And they saw the God of Israel

Exodus 24 is a great chapter. I enjoyed the chapter very much this morning. 24:10-11 read:

And they saw the God of Israel: and [there was] under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in [his] clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

Although Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, the nobles of the children of Israel saw God, "he did not destroy them. In fact, they shared a meal together in God's presence!"

In reading the previous verses, I was able to see how they were able to see God and not not destroyed. 24:6-8 read:

And Moses took half of the blood, and put [it] in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

Hebrew 4:16 reads:

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

May I come boldly unto the presence of God, the throne of grace each day that I may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Surely this is the time of need and I need to obtain mercy and grace and God's help.

For I know him

In Genesis 18:19, the Lord said:

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;

What does the Lord know about me? Does He think of me in the same way He thought of Abraham?

For I know [that] my redeemer liveth

As the three friends of Job continued their attacks on Job and he shared his anguish and sorrow with them in his replies, there was a jewel in Job's confession, "For I know [that] my redeemer liveth."

Job 19:25 - 27 read:

For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth: And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.

In trials and sufferings came out the precious confession of Job's faith.

Here is a hymn I enjoyed this morning. Click http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/i/k/iknowtha.htm to listen to the music.

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!

Miserable Comforters

Job 2:11 reads:

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.

Job 16:1 - 8 read:

Then Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters [are] ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye [do]: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief]. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and [though] I forbear, what am I eased? But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

Job's three friends came to mourn with Job and to comfort him. However to Job, they were "miserable comforters". Their words, though they might be correct, were vain words. Rather than comforting or strengthening Job, they made him more weary and desolate and filled him with wrinkles.

In contrast to Job's friends, we have much better Comforter.

2 Cor 1:3-5 read:

Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

May I not be like Job's friends who added more miseries to Job by being self-righteous. May I first be comforted by my God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. May I then comfort others in trouble with the comfort I myself am comforted of God. Amen.