Noah-Daniel-Job

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Noah-Daniel-Job
“Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it [the land], they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God” (Ezek. 14:1414Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 14:14)).
It was a dark day in Israel’s history when this word of the Lord came to the prophet Ezekiel. The word from the Lord said, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezek. 22:3030And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. (Ezekiel 22:30)). The ten tribes, Ephraim, or kingdom of Israel, had already gone into captivity to Assyria—removed out of Jehovah’s land, which He had given them. Assuredly they “gave not God the glory” (Acts 12:2323And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. (Acts 12:23)), but “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things” (Rom. 1:2323And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:23)).
Judah had not profited by the lesson to be learned from Jehovah’s dealings with their brethren of Ephraim; no man laid it to heart. God had reserved one tribe: “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David My servant may have a light alway before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen Me to put My name there” (1 Kings 11:3636And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. (1 Kings 11:36)). There was no response to this sovereignty of mercy shown to them, and one can only weep with the weeping prophet Jeremiah, as we read the inspired record of the sins of Judah’s kings, false prophets, priests and people. “My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:1313For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13)). At last God removed them also, as Stephen said, “I will carry you away beyond Babylon” (Acts 7:4343Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. (Acts 7:43)).
What a grief of mind all this was to the Lord God of Israel may be learned from Deuteronomy 5:2929O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (Deuteronomy 5:29): “O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!” These words truly reveal the loving heart of our God concerning His earthly people; they are words, too, which were recorded before they were in possession of the promised land, words by one who declares “the end from the beginning” (Isa. 46:1010Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:10)). God truly felt His people’s departure of heart from Himself. This is still true today as of old! Let us therefore “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)).
With such a dark background and at such a time, it evidently afforded the Lord some pleasure to think of His righteous servants, Noah, Daniel and Job. Amazing grace! What an encouragement to us also in our feeble place of service today, in the sphere where He has been pleased to place each one of us. We do well to heed the words of 1 Peter 1:1717And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: (1 Peter 1:17), “Ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work.” And now, as “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning” (Rom. 15:44For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)), let us draw some spiritual profit, warning and encouragement from the history of God’s three worthies, Noah, Daniel and Job.
Noah
He was a courageous character, indeed, to face an ungodly, hostile world with God’s long-suffering testimony. What was the secret of his strength? “Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:99These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)); also, “according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Gen. 6:2222Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Genesis 6:22)). “Warned of God” and “moved with fear,” he “prepared an ark” by means of which he accomplished two things: (1) “He condemned the world” (Heb. 11:77By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)); (2) “Eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter 3:2020Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20)). It is sad to think that the only result of his preaching was to “condemn the world,” but this was not his fault. “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid” (Rom. 3:3-43For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:3‑4)). But the ark he prepared was the means of “the saving of his house” (Heb. 11:77By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)). Noah was a family man, and was possessed of those qualifications necessary for a bishop in the church of God in Paul’s day, as he wrote to Timothy: “A bishop [overseer] then must be blameless  ... one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity” (1 Tim. 3:2-42A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (1 Timothy 3:2‑4)). Noah’s family, at least, believed his testimony, backed up by his godly life, and as a result found themselves safely in the ark with him when the judgment fell.
Daniel
In Daniel we find a pleasing personage who had “another spirit with him,” like Caleb (Num. 14:2424But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (Numbers 14:24)). He sets before us a good beginning, a faithful, consistent walk throughout, and a good finish. Paul’s work in Philippians 1:2020According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (Philippians 1:20) comes at once to mind: “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” The last verse of the book of Daniel is a wonderful reward for a life of faithfulness to God: “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” We may be sure his lot will be a good one! The feature of his exemplary life which we desire to lay stress upon in this article is that Daniel continued: lion’s den and all, he continued. The secret of his success, you ask? “He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” (Dan. 6:1010Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. (Daniel 6:10)). We do well to follow his example and heed the exhortation of Romans 12:1212Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12), “Continuing instant in prayer.” There is a further salutary lesson for us in 1 John 2:2424Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (1 John 2:24): “If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”
Job
Here we have at least a grand finish. “The Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:1212So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. (Job 42:12)). His case is summed up in Proverbs 25:44Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. (Proverbs 25:4): “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.” The Lord knew how to do this in Job’s case (and ours too)! How beautiful that word in James 5:1111Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:11): “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” We too are exhorted to be “patient in tribulation” (Rom. 12:1212Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12)). And again, “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray” (James 5:1313Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (James 5:13)). “No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:1111Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11)). No two of us have the same history, but of chastening “all are partakers” (Heb. 12:88But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8)). We too, like Job, are sustained in it, and find out at the end of it that our God is the same as at the beginning, and our souls are the better for His hand upon us. We can say, “What hath God wrought!” (Num. 23:2323Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! (Numbers 23:23)). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)). Truly, “all His saints are in Thy hand” (Deut. 33:33Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. (Deuteronomy 33:3)).
Conclusion
As we read the Scriptures and review the histories of His servants of the past, we can only magnify the grace of God, apart from which neither they nor we could perform any service in His name. Paul says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:1010But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)). The Holy Scriptures abound with encouragement for us to persevere in the path of faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:22Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)). Now, “he that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:66He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:6)). And how Christ walked we find in Psalm 16:88I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8): “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” And He has left “us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:2121For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21)). “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Cor. 9:2424Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (1 Corinthians 9:24)). “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1313Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13)). “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:2828Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28)). And what a prospect lies before us: “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:1212And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)). “His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face” (Rev. 22:3-43And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3‑4)).
T. Mather