There’s absolutely no way I can see myself responding the way Job did upon hearing news of unbelievable tragedy. Job tore his robe and shaved his head, traditional signs of mourning, then he said:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.

Astounding. The book of Job is thought to be the oldest in the Bible. Humankind has wrestled with questions of pain and loss from the beginning.

As I ponder, I’m most unnerved by this line of Job’s—the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.

It’s the taking away that bothers me. I want the Lord to give and give and give, all good things, piling them up. In reality, the Lord does pile up good in my life. But he also takes away, for reasons I may never understand. Like Job, I need to eventually turn toward faith and trust in the Lord.

Because in the end, the Lord is all we have. We leave this world with nothing and then meet him face-to face, dependent solely on his grace and mercy to receive us.

May the name of the Lord be praised.

Job 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Andres Haro

Certain people ought to be truth-tellers and preachers are one of them. Tragically, this sometimes fails to be the case. When we neglect to promote truth we harm ourselves and others.

Malachi faithfully recorded words from the Lord for the preachers of his day: For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble…So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.

Surveys today reveal a declining trust the general population holds in members of the clergy. Sexual abuse and financial gouging by so called shepherds of souls led to this result. I don’t hold an implicit trust in members of the clergy and I’m one of them.

Along with scandalous acts comes insipid teaching of the Word of God. Handling the scriptures with partiality, inventive theology and shading truth might be popular with the masses, but it’s not what should roll off the lips of a priest.

If we claim to follow Jesus, then we’re all priests and it’s not our calling to be popular.

Study the Bible, wrestle with its teachings and tell the truth. Some may kick and scream, call you names on social media and cancel your brand. But others, even those who disagree, will respect you for your principled stand.

Most importantly, as messengers of the Lord Almighty, we’d d*mn well better know what we’re saying. Take the calling seriously—don’t veer off script. Let us preserve the knowledge found in the scriptures as we serve the Lord.

It’s up to us to teach with clarity and accuracy. Only then might we lead people clear-eyed into the presence of the Lord who shows grace and grants forgiveness.

Malachi 2 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Ben White

Nehemiah fumed at the indifference of his fellow Jews toward the law of the Lord. After working for weeks to help the city keep the Sabbath day holy, Nehemiah came across a number of men who married foreign (non-Jewish) women, despite the specific prohibition in the Law.

When these men flaunted their disregard for the ways of the Lord, Nehemiah snapped. He wrote of the encounter, I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name.

Must have been quite a show! Their behavior displeased the Lord and these men just didn’t get it. Reminds me of the phrase, “it took a 2×4 to the side of the head to get his attention.” Sometimes we’re clueless.

In the communal society of ancient Jerusalem such a sinful lifestyle affected everyone around them. But these men didn’t care. They settled into smug self-centeredness, until Nehemiah happened along.

Lord, keep my eyes clear and my heart soft to my actions and attitudes that harm others and displease you. Keep me honest, and pull out my hair if that’s what it takes.

Nehemiah 13 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by The Ian

Few bless me more as a friend than an honest person. Men and women of integrity form the foundation of the civil society in which we all want to live. Every good leader finds roles for people of integrity.

Nehemiah put his brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

Not only was Hanani honest and dependable, he carried a deep reverence and understanding of the Lord. He feared God more than most. His integrity flowed from his knowledge and experience of the Lord. Hanani internalized the words of the law. He meditated on them, turned them over in his mind, struggled with their ideas and put them into practice.

Hanani’s fear of God moved him toward sincerity and trustworthiness.

The same idea emerged when Paul praised Timothy in his letter to the Philippian church—Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. The congregation welcomed Timothy as a man of honor and Biblical principles.

Integrity never grows old. Like Hanani, I hope to live as a man of integrity. I want friends who are people of integrity. The surest way to get there? Respect the Lord and practice his ways.

Nehemiah 7 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Cytonn Photography