I do not mean this Lesson to be a blanket approval of what the three men said. Because they were wrong! God agrees … “Ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.” Job 42:7-8

(Like any broken clock, which is right twice a day, these men spoke some nuggets of truth. But in the wrong way, with a skewed application to Job. In the wrong spirit!)

But they did this one thing quite admirably. They were right there “by his side.” By Job’s side!

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they SAT DOWN WITH HIM upon the ground SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN NIGHTS, and NONE SPAKE A WORD unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” Quoting Job 2:11-13.

I once heard (or read) about a wise old Pastor counseling his younger Preacher Boys. Talking to them about helping their Church people in times of great stress or sadness or grief or any other crisis. He iterated, “We do not always know exactly what to say at times like those. And maybe we should not talk a lot anyway. JUST BE THERE. SIT WITH THEM. CRY WITH THEM. PRAY WITH THEM. LOVE THEM. GO GET THEM A CUP OF COFFEE.” You get the idea!

And that’s exactly what Job’s three “friends” did for him. It would have been much better as far as comforting Job is concerned, had they never spoken a word!

They sat down with him, wept with him.

For a full week!

Sympathizing with him in his grief.

Do you know someone enduring a similar, ponderous situation today? Be there for them! IN some way let them know you care …

This is one of the greatest dangers of this Pandemic the world is currently facing. Loved ones many times are not allowed to “be there” with their relatives. And though such isolation is medically necessary (?) … that’s still bad news for any patient!

Hint … in today’s culture, even an e-mail or a short text or a phone call can, in a sense, represent your desire to “be there” when your friend is suffering.

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

A Lesson we can all practice!

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As a lad I went with my Dad to our Church’s monthly night at the local “Rescue Mission.” Our Pastor would preach to those poor man who had lost nearly everything. Generally somebody got saved, or at least made a profession of faith in Christ.

Those trips made an impression on my young mind.

Then as a young Preacher in Bible College I was the one asked to preach to the men. Foul smells, including the stench of alcohol, rush back to my mind even as I type these words.

Rescue Missions, like the famous Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, have done a great work for God through the years.

But I’d like to tell you about the greatest Rescue Mission ever. THE OLD RUGGED CROSS OF CALVARY!

And the greatest Preacher ever, the Lord Jesus Christ!

One verse will do the job today … “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Hallelujah for Luke 19:10!

Has he yet rescued you?

If not, He can!

He will if you’ll ask Him, trust Him, believe Him!

Jesus’ Own Words, John 5:24 … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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But this morning we’re not going to study Psalm 23:1, the most beautiful Sentence in all the Bible about Jesus being our Shepherd!

Nor are we going to view Jesus as the GOOD Shepherd (John 10:11) or the GREAT Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) or even the CHIEF Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)!

We are going (today) to look at Isaiah’s Portrait of Jesus as Shepherd. Here it is: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

That first verb, “feed,” is spelled “raah” in Hebrew. It means to pasture, to tend, to guard, as well as to graze, to feed!

I am already glad that through the Blood of Jesus I am part of that “flock!” Even if at times it seems to be a “little flock.” (Luke 12:32)

And “gathering” His lambs … essentially “assembling” them … reminds one of the Church Jesus has founded and is building! (Matthew 16:18 and Hebrews 10:25)

But oh, it gets sweeter! Jesus and His lambs … “He carries them in his bosom.” In the enclosure of those Mighty Arms, His Everlasting Arms! (Deuteronomy 33:27)

He’s a “gentle” Leader, too, our Lord is! The verb here, “nahal,” and means “to lead with care, to lead giving appropriate rest time,” and even “to carry” once in the Old Testament.

Looks like also … special care for those who are “with young!” Producing offspring! Helping grow the flock! The words “with young” are derived from a verb meaning “to suckle, to nurse!” I wonder if “soul winners” are in His Mind here? Or those who nurture young believers? Edify them, help them grow in the Lord?

Anyway … a beautiful verse!

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

What a Shepherd!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Thank you Isaiah for adding to the Portrait!

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We study today an event near the end of Elijah’s earthly life … perhaps when this giant of the faith MOST needed God!

“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12

First came a strong wind! (Back in verse 11.)

Then the fierce earthquake!

Followed by a blistering fire!

But the Lord was not in any of these foregoing things!

Now … the following “manifestation” of God’s Presence is astounding!

I mean that “still small voice!”

Today I suggest that each of us might get “alone” somewhere … with an open Bible, or with a prayerful heart, or maybe just a receptive (humble) spirit …

AND WAIT FOR GOD’S GENTLE HOLY SPIRIT TO MINISTER TO US. TO COMMUNE WITH US!

And more likely than not, if you are especially blessed … you might experience that “still small voice” of God’s direction in your life!

I’ve heard that Voice many a time studying my Bible!

Perhaps even when preaching a Sermon!

And certainly in prayer!

It’s not always in how LOUD things get … God can present Himself silently too!

Wow!

His still small voice!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Can God be in “small” things too?

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What a Ttile!

What a Name?

“The God of all comfort!” (Quoting 2 Corinthians 1:3.)

Most so-called “gods” of Paul’s day were anything but “comforting.”

Vindictive, jealous, thieving, murderous! Those adjectives come to mind, based on Greek and Roman religion.

Has anyone reading here this morning personally experienced God’s “Comfort?” That noun is “paraklesis.”  

It means literally “to come bedside a person” and walk “with” him. “Strengthen” him or her. “Encouragement” is part of that relationship too!

Hallelujah!

But then 1 Corinthians adds more … giving us the purpose (or at least one reason) for God’s amazing Comfort extended to us!

“God Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, THAT we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble.” There it is, 2 Corinthians 1:4.

God comforts us … so we can comfort others (other brothers and sisters in Christ) when they are under duress, stress, “any trouble!”

I love this sequence of thought!

God comforts me so I can comfort someone else.

Let’s get busy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, God is such a Comforting Heavenly Father that he has even called Himself the “Comforter!”

This is Jesus’ favorite Name for the Holy Spirit! (John 14:16 and 26. Then again in John 15:26 as well as John 16:7.) “The Comforter!”Sounds so beautiful!

Wow!

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