Draw Near More Joy
Jan 15, 2025 - Bible Reading
Bible Reading:
Job 20-21 and Luke 15
Passages that arrested me:
Job 20:12-14 ESV
Zophar's words: [12] “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, [13] though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, [14] yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. https://bible.com/bible/59/job.20.12-14.ESV
Job 21:14-16 ESV
Job's words: [14] They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. [15] What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’ [16] Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. https://bible.com/bible/59/job.21.14-16.ESV
Luke 15:1-2 ESV
[1] Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. [2] And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.15.1-2.ESV
Luke 15:3-7 ESV
Jesus's words: [3] So he told them this parable: [4] “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ [7] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.15.3-7.ESV
Draw Near More Joy
Job's friends came to be with him in his sorrow, loss, and suffering. They were committed to him. They loved him. They wanted to help him.
And though their words that were intended to help were often at odds with Job's own wrestling to understand his calamity, they often agree in regard to the awful nature of sin and evil. It is poison to the one who has consumed it. Those who reject God do not end well. The counsel of the wicked should be far away from those who long for God's goodness.
I think that's why it's the sinners and unsavories that gathered close around Jesus. He exuded God's goodness. His words reflected the person, the aroma, the presence of God. The religious had their legalisms to keep them warm. Everyone else just wanted to be near, to be close, to listen to, to hear from Jesus.
Jesus the flock keeper. Jesus the truth speaker. Jesus the lost seeker. Jesus the lost finder. Jesus the lost rescuer. Jesus the found carrier. Jesus the found celebrator. Jesus the found rejoicer.
This Immanuel, this God-With-Us man, came to be with us in our sorrow, loss, and suffering. The Shepherd with His sheep.
Draw near more joy.
Love to my West Coast Willseas