“When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7 ESV). The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, asking a series of questions meant to humble him. The Lord asked where Job was when He laid the foundation of the earth, when the “morning stars sang together
Chapter: 38
DO YOU FEEL IN THE PITS TODAY?
“So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.” (Jeremiah 38:6 ESV). When the Judean officials heard Jeremiah preaching
OVERWHELMED WITH GUILT?
“My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.” (Psalm 38:4 NLT). David wrote this psalm of despair over the weight of his guilt. He described his sins as having broken his health. He said they were like a burden too heavy for him to bear. He confessed his sin, but was
“For my sins have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear” (Psalm 38:4 HCSB).
SIN TOO HEAVY TO BEAR David wrote this psalm of despair over the weight of his sin. He described his sins as having “flooded over” his head. He said they were like a “burden” too heavy for him to bear. He confessed his sin, but was still anxious about his guilt. So he cried out
“Please, obey the voice of the Lord which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live” (Jeremiah 38:20 NKJV).
PLEADING WITH SINNERS TO OBEY GOD’S WORD Even after King Zedekiah had allowed Jeremiah to be thrown into a miry pit, he still had compassion for the ones who heard his preaching. This is the mark of a true prophet. He preaches the Word of God without apology, whether blessing or judgment, yet retains the
‘Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him”‘ (Ezekiel 38:1-2 NKJV).
There are as many interpretations as their are interpreters of this chapter in Ezekiel. Yet, I would humbly offer that it is a prophecy concerning an end times battle against Israel that has yet to be fulfilled. Nations from the North of Israel will attack Israel during a time of peace and God Himself will fight for Israel and defeat the armies of the North.
My comments are marked by the following principles of interpretation: 1) Scripture is divinely inspired, 2) Scripture should be interpreted as literally as the literary genre and context allow, 3) Scripture contains prophecies that have already been fulfilled as well as those yet to be fulfilled, and 4) the revelation of Scripture is progressive, so that later prophecies shed light on earlier ones.
Those who have a high view of Scripture see history heading towards an ultimate climatic victory of good over evil, Christ over Satan, and the judgment seat of God. The apostle John, like Ezekiel, had such a view of Scripture. He also prophesied of a future day when God would defeat Satan and the nations he deceived named, “Gog and Magog” (Rev. 20:7-9).
While certain details of this prophecy remain a mystery, such as the identity of “Gog and Magog” (Is it Russia as some contend?). The major predictions are clear. God revealed an end times war against Israel that God Himself will win. God will triumph in the end. Therefore, let us decide whom we will serve. Let us join Joshua in saying, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).
“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7 NKJV).
God speaks, asking Job where he was when the universe was created and the singing and shouting of worship first resounded. Who or what are these “morning stars” that sing and these “sons of God” that shout? Many see both of these as metaphors for angelic beings. Certainly, Isaiah described Lucifer as a “morning star” before his fall (Isa.14:12). Yet, surprisingly the Lord may actually be referring to the stars themselves. As Dr Bill Chaplin, an asteroseismologist at Birmingham University, has reported, “Essentially stars resonate like a huge musical instrument.” In other words, stars sing! Even the stars were made to worship the Lord!
“For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin” (Psalm 38:18 NKJV).
When God declared David a “man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22), it wasn’t because David was sinless. David had many shortcomings just as we all do. But David was quick to confess his sins. He shed real tears of repentance when he did wrong. He had an abiding desire to please God and do His will. It truly grieved David to sin against God. David’s heart was “loyal” (1 Kings 11:4) to the Lord.
Through Christ we can have our sins forgiven and our hearts made new. Yet, we still sometimes stumble into sin while living in this world. David’s habit of confession and repentance is still needed in our lives. As the apostle John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
“So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.” (Jeremiah 38:6 ESV)
Jerusalem was extremely dry, especially during the summer months, so its inhabitants dug cisterns to collect rainwater. These cisterns were hewn out of the limestone rock prevalent there. They were usually pear-shaped, with a small 2 to 3 foot opening at the top and 15 to 20 feet deep at the bottom. It was into one of these cisterns that the prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned for preaching the Word of God. There was no place to sit nor sleep, just a muddy bottomed cavern with a narrow ray of sunshine passing through the opening above. Perhaps Jeremiah thought it ironic as he cried out from this hollow tomb, remembering his prophecy concerning broken cisterns, “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). God heard his cry and sent someone to rescue Jeremiah from the miry pit. And God has sent another Rescuer, who is the Living Water, Christ Jesus, to save us too.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:4 ESV)
After 37 chapters, God finally speaks. Many today think they know how the world began. Men who’ve barely lived 50 years speak of 5 billion years and materialistic theories. I think God laughs at man’s wisdom. I love science and history, but I trust and love God’s revealed Word more.