约伯记［第9章］
Book of Job 9
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约伯记［第9章］|Book of Job 9【认识真神 活出真我】
26/12/2023
引言：
约伯记第九至十章是约伯对比勒达的答辩。从表面来看，约伯似乎在攻击神，但是他真正的意图是要找到神！这也是神的旨意，要约伯更认识祂，活出生命树的‘真我’！
一、知道神是大有智慧能力（V1-4）
约伯在回答比勒达的话时，首先承认神是公义的。人在神面前怎能成为义呢？人根本是不能跟神争辩的，因为神在智慧和能力上比任何人都高！
我们在痛苦或困惑的时候，最重要的是谦卑地服从神完美的计划，并相信神的主权，而不是自己试图去找答案和出路。
二、承认神是奇妙不可测度（V5-12）
约伯在这里描述了神创造的伟大，列举了神的种种奇妙作为，指出‘祂行大事，不可测度，行奇事，不可胜数。’
我们要承认有限的人，在无限的真理面前是无知的。这种认识使我们看见神的伟大，自己的渺小，并能凭信心接受神对苦难以及万事的主权。
三、因苦难扭曲对神的认知（V13-35）
1. 约伯觉得神善恶不分（V13-24）
约伯觉得神不分善恶，以致没有人可以帮他。所以约伯开始埋怨神，毁灭人不分善恶，嘲笑无辜人，且容许恶人横行，一切都是神不对。
我们在软弱的时候也往往如此，扭曲对神的认识，比如神不爱我了，神不公平了等等。今天我们要明白，神是要我们在困境中更认识祂，靠祂活出不扭曲的真我，成为好见证。
2. 约伯觉得无辜被定罪（V25-31）
约伯觉得无辜被定罪。无论他多么小心地洁净自己，神仍然会宣告他有罪。 很多时候，我们在逆境之中也会扭曲地将神视为无情的定罪者。其实我们要认识到，神暂时不审判罪恶，是为了让我们有机会回转，我们就会更加地敬畏祂。
3.约伯觉得神在杖打他（V32-35）
有口难辩的约伯，希望有一个法庭和一个第三者，能使他与神和解。但这个希望他觉得没可能实现，所以他感觉神的刑杖在他身上责打他，让他活在惊惶惧怕中。
当我们面对无法解释和解决的困境时，我们要数算过去神的恩典，就可以看见神的慈爱，看见神的杖和竿是在保护、引导、安慰我们。
约伯虽然把神扭曲得十分可怕，但是神并没有生他的气，只是静静地听。因为神知道约伯在口头上讲出埋怨的话，其实内心是在寻找神！这也是神的心意，要约伯更认识祂！
总结：
我们要全面地认识神的慈爱、良善与公义，我们才不会在苦难中扭曲对神的认知。
感谢神！祂不仅有智慧、能力，还有慈爱及良善，而且祂绝对值得我们交讬生命。但愿我们能一天比一天更认识祂！在神的爱中，没有惧怕地活出生命树的‘真我’！
Job Chapter 9: To know the true God and to live the true self
GK611 Morning Devotion
26/12/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Daniel Kew
Introduction:
Job chapters 9-10 are Job's reply to Bildad. On the surface, Job seems to be attacking God, but his real intention is to find God! It was also God's will for Job to know Him better and to live out the 'true self' of the tree of life!
1. Knowing that God is great in wisdom and power (V1-4)
Job begins his answer to Bildad's words by recognising that God is righteous. How can man be righteous before God? Man simply cannot argue with God, for God is higher than any man in wisdom and power!
The most important thing we can do in times of pain or confusion is to humbly submit to God's perfect plan and trust in God's sovereignty, rather than trying to find answers and a way out on our own.
2. Recognising that God is wonderful and unmeasurable (V5-12)
Job here describes the greatness of God's creation and lists all of God's marvelous works, noting that 'He does great things, which are unsearchable, and wonders, which are not to be numbered.'
We need to recognize that finite man is ignorant before infinite truth. This realisation enables us to see God's greatness and our own insignificance, and to accept by faith God's sovereignty over suffering as well as over all things.
3. Distorted perception of God due to suffering (V13-35)
(1) Job felt that God did not distinguish between good and evil (V13-24)
Job felt that God did not distinguish between good and evil, so that no one could help him. Therefore, Job began to blame God for destroying people who did not distinguish between good and evil, mocking the innocent and allowing the wicked to run rampant, and everything was wrong with God.
We also tend to do the same thing when we are weak, distorting our understanding of God, such as God doesn't love me anymore, God is unfair, and so on. Today we need to understand that God wants us to know Him better in the midst of our difficulties, to live out our true selves by Him without distortion, and to be good witnesses.
(2) Job felt innocent and condemned (V25-31)
Job felt innocent and condemned. No matter how carefully he cleansed himself, God would still declare him guilty.
Often times, we are also twisted in the midst of adversity to see God as a merciless condemner. In fact, we need to realise that God does not judge sin for a while in order to give us a chance to turn around, and we will fear Him all the more.
(3) Job felt that God was beating him with a rod (V32-35)
Job, who had a hard time arguing, hoped that there would be a court of law and a third party who could reconcile him to God. But he felt that this hope could not be realised, so he felt that God's rod was beating him, making him live in fear and trembling.
When we face unexplainable and unsolvable dilemmas, we have to count God's grace in the past, and we can see God's loving kindness, and see that God's rod and staff are protecting, guiding, and comforting us.
Although Job twisted God terribly, God was not angry with him, but only listened quietly. For God knew that Job was verbalising words of complaint, but was actually seeking God in his heart! This was also God's intention for Job to know Him better!
Conclusion:
We need to know God's love, goodness and righteousness in a comprehensive way so that we don't distort our perception of God in the midst of suffering.
Thank God! Not only is He wise and powerful, but He is also loving and good, and He is definitely worth entrusting our lives to. May we know Him more and more every day! Live out the 'true self' of the Tree of Life without fear in God's love!
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