Dear Readers,

For those who are doing the WB reading challenge, we are over 1/2 way through the Bible. For those doing the NT reading challenge, there are only eight small books left before reading through the gospels a second time. It is easy at this point to feel bogged down. Remember to ask God to give you new insights into your reading. Pray he will make himself more real to you in your life. Pray he will use the words you have read and they will come to mind at the right time. Also try to do a few practical things: change times of day when you read, find a new place, discuss the reading with a friend, use a different translation, buy a new journal, etc. Shake it off and start a new!

Also remember that your Bible reading time is a good time to talk to God. He would like two way communications with you! Consider writing your prayers out to Him like a letter. You might want to write a "prayer note" to a friend that you prayed for today. Sing your prayers to God. You might try changing your posture: walk as you pray or pray with your eyes open. Think of how you talk to a friend and try to do the same thing in your prayers.

The book of Job is a long book and we will read from it all week and some of next week. You might want to read Job also in a paraphrase like the "Living Bible" or "The Message" by Eugene Peterson because some of the dialog is hard to follow as it is in poetry style most of the time. The book of Job is often appealing to those who are suffering and going through a difficult time. It is interesting to hear the logic of Job and his friends. Many of the conclusions may seem right from a human perspective, but we need to be reminded that we don't have all the information in most situations in our lives. Only God has all the information so even in our best logic we are often wrong. There can be a comfort in that. I like know I have a God that is bigger than any thing I can experience, think about, or imagine.

Enjoy your reading today.

DAY ONE, AUGUST 13 - JOB 11-14
Chapter 11
Which friend is talking now?
Do you think Zophar tries to put himself in Job's position and show any compassion?
Has someone who lacks God's compassion and love ever counseled you, or have you been that type of a counselor to another person?
Do you think this lack of compassion is justified (not at all, somewhat, a lot)? Why?
Do you think Job really lacks an understanding of God? Why or why not?
Do you think Zophar might be guilty of the same things he is accusing Job of? Why or why not?
What is Zophar saying about sin and Job's condition?
Have others ever told you all your problems were due to your sin and stubbornness, or have you ever told someone else that?
What can we learn from observing this conversation?
Chapter 12 - 13:19
NOTE: Here Job speaks to his friends.
What is Job's attitude towards his friends and how does it come out in the tone of this words?
What does he say about people?
What does he say about God?
Have you ever had a friend like Job's, or been a friend to others like Job's friends?
How does Job accuse his friends of speaking falsely for God?
How have you presumed to know what God is up to in another person's life? How does Job show he would rather trust his case with the all-powerful God than with his friends?
Chapter 13:20-14
NOTE: Here Job speaks to God.
What does Job want from God?
Does Job think God is angry with him? From the information from the first few chapters, do you think God is angry with Job?
Why does it feel like God is angry?
Why is God allowing this suffering?
What can you learn from this in your life?
How do you see the resurrection alluded to here?

DAY TWO, AUGUST 14 - JOB 15-17
Chapter 15
Which friend is talking here?
Is he gentler or harsher on Job than the others?
What is Eliphaz saying happens to the wicked person?
How is that doctrine missing an important element for the innocent person?
What disturbing conclusions can godly people come up with after hearing words similar to Eliphaz's words?
How have you been made to feel that you could only possibly be wicked seeing your suffering was great?
Have you ever been an Eliphaz friend to someone else?
Chapter 16-17
What does Job accuse his friends of doing?
What does he say in his defense?
What does Job say about himself in verses 16:15-17?
What does Job say he has waiting for him in heaven, according to verses 16:18-22, 17:3?
Who does that sound like to you?
Even in his great distress how does this show a faith that is beyond understanding?
How do you see hope and hopelessness mixed together here?
What kind of faith do you have in the midst of suffering?

DAY THREE, AUGUST 15 - JOB 18-21
Chapter 18
NOTE: Oh my, here we go again, another round of his friends. Can you imagine friends like that in a time like this? It really makes us think about what kind of friend we are and whether Satan is using us to cause more suffering or not.
What does Bildad think of Job and his words so far?
Do you think he is right and fair? Why or why not?
What is Bildad's picture of the wicked?
Do any of Job's friends think that the righteous will suffer?
What do you think of that? What does the rest of the Bible, especially the NT say about that?
Chapter 19
How much rejection is Job feeling?
Do you think he can take much more?
Has there ever been a time on your life when you felt like you could have written the words of Job?
What does he want from his friends, according to verse 21?
What wonderful words of hope and faith are recorded in verses 23-27?
Again, without Job knowing all of scripture, who does it sound like Job is talking about?
Even though at times Job fears God's anger and wonders if the suffering is due to sin and wickedness, does Job doubt that God will still save him and that he will see God in heaven?
Can you see hope in your circumstances?
What warning for his friends does Job end this section with?
Chapter 20
NOTE: I am sure, if you are like me, you are really starting to not like Job's friends. But if you are like me you really have to take a good look at yourself and wonder which of the three you are really more like. Often in our arrogance, pious faith, training, and maybe even fear that the same thing could happen to us, we react similarly to the friends. Is there someone in your life you need to apologize to for playing "god" with their situation by trying to tell them the cause of the suffering and trouble?
And again, what is Zophar saying about the wicked, while implying that Job is one of the wicked?
Chapter 21
If Job is not complaining to man, than whom is he complaining to?
Challenge: Job is implying that he can complain to God because he feels that God is responsible for this condition. Is that perception accurate? Why or why not?
What is Job saying that he seeing in the lives of the wicked? Is it the same thing that the friends have been saying?
Have you ever felt the wicked were getting better treatment that you were getting?
According to verse 34 what does Job think of the friend's counsel so far?

DAY FOUR, AUGUST 16 - JOB 22-24
NOTE: we begin the 3rd cycle in the speeches now.
Chapter 22
According to Eliphaz does God even care about our goodness?
Have you ever thought, "What does it matter that I do any good?"
What accusations does Eliphaz bring against Job?
What does Eliphaz finally call Job to do in verses 21-30?
Chapter 23
What case for himself would Job present if he could stand before God to defend himself?
Do you think Job is completely correct?
Where has Job looked and can't find God?
Have you ever felt that God left you completely?
Chapter 24
How does Job describe the world?
When would Job like God to hold judgement?
Does Job believe that God will hold judgement, especially on the wicked?

DAY FIVE, AUGUST 17 - JOB 25-28
Chapter 25
What attitude of resignation is sounded here?
Chapter 26
NOTE: There is great sarcasm in Job's words in verses 1-4. What is Job saying to his friends?
The rest of the chapter is a poem that praises God's power.
What phrases do you like in this section and what picture does it create for you?
Chapter 27-28
What is Job saying about himself, his friends, the wicked, and the righteous?
From verse 28:12 and following, what does Job say about wisdom and understanding?
What is Job's definition of wisdom and understanding in verse 28:28?
What do wisdom and understand have to do with the conversation and situation that Job is in right now?
How are you pursuing wisdom and understanding?
How has the tone of Job changed?

DAY SIX, AUGUST 18 - JOB 29-31
NOTE: This is Job final stage in his argument. In Chapter 29 he remembers his former life and relationship with God. In Chapter 30 he mourns over his losses. In Chapter 31 he gives his final plea of innocence.
Chapter 29
What was Job's relationship with God?
Can you think of a time when you had the most intimate relationship with God? Are you missing that now?
Describe how Job was honored by others?
Have you ever felt you had an honored and charmed life?
Did you ever take it for granted or assumed it would always be there?
Do you think your relationship with God would change if your situation changed?
Chapter 30
What is Job's life like now?
Chapter 31
How does Job make a case for his loyalty and obedience to God?
Could all those things be said of you?

DAY SEVEN, AUGUST 19 - JOB 32-34
Chapter 32
In whose eyes was Job righteous?
In whose eyes should we desire to be righteous?
Why does Job's fourth friend, Elihu, become angry with Job?
Why does Elihu become angry with the other friends?
From whom does wisdom come?
What encouragement should that give to the young?
Chapter 33
NOTE: In this chapter Elihu talks to Job. He uses Job's quotes and then tells where and how he is wrong.
What are some of the things that Elihu thinks Job is wrong about?
Do you agree with his interpretation?
Have you ever felt misunderstood?
How much truth do you find in Elihu's comments?
Have you ever disregarded everything someone said because you didn't agree with some part of it, instead of trying to find something of truth to learn from?
Chapter 34
Do you think Elihu is being arrogant or does he really think he is speaking God 's words?
How often have you had people tell you things they really believe came only from God?
NOTE: There are many times in our lives that God teaches us and speaks to us through other people. But what the person says must be consistent with God's word and confirmed in other ways.
What is Elihu saying God cannot do?
When have you heard others blame God for wrongdoing and evil in his/her life?
What can God do, according to Elihu?

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.

Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
     S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
     P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
     A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
     C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
     E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
     P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
     E - Errors to avoid?
     T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.