The Daily Plunge!

Unanswered Innards Turmoil (Job 30:1–2, 16–31). Unuseful youngsters mock the man of faith. God has allowed Job’s influence to be deflated and to be besieged. In the silence from God, yet Job is desperate to hope in God. # dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Blessed Friendship Longing (Job 29:1–20). Job desires once again to have an intimate relationship with God, where now he thinks God is silent. He longs not for his own prosperity, but to be blessed to be a blessing to others. He had influence because his words were reflected by his actions. # dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Tested Wisdom Intermission (Job 28:1–28). In this interlude we mine for wisdom more precious than gold or gems. Where does this wisdom reside? God alone knows this wisdom. God speaks the way into this wisdom: Worship the LORD and refrain from wickedness. # dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Warning Would-be Accusers (Job 25:1–6, 27:1–6). Humans conceived in sin cannot stand self-cleaned before God. Job warns accusatory friends that the Law is no saving wisdom. They too will face him. Job swears by God that he will not abandon relying on God for his life. # dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Penitent Abusing Repentance (Job 22:1–4, 21–23:7). The Law doesn’t work as religionists say it does. Wicked people often enjoy life and are not punished. While faithful people repent of sin, threatening punishment for unrepentance to repentant believers is abusive. # dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Antagonistic Humiliating Law (Job 19:1–7, 14–27). At the humiliation of Job the self-righteous exalt themselves. The unpreached God is against me with His Law counting me an enemy. When the Law and the flesh are destroyed, then God will be my redeemer vindicating me. # dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Miserable Heretical Comforters (Job 16:16–22, 17:1, 13–16). Job refutes Eliphaz the theologian of the Law. In spite of faith Job has experienced the hostility of God. Although broken and dashed, Job still appeals to God will be his Gospel mediator. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Resurrection Longing Mortal (Job 14:1–22). Mortal flesh is always rotting away because of sin. How can we bring clean out of the unclean. Yet God longs for us creatures. I Only the LORD will cover over our sin and the LORD will call us into his resurrection. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Slayed Believer Vindication (Job 13:3–17, 21–27). Job tells his friends they whitewash his suffering and speak deceitfully for God. Even if God slays me, I know I must still hope in Him.  This suffering of the believer will still turn out for deliverance! Do you hope in a relationship or a religion? #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #J...

Toppling Shallow Tameness (Job 12:1–6, 13–25). Job rejects the tame weak administrator of the universe his friends defend. Job knows God is not tame, beyond control. God undoes human structures and power. This outlaw God hides himself behind being a laughing stock. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Witless God-Mocking Comforter (Job 11:1–20). The third comforter attacks Job as a babbling mocker of God. He then presumes to speak for God spewing more logical working out of the Law and offering the same Quid Pro Quo bargain as Satan accused God having with Job. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Relentless Accusatory Eye (Job 10:1–9, 16–22). Job argues with God why do you contend against me? Why are you always examining and accusing me. Job knows God gives steadfast love but cannot find it in the unpreached God of human reasoning and philosophy. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Yeah I Know But (Job 9:1–15, 32–35). Job agrees that God does not pervert justice and then disagrees. How can anyone be righteous before God. God works outside the created order, outside the law. In his unrestrained sovereignty God is a trouble maker. So we need a mediator. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Protecting Almighty Fairness (Job 8:1–10, 20–22). Bildad tells Job to cut his bluster. He asks nonsensical questions. Does God pervert what is right? Yes, by the cross, sinners are redeemed. God rejects the one who is blameless (v.20) to redeem evildoers. His enemies are clothed with righteousness. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Soul Bitterness Complaint (Job 7:1–21). Job laments directly to the LORD knowing God can take it. He asks why God treats him like an enemy. He appeals to even mattering for the LORD as reason for hope. We cannot escape God because his righteousness is everywhere. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Unpalatable Religious Platitudes (Job 6:1–4, 8–15, 21). Under the burden of pain Job has an outburst against God who he credits for his misery. He tires of his friends who only heap on more religious striving as answer to his suffering.  A religion of the LAW is dried up in a time of suffering. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Blessed Divine Correction (Job 5:1–27). Who will we call upon to be our mediator in the darkness? God catches the wise like Eliphaz who are reaching beyond their supposed wisdom (1 Cor 1:25,27). All the benefits of religiosity Eliphaz dangles, Job has already forfeited. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Nearly True Teaching (Job 4:1–21). Eliphaz peddles the common wisdom of the moral order to comfort Job in his despair. Has anyone innocent ever been punished? Would God be unfair? Yes. The unfairness of God leads all the way through the Cross. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Craving Stillborn Birthday (Job 3:1–26). In desperation Job wants to control over his birth, to be able to curse the past. Is God only useful if my self-fulfillment project is achieved? Job falsely claims the blessings of death, the same delusion of suicide: there is no peace, no nothing. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Flesh For Flesh (Job 2:1–13). The adversary challenges that Job will curse God once his core is assailed. Why would one glorify God if this is the way God treats his friends? Ultimately this challenge is not about Job, but whether God is ultimate and due glory. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Prosperity Gospel Law (Job 1:1–22). Job is defined by God as blameless not because he is perfect but because he is genuine. The accuser says he is only faithful because he is blessed. God bets even when he is bankrupt he will still revere the LORD. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJob #Job

Obliterated Lamentation Solution (Judges 21:1-25). Ignoring the Lordship of God, Israel can’t imagine why such civil war catastrophe has befallen them. Coming up with relativistic solutions rather than repentance and returning to God, they perpetrate more wickedness. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJudges #Judges

Hell Raising Retribution (Judges 20:1-28, 46-48). After the vile atrocity, all Israel goes to war against their brothers. The hell unleashed punishes all Israel as they punish the Benjamites without mercy. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJudges #Judges

Concubine Outrageous Anarchy (Judges 19:1-30). When his safety is threatened a so-called man of God dumps his concubine into danger. A woman who is not a wife is just a convenience until convenience ends. Even after the atrocity, the disrespecting man makes it about himself. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJudges #Judges

Fiercely Unhappy Aggressors (Judges 18:1–31). The Danites looking to settle into a land for their own grab an illegitimate priest who tells them God is with them. Just because you are succeeding doesn’t mean God is pleased with your success. Their tragic slaughter was their violent intent not God’s. #dailydevotion #Lutherandevotional #DailyPlunge #DailyLectionary #DailyScripture #BookofJudges #Jud...