Greetings, Siestas!
I am cold.
How are you?
I will have you know that Houstonians have been notified that we have a 70% chance of snow flurries over the next twenty four hours. We are all nestled at home by the fire, awaiting the likes of the Chicago blizzard. The doors of schools and workplaces have been locked and abandoned. Food stuffs have long since been purchased. Shelves are practically empty. In short, we are all certifiably insane.
In other news, on Tuesday night at Bible Study my Mom read out of Philippians 1.19:
For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (NASB)
Every time I hear this verse, a bell starts ringing in my head and it drives me crazy because I can never identify it. But, at last, the other night I finally discovered that the echo is coming from Job 13.16. We can see that the phrase “this shall turn out for my deliverance” in Philippians 1.19 (τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν) finds a word for word correspondence in the Greek version of Job 13.16:
Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him! (NIV)
For those interested, you can see the correspondence in the Greek below:
Philippians 1.19 οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ τῆς ὑμῶν δεήσεως καὶ ἐπιχορηγίας τοῦ πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
Job 13.16 καὶ τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν οὐ γὰρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ δόλος εἰσελεύσεται.
The Greek versions of the Hebrew Bible are known collectively as the Septuagint (commonly abbreviated LXX). The LXX is overwhelmingly the Bible that Paul uses in his letters. What is fascinating about this instance in Philippians 1.19 is that Paul does not use any introductory formula (for example, something like, “the Scripture says”) to introduce his allusion or echo of Job 13.16. This discussion is a conversation in intertextuality. Intertextuality, in simplest terms, is the relationship between texts. So what I am getting at with this particular discussion is, how is Paul using Job 13.16 in Philippians 1.19? If that question does not make sense, think of it this way: what is the relationship between Philippians 1.19 and Job 13.16?
There are several explanations as to what may be going on but here are just a couple of general options:
1) In spite of the verbatim verbal correspondence, Paul has not consciously invoked Job 13.16. It is sheer coincidence and no implications should be drawn about the relationship between these two texts.
2) Paul has uttered the words “this will turn out for my deliverance” in passing, without too much thought. It is noteworthy that we do this all the time, not because we are trying to invoke entire contexts of biblical passages, but because of our familiarization with a certain verse. For example, when we have a friend who has suffered a loss, we might say, “All things work for the good of those who love him” without even realizing we just quoted half of Romans 8.28. Our intention was not to point our friend to the entirety of Romans 8 but simply to quickly apply a very familiar verse to a new and relevant situation.
3) In Philippians 1.19, Paul has intentionally echoed the language and context of Job 13.16 because he is identifying himself and his circumstances with Job, the paradigmatic righteous sufferer who, in his suffering and affliction, hoped in God for ultimate vindication and redemption.
Discussions of intertextuality, like this one, can be quite fascinating and complex since the line between option two and option three is often difficult to discern. If you wish to do so, take a look at the pertinent verses and let me know what you think. First, look at Philippians 1.19 and its surrounding context. Second, check out Job 13.16 (read all of Job 13 if you really want to make the most of the discussion). Finally, go back to Philippians 1.19 and try to discern the nature of the relationship between the two texts.
As a side note, today I forgot my Bible, so I am using one of my Mom’s old ones and it is dated to approximately 1990. The marginal notes are full of stars, exclamation marks, and observations in curly little cursive handwriting and it is making me so happy.
Have a great evening, dear ladies. Whatever you do, do not make your way to Houston; Chicago, Antarctica, the North Pole, anywhere would be safer than Houston.
Love,
Melis
Third memory verse:
Melissa,
I send you warm greetings from warm, sunny Florida! My folks live in Dallas and are under several inches of snow right now. Having grown up in Florida, I cannot comprehend this weather that most of the country is getting!
As for your post, you have quite a gift. It’s a little intimidating, but I love the challenge. I would say Paul was somewhere between #2 and #3. He knew the scriptures well enough that, even if he wasn’t intentionally thinking of Job, he would know that phrase. And I suppose that he could have indentified with Job’s suffering.
Blessings,
Joni
Oh my goodness, Melissa. I can barely pronounce “intertextuality.”
Anywhere is safer than Houston, except Arlington, TX and surrounding metroplex! We are in our 4th day of no school, little work, and ice jammed highways! Now a sheet of ice fell off Cowboys stadium injuring 5 people, one possibly seriously! Pray for all of them!
Thankful for warmth and electricity!
Kathy W
Love it, Melissa, and I am trying to envision the curly handwriting and the exclamation points which are giving me a thrill, myself! There’s a movie coming out called “The Tree of Life” and it piqued my interest, only with the expectation that a biblical reference does not foretell a bibically-based theme. So, I’ve been doing my own digging for the phrase “tree of life,” attempting to understand the complexity of it.
OOPS, sorry, I guess I do have an avatar.
just wondering. i added a gravatar. did it work?
Yep, it worked!
Third memory verse:
“Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
Janice, Topeka, KS Romans 8:38 KJV
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Janice, this is the chapter that I’ve been camped out on for a while! Love it!
Oh, this warms my heart as a fellow seminarian! I was so excited to see this that I have not looked at the passages yet – just had to tell you how thrilled I am with the post. I will first have to shake the rust off my Greek but I plan to take a look 🙂
Stay warm – Atlanta is cold too but just wet, not frozen.
Hey Melissa,
Looking a the title of your post I first thought you were going to share something about texting.
Little lady, you are so wise. Your knowledge of the holy scripts far exceeds mine.
As you know, Paul studied the scripures for many years. I think as he went about sharing the gospel God would bring a passage to mind as needed for the moment.
Melissa, it is good to have you back in Siestaville.
Hey Mary, It was great to see you a few months ago! I hope all is well in your world. Love, Melis
Thanks Melissa. Loved sseing you too.
I have been encouraged by the all the speakers who spoke at Passion 2011. My heart has been abundantly blessed by each message. God’s message is timeless. Though way past the Passion generation, it seemed each message was for me. How exciting to see God raise up a new generation of believers.
I know you and Colin are loving being back in Houston.
Love you too!
Agree! I thought it was some much-needed Biblical insight into the world of texting, too!
I just read the post and haven’t sat down to dig into the passages in my Bible yet, so I have nothing to add to the discussion yet. But I do want to say that I really appreciate Melissa leading the discussion into such a place of depth. I am truly inspired to dig deeper into this and ask the Lord to keep stretching my brain in areas where I am more comfortable not going. I think God wants me to go there…
Ok…you may be cold…but you Houstonians don’t know COLD…sorry to say. It was -20 F degrees in Colorado Springs just a few days ago…and that wasn’t the “feels like” temperature! Alright…I’ll give you some slack…we DO choose to live here because MOST of the time, it is beautiful. Enjoy your “snow day”! And stay off the roads!
I needed this verse today. Just got notice that I didn’t get a job I was hoping for, after five months of searching and half a dozen interviews. “This shall turn out for my deliverance.” Thank you for the reminder that I need to hope in God for ultimate vindication and redemption.
I am from Pittsburgh and feel maybe we owe all of you an apology down there………I think the Steelers have brought with them our weather!!! So sorry – but thank you for allowing us to invade your state for awhile. Soon as the game is over I’m sure the weather will return to normal………and you have gotten just a taste of what it’s like to live in the north. Thanks for enduring – and while you are watching the snow fall, remember Psalm 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Go Steelers! Sorry about the cold!
As I looked at the two verses I see there is triumph over suffering. Paul who suffered in chains and imprisonment.
Job who suffered from test and trials brought upon him from Satan.
Our suffering can be from an illness, a broken relationship, a wayward child, shame or guilt, or some other things. The thing is Christ also suffered and he knows what we are going through. Suffering has purpose and our Deliever Jesus Christ is there saying, “I know life is not fair, but I am FAIR.” He is our salvation and our hope in the end.
“With God all things are possible” is another intertextuality I think, do you think so. Matthew 19:26 and Luke 1:37.
After I realized that you were not talking about the trendy texting phenom, I hung on to every word. My preacher husband who is sitting next to me on the couch and I never heard of this in Seminary. I really like this intertextuality stuff. I think Paul borrowed from the Job 13:16 Greek text for his Gentile readers sake. You know he had read it also in the Hebrew. Parallel Trust. Job deals with his demandingness for deliverance and will soon be silenced. Paul deals with his own deliverance not from the walls of a cell but from his flesh. I’m in the midst of a tight place and fear is my friend and this verse “this shall turn out for my deliverance” speaks to a deep place in my suffering. Gives hope as Job & Paul submitted to their Friend and Lord in midst of confusion and dashed dreams. My two cents is #3.
Dearest Bev, I am so happy you left a comment. Where did you and your husband attend Seminary? Your comment touched me deeply as I know that you have experienced so much of what both Job and Paul spoke. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray the Lord is near to you in such a special way in whatever season you are currently enduring. So much love.
Sweet Melis, Did you thaw out? My soul is a slow thaw these days wrestling with a very Good God. When is the last time the sun didn’t dawn or set at the right time? When is the last time God refused to be good to me and you? Jer 33:20. Yes, He is good and near in the midst of some loss. My husband & I both graduated from SWBTS in Ft. Worth. I’ll be back in FW this weekend at Life Today, delighted to hear Beth. Melis, you have a compelling holy desire in your depths not only to exegete but One that exposes every other desire as less and loss. All because of your desire for the Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ Jesus your LORD, Phil 3:8. Your quest for Truth honors Him so.
Hi Melissa,
I loved your notes. God’s word is amazing at every level. On a personal note, I’m wondering if you and Colin ever miss Atlanta? We miss having you here.
Stay warm!!
Leah, Yes, we miss Atlanta very much! We loved ATL and especially our neighborhood. It is good to be back in Texas but we certainly left a piece of our heart in Georgia. Grits forever. xoxo
I have a prayer request. Needing prayer for my cousin Phil. Just needs God’s protection tonight. He has faith and is trusting God.
Thanks Sue
Tennessee
I’m praying for Phil. I know where Lenoir City is-used to live in Loudon!
As I read through the verses in both Philipians and Job, it seems to me that both Job and Paul are suffering for righteousness and in desperate circumstances and yet each trusted God to be their ultimate deliverer. Job says, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” And Paul, being in prison, says “for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” How (as a measurement) intentional is the intertextuality? Not entirely sure (I think somewhere between or on 2 and 3 but I lean closer to 3 but don’t think I can prepare a valid enough argument with my current level of knowledge…) but I can’t help but ask the same question of you. Were you intentional when mentioning Romans 8? Because it seems that Romans 8 is also a place where people are in some desperate circumstances, yet trusting in God to deliver them as well (i.e.Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.)
And it’s really good to see you on here!
Great tie in to Romans 8n
Sue, I am praying now for your cousin Phil.
Melissa, you and your Mom leave me wanting to go to seminary. I have a strong desire to study the bible in-depth. It is not the time in my life to spend so much time in the word. God is leading me in another direction. Thank you for sharing your insight and the opportunity to see things in His word that I probably would not find on my own.
BTW, right now here in Wichita Falls, TX we are colder then Colorado Springs. School has been out all week due to ice and snow. Ready for Spring time.
Sandra
While reading through these “Wichita Falls” caught my eye…because I live in Wichita Falls! It has been wild this week – I am ready for Spring!
Stay Warm
Mary Ann
Melissa,
Thank you. I saw the title and something leapt in my heart. So much sorrow and loss, yet when I saw those words, it felt like God Himself was speaking them to me. My money’s on #3.
Kate
I love you, Lord; You are my strength. Ps. 18:1 – NLT
This may be drawing improper implications between the two texts, but is it possible that Paul was also identifying with Job because they had similar “comforters” in a difficult period? The theologians of Job’s day condemned him in his suffering with theology–saying that if he were truly without sin he would not be suffering because God only punishes sinners. And they really thought they were doing the right thing for Job, that if they could convince him to confess his sin then his circumstances would improve. But God later vindicated Job, saying that his friends had not spoken rightly of God as Job had. Paul,in the verses preceding Philippians 1:19,also speaks about fellow preachers who are preaching Christ “from envy and strife…out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause him distress in his imprisonment.” Paul goes on to say, like Job did, that the circumstances were not about the men, but about God being glorified; Christ being exalted in us no matter what the circumstance.
But what really caught my attention is that for both Paul and Job, it was fellow believers giving them grief. Good people that had gotten their eyes off the Savior and were misconstruing the circumstances as some evidence of man’s worthiness. Job said “ Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.” Paul said “according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything.” And an interesting cord on this same thought, is that this word for salvation first appears in Gen 49, beginning at verse 16 “Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.” Our friends, our family of believers, are often the very ones that intentionally or unintentionally, knock us backwards the hardest.
Perhaps this is why Paul almost immediately goes on to encourage his listeners/readers in the verses following Philippians 1:19 “to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents–which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation (σωτηρίαν) for you, and that too, from God.” It might also be why Paul again uses the same word in Philippians 2:12 admonishing us to “work out your own salvation (σωτηρίαν)with fear and trembling.”
How often we are challenged, and mostly by well meaning Christians,to turn our eyes on ourselves and see God as punitive when hard times come. Could that be what it means to work out our own salvation? That even in the midst of suffering,we get our eyes off sin and put them firmly on Jesus where they belong and with fear and trembling because hard times will come. But when they do just as Job and Paul did, we can continue to hope in the Lord, trusting that we will not be put to shame, even though He slays us or imprisons us. I’m not saying that Paul and Job didn’t do personal inventory. The text is clear that each examined his own heart, but after that they got their focus firmly on God and clung to HIS salvation, HIS righteousness. If we are having a hard time right now, we can follow their examples. And we can also heed the warning to be very careful how we “comfort” those who are experiencing calamity. Job said:
10 “He will surely reprove you
If you secretly show partiality.
11″Will not His majesty terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall on you?
12″Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.”
Both Paul and Job remind us that the only confidence we can have is in Christ. No matter what we think we know about what is going on, the safest response we can have, especially as Christians is “I know that this will turn out for our deliverance through prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
And I’m preaching to myself here in New Mexico as we endure record breaking cold, natural gas shortages, electrical outages, frozen pipes, economic ruin, illness, heartbreak, and calamity pronounced on every page of the daily news. We can easily echo Job who says “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” or as Paul puts it “to live is Christ and to die is gain…and I do not know which to choose.” But this one thing we can be sure of, this will turn out for our deliverance and we need not be alarmed by our opponents because “…Now is come salvation(σωτηρίαν), and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Rev 12:10) Gotta love a word study. mmmmm mm.
Gorgeous, Renee. Your first paragraph in particular is where many commentators go with this echo. If Paul has consciously embedded Job 13.16 then it is hard not to see some sort of parallel between the “preachers” in both Job and Philippians. Thanks for spending time on it. All my best.
Excellent dissection and comparison Renee.. After reading both, I am stuck on Paul saying “12 that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in CHAINS FOR CHRIST. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. ”
and in Job 12 there is a reference to shackles .
“He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.18 He takes off the shackles put on by kings”
So, I have to say that I believe it is #3..
I suppose we can only “suppose” since the passage doesn’t spell it out. Is it striking at all that it is an EXACT quote, every greek word in the same exact form? I don’t know.
I know this though, I want to know the Word of God so well, that I speak it when I talk just out of pure habit. Maybe we should call it “Bible-ese”: when you know the Bible so well you cannot help but quote it in each applicable situation of life.
I hope you all weathered the weather well! 🙂
Ok…THANK YOU for your study and reflections from such a heart in love with Jesus! Even if the Greek text makes my own eyes start to cross and squint ;o) I never get tired of hearing how the WORD confirms the WORD…especially when speaking of deliverance!
Keep going sweet Melissa ~ each of you bring such a joy to my heart!
OK…my husband’s from Texas, I’m from Wisconsin but have lived in Atlanta, Pittsburgh AND Houston and I think the Packers brought the Frozen Tundra to Texas…I am so sorry BUT hoping’ our guys have a victory!
Finally…I write all over my Bible with squiggles, happy faces, !!!!, WOW’s, and even have scribbles from my kiddo’s when they were little and by the grace of God when I had a moment of quite time and if they found me… they crawled up on my lap while reading and drew on my Bible! At first I freaked but then, I let them draw me a picture over-around-or under the scripts (HA)! Now they are 13 & 11 but when I read from that Bible and see their coloring it makes me soooooo happy!!! I pray my kids will see how God’s Word made a difference in their Mama’s life and treasure the truth in their own hearts too!!!
Y’all are awesome and I love you so – thank you for sharing your passion!
Smiles ;o)
Thanks so much Melissa!! A verse for our family … it is going on the fridge, and I think a memory verse too. Thank you for making the verse so meaningful. I started today, asking the Lord to speak and share what was on His mind and heart and these verses leapt from your page to my heart. Thank YOU! xo
Happy Weekend 🙂
Back to the topic – This Shall Turn out for My Deliverance…
I was reading in Hebrews this morning… Hebrews 2:9-10 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering….
I was pondering on this earlier… that the author of our salvation was made perfect through suffering.. in my own life in Jesus Christ, suffering has delivered me into a closer focus and trust and faith… realizing through suffering that I am totally lost (depraved) without him…
Since through salvation we have become one with him… as he was made perfect through suffering… so too are we. But it is usually very hard to see how this shall turn out for my deliverance…. But praise God… it does…
It’s been a winter mess here in Oklahoma this past week too. Blizzard conditions Tues. and then 4 more inches yesterday. I haven’t been out of the house since Monday and it’s Saturday! It’s been pretty crazy, but I love being home! We’re supposed to get more snow tomorrow and a big storm again on Thurs.
We had below freezing temps and were told to leave our faucets dripping. Today the sun is shining & it’s gonna get up to 43 degrees. Oh, and last Saturday it was sunny & 75. Only in OK. 🙂
Have a blessed weekend everyone!
Come down to Florida it is beautiful here today and everyday. Hope you have a wonderful day. God Bless.
Melissa, to me having a snow day here in Katy has been a blessing for my family. My parents came in from St. Louis and my kids got another day with their grandparents so yesterday my kids, my husband (who was off because of the ice and my parents and I spend a great day at home enjoying each others company, playing games and my kids got to hear stories about their grandparents when they were young. Treasured memories.
Have a great day. Enjoy the beautiful day.
Melissa, this is fabulous. My husband and I have been studying Philipians in our Growth Group at church. I cannot wait to take this on Wednesday to discuss further. I have been entreating the group with little snippets from your Moms Paul study, and now I get to bring in the daughters ideas too. Thank you both for getting us all further into His word.
Be safe and may the warmth of sunshine be on all of us soon. Here in Spokane it is always cold. I spoke to my sister in CA and was telling her I did not wear a coat and it was 29….it had warmed up. We just roll that way here.
Peace,
Laur
After going back and reading Job 13 and then reading Phi 1 and esp. v. 19, it def. seems to me that Paul was identifying with the seemingly “unjust sufferings” of Job and feeling the same way about his circumstances and was making the decision to believe that God would save and deliver him from the suffering and make things right (vindicate) even though at present, things seemed unjust and bleak. Sometimes we, as modern day servants of the Lord, may feel the same way, “this is unfair” “they are coming against me for no fault of my own.” But after reading this, we can see that as we trust the delivering power of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of our fellow believers, we too will be delivered from any perplexing and troubling circumstances, and come out stronger in the Lord. Rejoicing in the Lord our God and mighty deliverer!
Melissa,
I enjoy being challenged by your posts. I spent some time this morning studying the passages of Scripture you referenced. And since you invited me to offer my two cents, I will.
I think that Option 2 is more likely the case. Job was frustrated by what his friends had been telling him. He wanted to talk directly to God, and he knew that, no matter what, he would be delivered by God. Either by his circumstances changing, which would be a physical deliverance, or by death. He ultimately trusted in God’s sovereignty over everything else. Paul was frustrated as well. Not only by his physical circumstances, but also by people who were preaching the gospel out of selfish ambition. So, he was “fed up” with those around him much like Job was. He was also thinking about how, no matter what, God was going to deliver him. Whether by physically freeing him or by death. Either way, he trusted God.
So, I guess my two cents worth is this: both passages reference men who were in great physical and emotional stress, and they were trusting God for the outcome. Paul may not have used the same phrase intentionally, but I think that he WAS thinking of Job as he wrote it.
Keep those south Texas fires burning. And I would love to know what Option YOU think is the most likely sceanario!
Melissa I just have to say – I love reading your posts! I very much want to get into more of the history of the Bible and the different languages it’s been written in and how it’s changed and how it’s the same…so I love to hear from you and get a glimpse into it! I’ll have to check these verses out and see what I think. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
You cannot even know how I needed to hear that passage. (Phil 1:19 & Job 13) I did something I do not often do – I read it in the NLT. WOW…I cannot go into details as that would be inappropriate, but I cannot thank you enough for sharing scripture with “me”. God used it in my life to minister to a recent, very deep “church” wound.
Thank you for your faithfulness to dig deep.
-Julie
ps~ It’s supposed to be 70 today in San Diego. 🙂
Melissa, what a beautiful thought to bring before on which to meditate. Indeed, “this shall turn out for my/our deliverance”. The plan for us that God set in motion before the foundation of the world was to bring us to the point of deliverance. Much of life’s experience certainly highlights in our understanding the need we have to be delivered, but it is often difficult for us to see that those very hard and trying things are part of the deliverance He is working to accomplish in and for us.
“This shall turn out for my deliverance” should be my constant thought because it is my reality. However, I often turn aside and see my circumstance as my reality rather than a mere tool along the path used to deliver me. Melissa, thank you for the reminder.
“This shall turn out for my deliverance” should be my constant thought because it is my reality. However, I often turn aside and see my circumstance as my reality rather than a mere tool along the path used to deliver me.
Thank you for posting this…I needed to “hear” that.
~julie
Thank you, Melissa. This post was like sitting down to a T-bone steak dinner fresh off the grill with a buttery cob of fresh Jersey corn on the side! I just loved chewing on the meatiness of it! I’m no scholar, but I marvel at the way God weaves phrases and truths repeatedly through the majestic tapestry of His word…and how He brings them to the front of our minds at such timely moments. How He does it is one of His great mysteries…and one that I am so grateful for!
it’s always so good to hear a “deep” post from you melissa!!!!! thank you!
#3
Jacksonville
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement. NIV James 2:12-13
James 1: 5-6
If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
be given to him. 6. But when he asks, he must believe and
not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the
sea, blown and tossed by the wind. NIV
I just learned about this memory verse challenge from my
daughter today. Hope it’s not to late to join. God
bless. Glenda, Montgomery, Al
I’m cold too, Melissa, for different reasons than you are. I, also, used to have long gorgeous hair like yours, but I shaved it off. The possibility of me having head lice was driving me crazy and I couldn’t check myself. I had to wait until the next morning when my husband would be off of work (he delivers pizza part-time) and I just had to do something drastic, cause I was having a nervous breakdown. My daughter having head lice was the last straw after a very upsetting couple of weeks. I should be sad about this, but I’m too scared and discouraged about too many things to care. I’m sure I’m going to die a worthless old woman who never accomplished anything in her life, because of her lack of ability and seemingly inability to learn. Normally I love discussions such as this, but I’m feeling too incapable of learning to even borher with it. And the Greek stuff, of course, means nothing to me. “It’s greek to me!” Anyway, sorry for the crabby mood. This is why I don’t really have any friends, hardly.
Shellie-I also had a very “dry” 2010, but by the grace of God beginning Jan 2011,I joined with Siestas all around the globe in memorizing a scripture every two weeks. My verse for Feb 1 is Luke 24:45: “Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” Jesus opened their minds. Don’t listen to the voice of the one who wants your ears and eyes closed! Listen to Jesus. Christ says He will open your mind to understand His word. Consider that He said “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me.”(John 10:27)Sheep may be one of the simplest animals on earth and in comparing us to them, Jesus expresses how much He knows we need Him to give us understanding. It’s not about our ability to learn, it’s about our willingness to trust Him. He calls us ALL sheep-from the greatest scholars to ordinary people like me and maybe you. His Spirit in us makes us extraordinary. We don’t have to be skilled to follow, just willing. So repeat after Him “Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” Write it on some post-its and put them all around your house until that deceiver is driven away. Christ did it for His disciples on the road to Emmaus; He did it for me in 2011, and He is able to do it for you too! I will be praying for you.
2010 was actually great! It’s 2011 that seems to be screwing with me. It looks like I’m going to be in counseling again!!!! I’m just one big mess and starting to wonder if I’m just going to be that way for the rest of my life. I seem to have no control over my emotions and am forever saying and doing stupid things and doing a lot of damage in the process! Thanks for the encouragement.
We are all “one big mess” and that’s exactly why we need Jesus! Isaiah said Jesus would be called “Counselor” so it is not too strange that some imitate Him in that profession or that we need counseling. But I do hope you will meet with a counselor who will give you support and point you to God’s word as the only way to real and lasting transformation; scriptures like 2 Tim 1:7:”For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness,but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” Jesus came to set the captives free. Our mess may not go away, but the peace of God’s mercy and grace in the midst of our messy lives can be renewed and increased by the power of His spirit within us,setting us free from guilt and shame, and helping us to trust and understand that all things work together for the ultimate good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.(Rm 8:28)
Very fun.
Melissa, have you considered going to seminary and pursuing an academic career? You would be a great teacher and a great role model.
I think option 3 – Paul was too powerful and intentional an intellect for that to be an accident.
This isn’t quite the same intertextuality but I wonder what the Septaguint for Gen 50:20 is – when Joseph tells his brothers what they meant for harm, God meant for good?? A twist on the deliverance theme….
Here in the DFW metroplex we received 7-8 inches of snow OVER a sheet of ice! The Super Bowl people are not happy. We’ve had a heat wave today — got up to 40 I think.
I so thoroughly enjoy your scholarly examination. Thank you, and bless you.
Melissa,
I always enjoy a good study and reading all the resources I can find. While I agree that the situations between Job and Paul are similar, I was struck by their dispositions! Job, assured of his salvation, yet wanting to defend himself, whereas; with Paul, also assured of his salvation, he was just happy! He was joyful, truly rejoicing that the Word of Salvation was being spread.
I suppose Bible study speaks to each of us a little differently depending on our circumstances at the moment and what God wants to say to us.
Speaking of what He wants to say, He has not given me a verse for this last week and I had to remind Him that Beth has been waiting for my verse since last Tuesday! I think it is going to have to be on the theme of Be Still and know that I am God, or I will never forsake you.
Rejoice!
Ok. Very VERY interesting assignment. There are parallels – Job and Paul are specifically addressing hypocrites – Paul’s tormentors are willfully trying to make him miserable by false preaching of Christ while Jobs presume to speak for God in Jobs case. Both express absolute trust…”yet though He slay me…”. Paul: to live is Christ, to die is gain.
And yet…and yet…It seems to me that this is not a direct allusion, but just a result of Pauls immersion in scripture. Just seems that way. Will you tell us what you think??
Romans 12:11. Contemporary English Version
Never give up! Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.
I think the exact phrasing was intentional and, like Job, was a declaration of Truth that Paul understood their current circumstances did not take away, in any context, the power, grace and ultimatly, the complete victory of God Himself. That truly no matter what their Earthly circumstances, trials, heartaches, etc…were, God WILL be glorified and vindication will be His in the end. Basically, I think they are both saying that their entire hope, all of it, lies with God and his all reaching eternal power, love and goodness.
I think the relationship lies with both mens ultimate and truest view of God. It is when we are living in our most distressed place that we find where our hearts really are. Do we stand upon who God says He is, or do we stand upon what we can see and feel and find we are actually “ye of little faith”? It’s easy to pick God when life is going according to our plan, but do we still stand in complete confidence, and trust, of Him when what we feel and see are heartbreak, hurt and physical pain and harm?
I did not read all the comments, so I’m sorry if you guys have covered this and I missed it. Busy, busy day and I just didn’t have time to read them all!
Blessings, Kristi 🙂
Melissa,
Thanks for making me think! I enjoy your posts. I read all of Job 13 and Phil. 1, which I hadn’t read in awhile. I’m not sure about the answer to your question, but both chapters are full of things I need to hear right now!
I live in the Nashville area, and, as a teacher, I’ve shamelessly loved the 7 snow days we’ve had so far:)! We get more snow than you do but are still pretty nutty about mobbing grocery stores, etc.
Stay warm,
Melany (Nashville)
NIV Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.