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Last Days Prophecy

HIS SERVANTS' MINISTRY

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Gospel Briefs on Job and Psalms

Wisdom/Poetic Books

JOB
The date of the authorship of the Book of Job would be determined by the author of the Book of Job. If Moses was the author, the date would be around 1440 B.C. If Solomon was the author, the date would be around 950 B.C. Because the author is not known, no date can be set for the time of writing.

The Book of Job may be the oldest Book of the Bible. It starts with an argument between GOD and Satan over whether or not man serves GOD just because GOD blesses them. To prove that man will serve GOD just because He is GOD and not just to get things, GOD allows Satan to test Job, to see if Job will be faithful (Job 1-2). In the middle of the Book, we see Job having debates with three of his friends over the reason of his suffering (Job 4-37). They think he must have done something really bad to suffer this seriously. Job declares himself innocent and calls a court case against GOD to prove it. In the end, Job was found faithful even though he had some doubts and made accusations against GOD.

The Book of Job helps us to understand the following: (1). Satan cannot bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless he has GOD’S permission. (2). GOD has power over what Satan can and cannot do. (3). It is beyond human ability to understand WHY there is so much suffering in the world. (4). The wicked will receive their just dues. (5). We cannot always blame suffering and sin on our lifestyles. (6). GOD may at times allow suffering in our lives to purify, test, teach or strengthen our soul. (7). GOD shall always meet our needs, and He deserves and wants our love and praise in all circumstances of life. 1 Peter 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (KJV)

Brief Summary: The Book of Job opens with a scene in heaven where Satan comes to accuse Job before GOD. He insists Job serves GOD only because GOD protects him and he wants GOD’S permission to test Job’s faith and loyalty. GOD gives him permission, but sets some restrictions.
WHY do the righteous suffer? This is the question raised after Job loses his family, his wealth, and his health. Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to comfort him and to discuss his crushing series of tragedies. They insist his suffering is punishment for sin in his life. But . . . Job remains devoted to GOD through it all, and insists that his life had not been a life of sin. A fourth man, Elihu, tells Job he needs to humble himself and submit to GOD’S use of trials to purify his life. In the end, Job questions GOD and learns great lessons about GOD’S sovereignty and that he needed to trust in the LORD completely. The LORD God then restores Job to health, happiness and prosperity beyond what he had before.

Prophesy: As Job was pondering the cause of his misery, three questions came to his mind, all of which are answered only in our LORD Jesus Christ. These questions occur in chapter 14.
(1). Job’s first question: Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. (KJV) Job knows NO one can please GOD or be justified in His sight. GOD is holy; we humans are not. So, a great gulf exists between man and GOD, caused by our sin, our disobedience. The answer to Job’s painful question is found ONLY in Christ Jesus. Only JESUS paid the vast penalty for OUR sin and exchanged it for HIS righteousness, and in so doing making us acceptable in GOD’S sight [the Gospel] (Heb.10:14; Col.1:21-23; 2 Cor.5:17).

(2). Job’s second question: Job 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? (KJV) Another question about eternity and life and death, that is answered ONLY in Christ. With Christ on our side, the answer to where is he? is eternal life in Heaven. All those who refuse Christ, the answer is an eternity in “outer darkness” where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mat.25:30).

(3). Job’s third question: Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. (KJV) The answer to Job’s third question is again, the same answer as the other two that being Christ, He and He alone! We certainly do live again IF we are in Christ (Rom.12:5; Eph.1:20). 1 Cor. 15:54-57 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

What can we learn from the Book of Job? The Book of Job reminds us that there is a conflict going on that we cannot see, between our awesome Triune GOD and His and our, worst enemy (Satan). We may often wonder WHY GOD allows something, and we question or doubt GOD’S goodness and lovingkindness, without seeing the full picture. The Book of Job teaches us to trust GOD in ALL situations. We must trust GOD, not only when we do not understand, but because we simply do not understand. The psalmist tells us: Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. (KJV)
Dear one, if GOD’S ways are “perfect,” we know that we can trust whatever He does, for whatever He allows to come our way is also perfect, and He wants only the best for His children! We simply cannot understand how, what or why GOD thinks as He does: Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV) But, it is our duty to GOD is to obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not.

The Book of Job tells us that Satan CANNOT bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless GOD permits it. GOD has COMPLETE power over what Satan can and cannot do. We do not have the ability to understand WHY there is suffering in the world. But we do know, that the wicked will receive their just payment, and that GOD will take His TRUE children Home in Heaven with Him! Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (KJV)
Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.(KJV)

PSALMS
Date written – 1300-450 BC
Authors – David, Sons of Korah, Asaph, Solomon, Moses, Heman, Ethan, Jeduthun
The Book of Psalms is not narrative (story). It is poetry and so there are few connections between the Psalms. The Book is divided up into 5 sections:
Psalms 1-41, which witness to David's life and faith;
Psalms 42-72, a group of historical writings;
Psalms 73-99, ritual psalms;
Psalms 90-106, reflecting pre-captivity sentiment and history; and
Psalms 107-150, dealing with the captivity and return to Jerusalem.

These five books are often regarded as the devotional accompaniment to the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

The title of the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew is sepher tehillim, meaning "book of praises", and it is certainly a suitable title. Every Chapter is devoted to praise and thanksgiving from the author to the LORD God. This Book clearly provides hope and confidence in the LORD as the Creator of all things, the ultimate Ruler of everything including the Universe. He sees everything, knows everything, He has no limits, His Presence is everywhere, and even in the darkest darkness, there is no hiding from Him. He is to be highly honored and praised.

The Psalms are full of religious poetry and this was not uncommon in the ancient Near Eastern nations and peoples, and it was not surprising for the Hebrews to have produced such a powerful work. David was the recognized writer of the Psalms and they are many times referred to as the Psalms of David, even though some of the Chapters are not credited to him in the notes.

The Psalms of David included Psalms 2-41 (except Psalms 33), Psalms 51-72, Psalms 108-110, and Psalms 138-145. David was no doubt a very skillful musician, the Bible mentions that he played the lyre for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23), and the prophet Amos mentions that David invented instruments of music for worship of the LORD (Amos 6:5). There is also mention in the book of Samuel about David lamenting over Saul and Jonathan in a poetic fashion revealing his natural ability.

David went through many experiences in his life that he wrote about, especially when he was hunted down by King Saul from place to place like a partridge in the wilderness. David was a young shepherd, he knew what it was like to tend his flock and to guard them from predators, this gave him a beautiful imagery for the LORD the Great Shepherd. David was also a musician, a man of war, a king, a father, a husband, a friend, and many more. He repented over his sin in Psalm 51, admitting he was a sinner before GOD and GOD alone. GOD called David "a man after my own heart" and these experiences allowed him to share with the reader, a man who knew the heart of GOD. David was a master at finding different ways to praise GOD in life experiences and the Book of Psalms is a wonderful Book for those who want to know how to please GOD. David was filled with the Holy Spirit (1 Sam.16:13). There is no doubt the David wrote most of the Psalms, and the ones that he did not write are in his style as well.

Among the Psalms are two collections of Levitical Psalms, one is ascribed to the "sons of Korah" (Psalms 42-49), the other is ascribed to Asaph (Psalms 73-83 and Psalms 50). These exalt the tribes of Joseph. There are Psalms mentioning Moses, Haman, Ethan and Solomon, some are anonymous (Psalm 33, 84-89). Some of the Psalms reveal a strong solemn, sacramental emphasis which might have been used in worship services, or on special days and do not mention the author (Psalms 91-100).

It is impossible to determine exactly how the Psalms were compiled and collected, and dating them is also difficult for most of the Psalms. Some of the Psalms memorialize victories, while others are historical, remembering the LORD and GOD’S people in past events. Other Psalms are prophetic and look to the future and the Coming of the Messiah, as well as the Heavenly Kingdom. There are Psalms of affliction, lamentation and remorse over sin, and songs of Thanksgiving and trusting the LORD.

Some of the songs were chosen for reciting on certain Jewish holy days, like the Sabbath, or Passover, the feast of Tabernacles, etc.

Interesting facts: The Book of Psalms is the longest Book in the Bible. Psalm 119 is a longest Chapter in the whole Bible. Psalm 117 is the shortest Chapter in the Bible and located in the middle. When the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament by someone, over one third of all the quotes are from the Psalms.

The Psalms reflect everything in our human life: victory and defeat; anger, compassion, love, humility, bitterness, rage, sadness and joy. There is a Psalm for every single occasion in our life. The Psalms show us how to live in total honesty, openness and sincerity. We can express our deepest, heart-felt feelings to GOD. We can learn how to deal with sin as David did (Psalm 51). We can learn how to rejoice in GOD (Psalm 68). There is so many good and practical things we can learn from Psalms to help us live our life here on Earth.

Author: The brief descriptions that introduce the Psalms have David listed as author in 73 instances. David’s personality and identity are clearly stamped on many of these psalms. While it is clear that David wrote many of the individual Psalms, he is definitely not the author of the entire collection. Two of the Psalms (72) and (127) are attributed to Solomon, David’s son and successor. Psalm 90 is a prayer assigned to Moses. Another group of 12 psalms (50) and (73—83) is ascribed to the family of Asaph. The sons of Korah wrote 11 Psalms (42, 44-49, 84-85,87-88). Psalm 88 is credited to Heman, while (89) is assigned to Ethan the Ezrahite. With the exception of Solomon and Moses, all these additional authors were priests or Levites who were responsible for providing music for sanctuary worship during David’s reign. Fifty of the Psalms designate no specific person as author.

A careful inspection of the authorship question, as well as the subject matter covered by the Psalms themselves, reveals that they span a period of many centuries. The oldest Psalm in the collection is probably the prayer of Moses (90), a reflection on the frailty of man as compared to the eternity of GOD. The latest Psalm is maybe (137), a song of lament clearly written during the days when the Hebrews were being held captive by the Babylonians, from about 586 to 538 B.C.

It is clear that the 150 individual Psalms were written by many different people in a period of a thousand years of Israel’s history. They must have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

Prophesy: GOD’S provision of a Saviour for His people is a repeated theme in the Psalms. Prophetic pictures of the Messiah are seen in many Psalms. Psalm 2:1-12 portrays the Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom. Psalm 16:8-11 foretells His death and resurrection. Psalm 22 shows us the suffering Saviour on the cross and gives detailed predictions of the crucifixion, all of which were fulfilled perfectly. The glories of the Messiah and His bride are on exhibit in Psalm 45:6-7, while Psalms 72:6-17, 89:3-37, 110:1-7 and 132:12-18 present the glory and universality of His reign.

GOD is the exact same LORD in all the Psalms, but the writers responded to Him in different ways, according to the specific circumstances of their lives. What a marvelous GOD we worship . . . the Psalmists declare Him high and lifted up, far beyond any of our human experiences but also close enough to feel awesome Presence! We can bring all our feelings to GOD . . . no matter how bad or complaining they are, and we can be assured that He hears us and understand how we feel, for our Saviour and LORD Jesus was Himself Man, so He knows how we feel in every situation. The Psalms teach us that the most profound prayer of all is a cry for help as we find ourselves overwhelmed by the problems of life.

Is the Gospel in the Old Testament?

YES! It certainly is!

The GOSPEL is in the Old Testament

The Bible Helps us Better Understand GOD

Gospel Briefs in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers

Gospel Briefs in Deuteronomy and Joshua

Gospel Briefs in Judges and Ruth

Gospel Briefs in 1&2 Samuel and 1&2 Kings

Gospel Briefs in 1&2 Chronicles and Ezra

Gospel Briefs in Nehemiah and Esther

Gospel Briefs in Job and Psalms

Gospel Briefs in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song