Psalm 17 & 18: The Wings Of The Wind

Verse of the Day: (18:10) And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

King David was called a man after God’s heart because his heart was close to His heart, as he obeyed His Word, and thus avoiding the destroyer or the devil’s snare. As much as God is real, the devil is real, and he angrily seeks to destroy every work of God because he knows that he had a short time before he will be eternally condemned to fiery hell. (Revelation 12:10-12) However, God loves and keeps those who truly believe in and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord like the apples of His eyes and hide them under the shadow of His wings. Let us thus put on the whole armour of God and wield the sword, which is His Word, as it is the only offensive weapon against the devil, while the rest of His armour, such as the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith are defensive ones. Above all let us pray in the Spirit so that we shall victoriously overcome the devil and his demons. (Ephesians 6:10-19)

Many times God encouraged David when the latter was discouraged and depressed by assuring him that He was his Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Strength, Buckler, Horn of his salvation, High Tower and Wind beneath his wings that would lift him up above life storms. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is the mighty Wind who filled the house where Jesus’ disciples were sitting at the day of Pentecost to fully empower and encourage them that God was with them, and they must preach His Gospel that Jesus came, died, and on the third day, He rose again from the grave conquering death. Whoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never perish in hell but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (Acts 2:1-21)   

God assured David that His way was perfect, and His Word was proven to be the Truth, and He was his Shield whom he could completely trust with, not only this life, but for all eternity. Indeed, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man can truly know and experience the richest blessings of God, the Father, except through Him. (John 14:1-21)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are the Wing beneath my wings in my lifetime.

Psalm 15 & 16: Holy One

Verse of the Day: (16:10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Our walk must talk louder than our talk talks. David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, encouraged all his people including himself who believed in their true God of Israel to live a holy life amid a world of wickedness. They covenanted with God to live uprightly, work righteously and speak the truth from their hearts, as one day they would give an account of all that they had done to Him. Let us thus purify our hearts with God’s Word so that we are able to share the Gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins, and rose again the third day, conquering death. Whoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never perish in hell, but have abundant life with Him in pearly heaven. (1 Peter 3:8-22)

David knew that his only hope was in his holy God amid the world of hopelessness. Even though he was the most powerful king of Israel, yet there was nothing he looked forward to, except the hope in his God, and the sweet fellowship with Him. He knew that the hearts of man were evil, as all sought after their own ways, and not God’s way. However, David was determined to have his heart rejoicing in God, and his hope in His unfailing love and grace, and in fact, through his descendants would come forth Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Indeed, let us look forward to that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from our sins and eternal condemnation, and purify us to be His holy people, zealous of good works, and bound for glorious heaven. (Titus 2:11-15)

For God so loved the world that He sent His Holy One, Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, to die on the cross, and shed His precious blood for the sins of the world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life and pleasures for evermore with Him in His home in pearly heaven. Indeed, let us seek not the lust of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life, but seek the Holy One, who is in us, and live righteously and uprightly, because He is righteous and upright. (1 John 2:15-29)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You I believe in You, the Holy One, the true and living God.

Psalm 13 & 14: Seek God

Verse of the Day: (14:2) The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

David, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote this psalm while he was pursued by his own king, Saul, and the mighty army of Israel. It was a terrible feeling for him to know that after all that he had done for Israel and King Saul when he by God’s mighty power defeated Goliath, the giant Philistine warrior, and delivered Israel out of the Philistines, that Saul would desire to kill him. Saul sought David’s life because he refused to let him to be the next King of Israel. David was so tired of hiding from Saul that he pleaded to God as to how long he had to endure the life of a fugitive. Amid his suffering David fully trusted God, and determined to rejoice in Him, and sing praises to Him, because he had many times experienced His mercy and love since He called him from a lowly shepherd boy to be the powerful king of Israel. Indeed, at the end of his life, not only David became the king, but he was the most famous and godly one among all the kings of Israel. Today, David’s name is mentioned as the king after God’s heart, as from him came forth the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Acts 13:22-24) Let us therefore truly believe in God, and sing praises to Him, thanking Him for all the troubles as they are for our benefits that we become spiritually stronger for His glory. (James 5:13-20)

Amid all the trials and troubles, David came to the conclusion that only a remnant truly believe in and seek God. Many are fools as they refuse to believe and acknowledge God, their Creator and Saviour, and are bent to commit idolatry and immorality. Alas, the day shall come when these fools shall die and meet God, and they shall be eternally condemned to fiery hell because of their sins. Indeed, God only bless and reward those who truly believe and have faith in Him, and diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:1-6)

Though everything seems to be doom and gloom, yet David knew that God’s salvation is available to all who truly believe in and seek Him. Indeed, God is patient and unwilling that any should perish in fiery hell, but that they should come to repentance, and believe in Him, and receive His salvation to be with Him in glorious heaven. (2 Peter 3:9-18)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to seek and sing to You because of Your great salvation.

Psalm 11 & 12: The LORD’s Throne Is In Heaven

Verse of the Day: (11:4) The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

David described himself as a bird fleeing to the mountain to seek refuge from all the wicked people. Though he was the King of Israel yet as a leader he knew that there were many wicked enemies who were plotting to destroy his kingdom. However, he fully trusted in God with all his heart as he knew that God is always in His holy temple and on His heavenly throne and He shall surely protect and preserve him and Israel as they were His precious people. Let us draw near to God with a true heart and hold fast our faith, and keep on loving and encouraging one another until His glorious return. (Hebrews 10:19-25)

God from His holy temple and heavenly throne is watching the righteous who believe in Him, and testing their faith as He prepares to receive them into His everlasting kingdom one day. However, God shall judge and punish the wicked and cast them into fiery hell if they continue in their wickedness, and refuse to confess and repent their sins, and acknowledge Him as their personal Saviour and Lord. Let us therefore keep on trusting God and do what is right before Him knowing that He shall judge the wicked, and reward the righteous to be with Him in His eternal home in glorious heaven. (Hebrews 10:30-34)

David cried to God to help him lead Israel, as he realised that there were very few godly and faithful men whom he could trust to assist him in his leadership.  He discovered that even his own son was seeking to betray and rebel against him and usurp his throne. Many were hypocrites as they had flattering lips and double heart and could not be trusted. However, David kept trusting God and His Word as he learned that all his trouble were to strengthen and solidify his faith in Him. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace of Jesus Christ, the Son of God that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of our trouble. Indeed, Jesus had also experienced what we went through while He came to this earth more than 2,000 years ago as He lived, ministered and eventually died on the cross and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world. (Hebrews 4:14-16)   

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are always on the heavenly throne helping me.

Psalm 9 & 10: The LORD Is King

Verse of the Day: (10:16) The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

God commended David as a man after His own heart and that through him shall come forth Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, because his heart was always full of praises of God and His wonderful works. (Acts 13:22-24) Though David had a fair share of trouble, yet through it all, he still praised and glorified God. God was David’s Lord, King, Refuge and Hiding place amid his oppression and trouble. Let us thus keep praising God and making melody in our hearts to Him amid crises knowing that He allows them to test our faith so that we shall come forth as pure gold. (Ephesians 5:16-20)

Though God judges the sins of men yet He shall forgive them if we humble ourselves, pray, cry to Him and repent of our sins. Many times, David cried to God and pleaded for His mercy and forgiveness as he sinned against Him, and He remembered him, and was faithful and just to forgive him of his sins. However, God spares not the heathen and the wicked as He remembers their sins and judges and condemns them unless and until they repent their sins and turn to Him. Let us therefore submit to God, and resist the devil and he will flee from us. Let us humble ourselves before God, and abide in Him, and He shall give us grace, and bless and lift us up for His glory, honour and praise. (James 4:6-10)

Many times when we are in trouble we think that God is far away from us, but we fail to realise that He is always beside us, and that He is testing our faith, so that one day, we shall be perfect like Him. However God is indeed far away from the heathen and the wicked, and on the Day of Judgment, He shall judge and cast them into hell. Even though it seems that the wicked are prospering and enjoying life, yet one day, they shall be judged and eternally condemned to hell, if they refused to accept Jesus as their Saviour and King. Let us thus confess and repent our sins, and by faith and trust in God, believe in and receive the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, as our personal Saviour, Lord and King, and we shall have a glorious heaven to gain and a fiery hell to shun. (Galatians 3:8-9)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are my beloved LORD and King now and forever.

Psalm 7 & 8: The LORD Most High

Verse of the Day: (7:17) I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Throughout the life of David, he struggled with the Devil as he stood for the LORD. As a young man, he stood for God when he came out to fight against Goliath, the Philistine giant, when everyone in the army of Israel, including King Saul, was frightened of him. He then overcame Goliath by the mighty power and name of the LORD with just a slingshot! (1 Samuel 17) After that Saul was jealous of him, as he knew that God had anointed him as the next king, and he went for his life. David fled from Saul, and went into hiding. This was the psalm that he wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as he recalled how God time and again delivered him out of all his troubles as He tried and tested the hearts and minds of all men. Let us therefore do the will of God from our hearts and minds, as He shall protect and preserve our lives now and forever. (Ephesians 6:5-8)  

David kept trusting the LORD most high, because he knew that He shall daily judge the righteous, and punish the wicked, as nothing escape His eyes. We can fool all the people all the time, but we can never fool God. The wicked may prosper and enjoy the things of this world, but God shall eventually judge and punish them at the Day of Judgment, unless they truly repent of their sins, and believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. (Revelation 20:11-15) Let us believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, as only He, the most high God, can truly save us from hell and promote us to heaven. (Acts 16:16-18)

Indeed, our God is the LORD of all the earth and heavens as He is the Creator, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Revelation 22:12-13) Everything we see in the heavens and the earth – the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the oceans, the trees, the animals, the fishes, the insects and even mankind - are all creatures of God. However, man is unique as we are made in His image, and therefore we are the only creatures who can choose to believe in and praise Him. (Genesis 1) Let us thus look forward to the new heavens and earth that God has specially prepared for all who believe in Him to dwell with Him for all eternity. (2 Peter 3:10-13) 

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to daily sing praises to You, the LORD most High.

Psalm 5 & 6: I Worship

Verse of the Day: (5:7) But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

It is never easy to lose your valuable possessions, and especially your precious loved ones, or your health, yet, like King David, let us look to God, and worship and pray to Him for strength and comfort, as we daily struggle in this life on earth before He takes us to His home in glory. God has never promised sky always blue, and our life a bed of roses, but He certainly promised us that He is always with us, and He shall surely hear, deliver and defend us from all our trials, troubles and tribulations as we worship and trust in Him. Indeed, let us worship God in truth and in spirit as He is a Spirit, and be joyful and thankful even amid life storms because we know He is always with us. (John 4:23-24)

No matter how weak we are, let us continue to worship and trust God as He knows best what is best for us even when we do not fully understand everything. King David went through much in his life as a shepherd boy to a great king of Israel as he fled from his enemies, lost his precious children, committed immorality and murder, yet when he was weak, he cried out for God’s mercy to heal his flesh, bones and soul. Indeed, when we are weak then are we strong as we rely only on God’s grace that is fully sufficient to help us go through this stormy life from lowly earth to pearly heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

If there was one who was weak and weary, he must be King David. He wept to God day and night to deliver him from all his sufferings. God heard his prayers and saw his tears and forgave his sins, and comforted him with His love and grace. Let us who are weary and weak go to Jesus Christ who lovingly invites us to come to Him as He grants us rest and strength in this world of turmoil and trouble. Jesus Himself had also experienced the same weariness and weakness while He came and lived among men on earth, and subsequently, He died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Whoever believes in Him shall never perish, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to daily worship You even when I am weak and weary.

Psalm 3 & 4: God Is My Glory

Verse of the Day: (3:3) But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Are you discouraged and depressed? David was discouraged and depressed when his beloved son, Absalom, sought for his life to enthrone himself, and he had to run away from his own palace as he truly loved Absalom, and would not command his royal army to engage the battle against Absalom and his own army. While in the wilderness hiding from his son, David inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote this psalm to encourage himself in the Lord as he cried to Him for wisdom and strength know that He is his shield and glory. Eventually, God lifted him up and delivered him from Absalom’s revolt. In fact, Absalom died during the battle. When David heard of Absalom’s death, he wept, Absalom, Absalom, I would have died for you. David had truly demonstrated the unconditional and sacrificial love of a father to his son. Throughout David’s life, he had experienced God’s salvation, deliverance and miracles, because he fully believed and trusted in Him. Let us therefore believe and trust in God, and be the praise of His glory, as only He deserves the glory and praise, as He is our Creator and Saviour now and forever. (Ephesians 1:1-12)

God set apart David from the rest of the people, because He knew that he was a godly man, and one who was truly after His heart. This was why time and again, God would hear and deliver David from all his troubles and tribulations, as he cried and called upon Him. Indeed, God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and testing, and reserves His severe punishment upon the ungodly at the Day of Judgment. (2 Peter 2:1-10)

David was glad and rejoiced in the Lord as he knew that He was with him at the highest as well as the lowest point of his life. Indeed, just like God has anointed His Son, Jesus Christ, with the oil of gladness, He has also anointed us with this gladness in our hearts that surpasses all precious things we can ever possess in our lifetime and throughout all eternity, when we really love Him and His righteousness, and hate evil and wickedness. This gladness in our hearts is to truly know Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord, and that we shall never die, but live with Him in glorious heaven forever. (Hebrews 1:1-9)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to be the praise of Your glory as You are my glory.

Psalm 1 & 2: Delighting In The Law Of The LORD

Verse of the Day: (1:2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Do you like to be prosperous and happy in God? King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gave us the secret, and it is to flee from ungodly counsel, and to daily delight in and meditate on God’s Word. During the hardest time of David’s life, it was God’s Word that gave him wisdom, strength and encouragement to persevere on to the end. We are like trees beside the rivers that take in the waters, which is God’s Word, so that we shall grow spiritually even in life storms. Even Apostle Paul affirmed that it was only in delighting in God’s law that he could truly overcome life crises as he daily struggled with his flesh. Indeed, we are not just to be happy, but to be holy before the holy God. (Romans 7:15-25)

Whose father will not love his own son? God, the Father, truly loves His only begotten Son, as He proudly declares that He had begotten Jesus Christ. Though the leaders and the people of this world kept rebelling against God, yet He always declares His great love for them that He sent His Son to die for their sins, and whoever repents his sins, and believes in Him shall never perish in fiery hell but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. Indeed, the greatest declaration that we can ever make is that of the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins and that He was buried and the third day He rose again, and whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life with Him. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) 

Though God is loving, yet He is also holy, and He shall punish all sinners in this world unless we confess and repent our sins, and believe and trust in Him. God shall only bless and keep those who put their trust in Him, and serve Him with fear, and rejoice with trembling. He shall judge and dash the wicked and all who reject Him in pieces like a potter’s vessel, and ultimately condemn and cast them into fiery hell. Indeed, let us trust and believe in God, the Almighty, and abide under His mighty shadow, and He shall send His angels to protect us, so that we shall never dash our feet against a stone. (Psalm 91) 

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to daily delight in Your holy Word amid life storms.

Job 41 & 42: The LORD

Verse of the Day: (42:10) And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

God asked Job as to whether he could draw out the leviathan or the gigantic whale with a hook from the vast ocean and then made it play with him like a bird. Indeed, the whale is a huge mammal, and its teeth are awesome, and its heart is as hard as a millstone. Many fishermen have tried to catch them, but in vain, as their hooks, cords, swords, spears, darts, habergeons, arrows, etc., have all been destroyed. Indeed, only God makes and destroys all creatures including the leviathans, and let us submit to Him. (Psalm 74:12-14)

God described to Job the power and majesty of the leviathan as no other mammals could be compared to it. The leviathan seemed to laugh at the people who tried to throw darts and spears to catch it, but in vain, as it laughed off their helpless methods. It seems the animal kingdom is laughing at us, because we, who are made in God’s image, behave worse than the animals, when we make nuclear bombs that can possible exterminate the entire human race on this earth. Indeed, there is a time to every purpose – a time to be born, a time to die, a time to weep and a time to laugh, and let us fully redeem our time, and use it to live for Christ alone, as we have only one precious life. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11) 

What a glorious ending! God never fails His people who trust and obey Him. When Job finally prayed for his friends, God blessed him twice as much as he had before. The turning point of Job’s life was when he prayed for his friends. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, prayed for all, including those who crucified Him, even when He suffered and bled at the cross. In His last breath, Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) Job now realised that even in his intense suffering, God was actually blessing him. Indeed, let us know that God loves us and He shall bless us even when we are going through great crises, because ultimately we shall emerge victoriously as pure gold. Let us thus keep praying for all, including our enemies, and thanking the LORD for everything, until He calls us to His home in heaven. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, my LORD, thank You for everything especially my precious salvation.

Job 39 & 40: The Eagle Mounting Up

Verse of the Day: (39:27) Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

God asked Job as to who command the eagle to mount up into the sky and nest on high, and see her prey from afar off and then swiftly swooped and captured it. Indeed, God commands His creatures including the majestic eagles to mount up high on the mountain seeking their prey from afar off with their perfect eyesight and swooping down and catching them. Let us therefore wait upon God by renewing our strength and mounting up with wings like the eagles, catching the powerful winds of God beneath our wings so that we shall soar above life storms, and we shall run and never be weary, and we shall walk and never faint, worshipping and serving Him for His glory and praise. (Isaiah 40:31)

God reiterated to Job that He made the first animal, the behemoths or the dinosaurs of great strength, and their bones were like bars of iron, though they only eat grass and drink tons of waters. Finally Job humbled himself, and repented of his self-righteousness, acknowledging God as the Almighty. God then encouraged him to move on by worshipping and serving Him with excellence and beauty, so that all the people shall know that He is the true God. Let us thus invite God, the Holy Spirit, into our lives, and we shall have His excellent power amid all our troubles and trials. (2 Corinthians 4:1-10)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to have Your power like the eagle mounting up on high.

Job 37 & 38: The Wondrous Works Of God

Verse of the Day: (37:14) Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Elihu, Job’s young friend, reiterated God’s great and wondrous works on the face of this earth as well as the entire universe. He counselled Job to be still and silent and acknowledge that God is the Almighty and Saviour of his life. Elihu praised God that by His very breadth He makes the loud thunders, the shining lightning, the incredible snow, the great rain, the strong whirlwind, the misty frost and the bright clouds. Elihu advised Job to trust God even when He had afflicted him as He never make a mistake. Let us thus hold fast our faith in God even in hard times, and keep doing His wondrous works of sharing the Gospel that all shall come to know that Jesus truly saves. (Hebrews 10:23-25)    

Finally, God spoke. After listening to all the conversations and arguments of Job and his 4 friends, God answered Job out of the whirlwind and put him where he should be – a creature. God sharply rebuked Job that he did not know why he was complaining of his suffering when it was actually for his own good. God described Himself as the Almighty Creator of this entire universe as He lays the cornerstone of the foundations, the songs of the morning stars, the garments of the clouds, the springs of the seas, the treasures of the snow, and before man even names the stars, He already had names for them the likes of Pleiades, Orion, Mazzaroth and Arcturus. Though God loves His wondrous creation, yet He loves His people most, as He creates them in His own image, and is always with them even in time of trouble and the day of battle. Indeed, let us trust God and share His Words, as only His Words are able to save, edify and revive souls for His glory. (1 Timothy 6:1-5)

God humbled Job by describing His infinite creation and sustenance of the ecosystem of the universe that are beyond the imagination and finite mind of man. God creates the lions such that they can hide, wait and kill their prey for food and feed their cubs. God creates the ravens such that they can search for food and feed their young. Let us humbly ask God for His wisdom so that we can fully understand that the trials of our lives are for our benefits, preparing us to be with Him in His eternal home in heaven. (James 1:1-12)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for Your wondrous works in my life including my salvation.

Job 35 & 36: God Is Great

Verse of the Day: (36:26) Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

Elihu, Job’s friend, advised Job to humble himself before God as His righteousness surpassed that of Job’s. Though Job believed he was righteous before God yet he did not realise that he must give up everything and everyone including his loved ones before he could be righteous in His sight. Job must reach the rock bottom before he knew Christ, the Rock of the bottom, his Saviour, who gave him songs in the night to comfort him. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) Job learnt that in the darkest storm of his life that he drew closest to his God. Indeed, let us yield to God as His instruments of righteousness by worshipping and serving Him, even when we face the hardest trial of our lives. (Romans 6:1-13)

Elihu exhorted Job that God’s wisdom and strength was more valuable than precious gold, and surpassed that of the wisest or the most powerful man on earth. He counselled Job that though he might not fully understand God’s way, yet he must acknowledge Him as his Maker and Teacher who knew exactly what he needed to live an obedient life. Elihu reminded him that though God seemed to preserve the wicked, but He shall eventually judge and punish their souls in fiery hell, and while He seemed to allow the righteous to suffer, but He shall eventually bless and promote their souls to glorious heaven, where they shall enjoy His presence forever. Indeed, let us worship God, and love His Word and teaching, as they are more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. (Psalm 19:1-10)

Elihu encouraged Job to surrender and submit to the great God, who truly loved and cared for him and all His precious people who trusted and believed in Him. Elihu reminded him that God who made the rain to cover the earth, spread the light over it, fed the people with abundance of meat, and eventually judge them was the same God who shall abundantly and generously bless him as well as faithfully and miraculously deliver him out of his despair and depression. Indeed, let us look forward to the joyful day of the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour who shall call us to His eternal home in heaven where there shall be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain, but where we shall worship, glorify, praise and serve Him for all eternity. (Titus 2:1-15)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to yield to You knowing that You are my great God.

Job 33 & 34: I Am Righteous

Verse of the Day: (34:5) For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

Though Elihu, Job’s friend was younger than him and his 3 friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, yet he was wiser and godly in his counsel to Job than the rest of them. Elihu counselled Job to submit to God, and not to be self-righteous. He reminded Job that their very breath were from God, and there was nothing they could do to resist His plan for their lives. He exhorted Job to trust God, who was their Ransom, who paid with His life for the sins of the whole world including their sins. Indeed, let us be still, and know that God is our Ransom who died and shed His precious blood for our sins. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

Elihu advised Job to cease from self-righteousness, and to trust God who created and loved him. Job almost came to the conclusion that it was not profitable for him to serve God as he was now suffering from the tragic loss of his loved ones and possessions. However, Elihu reminded Job that God never sin or make a single mistake, and He knew best what was best for him. Elihu exhorted Job to keep trusting God knowing that his intense trials were beneficial to his spiritual growth, though presently he might not fully understand the causes of his suffering. Elihu reiterated to Job the attributes of God that He is omnipresent, omniscience and omnipotent, and He knew what He was doing in his life. Let us therefore humble ourselves knowing that no one is righteous before God except through the righteousness of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:1-20)

Elihu’s main thrust of his counsel to Job was stop complaining and submit to God’s sovereign will. It was tough for Job, but with God, nothing shall be impossible. Elihu reproved Job that all his murmuring and complains were acts of rebellion against God, and that he should immediately cease from them. Let us therefore trust God knowing that He truly loves us, and that He allows the trials of our lives to increase our faith in Him, and for His glory. Indeed, God desires and delights in our obedience than our sacrifices, as rebellion against Him is compared to that of the sin of witchcraft. (1 Samuel 15:22-23)    

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to humble myself and flee from self-righteousness.

Job 31 & 32: A Covenant

Verse of the Day: (31:1) I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Immorality and covetousness are two of the most deadly and devastating sins that had caused even godly and good men and women to fall from God’s grace. This was why Job covenanted with his eyes never to lust over women as it would eventually lead him into immorality. He was also contented with God’s great blessings upon his life, and would flee from covetousness and greed. He had never made gold his hope, or wealth his pursuit, but only in God did he trust. He had been doing good works and helping many especially the poor and the widows. He kept telling his friends that he had never committed immorality or covetousness, and his suffering was God’s test on his faith. However, his friends kept refusing to believe in him and continued with their tirade of false accusations. Indeed, let us look to Jesus Christ, our Mediator of the new covenant, who shall vindicate us as He was once falsely accused, shamed and mocked, and eventually He was crucified for the sins of the whole world, thus fulfilling God’s great prophesy. (Hebrews 12:18-29)

Job kept insisting that he did not cover his sins, as Adam, God’s first created man, covered his sins from God when he hid behind the trees of the Garden of Eden, after he and his wife had disobeyed Him by eating the forbidden fruit. Job kept sharing with his friends that his suffering was actually God’s testing, and he had never committed any secret sins. Let us thus believe in God, and repent and not cover our sins, and keep loving Him and others so that His love and forgiveness shall cover all our sins. (1 Peter 4:1-8) 

Elihu spoke to Job and his three friends only when they ceased from talking, as he was younger than them. He had heard all their conversations, and was really angry with them. He rebuked Job’s friends that they should never had condemned Job without finding the real cause of his suffering. He also reproved Job that he should humble himself, and reflect on his life, instead of murmuring against God, arguing with his friends and justifying himself. Indeed, let us humble ourselves, and thank God for His love that we are bound for glorious heaven instead of being condemned to fiery hell. (Romans 8:1-10)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to covenant my life to You that I will only live for You.

Job 29 & 30: The Secret Of God

Verse of the Day: (29:4) As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

Job reminisced the glorious days when he enjoyed the company of the Almighty God in His secret place and under His wings, and the fellowship of his loved ones and relatives. Job was one of the godly and wealthy leaders of his community as he daily offered his sacrifices to God, and generously helped the weak and protect them from the unscrupulous and wicked ones. His sudden tragic loss of his precious children and wealth in just one fatal day were too much for him to bear. His beloved wife, relatives and friends began to distance themselves from him, and his close friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar were falsely accusing him that he had reaped the grave consequences of his secret sins. It was a devastating blow to his self-esteem and confidence, and he was now wallowing in depression crying out to God for comfort and consolation. Indeed, let us hide in God’s secret place and under His mighty wings in time of trouble. (Psalm 91:1-16)  

In just matter of days, the people began to ostracise Job because he had fallen from grace and they believed in was God’s judgment upon him. Even the children in the community despised and mocked him for his sudden loss of his dearest children and wealth. It was too much for Job to bear as his soul was weary and sorrowful from all the pain and suffering. Let us thus pray to God in time of distress and discouragement as even Jesus Christ, God’s Son, prayed to His Father when His soul was exceeding sorrowful because He was about to be crucified bearing the sins of the whole world. (Mark 14:32-42)

Job suffered much as God not only caused him to lose his dearest children and precious wealth, but He also greatly inflicted his health that his skin became dark, and his bones were burning within him. As he suffered physical, emotionally and even spiritually, he kept questioning God’s dealing, and daily mourned and wept before Him wishing that He would immediately promote him to His home in glorious heaven to be with his loved ones who had gone ahead of him. Indeed, let us trust and obey God, and confess and repent our sins, as only He can heal our skin, forgive our sins, save our wretched souls from eternal condemnation and promote us to His pearly heaven. (Jeremiah 13:22-27)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for Your secret and holy place that I hide in time of trouble.

Job 27 & 28: The Gold Of Ophir

Verse of the Day: (28:16) It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Though Job had strong faith in the Almighty God as he believed that his intense suffering was due to His test on his faith, yet he kept complaining and murmuring because it was too much for him to bear it. Job knew that God was in control, and that everyone whether the rich or the poor, the righteous or the wicked would face death, and he was prepared to die, yet his pain was unbearable. He wished he could die, and be with God in heaven where he shall have no more suffering. However, God already knew that Job was able to endure the fiery test. Indeed, let us fully trust Christ, our Rock, and endure His fiery test, as He is faithful, and He knows exactly how much we can bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

Though it was hard work for man to search and dig for precious metals such as gold, silver, iron, brass and other minerals that God had embedded them in the earth, yet they would all be gone or destroyed when He caused a great flood or earthquake. Job knew that ultimately the whole world is in God’s mighty hands, and His infinite wisdom was more precious than precious gold. Indeed, only God and His wisdom and understanding, and not material wealth and possession, could truly satisfy man’s hungry and thirsty soul. Indeed, unless we truly believe in God and His wisdom, and confess and repent our sins, we shall be eternally condemned in hell, as all have gone out of His way. (Romans 3:1-20)

Job compared God’s fiery trial to that of the refining of the gold of Ophir in the furnace of fire before it became pure gold. There must be intense heat to burn all the impurities from the raw gold that were dug out from the depths of the earth before it would become refined gold. God was refining and moulding Job as He removed all his sins so that he could be righteous in Him. Indeed, God is more valuable than gold, onyx, sapphire, crystal, coral, pearls, rubies, topaz or any precious stones. Let us therefore trust and obey God, and be zealous, and confess and repent our sins, and endure His fiery test that we shall become the refined gold of Ophir for His glory and honour. (Revelation 3:14-22)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to be like the gold of Ophir by passing Your fiery test.

Job 25 & 26: How Can He Be Cleaned?

Verse of the Day: (25:4) How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Bildad, Job’s friend, counselled Job to repent his secret sins so that God could clean him with His Word, and again, bless him with children and possessions. Bildad and Job knew from God’s Word that they were born sinners, and were like worms, and needed God to save their souls. By faith, they offered sacrifices to God, believing that one day, He shall send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, to die for their sins. (Genesis 4:1-8) However, Bildad did not know that God was testing Job, as He allowed the Devil to inflict great pain upon him. The Devil had falsely accused Job that he was faithful to God because he had everything, and that if God would take away everything from him, he would curse Him. However, Job did not curse God, even when everything was taken away from him, because he truly believed in Him. Indeed, we are sinners, and like worms, and let us only trust Jesus to save us from our sins so that we become clean vessels bearing fruits by preaching the Gospel that all shall come to know Him. (John 15:1-16)

Job retorted Bildad that he was wrong in his accusation, as he had not committed any secret sins against God. Bildad was of no help to Job, as he was aggravating his pain instead of comforting him. Indeed, let us not judge one another, as only God is our Judge and Counsellor, as only He truly knows our very hearts and intents. (Romans 11:29-36)

Job explained to Bildad that though he knew that God is the Creator of the glorious heaven, the universe, the sky, the clouds, the earth, the living creatures including man made in His image, as well as the fiery hell reserved only for the Devil, his demons and all who would reject Him, yet he could not fully understand why He had inflicted great pain on him. Amid Job’s suffering, God inspired him to write his autobiography, the book of Job, which became one of the 66 books of the Bible, God’s Word. Finally, God revealed to Job at the last stage of his life that it was His perfect plan to test an imperfect man. (Job 42:1-17) Let us thus look forward to the day when Jesus shall come with clouds and everyone shall confess that He is the true and Almighty God. (Revelation1:1-8)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I am cleaned by Your holy Word to bring forth fruits.

Job 23 & 24: Gold

Verse of the Day: (23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Gold is precious and expensive because it is a rare commodity. When Job inspired by the Holy Spirit mentioned that God knew what he was going through, he actually knew to a certain extent that God was testing his faith. Though Job lamented the great suffering that God had afflicted him, yet in his heart He knew that God was working in his life. In fact, during this difficult time, he kept listening to what God had to say to him, and hence drew closer to Him than ever before. Indeed, we are closer to God during the trials of our life as we desperately need Him to comfort us. This is why the trial of our faith is more precious than the gold that perishes, as it truly authenticates our dependence on God. God’s ultimate goal is for us to testify His greatness and goodness amid our sorrow and suffering so that all shall come to know that He is the true and living God. (1 Peter 1:6-9)

Job cried out to God as to why He did not judge and punish the wicked who deceived and oppressed the weak and the helpless, and took every opportunity to enrich themselves at the expense of others including the poor and the needy. He was at his wit’s end as it seemed that God was not judging them, and that they could get away with their crimes and wickedness. Indeed, though the wicked may not be punished in this world, yet one day God shall punish them in hell. Though the righteous may suffer now, yet one day they shall enjoy heaven with God. Indeed, blessed are they who trust and obey God for they shall have the right to the tree of life and be with Him forever. (Revelation 22:1-21)      

Job mourned and groaned that God allowed the wicked to oppress the widow and the weak, while the righteous were crying out for help. However, let us know that all things work together for good to them who love God and are the called according to His purpose. God allows crises and challenges in our lives so as to strengthen and solidify our faith in Him, and that we shall eventually come forth as gold. Our present suffering is nothing compare to the glory that He shall reveal to us in His home in heaven. (Romans 8:18-39)   

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to endure my trial so that I shall come forth as gold.

Job 21 & 22:Who Is The Almighty?

Verse of the Day: (21:15) What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? This was Job asking the Almighty God when his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, insisted that only the wicked would suffer and the righteous would prosper, and that since Job lost his precious family and possessions, he must be a wicked man. Job’s friends subscribed to the belief that the Almighty shall only bless the righteous and punish the wicked. Though Job rejected their presumption, yet he himself doubted God as to why He allowed suffering in his life, even though he had been righteous. He questioned God as to His identity and as to what were the benefits of the righteous who served and pray to Him, if all they received from Him were pain and grief. Job’s friends not only never comfort and encourage him, but they falsely accused him of hypocrisy. Job did not understand that God was testing his faith, until at the end of his life, when he prayed for his friends who misunderstood him that God blessed him with another 10 children and doubled his wealth. (Job 42:10-17) Indeed, though the wicked may enjoy and prosper in this life, but when they die, they shall be eternally condemned to hell, and though the righteous may suffer in this life, but when they die, they shall be in heaven enjoying God’s presence forever. (Revelation 21:1-27)

Job concurred with his friends that God shall punish the wicked but he wavered in his faith as to why He allowed him to suffer much even when he was trusting Him. Indeed, we may not fully understand why God allows severe trials in our lives, but let us keep asking Him to grant us patience and wisdom, knowing that one day, we shall receive the crown of life in heaven which He has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:1-27)

Eliphaz rejected Job’s justification that God was testing him in all his suffering, as he sharply rebuked Job that he should truly acquaint with God, and repent his hypocrisy and wickedness. Job strongly disagreed with Eliphaz as he knew that God was His Redeemer, and he had been faithfully serving Him. (Job 19:25-27) Indeed, God is our Redeemer and Almighty, and let us continue to love and serve Him now and forever. (Psalm 55:12-23)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to love and serve You, the Almighty, now and forever.

Job 19 & 20: My Redeemer Liveth

Verse of the Day: (19:25) For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job vented his frustration at his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, as the last ten times they had repeatedly reproached him for committing secret sins. Though time and again he had patiently explained to them that he had not done any wickedness yet they would not believe him. They believed that God would not severely afflict His people unless they had rebelled against him, and therefore they believed that Job must have sinned against Him. Job’s faith was tested to the fullest as though he trusted God yet it seemed God was like his enemy tormenting him with his tragic loss and ill health. His life crumbled down as his wife treated him like a stranger, his friends falsely accused him, and everyone despised him. Indeed, let us only look to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and serve and please Him, as only He understand our reproach as He had also suffered reproach for us, and eventually gave His life at the cross but for the sins of the world. (Romans 15:1-3)  

God must have spoken to Job of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who shall one day come to this earth, and redeem man from the curse of the first sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:1-21) By faith, Job believed that one day he would die, and worms would destroy his body, yet he knew that his soul would never die because God, his Redeemer, shall live forever. Indeed, Jesus came and died on the cross, and He was made a curse for us, and whoever believes in Him shall never die, but shall see his Redeemer, and live with Him in His eternal home in heaven forever. (Galatians 3:13-14) 

Zophar counselled Job to admit his sins, and insisted that God would never afflict His people if they had not committed any evil. He believed that Job must have oppressed the people in his pursuit of his wealth, and this was why God punished him by taking away his precious possessions and dearest children. He believed that God had finally revealed Job’s iniquity, and the only way out for him was to repent his sins. However, Zophar was wrong, as Job did not sin against God. Indeed, let us only heed God’s high calling, as only He shall reveal to us His perfect will in our service for Him. (Philippians 3:13-15)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I never die because Jesus, my Redeemer, lives forever.

Job 17 & 18: The Steps Of His Strength

Verse of the Day: (18:7) The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his counsel shall cast him down.

Job lamented about life especially his great sorrow and struggle with the immense loss of his precious children and possessions. Job’s eyes were covered with tears of sorrow and his life was like a shadow waiting to vanish and be with God and his loved ones in pearly heaven. Job had the confidence that he had done his best with his daily devotion and sacrifices of burnt offerings for his sins and those of his loved ones. He believed that they had lived lives that were pleasing to their God. Indeed, let us continue to love and serve God amid sorrow and pain, as one day when we get to glorious heaven we shall have no more sorrow or pain, as we are with Him and our loved ones forever. (Revelation 21:1-4)

Bildad, Job’s friend, rebuked Job for treating him and Eliphaz and Zophar as though they were his enemies just because they had counselled him to repent of his hypocrisy and wickedness. Bildad presumed that Job’s steps of strength had become his weakness as he had fallen into secret sins, and that the only way out for him was to truly repent them. However, little did they know that God was actually testing Job, and not that he had reaped the consequences of his sins. Let us thus keep walking in the steps of the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ as only He is our Strength in time of our crises. (1 Peter 2:21-25)

Job was a patient man as he kept enduring all his friends’ false accusations including Bildad’s presumption that the death of his 7 sons and 3 daughters was God’s curse upon him such that his name shall no longer be remembered on this earth. (James 5:11) Though God’s judgment and curse are upon the wicked yet He is patient and not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. In fact, at the end of Job’s life, not only God blessed him another 7 sons and 3 daughters, but He also blessed him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10-17) Let us thus be careful and sensitive when we counsel those who are in crises, and fervently pray for God’s comfort to be upon them. Let God be the Judge, and let us counsel wisely that ultimately all shall come to know that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Saviour of the whole world. (1 John 5:1-21)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to follow Your steps from here to Your home in heaven.

Job 15 & 16: The Way

Verse of the Day: (16:22) When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Eliphaz, Job’s friend, believed that God shall richly bless His righteous people, and severely judge the hypocrites and wicked ones, like Job. He rebuked Job for justifying his sins and refusing to confess and repent them. He falsely accused Job of being a hypocrite as in behaving like a righteous man but inwardly he was wicked. Job was immensely hurt by Eliphaz’s judgment as he knew that he had not committed any known sins. Unless and until Job used God’s wisdom to know that it was His test of his faith in Him, he would never come to terms with his suffering. Indeed God’s wisdom is never man’s wisdom, as even His foolishness is wiser than man’s. Let us thus seek God and His wisdom as only in His wisdom shall we fully understand our trial and suffering. (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

Eliphaz believed that Job’s sufferings were the direct consequences of his wickedness and rebellion against God. He mocked at Job that he would never succeed in deceiving God as He is omniscience, omnipotent and omnipresent. Job must have been very frustrated by Eliphaz’s false accusations. Indeed, let us flee from sins and wicked men lest they influence us to commit wickedness together with them. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

Not only Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar failed miserably to comfort him, worst still they aggravated his pain and grief by judging and falsely accused him of being a hypocrite and wicked man. Job told his friends that it was easy for them to judge and falsely accuse him, but wait until they were in his dire situation than they would know that it was God’s hand upon him. Though Job could not fully understand God’s way, yet he fully trusted Him in everything. He might have murmured and complained about his friends who were now like his enemies, and the intense pain and grief of his loss of his precious children and possessions, but deep down in his heart, he knew without a shadow of doubt that the Almighty God was his only refuge and hiding place. Job knew that man’s life was just a few years as compared to God’s eternity, and he could just patiently wait for Him to call him to His eternal home in glorious heaven. Indeed, what a day it shall be when we all get to heaven! Let us truly believe in and receive Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, to God, our Heavenly Father. (John 14:1-6)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I know that Jesus Christ is the only Way to heaven.

Job 13 & 14: Trust In Him

Verse of the Day: (13:15) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Again Job told his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, that he was equal to them and in no way inferior to them, and what happened to him might also happened to them, as he believed that he had not committed any known sins. In fact, Job sharply rebuked them for being liars, and of no help to him in his pain and suffering, and they would be wiser if they just be silent, and not falsely accused him for committing secret sins. At this point of time, Job knew that he must continue to trust in God though he could not fully understand His ways. Indeed, God would only reveal to Job when he finally surrendered his life to His sovereign will. Let us thus fully trust in God, and not in ourselves, or others, as only He can truly grant us salvation, and miraculously raise the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

Job prayed to God that he would not hide himself from Him if He would grant him 2 things; the first thing was that He would not frighten or hurt him, and the second thing was that He would answer him. God fulfilled his requests as He truly loved him. God was testing Job’s faith so that he himself would know that he fully trusted Him no matter what happened to him. Indeed, we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, and to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28-39)

Job lamented that he was never in control of anything. He had planned for his future and his children’s future, but all came down to nothing, as God took the lives of his precious children as if He took away his future from him. Job concluded that the life of a man born of a woman was short lived, yet full of trouble. He compared life with a flower that shall soon withered away, and a shadow that shall soon vanish. Job questioned God concerning the meaning and purpose of life. He had come to a point where he desired to die, and be with God, and his dearest children who had gone ahead of him. He reasoned with God that he would rather die than to live through life with all the suffering. These were the thoughts running in Job’s mind, until God finally enlightened him in the end. Indeed, in this world we shall have trouble, but let us be of good cheer, for God is merciful, and full of comfort, and He shall have mercies on us, and shall comfort us in all our trouble, so that in turn, we are able to comfort others who are also in trouble. (2 Corinthians 1:1-7)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to completely trust in You whether in life or in death.

Job 11 & 12: He Increaseth The Nations

Verse of the Day: (12:23) He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Instead of encouraging Job, all his friends including Zophar were judging him, and telling him not to justify himself for his iniquities, and kept persuading him to confess and repent of his sins, and to truly get right with God. Zophar even went to the extent of telling Job not to be self-righteous and proud, and that his tragic loss could be even worse. It must have grieved and hurt Job very much as his friends not only did not comfort him, but they hurt him with allegations that he had sinned against God. Let us thus be sensitive when dealing with or counselling people who have lost their loved ones as we need to empathise with them, and be careful with our words, and be silent, and just be with them, and praying for them. (James 3:1-12)

Though Job knew that God was omnipotent, omniscience and omnipresent, and that God knew that he did not commit any known sins, yet he wondered as to why He allowed these crises to befall him. This was why Job answered Zophar that he was not inferior to him. Indeed, we are all sinners saved only by God’s grace, and no one or church is superior or inferior to anyone or church as we are all His people. Let us therefore fully trust and obey God knowing He knows best what is best for us. (2 Corinthians 12:1-13)

Job knew that only God had the answers to all his crises as His hand was in control of everything. God creates the earth and every living thing including man made in His image, and He can give and also take away our very lives. God also gives and takes away the power of leaders of all nations. Today, as we witness the trade war of 2 superpowers – America and China – and the threats and effects of global warming, we can conclude that God allows these crises and challenges to remind us that our lives are like vapours, and that we must repent our sins, and receive Jesus, the Son of God, as our personal Saviour. Let us thus believe in Jesus as He must increase in our hearts, and we must decrease, and one day we shall have a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun. (John 3:25-36)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to submit to You as You are in control of everything.

Job 9 & 10: The Eagle

Verse of the Day: (9:26) They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

Job replied to Bildad, his friend, that he had examined himself, and did not find any known sins that he would reap the consequences of his tragic losses of his children and possessions. He believed he was almost a perfect man and in control of his life, and God had blessed him with a loving family and abundance of possessions, until suddenly he lost them in one day! Only at the later stage of his life, did he realise that it was Satan who asked God for permission to test his faith, by taking away everything that he had. Thank God, Job did not charge Him foolishly, realising that he had no control of his life, and it is only God who is in control of his life and everything. Indeed, God is in control of everything, as He is the Creator and Maker of the entire universe, the sky, the stars, the earth, the seas and the creatures, including man, made in His own image. (Acts 14:8-18)

Though Job’s days were as swift the eagle swooping its prey, yet he wished he could soon be with God as he missed his precious children. In fact, he was prophesying of the Messiah, the Daysman or Mediator, who shall not only reconcile God with man, but who truly understood what man had to go through in this life. Indeed, Jesus, the Messiah, came and went through worst suffering than Job, when He was humiliated and subsequently crucified not for His own sins, but the sins of the whole world. Let us keep looking to Jesus, and keep waiting upon Him, as we renew our strength, and mount up with wings as eagles, and run and not be weary, and walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Job asserted that only when he saw his crises through God’s eyes, and not his eyes would he understand what God was teaching him, otherwise he was weary of his life, and was in bitterness, and wished he was never born. Only in God’s eyes could he see light, otherwise he saw darkness even when there was light. This was especially so when Job searched his heart, and did not find any known sins he had committed that warranted the great crises. He knew of others who were evil and wicked, and yet they were not experiencing what he experienced. He could not understand God’s way, and only when he saw his crises in God’s eyes did he understand that they were for his good. Indeed, whatever we are going through, let God open our eyes that we see our crises in His eyes, that they are good for us, as they solidify and strengthen our faith in Him. (Acts 26:15-18)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, my life is in Your hand as it is as fast as the eagle swooping on its prey.

Job 7 & 8: A Perfect Man

Verse of the Day: (8:20) Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

Job cried to God to take him home to heaven as his intense pain and agony of his severe ailment and the loss of his precious children and possessions overwhelmed him. He knew that God is a Preserver and Taker of lives, and he wished that He would take his life so that he could be with Him and his loved ones in heaven. He confessed to God that he had sinned against Him, and that he should be the one that God would take his life instead of his precious children. Indeed, when God takes away our loved ones, we wish we can be with Him and our loved ones in heaven, yet we must learn to wait upon Him that He preserved us blameless till He calls us home or His glorious return. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Bildad, Job’s friend, encouraged Job to confess and repent his sins as he believed that his tragic loss was the result of his sins against the Almighty God. Indeed, it is logical for people including Christians to think that tragedy happens to people because of the consequences of their wicked deeds as in the sowing and reaping principle. However, in God’s spiritual realm it may not be always the case. Here God was testing Job’s faith because of the Devil’s false accusation that he would definitely deny Him when all his loved ones and possessions were taken from him. It is not that God does not know Job’s faith, but it was to prove to the Devil, and to Job himself, that he truly had great faith in his God amid tragedy. Let us therefore continue to keep a pure and holy mind and heart amid tragedy knowing that God’s peace is with us now and forever. (Philippians 4:6-9)  

Bildad asserted that God would not allow Job to suffer so much if he was a perfect man in God’s righteousness. Therefore Job must have done much wickedness to deserve these punishments, and that God shall only forgive him when he truly confessed and repented his sins. Let us thus be humble, sober and vigilant knowing that the Devil is like a roaring lion seeking to destroy our testimony with false accusation and we must keep trusting God that He shall help and make us perfect in Him through His grace. (1 Peter 5:6-11)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to become a perfect man only in Your righteousness.

Job 5 & 6: Teach Me

Verse of the Day: (6:24) Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Eliphaz, Job’s friend, insisted that Job should confess and repent his sins, as he had reaped what he had sowed. In fact, he told Job that he should be happy that God had corrected him. Though it was painful and tragic for Job to lose his precious loved ones and possessions, yet it was necessary to prove that whom God loved He chastised. Eliphaz strongly believed that no evil shall touch God’s believers if they had committed no sin. Eliphaz was wrong as evil can touch God’s believers as He allows it to test our faith. Indeed, our seven or last trouble is death, and if we truly believe in God, even death to a believer is sleep, as when we awake, we shall see Jesus, our Saviour, in His home in heaven. Let us thus continue our faith in God as He shall deliver us from all troubles, even death, and shall ultimately prevail all evils even as they touch us. (Hebrews 11:28)

Job explained to Eliphaz that he knew where he was coming from, yet he kept sharing with him his grief as God’s terror was upon him. Indeed, our grief may be God’s test on our faith, but let us look to Job, and especially Christ, who was made to be sin for us who knew no sin, so that we are made God’s righteousness in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)

Job pleaded with God to teach him to control his tongue so as to stop complaining and murmuring because of the pain and agony that he was going through. He kept asking God where he had gone wrong or what sins he had committed that had resulted in the tragic losses. Job did not fully understand that his great trials were the result of God granting the Devil’s permission to test the genuineness of his faith. Let us therefore learn from Job’s example of his great perseverance and persistence of his faith even though he did sin against God, so that as we go through the same trials, we can persevere through them, and teach others of the lessons we have learnt. Let us also learn to control our tongues, as we go through life storms and struggles, and instead of complaining and murmuring, let us be thankful and grateful to God for all the pain and agony we went through. It is easier said than done, yet we must truly strive to do what is right before God, so that we shall eventually finish our Christian race with His commendation and praise! (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please teach me to search my heart and confess and repent of my sins.

Job 3 & 4: I Greatly Feared

Verse of the Day: (3:25) For thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

We who believe in God is like travelling in a plane or a ship in this world with much turbulence and storms until we reach our final destination called Heaven, the eternal home of God. This world is not our home and we are just passing through until God calls us home. You may not agree with me but once we lost our loved ones especially our child or children, we will long to be with them in heaven. This was what Job went through as he lost all his children and possessions in one day, and sadly, his wife even told him to curse God and die. Job cursed his day and he wished that he was not born, and that even if he was born he wished that he died the moment he came out of his mother’s womb. This was Job’s intense suffering, and only God could comfort and console him. Indeed, we who believe in and receive Jesus as our personal Saviour, must embrace sufferings on this earth knowing that they are temporary, as one day when we get to heaven, we shall have no more suffering and death as we are with God forever. Let us thus believe in Jesus who is the Truth, and continue in His Word until the day He calls us home. (John 8:31-32)

Job did everything right before God, yet the things which he greatly feared, the loss of his loved ones, happened right in front of him. If not for his belief and trust in God, he would have been depressed, and might even take his own life. But thanks be to God, Job persevered to the end, knowing that God is good all the time. Indeed, let us fear God, as only He can kill both body and soul in fiery hell, and He shall preserve the souls of all who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour in glorious heaven. (Matthew 10:28-33)

What will make you lose your faith in God and depart from Him? This is Satan’s strategy to get us into denying our faith in God. However, Job passed the test as he did not faint in the day of adversity. One of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, admonished him to repent of his sins, assuming that his sufferings were the consequences of his sins. Though Job insisted that he had not sinned against God, yet all his 3 friends; EIiphaz, Bildad and Zophar, believed he had sinned against God. Indeed, no matter how people perceive us, let us faint not, even in the day of adversity, as God truly knows our faith and works. (Proverbs 24:1-10)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to fear nothing even death as You are my Everything.

Job 1 & 2: Blessed Be The Name Of The LORD

Verse of the Day: (1:21) And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

One of the joys of parenthood is to witness the miraculous birth of their children, especially the first born. What a bundle of joy when the baby comes forth from the mother’s womb! However, one of the sad moments of parenthood is to witness the death of their child or children. This was exactly what happened to Job, who witnessed the birth of his 7 sons and 3 daughters, and subsequently he experienced one of the sad moments of his life when a great wind destroyed the house where all his children gathered and killed them all. What truly happened? Satan was behind the great and tragic loss of Job as he provoked God to test the faith of Job. God gave Satan the permission as He knew that Job would pass the test. Did Job curse and blame God after his tragedy? Most people will have curse and blame God, but not Job. Even though Job did not know that the calamities he suffered was God’s test on his faith, yet he actually blessed the name of the LORD! Indeed, let us bless the name of the Lord when we believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, as we are born again into His everlasting kingdom, and we shall never perish, but our souls shall live forever with Him in glorious heaven. (John 3:1-21)

The faith to thank God even in the worst situation is what truly defines a man of God. Amid the loss of all his precious and dearest 10 children, and all his possessions of 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 she asses, Job blessed the name of the LORD, and did not sin nor blame God, because he knew that he came with nothing, and he shall return with nothing, and he was truly a man of God. Indeed, let us therefore not just be hearers of God’s Word, but be doers of His Word in our daily life! (James 1:21-27)

Satan tested Job to the maximum as God allowed him to be inflicted with unbearable pain on his bones and flesh that he wished he would immediately die. To make matter worse, Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. What will you do if you are Job? Maybe we will give up, but not Job, as he persevered to the end. Let us as God’s members, flesh and bones, persevere to the end because He truly loves and cares for us! (Ephesians 5:21-33)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, blessed be Your name as You give and You take away from me.

Esther 9 & 10: Purim

Verse of the Day: (9:26) Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

On the 13^th day of the 12^th month, the month of Adar, all the Jews gathered together to fight for their lives as in the King’s decree, as this was also the day that an earlier King’s decree had given authority to all the people in the Persian Empire to exterminate the Jews in their land. Indeed, God preserved the Jews as Jesus Christ, God’s Son, shall come from them. Let us thus keep sharing the gospel of Christ as it is His power to save whoever believes in Him from hell, and one day He shall promote them to heaven. (Romans 1:16) 

After God’s deliverance of the Jews from being exterminated, Esther the queen and Mordecai the Jew wrote with authority that all the Jews must remember and keep the days of Purim (comes from the word, Pur or Lot, which means drawing of such objects as a method of deciding something) throughout all their generations and in every province and city. Today, Purim is a Jewish festival celebrated on the 14^th day of the month of Adar (6^th month of the Jewish calendar) in commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews in Persia from the destruction by Haman. The Purim is like the day when Jesus purchased us with His own blood so that we have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. (Acts 20:28)

What a change for a man who was almost exterminated together with his entire Jewish race to become the second most powerful person in the Persian Empire! This was Mordecai who believed in his true God of Israel granting him salvation and peace, and the heart to seek the welfare of his people as well as be their peacemaker. (Matthew 5:9)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I celebrate my Purim the day You saved my soul.

Esther 7 & 8: Stand For Their Life

Verse of the Day: (8:11) Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

Finally, Queen Esther revealed to King Ahasuerus that she was a Jew, and that Haman had abused his authority to command the massacre of the entire Jewish race. Haman realised that his life was in danger as he did not know that Esther was a Jew, and what he did amounted to the murder of the Queen which was a capital punishment. While the king walked out of the palace as he was furious with Haman, the latter begged Esther to spare his life. When the king returned, he thought that Haman was trying to harm Esther, and he immediately ordered his men to arrest and then hang him on the gallows that Haman had prepared for Mordecai. Let us thus not be sold under sin, but believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, and serve Him now and forever. (Romans 7:14-25)

As the king’s writing was irreversible as to the extermination of the Jews initiated by Haman, he now had to write another law to the Jews to stand for their lives and sealed it with his ring. Thank God that we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is sealed in us and irreversible since the day of our redemption and salvation. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

The people became Jews in their belief in the true God of the Jews as they could never become another race. Thank God for Mordecai and Esther as they persevered in their faith in God even though their lives were threatened as the devil who was behind Haman wanted to stop the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, who shall be from their race. Let us thus put on God’s whole armour, and stand against the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-19)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to stand for my life and for You as You are my King.

Esther 5 & 6: The Seed Of The Jews

Verse of the Day: (6:13) And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

The turning point of Esther was when by faith she stood in the inner court of the king’s house, and waited for him until he saw her, and by God’s grace, she obtained his favour. Imagine if the king saw her, and was angry with her for standing in the court without his approval, she would have been executed! Thank God Esther found favour in the king’s sight, as he held out the golden sceptre, and drew her to it. Let us by faith thus go to God’s sceptre of righteousness to obtain His mercy in time of our needs. (Hebrews 1:1-8)

God is in control of everything, as He deprived the king of his sleep so that he commanded his servants to read the book of records of the chronicles before him, and discovered that he had not rewarded Mordecai for saving him. God then moved the king to speak to Haman who was at the outward court of his house about to ask his approval to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him. Little did Haman know that the king was to ask him as to how he could reward Mordecai whom Haman wanted to hang!  God’s providence and protection were upon Mordecai as instead of being hang, Haman dressed him up and brought him on horseback through the street proclaiming to all that he was the man whom the king delighted to honour. Let us therefore trust God, as He not only gives us abundant life, and our family, and children, but even our sleep! (Psalm 127)

One time Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and his wise friends instigated him to make the gallows to hang Mordecai, and now they told him that Mordecai was untouchable, as he was the child of Israel, God’s chosen people. Indeed, the Seed of God came to this world to be the Seed of man to die and shed His precious blood for the sins of man, so that the seeds of man can now become the seeds of God when we truly believe in Him. (2 Timothy 2:8-10)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I am Your seed and saint as I truly believe in You.

Esther 1 & 2: She Required Nothing

Verse of the Day: (2:15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

King Ahasuerus, who reigned an empire that stretched from India to Ethiopia, made a feast for all his princes and servants to show off his wealth for 180 days before them. He then requested his wife, Queen Vashti, to be with him, so that he could show off her stunning beauty. However, Vashti refused as she assumed the king would give in to her insolence, but he was so angry with her that he commanded her to come no more to him as he would replace her with another queen. Subsequently, he sent a decree to all that all wives shall honour their husbands. Indeed, let us truly humble ourselves, and submit to the will of God, and no longer live in disobedience and the lusts of men. (1 Peter 4:1-2)

The quest for the new queen for King Ahasuerus began, and after much search he chose Esther. What a contrast between the 2 queens! The former queen Vashti was proud who required everything for her status, while Queen Esther was humble who required nothing, and she even obtained favour in the sight of all who were with her. Esther was a humble and godly woman mainly because she was an orphan, and was raised by Mordecai, her humble and godly uncle. Indeed, let us be truly contented with God, as we bring nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out of it. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)  

Mordecai saved the king as he told Esther that 2 of the king’s servants had plotted to kill Ahasuerus. The culprits were eventually arrested and hanged, and Mordecai’s name was recorded in the chronicles. Indeed, when we choose to believe in God, our names shall be written in His book of life and our souls shall live with Him forever! (Revelation 3:1-5)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I require nothing in this life except Your salvation.

Esther 3 & 4: If I Perish, I Perish

Verse of the Day: (4:16) Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Though the entire book of Esther does not mention God, yet throughout its pages, the hand of God was upon the Jews, His people. King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the Agagite, to be his right-hand man, and everyone bowed before him, except Mordecai, the Jew. Mordecai believed that he should only bow to his God, and not man. God was with Mordecai while the devil was with Haman. God almost allowed an extermination of the Jews as the devil wanted to hinder the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, who shall be from the Jewish race. Imagine if Haman succeeded in the extermination of the Jews, then there would be no Saviour. Indeed, let us continue to trust God, even though sometime evil men are promoted, but eventually God’s will shall prevail. (Psalm 75:1-10) 

The Jews were depressed when they heard that Haman had commanded his people to destroy all of them, just because Mordecai had refused to bow before him. Mordecai sought help from his adopted daughter, Esther, to speak to the king. Esther told him that she could never meet the king until he called for her. They then held their peace, and spread words to all the Jews to keep praying for God’s providence and protection upon them. Let us thus hold our peace, and seek God’s peace, and trust in Him. (John 16:33)

Esther told Mordecai that she was ready to perish, if the king refused to see her. Mordecai obeyed Esther’s command by gathering all the Jews in Shushan to fast for 3 days and nights, as they waited for the outcome of her meeting with the king. Let us thus trust God as His will is that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to be ready to pray, preach and perish for Your glory.

 Nehemiah 13: Remember Me

Verse of the Day: (13:31) And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

A reader may not be a leader, but all God’s leaders are readers, especially of God’s Word. Israel read the book of Moses and discovered that the Ammonite and the Moabite were not allowed to be with them unless they would repent of their sins of unbelief and wickedness. Indeed, let us read, meditate and apply God’s Word in our hearts that all who know us, may come to know Christ through our sharing and testimony. (Ephesians 3:1-7)

While Nehemiah was away from Jerusalem, Eliashib, the priest, had allied himself with Tobiah, the Ammonite, and had forsaken and defiled God’s house by allowing Tobiah, an unbeliever, to stay in the chamber of God’s house where the people’s gifts to God to be distributed to those who served Him were stored, in other words, Tobiah had accessed to these gifts. Upon his return, Nehemiah was very grieved when he heard of the corruption of Eliashib, and immediately he threw out Tobiah from the chamber. He then confronted the leaders to return all the offerings to those who served God in His house, and to resume the worship of God. Indeed, let us serve God and flee from evil. (Romans 13:1-4)

Nehemiah commanded the people never to marry the unbelievers as they would compromise their belief, and to stop working on the Sabbath day, but instead they should worship God for who He is, and what He has done for them. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) At the end of Nehemiah’s life, he prayed to God to remember him and the works he had done for Him. Indeed, God shall remember the works that we have done for Him as He remembered the criminal at the cross who cried in repentance to Him, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Jesus replied, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39-43) What a day it shall be when we get to heaven as God calls our names from His book of life, and we shall behold His wonderful face, and also those of our loved ones who had gone ahead of us! (Revelation 20:11-15)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please remember me for all that I have believed in and done for You.

 Nehemiah 11 & 12: Thanksgivings

Verse of the Day: (12:27) And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

Everyone sought to stay in Jerusalem because it was God’s holy city. As a result, Jerusalem was overcrowded, and the rulers prepared lots for Israel such that only 1 out of 10 shall be able to stay in Jerusalem while the rest had to move out to other cities. Indeed, let us be thankful to God for saving our souls from hell to heaven just like the 1 out of the 10 lepers who gave thanks to Jesus for healing him while the rest did not. (Luke 17:11-19)

God’s Word never fails to record the names of Israel because Jesus shall come forth from them. This is why time and again, God protects and preserves Israel until today, because Jesus came more than 2,000 years ago, and lived, ministered, died and shed His blood on the cross for the sins of the whole world. In fact, Jesus is coming again, the 2^nd time, during the Rapture, to draw His Christians and the dead in Christ to be with Him in glorious heaven forever. Then after the 7 years Tribulation, Jesus shall come again, and this time, He shall rule Israel as His kingdom for 1,000 years. (Revelation 19-22) This was why Nehemiah sought the Levites to dedicate the walls with thanksgivings to God, because they knew that it was He who helped them amid discouragement and distress, and at the same time, He also revived their spiritual lives. Indeed, let us trust and obey God with joy and thanksgivings, as He is worthy of all our praise. (2 Corinthians 9:12-15)  

Judah rejoiced for the services of the priests and Levites, because Jesus, the Son of God, shall come from their tribe. Indeed, the greatest treasure is God, the Holy Spirit, dwelling in us, once we believe in and receive Jesus as our personal Saviour. (2 Corinthians 4:1-10)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for everything especially saving my wretched soul and life.

 Nehemiah 9 & 10: The Firstborn

Verse of the Day: (10:36) Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister to in the house of our God:

Though Israel failed God many times, especially in the wilderness, yet He was always ready to pardon their sins, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not as He led them as a pillar of fire in the night and a pillar of cloud in the day. Nehemiah and Israel separated themselves with the unbelievers, and began reading God’s Word for more than 6 hours, and another 6 hours in confessing and repenting their sins, and in worshipping Him. Indeed, let us truly spend time reading and applying God’s Word in our lives, as well as worshipping Him, as He is not only a loving God, but He is also a consuming Fire who judges us of all our sins. (Hebrews 12:28-29)

God brought revival to Israel, as they diligently heard and applied His Word in their lives, and confessed and repented their sins. They then covenanted with God, and sealed with the names of Nehemiah, the princes, priests and Levites to obey His commandments. Subsequently, they dedicated their firstborns to God, knowing that He is the Giver of life and the Creator of all living creatures, including man, made in His own image. Indeed, let us be thankful to God for lovingly sending His Firstborn and only begotten Son, Jesus, to live, minister, die and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world. (Romans 8:29-39)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to give my firstborn, firstfruits and my life to You.

Nehemiah 7 & 8: A Faithful Man

Verse of the Day: (7:2) That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

After the completion of the rebuilding project, Nehemiah delegated the works of overseeing Jerusalem to Hanani, his brother, and Hananiah, the ruler of the palace, as both were faithful men who feared God. He then appointed guards at all the gates as he knew that their enemies, the Samaritans, would seek to destroy what they had rebuilt. Indeed, let us be faithful to God, and fear Him, and be sober and vigilant, as Satan, God’s enemy, is always seeking to destroy us, and our works for Him. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) 

God then put into Nehemiah’s heart to find the register of the genealogy of the Jews who first returned to Jerusalem after being released from the Babylonian captivity. The reason was because Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, shall be from the Jews, and Satan would do everything to hinder His birth such that man can never be reconciled with God but be eternally condemned in hell like him because of sin. However, Jesus, the First and the Last, always win over Satan, as He came into this world, and lived and ministered, and died and shed His blood at the cross for the sins of the world. Whoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never perish, but have eternal life with Him in heaven. (Revelation 1:1-11)

Amid opposition, the people gathered as one people to hear Ezra, the priest, reading God’s Word, and some wept as this was the first time they heard it, as they never hear it during their 70 long years of captivity in Babylon. Nehemiah then led them in great celebration with the fat and sweet drinks of the land, and they also shared the blessings with the poor. It was indeed a holy day, as they knew that the joy of the Lord was their strength. Let us thus trust in God, and He shall bless us now and forever. (Proverbs 28:25)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to be faithful, and to always fear You now and forever.

 Nehemiah 5 & 6: I Am Doing A Great Work

Verse of the Day: (6:3) And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

Not only was there external opposition, but there was internal crisis that Nehemiah had to solve amid rebuilding the city and walls of Jerusalem. He was very angry with the nobles and rulers, who took advantage of the famine, to charge their own people with exorbitant interest for the loan to buy corn for their families, that many resorted to selling their children as slaves, in order to service the loans plus high interest. There was hence a great cry of the people, and Nehemiah prayed to God to help him find a solution. Indeed, let us cry to God, Abba, Father, as He is able to help us do anything, including the impossible, for His children and joint-heirs with Christ, who truly believe in Him. (Romans 8:15-17) 

Nehemiah gathered his people to rebuke the nobles and rulers for charging high interest on their own people. He reminded them that as God’s people they should love and care for one another so that the unbelievers could see the loving testimony of Christ in them, and thus believe in Him. Indeed, we are God’s great assembly and church, and let us serve Him with reverence and godly fear as He is not only a gracious and loving God, but He is also a consuming fire who judges and punishes wicked sinners. (Hebrews 12:18-29)

The walls were finished in a record time of 52 days, because God was with Nehemiah and his people. Amid the rebuilding, Nehemiah faced much opposition and crises even death threat, but he never gave up, as he knew that if God was with him in His great work, who can be against him. Indeed, when their enemies saw that they had miraculously completed the massive project, they knew that God was with them. Let us therefore keep focusing on doing the great work of God of sharing the gospel that Jesus saves, amid great opposition and discouragement, as He is with us now and forever. (John 6:26-29)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I am doing a great work in sharing Your Word to all.

Nehemiah 3 & 4: The High Priest

Verse of the Day: (3:1) Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.

Leadership by example. There is no short-cut for leaders as in the case of the high priest rising up with his priests to rebuild the ruined gates and walls. Not only did they repaired the walls but they sanctified the repairs to God for all that He had done for and through them. Indeed, there was great leadership and teamwork in action as each family repaired the damaged piece. However even with great leadership and teamwork there would still be some, even within the people of Israel, who refused to put their necks to the work of God, like the Tekoites nobles. Let us thus look to Jesus, our High Priest, who set the highest example for us, when He gave His life on the cross for the sins of the world that whoever believes in Him shall never perish but have everlasting life. (Hebrews 9:11-22)

Every piece of the jigsaw puzzle is important as they make the full picture of the puzzle. Nehemiah and the people knew that every piece of the walls was vital as they diligently repaired it. Indeed, every soul is precious to God as He seeks to save whoever believes in Him, and all His angels rejoice over one sinner who repents of his sins. (Luke 15:8-10)

Prayer is the source of power for Christians. Nehemiah knew that unless he and his people prayed to God for power, strength and wisdom, they would never be able to complete the rebuilding of the city and walls amid much opposition, discouragement and even death threat. One of the most effective weapons that Satan uses to hinder God and His people is discouragement. Satan used Sanballat and his Samaritan army to discourage Nehemiah and his people by mocking them that they would never be able to repair the walls as they were too weak. However, Nehemiah and his people continued to pray and rebuild, and eventually completed the rebuilding project. Indeed, let us pray to Jesus, our High Priest, amid life crises, and He shall hear and answer us, and show us great and mighty things that are beyond our imagination and understanding.               (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You, that Jesus Christ, our High Priest, shall intercede for us.