover our national prosperity and restore our economic fortunes, BUT will he do it for a people who have turned against Him?  He may well do because He is merciful and good and kind.  He may also turn the tide that overwhelming our nation in response to the prayers of His people.  The world may not realise it, but the people of God are the best and the most valuable resource in any nation – the salt of the earth.  But if God were to reveal Himself and bring our nation collectively to its knees we would truly be on the way to recovery.

Britain rose from being island on the edge of Europe to an international superpower which ruled the waves after the Protestant Reformation, the greatest revival since Pentecost.  Britain similarly has been in steady decline in the Post World War Two Wars; years in which we have nationally lost our way immersed in the quagmire of secularism which offers us nothing but failure.

Let us pray that God will come as He came to Job who was suffering and sorrowing amid the ashes of failure.  That we would turn from our wicked ways, seek the Lord and then He will heal the land.

Only then can we look forward to the future with a sense of optimism.  God gave Job in his latter days more than he had in his beginning.  He did fulfil the word that Bildad spoke - words that we can claim for tomorrow for our homes, our church, our business and our nation if we will but trust and obey:

Job 8:7

“Thou thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase”

Job 4; God in the Whirlwind

 THE GOD OF ALL GRACE IN THE LIFE OF JOB

PART 4 - God in the Whirlwind; Job’s Experience with God

Job 38:1

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind...”

This 4th key text in the life of Job is not so obvious as the previous three, yet it is crucial to our understanding of the Book of Job and the mysterious providences of God.

While the sight of Job sitting down in utter devastation and blessing the name of His God (Job 1:21), His remarkable faith in anticipating the coming Redeemer (Job 19:25) and the peace he experienced knowing that he would come out of the furnace of affliction pure as gold (Job 23:10) are well known in the life of Job - the contents of chapter 38 are less so.

Chapters 38 & 39 are vital, to our understanding of this book, however, because here the Lord enters the conversation.  

The Book of Job, as well as being the story of one man’s multiple tragedies, is also a conversation.

Chapters 1 & 2 records the conversation between the Lord and Satan.

Also in Chapter 2 there is the briefest of conversations between Job and his wife.

At the close of the second chapter Job’s 3 friends arrive after hearing of his losses; Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.

Chapters 3 to 31 record the conversation between Job and his friends.  While the proverb ‘Job’s Comforters’, is used of people who create pain rather than bring comfort, we often forget that the friends of Job were godly and spiritual men.  A close study of their speeches will show that they had a firm grasp of theology and deep sense of the divine.  Nevertheless, despite their knowledge they misjudged Job’s predicament.  They were guilty of treating Job as a sinner, whom God had chastened sore with frightful visitations of wrath.  

Eliphaz

“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:  For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” (Job 5:17-18)

Bildad

“Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?  Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.  So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish.” (Job 8:11-13)

Zophar

“But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.” (Job 11:5-6)

Being bombarded with such cruel words, from those who purported to be his friends, it is no wonder that Job retorted:

“I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.” (Job 16:2 )

This is salutary lesson to all of us, be careful before ever judging a situation!

Nevertheless, Job in his reaction to the accusations of his friends - over compensates by protesting his innocence in a way that was improper, even tainted with pride.

“Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.” (Job 31:4-8)

Job, therefore, held onto the idea, perpetrated by his fiends that terrible events occurred because of sin - therefore he  held himself up and declared that he hadn’t sinned.  While it is wrong to be harsh on a man who was in such a dark place, yet there was something missing in his language.  Job was in effect questioning God in protesting his innocence, therefore failing to recognise the wickedness of his own heart, a fact that is true of all of us.

Therefore, there a need for someone else to enter the conversation.

From Chapters 32 - 37 a younger man called Elihu, who had been sitting silently listening in, entered the discussion.  He was frustrated by all 4 older men, and their failures to assess the situation aright.

“Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.” (Job 32:9).

Elihu’s purpose was to show these men the absolute sovereignty God.  The tragedies of Job, rather than being linked to his sin, must be attributed solely to the hand of providence which no man can challenge.

 “Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.”  (Job 33:13)

In this, Elihu certainly was a greater help to Job, than any of his friends.  The younger man was much wiser than his seniors in this regard.

The progress of this conversation, warns us not to declare with certainty why God acts in a  certain way or why he permits particular events to unfold.  Ultimately the mysteries of providence are veiled in secrecy.

“God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform”

After men have had their say, God must have the final word.  Chapters 38 - 42 contain God’s conversation with Job as an individual.  God must have the final say.  Our thoughts and ideas must be subservient to the thinking of the Almighty.  We need an ear for His voice.  When God speaks our sins are uncovered and our wrongs are put to right.

God in the Whirlwind; Job’s Experience with God

Job 38:1

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind...”

1:  His Presence in the Whirlwind

The whirlwind is a fearful natural phenomenon, that uproots, devastate and can kill.  As Job and his companions, who now numbered 3, a watched the cloud of swirling dust moving in from the wilderness, they were to learn that the presence of God was in the whirlwind.

The whirlwind, was a fitting emblem of all Job’s calamities.  The failure of his business, the loss of his children, the deterioration of his health, the abandonment of his wife, the accusations of his friends, the depression of mind, the confusion of his soul - was an awesome whirlwind of turmoil and upheaval.

Yet in a very visual way God was showing Job that He was in the whirlwind.  Job was not abandoned.

When we face our whirlwinds sorrow and suffering let us remember that God’s presence is in the storm , even though we fail to recognise Him.

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a smiling providence

He hides a smiling face”.

2:  His Voice in the Whirlwind

Ultimately God revealed His presence by speaking.  This is how God continues to reveal Himself to us...by speaking.  Without His voice we never could be aware of His presence.  It is His voice in His Word that makes us so sure that we will never will be left alone ( Hebrews 13:5), that He is present to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20) and that all things work together for good for those that love the Lord (Romans 8:28).

But when the whirlwind comes, His voice is heard in a clearer way.  He brings the whirlwind to teach us new lessons about Himself.  The whirlwind is has an awesome sound, of deafening wind.  But God’s voice is heard above the storm.

In these days, of disease, of death and of confusion let us listen out for the voice of God above the storm.  He has words for us that we would not hear, were it not for the experience of this pandemic.

The message God had for Job, echoed the sentiments of Elihu.  This is the same message we need to hear and appreciate today; He has laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4) and as a result every aspect of the natural world is under His control.  A close study of these chapters will reveal a God who in absolute control.

As God spoke out of the whirlwind - this was the message Job heard.

Let us as God’s redeemed children, hear this same message today.