Jó 23

Jó 23:12

MacArthur comments that… In view of postmodern culture’s relentless output of informational junk food through radio, television, films, the Internet, computer games, books, periodicals, and even so-called Christian pulpits—all of which causes spiritual malnourishment and dulls appetites for genuine spiritual food—believers must commit to regular nourishment from God’s Word. Glen Spencer adds that… The Word of God is food for our spiritual lives. It is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. The physical man lives by bread, but the spiritual man lives by every word that proceeds from our heavenly Father. No wonder Job said, I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:12) Think about the trials that Job was going through! What a lesson! God's Word was more precious to him during his trials than anything else he could imagine. The Bible is the spiritual food by which we grow in grace (2Pe 3:18). Is your spiritual growth stunted? Are you hungry for a good spiritual meal? Then pull up to God's table and let Him feed you with the pure Word of God. (Expository Pulpit Series - 1 Peter) H A Ironside on our "spiritual diet"… Our food has much to do with making us what we are. The same is true of us morally. We become like that on which we feed; and we feed on what our hearts crave. The man of understanding values knowledge and devotes himself to its pursuit. The fool does not care for that which would build true character and draw him away from his evil ways. Instead he feeds on folly and vanity, becoming more empty and foolish than before. Let the young Christian ponder this well. Have you learned to know Christ? Then leave behind forever the carnal pleasures of the world. Do not attempt to feed the new life on the world's trashy literature and its sinful pleasures. If you do, there will be no real growth, and a moral and spiritual breakdown is sure to follow. But if you set the Lord before you and find your food in His Word and what is edifying, you will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Imitate David (Psalm 119:103 104), Jeremiah (Jer 15:16), and Job (Job 23:12). Do not allow yourself to fall into the ways of the mixed multitude (Nu 11:4-9), who lost their appetite for angels' food by lusting after Egyptian delicacies. Simeon has this note on necessary food… A man may feel no great appetite for dainties; but for his necessary food he cannot but feel a most intense desire. Hunger and thirst will in time so oppress a man, that he will gladly part with all that he possesses in the world to satisfy their pressing demands. In the famine that was in Egypt, the whole people of the country sold their lands, yea, their very bodies, to Pharaoh, for a supply of necessary food (Ge 47:19). Yea, on some occasions, women have eaten their own children, to satisfy the calls of nature (Dt 28:54 55 56 57). Yet was Job’s desire after the words of God more urgent than any pressure of the natural appetite for bodily food… His refreshment from the Word was more abiding—Elijah, after a hearty meal, “went in the strength of his meat forty days and forty nights.” (1Ki 19:5-8) And Jonathan, after a day’s extreme fatigue, did but taste a little honey, and his strength was renovated in a very extraordinary degree (1Sa 14:29, 30). But the strength which God’s blessed Word imparted to Job was visible in every part of his life. Truly “it enlightened his eyes,” insomuch that his discernment of God’s truth was incomparably clearer than that of any of his friends who came to instruct and comfort him: for God himself says of them, that “they had not spoken of him the thing that was right, as his servant Job had.” (Job 42:7) And, as the Word informed his understanding, so it strengthened him to bear his trials with a degree of confidence and composure never surpassed by mortal man. In immediate connexion with my text, he says, “God knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” And James represents him, in this respect, as the most perfect pattern to the Church in all ages: “You have heard of the patience of Job.” (Jas 5:11) I may add further, his love for the word of God was that to which we must trace the whole of the obedience which he describes in verses 11, 12a: “My foot hath held his steps; his ways have I kept, and not declined; neither have I gone back from the commandments of his lips: I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job's Love to the Word of God) Illustration - Would you cook a meal for yourself even if you didn’t feel like cooking? You probably say, “Yes, food is necessary.” Did you skip your devotions today? If your answer is, “Yes, I was too tired to study God’s Word,” then consider the words in Job 23:12, where Job affirms that God’s Word is more precious to him than his necessary food. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like learning God’s Word. It is necessary to your life as a Christian. God frequently associates His Word with food… Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. (Je 15:16) Comment: Jeremiah is having a "pity party" (and I can't blame him - read Je 15:10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18) but even in the midst of this episode of self pity, he makes the wise choice to acknowledge that God's Word has been his source of joy and delight. Peter writes… Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (1Pe 2:1, 2) Comment: Notice that the first verse gives us a clue as to why we might not be treasuring God's Word - unconfessed sin. You've probably heard the old adage that sin will keep you from the Book or the Book will keep you from sin! Notice also that if there is no intake of God's Word there can be no growth into the image of God's Son, no growth in sanctification (cp Jn 17:17). John MacArthur: Spiritual growth is always marked by a craving for and a delight in God’s Word with the intensity with which a baby craves milk David writes the following description of God's Word… They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Ps 19:10-note)