After Abraham's great victory and the blessing by Melchizedek, the LORD came to Abraham, as if to encourage him or to give him confirmation of the actual blessing from God. The fact that God starts of with "Do not be afraid" suggests there were some reason for Abraham to be afraid, perhaps due to the possible revenge by the defeated kings. In any case, God reassures Abraham and promises him greater things, to which Abraham replied that he had no heir at the moment.
God's reply to Abraham was the specific promise of his own child and descendents too many to count. This leads to the all important action of "Believe" by Abraham, to which God credits that as righteousness. This is one of the first indication of God's system in which he "accounts" our Believe in Him (in what he says and what he promises) and sees us righteous in His eyes. It is this righteousness that allows us to be in relation and communion with him. It is this same righteousness that is credited to us when Jesus takes our sins upon himself and we believe in Him.
Abraham then had a dream in which details Abrahams descendents going into captivity in Egypt and then being delivered out of Egypt. Then God made a clear covenant promise to Abraham exactly which land will be given to his descendents. Those lands, which is the Holy Land in the Middle East of today still belonged to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacon. Although politically not all those lands are under modern Israel, when God made a promise, that promise lasts forever.
One interesting note is from v16 that "the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete". It is for this reason that God let the Hebrews remain in Egypt for 400 years, and until the exact time when the wickedness of the Amorites reached a level that God decided to put a stop to it. So as Israel comes out of Egypt, Israel becomes God's agent to bring judgement by conquering the promised lands inhabited by the Amorites and others.
Genesis 15
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
8 And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”
9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.
13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.
14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age.
16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.
18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—
19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,
20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Melchizedek and Abraham
These are the events leading to the blessing on Abraham by Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God. It started with a confederation of kings from Babylon (Shinar), Larsa (Ellasar), Elam and the Tidal. Amraphel is believed by some to be the famous Babylonian king Khammu-rabi, while Chedorlaomer also had a reputation. This confederation had conquered a number of nations including Sodom and Gomorrah - which were the sin cities destroyed by God later.
Anyway, the conquered cities rebelled and was subsequently defeated by Chedorlaomer and his allies. The victors carried off various bounty from the defeated nations, among them was Lot's family who was living near Sodom. Abraham learnt about this nephew's capture and raised a small band of army to pursue the victorious captors. The size of Abraham's army would indicate God's helping hand on the mission, also Abraham was mainly concern of rescuing his nephew, hence his mission to attack at night rather than face a normal daylight battle.
The interesting part of the story is during the celebration of Abraham's successful mission. The king of Sodom went out to thank Abraham and offered him various riches. Abraham flatly refused and even said "I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich' ". Abraham must have known about the sinful state of the nation-city of Sodom and would not associate with it in any way.
This is in stark contrast to Abraham's ready acceptance of the blessings given by Melchizedek, remarkably known as the priest of the Most High God - clearly Abraham and Melchizedek served the same God. Notice the use of bread and wind by Melchizedek in this blessing - pointing to our Lord's teaching of the communion. This is also one of the first places that mentions the paying of tithe.
Genesis 14
Lot’s Captivity and Rescue
1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations,[a]
2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
3 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim
9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations,[b] Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.
11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.
12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre[c] the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.
Abram and Melchizedek
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him and said:
“ Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—
24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Anyway, the conquered cities rebelled and was subsequently defeated by Chedorlaomer and his allies. The victors carried off various bounty from the defeated nations, among them was Lot's family who was living near Sodom. Abraham learnt about this nephew's capture and raised a small band of army to pursue the victorious captors. The size of Abraham's army would indicate God's helping hand on the mission, also Abraham was mainly concern of rescuing his nephew, hence his mission to attack at night rather than face a normal daylight battle.
The interesting part of the story is during the celebration of Abraham's successful mission. The king of Sodom went out to thank Abraham and offered him various riches. Abraham flatly refused and even said "I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich' ". Abraham must have known about the sinful state of the nation-city of Sodom and would not associate with it in any way.
This is in stark contrast to Abraham's ready acceptance of the blessings given by Melchizedek, remarkably known as the priest of the Most High God - clearly Abraham and Melchizedek served the same God. Notice the use of bread and wind by Melchizedek in this blessing - pointing to our Lord's teaching of the communion. This is also one of the first places that mentions the paying of tithe.
Genesis 14
Lot’s Captivity and Rescue
1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations,[a]
2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
3 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim
9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations,[b] Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.
11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.
12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre[c] the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.
Abram and Melchizedek
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him and said:
“ Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—
24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Abram Inherits Canaan
After the deception in Egypt, Abraham was allowed to leave Egypt not only with his family and life from the King of Egypt but also along with his possessions and more. One would see Abraham as blessed, but to be cautious we refrain from attributing any cause or effect to Abraham's recent deception. Perhaps we can view that Abraham walked with God in most of his life, despite his occassional weaknesses.
Abraham's nephew Lot was still with him when they left Egypt. Both their possessions and lifestock increase to such degree that their staff were arguing. Abraham took the initiative and offered Lot a choice of the land. Lot chose the best part of the land leaving Abraham with the other part. The land Lot chose looked fertile and the was the thriving but evil city of Sodom - something that looked good, but rotten at the core.
However, as Abraham gave up the fertile land for his nephew, God made another promise, this time more detailed, that Abraham's descendents would inherit large amounts of land beyond what Abraham could see and also uncountable number of descendents.
Genesis 13
1 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South.[a]
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.
6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.
14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants[b] forever.
16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre,[c] which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.
Abraham's nephew Lot was still with him when they left Egypt. Both their possessions and lifestock increase to such degree that their staff were arguing. Abraham took the initiative and offered Lot a choice of the land. Lot chose the best part of the land leaving Abraham with the other part. The land Lot chose looked fertile and the was the thriving but evil city of Sodom - something that looked good, but rotten at the core.
However, as Abraham gave up the fertile land for his nephew, God made another promise, this time more detailed, that Abraham's descendents would inherit large amounts of land beyond what Abraham could see and also uncountable number of descendents.
Genesis 13
1 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South.[a]
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.
6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.
14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants[b] forever.
16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre,[c] which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Promises to Abram
Abraham was living in Haran where his father Terah brought them from the land of the Chaldeans. It was here that the LORD told Abraham to go out of Haran. From the text itself, it may be that Abraham was told to go to the land of Canaan before they set out from Haran. In any case, Abraham displayed faith and obedience to God as he moved his whole family out of Canaan. Here the great promises made by God to Abraham, the promise of blessings, of being the source of a great nation and a special protection from God that those who bless Abraham will be blessed and those who curse him, will be cursed. Note that this blessing and cursing promise extends not only to Jews but the other descendents of Abraham from the line of Ishmael and also the line of Esau.
The second part of this chapter also displayed the very human weakness of Abraham. Before judging Abraham for apparent lack of faith or cowardice, we should just imagine ourselves in that position. Egypt seemed to be a great nation at that time, and Abraham knew that he was a foreigner. He knew he would be in the complete mercy of the Egyptians. Knowing this, he still entered Egypt perhaps out of desperation of the famine, and Egypt may a little source of food left. It is easy for us to think that Abraham should trust God to protect him, which is true. But it shows that Abraham is also human, and there are times in his life, just like ours, where he decided to take action to protect himself and his family. Though not mentioned here, it easy to imagine that Abraham would also have seen his mistake and repented before God.
Genesis 12
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh.[a] And the Canaanites were then in the land.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.[b]
10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I[c] may live because of you.”
14 So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.
16 He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.”
20 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.
The second part of this chapter also displayed the very human weakness of Abraham. Before judging Abraham for apparent lack of faith or cowardice, we should just imagine ourselves in that position. Egypt seemed to be a great nation at that time, and Abraham knew that he was a foreigner. He knew he would be in the complete mercy of the Egyptians. Knowing this, he still entered Egypt perhaps out of desperation of the famine, and Egypt may a little source of food left. It is easy for us to think that Abraham should trust God to protect him, which is true. But it shows that Abraham is also human, and there are times in his life, just like ours, where he decided to take action to protect himself and his family. Though not mentioned here, it easy to imagine that Abraham would also have seen his mistake and repented before God.
Genesis 12
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh.[a] And the Canaanites were then in the land.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.[b]
10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I[c] may live because of you.”
14 So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.
16 He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.”
20 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Job’s Repentance and Restoration
In all the book of Job, most of it was about Job or his friends arguing or lamenting. It is not until this final chapter that we see the full restoration of Job and in fact he had greater blessings than before. A few points to note that when God at last spoke to him, Job realised he had spoken without understanding and in the process said wrong things about God. He admitted the sovereignty of God, and repented of his complaints.
In this short chapter, it is easy to gloss over the blessings upon Job after his repentance. Looking at the details, we see Job's restoration to the point that he became an intercessor / priest where God chosen him to present the burnt offerings from his friends to God. This shows God's deep relationship with Job. This spiritual restoration would have pleased and satisfied anyone, but God also chose to bless and restore Job materially.
To be specific, Job was blessed with more than he had before the disasters. His farm business thrived. Being older, he still was able to have another seven sons and three daughters, exactly the same number before the disasters. No doubt it was still painful for him to lost the first 10 children, he had the pleasure to raise another ten. Also note that the new ten children did not seem to indulge in themselves as much as the first ten. Job got to see his children for four generations. Another unusual aspect was his three daughters getting an inheritance in a time when it was usually given to males only.
Job 42
1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
2 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.
8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job.
10 And the LORD restored Job’s losses[a] when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.
12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.
13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch.
15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.
17 So Job died, old and full of days.
In this short chapter, it is easy to gloss over the blessings upon Job after his repentance. Looking at the details, we see Job's restoration to the point that he became an intercessor / priest where God chosen him to present the burnt offerings from his friends to God. This shows God's deep relationship with Job. This spiritual restoration would have pleased and satisfied anyone, but God also chose to bless and restore Job materially.
To be specific, Job was blessed with more than he had before the disasters. His farm business thrived. Being older, he still was able to have another seven sons and three daughters, exactly the same number before the disasters. No doubt it was still painful for him to lost the first 10 children, he had the pleasure to raise another ten. Also note that the new ten children did not seem to indulge in themselves as much as the first ten. Job got to see his children for four generations. Another unusual aspect was his three daughters getting an inheritance in a time when it was usually given to males only.
Job 42
1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
2 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.
8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job.
10 And the LORD restored Job’s losses[a] when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.
12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.
13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch.
15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.
17 So Job died, old and full of days.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
God describes the Leviathan
God continues speaking to Job by describing another great beast - the Leviathan. Some believe this can be a legendary sea monster. In any case, the Leviathan is an awesome creature which no man can control. The point is God made the Leviathan and how much more powerful God is - v11 "Everything under heaven is Mine." From v14-v20, one can easily identify his creature as the legendary fire-breathing dragon of many cultures.
Why is God in his infinite wisdom choose to describe two awesome animals in response to Job's whinging and whining? No doubt God is rebuking Job, but almost in a manner of a Father telling a story to His children. Rather than direct rebuke, God lovingly points out the limited power of man not so much physically, but rather is position relative to the Creator of all things. And perhaps ultimately, as seen in v34, it is to put our pride in check should we think we know enough to tell God what is right or wrong, or question God's justice.
Job 41
1 “Can you draw out Leviathan[a] with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
2 Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?
6 Will your companions make a banquet[b] of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?
8 Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle— Never do it again!
9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?
11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.
12 “I will not conceal[c] his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?
15 His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;
16 One is so near another That no air can come between them;
17 They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.
18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside[d] themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.
29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.
34 He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.”
Why is God in his infinite wisdom choose to describe two awesome animals in response to Job's whinging and whining? No doubt God is rebuking Job, but almost in a manner of a Father telling a story to His children. Rather than direct rebuke, God lovingly points out the limited power of man not so much physically, but rather is position relative to the Creator of all things. And perhaps ultimately, as seen in v34, it is to put our pride in check should we think we know enough to tell God what is right or wrong, or question God's justice.
Job 41
1 “Can you draw out Leviathan[a] with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
2 Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?
6 Will your companions make a banquet[b] of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?
8 Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle— Never do it again!
9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?
11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.
12 “I will not conceal[c] his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?
15 His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;
16 One is so near another That no air can come between them;
17 They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.
18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside[d] themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.
29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.
34 He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.”
Monday, March 22, 2010
God challenges Job
This seems like another difficult passage. God continues His challenge to Job. Job finally answers with humility and realizing His unworthiness to have a debate with God. The it seems like God is challenging Job of whether Job can exercise justice on the wicked and the proud. God also brings the Behemoth to illustrate that only God is control of all the animals including the fearsome behemoth. Some believe the behemoth to be a hippopotamus while others think it may be the wooly mammoth. In any case, God shows his majesty and power to Job by reminding him who is really in control.
Job 40
1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:
2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”
3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
4 “ Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
7 “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
8 “ Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.
15 “Look now at the behemoth,[a] which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.
23 Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
24 Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
Job 40
1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:
2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”
3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
4 “ Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
7 “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
8 “ Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.
15 “Look now at the behemoth,[a] which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.
23 Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
24 Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Knowledge, not Faith
The title of this is almost one of the last points of the argument of this article. I started off thinking after hearing a debate on radio between an atheist evangelist and a prominent Christian. Irrespective of that debate, I was reminded that various Christians refer to their believe and discipleship in the Lord Jesus as their Christian Faith. On top of that I remember phrases like "you got to have faith" or "believe based on faith".
So thinking about my own walk, is it faith? Yes, it took faith for me to START believing. Before I believed, how can I know God? I don't want to get to technical and logical - but as many would agree it took faith to cross over from unbelieve into a state of believing in God and His Son Jesus. The key point that I found is that Faith was required for me to take that "Leap of Faith" and open to God and seek Him.
What I found after that initial step, not sure if most Christians agree, is that God began to reveal Himself to me through various means in life, such as through the Word, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit and other events. As we walk with God, and He continues not only to reveal Himself but lead us into His ways, (Paul calls this sanctification), our focus change to be more in tune with him. The question about whether he exists or not usually does not come into play. To summarize, faith is needed at the first step to jump into the hands of God, but when we give ourselves to Him, it becomes a matter of knowledge in the sense that we would come to know God more and more, faith is not the main issue anymore.
So for Christians to be telling non-Christians that it is all about faith may be misleading. Because if it is just about faith, then anyone can believe in their own mind what they want to believe and God is not real. But for the Christian who walks daily with the Lord Jesus, he or she knows him like they know their fathers. It is reality, it is knowledge, it is true relationship with an unseen Heavenly Father - this is among the many promises of accepting Jesus as our Lord. It is faith that the unbeliever needs to make that leap into the knowledge of God.
As a side remark, it takes more faith in God's part to entrust the saving of souls to us humans, than for us to trust in Him.
So thinking about my own walk, is it faith? Yes, it took faith for me to START believing. Before I believed, how can I know God? I don't want to get to technical and logical - but as many would agree it took faith to cross over from unbelieve into a state of believing in God and His Son Jesus. The key point that I found is that Faith was required for me to take that "Leap of Faith" and open to God and seek Him.
What I found after that initial step, not sure if most Christians agree, is that God began to reveal Himself to me through various means in life, such as through the Word, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit and other events. As we walk with God, and He continues not only to reveal Himself but lead us into His ways, (Paul calls this sanctification), our focus change to be more in tune with him. The question about whether he exists or not usually does not come into play. To summarize, faith is needed at the first step to jump into the hands of God, but when we give ourselves to Him, it becomes a matter of knowledge in the sense that we would come to know God more and more, faith is not the main issue anymore.
So for Christians to be telling non-Christians that it is all about faith may be misleading. Because if it is just about faith, then anyone can believe in their own mind what they want to believe and God is not real. But for the Christian who walks daily with the Lord Jesus, he or she knows him like they know their fathers. It is reality, it is knowledge, it is true relationship with an unseen Heavenly Father - this is among the many promises of accepting Jesus as our Lord. It is faith that the unbeliever needs to make that leap into the knowledge of God.
As a side remark, it takes more faith in God's part to entrust the saving of souls to us humans, than for us to trust in Him.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
God - creator of all animals
The Almighty God speaks to Job, this time about the animals in his earthly kingdom. He describes the natural characteristic of some of the common animals; they are all different in their unique way, yet have the necessary characteristics to survive. God made them in their unique ways as only God the All-Knowing and All-Wise knows how to do this. The majesty of God is not only shown through the natural beauty of heavenly objects (stars, galaxies) nor terrestrial objects (mountains, rivers, oceans) but also through his Creative work as creator of all living creatures. All this to show Job the true character of God - perfect, planned, caring, wise, etc....
Job 39
1 “Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? Or can you mark when the deer gives birth?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bear young?
3 They bow down, They bring forth their young, They deliver their offspring.[a]
4 Their young ones are healthy, They grow strong with grain; They depart and do not return to them.
5 “Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager,
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the barren land his dwelling?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city; He does not heed the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searches after every green thing.
9 “Will the wild ox be willing to serve you?
Will he bed by your manger?
10 Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes? Or will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great? Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you trust him to bring home your grain, And gather it to your threshing floor?
13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground, And warms them in the dust;
15 She forgets that a foot may crush them, Or that a wild beast may break them.
16 She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers; Her labor is in vain, without concern,
17 Because God deprived her of wisdom, And did not endow her with understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high, She scorns the horse and its rider.
19 “Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with thunder?[b]
20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin.
24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, The thunder of captains and shouting.
26 “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,
And spread its wings toward the south?
27 Does the eagle mount up at your command, And make its nest on high?
28 On the rock it dwells and resides, On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is.”
Job 39
1 “Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? Or can you mark when the deer gives birth?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bear young?
3 They bow down, They bring forth their young, They deliver their offspring.[a]
4 Their young ones are healthy, They grow strong with grain; They depart and do not return to them.
5 “Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager,
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the barren land his dwelling?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city; He does not heed the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searches after every green thing.
9 “Will the wild ox be willing to serve you?
Will he bed by your manger?10 Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes? Or will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great? Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you trust him to bring home your grain, And gather it to your threshing floor?
13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground, And warms them in the dust;
15 She forgets that a foot may crush them, Or that a wild beast may break them.
16 She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers; Her labor is in vain, without concern,
17 Because God deprived her of wisdom, And did not endow her with understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high, She scorns the horse and its rider.
19 “Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with thunder?[b]20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin.
24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, The thunder of captains and shouting.
26 “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,
And spread its wings toward the south?27 Does the eagle mount up at your command, And make its nest on high?
28 On the rock it dwells and resides, On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is.”
Friday, March 19, 2010
God Speaks
Finally after all that has been said by Job and his friends, God Himself speaks out as from a whirlwind. Not only does God remind Job that He is the Creator, He also reminds him that God is Master over all nature and is firmly in control. Whenever we imagine God in control of nature, we are often struck in awe by His Majesty. Perhaps God reminds Job about His Power over nature to remind us that no matter how technologically advanced or intellectually enlightened the human race is, we are still nothing compared to the awesomeness of God.
Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “ Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves must stop!’
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.
19 “ Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?
22 “Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth[a] in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the mind?[b] Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?
Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “ Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves must stop!’
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.
19 “ Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?
22 “Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
Or loose the belt of Orion?32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth[a] in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the mind?[b] Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
If a man dare speaks, he would be swallowed up by God
Elihu continues to describe the magnificence of the Almighty God. He is described to control the skies from thunder, lightning to clouds, rain and whirlwind. In v23, Elihu correctly describes God's power, justice and that he does not oppress. God is so awesome in his majesty that Elihu believes that if a man dare speaks, he would be swallowed up by God. Many people today still have this idea of a God so magnificent that we cannot get through to him. However, through our Lord Jesus, we know that we have direct access to the Father because if we have seen Jesus, then we have seen His Father. The relationship now between God and the man who believes is like that of father and son.
Job 37
1 “At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.
8 The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them
On the face of the whole earth.[a]
13 He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.
14 “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 “Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.”
Job 37
1 “At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.
8 The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them
On the face of the whole earth.[a]
13 He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.
14 “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 “Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.”
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
Although Elihu may have misunderstood Job, he was still a man of God, somewhat like the other 3 friends of Job. Here we see Elihu describes the goodness and majesty of God. Sometimes although we make mistakes in our judgement, it shouldn't prevent us from marvelling in awe of God. The passage below is a good read on the nature of God
Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “ Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly.
10 He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.[a]
13 “But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.[b]
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “ Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “ Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
23 Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “ Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
26 “ Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
33 His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
Job 36
1 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “ Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly.
10 He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.[a]
13 “But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.[b]
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “ Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “ Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
23 Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “ Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
26 “ Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He scatters His light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
33 His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
Elihu rants on based on the simple assumption that since Job proclaims his righteousness and theologically, no one is righteous before God, therefore, Job must be self-righteous. Of course, self-righteousness is not a good thing at all. But how often is it that when someone shares their difficulties and explains that it was through no fault of their own, how often do we feel that the person is self-justifying or worse, self-righteous. There can be many lessons in this, but two that come to mind is that:
i) We should not rush to judge others, especially if they are opening up to us. Instead, let us give them the benefit of the doubt.
ii) Jesus may see through the person's real intent but we cannot see that. So the best we can do to emulate our Lord is to show compassion and be a comforter.
Job 35
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 “I will answer you, And your companions with you.
5 Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “ Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 There they cry out, but He does not answer, Because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God will not listen to empty talk, Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although you say you do not see Him, Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not punished in His anger, Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; He multiplies words without knowledge.”
i) We should not rush to judge others, especially if they are opening up to us. Instead, let us give them the benefit of the doubt.
ii) Jesus may see through the person's real intent but we cannot see that. So the best we can do to emulate our Lord is to show compassion and be a comforter.
Job 35
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 “I will answer you, And your companions with you.
5 Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds— They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “ Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 There they cry out, but He does not answer, Because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God will not listen to empty talk, Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although you say you do not see Him, Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not punished in His anger, Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Monday, March 15, 2010
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
Elihu starts by describing Job as being somewhat self-righteous and deluded that a mere mortal can claim that they are right and that God does wicked things. Of course God does no evil since he cannot stand evil and He is totally Good. At the end of this passage, Elihu adds rebellion to Job's sins. Despite these accusations, we see some of Elihu's description of a Just and Good God worth remembering. Of particular interest is in v14 where Elihu makes references to the Spirit and His breath. Note that the Spirit of God was as agent of Creation at the beginning. Also it was His breath that he breathe into the lifeless body of Adam to bring him to life.
Job 34
1 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;
6 Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’
10 “ Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:
17 Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,
27 Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.”
Job 34
1 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;
6 Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’
10 “ Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:
17 Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,
27 Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.”
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Elihu begins to speak
Elihu makes his first main appearance in this part of Scripture. Elihu is younger than the other 3 of Job's friends, that is why he kept quiet until now. Elihu must have been a thinking man as well as a man who know about God somewhat - as he was quite frustrated by the responses of Job's friends and Job himself. So chapter 32 is all about Elihu explaining how he is just busting to speak.
Elihu first repeats to Job that Job was claiming that he is righteous but faced calamities from God. So Elihu tries to teach Job wisdom. Like Job, Elihu assumes it is the hand of God that caused the hardship for Job. So by logical (although incorrect) reasoning, if the punishment is from God, then it must be Job who is unrighteous.
One more interesting about the passages below is in Job 33:23-28, which appears to speak of the future Christ who came to pay the ransom for our sins,
v26 "He restores to man His righteousness", and v28 "He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit".
Job 32
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.[a] 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, ‘Age[b] should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 Great men[c] are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “ Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.
Job 33
Elihu Contradicts Job
1 “But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.
2 Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.
6 Truly I am as your spokesman[a] before God; I also have been formed out of clay.
7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,
16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.
23 “If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’
28 He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit, And his[c] life shall see the light.
29 “ Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu first repeats to Job that Job was claiming that he is righteous but faced calamities from God. So Elihu tries to teach Job wisdom. Like Job, Elihu assumes it is the hand of God that caused the hardship for Job. So by logical (although incorrect) reasoning, if the punishment is from God, then it must be Job who is unrighteous.
One more interesting about the passages below is in Job 33:23-28, which appears to speak of the future Christ who came to pay the ransom for our sins,
v26 "He restores to man His righteousness", and v28 "He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit".
Job 32
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.[a] 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, ‘Age[b] should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 Great men[c] are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “ Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.
Job 33
Elihu Contradicts Job
1 “But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.
2 Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.
6 Truly I am as your spokesman[a] before God; I also have been formed out of clay.
7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,
16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.
23 “If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’
28 He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit, And his[c] life shall see the light.
29 “ Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Job describing justice and iniquity
In this passage, Job describes what he sees as the way justice, nicely summed up in v11.
An from v13-21 Job shows he understands the compassion that God expects from each one of his followers.
Then in v24-27 Job describes the "iniquity deserving judgement" if he had placed other things like wealth above God.
Job continues to describe other examples of wickedness towards fellow man, almost challenging God that if he had committed any of these, then he would expect full judgement from God. So we see Job still waiting for God for an answer. How long can we wait?
Job 31
1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
2 For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase.
13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow[a]);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his heart[b] has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 “If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much;
26 If I have observed the sun[c] when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.
29 “If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler[d]);
33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door—
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten its fruit[e] without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.
An from v13-21 Job shows he understands the compassion that God expects from each one of his followers.
Then in v24-27 Job describes the "iniquity deserving judgement" if he had placed other things like wealth above God.
Job continues to describe other examples of wickedness towards fellow man, almost challenging God that if he had committed any of these, then he would expect full judgement from God. So we see Job still waiting for God for an answer. How long can we wait?
Job 31
1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
2 For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase.
13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow[a]);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his heart[b] has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 “If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much;
26 If I have observed the sun[c] when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.
29 “If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler[d]);
33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door—
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten its fruit[e] without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Job's Despair
Here Job describes is situation to be so bad that even the outcasts of society taunted him. Job continues to indulge in his own self pity. We see that he still calls out to God, even though he feels it may be in vain. That is perhaps the only highlight of this passage, as the rest shows how Job puts himself down, such as "I am a brother of jackals ..... My harp is turned to mourning". Keep in mind that Job is a man of God. So what do we get out of this? Perhaps no one can be safe from falling into such a state of self-despair, but we do have the ability to overcome it with the Holy Spirit. Know that God will not let us face more than we can handle and perhaps we can look at the example of Paul as a contrast to Job, where we see Paul kept on looking towards Jesus even as he is in chains.
Job 30
1 “But now they mock at me, men younger than I, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me? Their vigor has perished.
3 They are gaunt from want and famine, Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, And broom tree roots for their food.
5 They were driven out from among men, They shouted at them as at a thief.
6 They had to live in the clefts of the valleys, In caves of the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed, Under the nettles they nestled.
8 They were sons of fools, Yes, sons of vile men; They were scourged from the land.
9 “And now I am their taunting song; Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me; They do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Because He has loosed my[a] bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off restraint before me.
12 At my right hand the rabble arises; They push away my feet, And they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path, They promote my calamity; They have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers; Under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me; They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 “And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; The days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night, And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured; It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me; With the strength of Your hand You oppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it; You spoil my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.
24 “Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins, If they cry out when He destroys it.
25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 But when I looked for good, evil came to me; And when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; Days of affliction confront me.
28 I go about mourning, but not in the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals, And a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin grows black and falls from me; My bones burn with fever.
31 My harp is turned to mourning, And my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Job 30
1 “But now they mock at me, men younger than I, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me? Their vigor has perished.
3 They are gaunt from want and famine, Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, And broom tree roots for their food.
5 They were driven out from among men, They shouted at them as at a thief.
6 They had to live in the clefts of the valleys, In caves of the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed, Under the nettles they nestled.
8 They were sons of fools, Yes, sons of vile men; They were scourged from the land.
9 “And now I am their taunting song; Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me; They do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Because He has loosed my[a] bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off restraint before me.
12 At my right hand the rabble arises; They push away my feet, And they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path, They promote my calamity; They have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers; Under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me; They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 “And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; The days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night, And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured; It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me; With the strength of Your hand You oppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it; You spoil my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.
24 “Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins, If they cry out when He destroys it.
25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 But when I looked for good, evil came to me; And when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; Days of affliction confront me.
28 I go about mourning, but not in the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals, And a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin grows black and falls from me; My bones burn with fever.
31 My harp is turned to mourning, And my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Hedge of Protection
In this passage Job remembers the good old days. He recounts how the respect he commands in his community, the help and charity work towards the needy, his influence and his power. He begins by first describing his relationship with God and how the Almighty was "with him". In a sense, we can be quick to judge Job to try and point out to him that God has always been with him; that God did not abandon him and that Job made a mistake in his state of despair to think that God had abandoned him. If we think like that, we may sound theologically correct, yet we will be making the same mistake as Job's friends.
Looking at Job 1:10, we see that both Satan and God knows that God has put a hedge of protection around Job and his household. Although God did not really abandon Job, Job correctly saw the effects of God removing that hedge of protection on him and his household. Through no fault of Job, God removed his Protection and Satan was able to wreck havoc with Job's life.
So is the message trying to say that God can just remove his protection from us? No. Firstly, the big comfort is that God does have something like a hedge of protection and it is very effective, it protects our well being, our household, our possessions - hence we should feel safe. Secondly, the hedge of protection will not leave us, especially when we have the Holy Spirit in us. The verse in Matt 23:27 shows us what kind of God Jesus is - it is not conceivable that he will take his protection off us.
Matthew 23:37
[ Jesus Laments over Jerusalem ] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Job 1:
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
Job 29
1 Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Oh, that I were as in months past, As in the days when God watched over me;
3 When His lamp shone upon my head, And when by His light I walked through darkness;
4 Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, When my children were around me;
6 When my steps were bathed with cream,[a] And the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 “When I went out to the gate by the city, When I took my seat in the open square,
8 The young men saw me and hid, And the aged arose and stood;
9 The princes refrained from talking, And put their hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me, And when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest, And multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh within me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Men listened to me and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again, And my speech settled on them as dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain, And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it, And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief; So I dwelt as a king in the army, As one who comforts mourners.
Looking at Job 1:10, we see that both Satan and God knows that God has put a hedge of protection around Job and his household. Although God did not really abandon Job, Job correctly saw the effects of God removing that hedge of protection on him and his household. Through no fault of Job, God removed his Protection and Satan was able to wreck havoc with Job's life.
So is the message trying to say that God can just remove his protection from us? No. Firstly, the big comfort is that God does have something like a hedge of protection and it is very effective, it protects our well being, our household, our possessions - hence we should feel safe. Secondly, the hedge of protection will not leave us, especially when we have the Holy Spirit in us. The verse in Matt 23:27 shows us what kind of God Jesus is - it is not conceivable that he will take his protection off us.
Matthew 23:37
[ Jesus Laments over Jerusalem ] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Job 1:
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
Job 29
1 Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Oh, that I were as in months past, As in the days when God watched over me;
3 When His lamp shone upon my head, And when by His light I walked through darkness;
4 Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, When my children were around me;
6 When my steps were bathed with cream,[a] And the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 “When I went out to the gate by the city, When I took my seat in the open square,
8 The young men saw me and hid, And the aged arose and stood;
9 The princes refrained from talking, And put their hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me, And when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest, And multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh within me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Men listened to me and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again, And my speech settled on them as dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain, And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it, And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief; So I dwelt as a king in the army, As one who comforts mourners.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Fear of the Lord
Below are all the verses in Proverbs that has the phrase "Fear of the Lord". Recently I was looking up this phrase, expecting there to be two; including "the beginning of wisdom" and "the beginning of understanding". To my surprise, there is a long list below, though some are duplicated. The meaning of "Fear of the Lord" is in Bold.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:29
Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
Proverbs 2:5
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
Proverbs 9:10
“ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 10:27
The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 15:16
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
Proverbs 16:6
In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
Proverbs 22:4
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:29
Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
Proverbs 2:5
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
Proverbs 9:10
“ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 10:27
The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 15:16
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
Proverbs 16:6
In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
Proverbs 22:4
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Job Defines Wisdom
This passage defines the ultimate source of wisdom is God Himself. Job starts by giving a description of mining for precious metals and precious stones. From v1-11 he describes how the precious materials are found deep underground, hidden away from man and even animals with the best eyesight. He then describes man's ingenuity in mining for these precious materials, from mining deep in mountain rocks, to damming up streams.
Then from v12-22, Job begins to describe wisdom as more valuable than all these precious materials like gold, silver, onyx, sapphire, quartz, rubies, topaz, etc... Not only did Job describe wisdom as invaluable, he also described it as something more difficult to find or obtain than the precious stones and metals he mentioned earlier. And in v11 he says "nor is it found in the land of the living".
Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Finally from v23, Job reveals that wisdom can only be found in God and by God - "God understands its way, And he knows its place". Job describes the all-knowing God as wisdom itself. Job ends this passage with the well known definition of wisdom in v28 which is also found in:
Proverbs 9:10
“ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
Job 28
1 “Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the earth, And copper is smelted from ore.
3 Man puts an end to darkness, And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from people; In places forgotten by feet
They hang far away from men; They swing to and fro.
5 As for the earth, from it comes bread, But underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones are the source of sapphires, And it contains gold dust.
7 That path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.
8 The proud lions[a] have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
9 He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams from trickling; What is hidden he brings forth to light.
12 “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.
22 Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’
23 God understands its way, And He knows its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,
25 To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.
26 When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw wisdom[b] and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28 And to man He said, ‘ Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’”
Then from v12-22, Job begins to describe wisdom as more valuable than all these precious materials like gold, silver, onyx, sapphire, quartz, rubies, topaz, etc... Not only did Job describe wisdom as invaluable, he also described it as something more difficult to find or obtain than the precious stones and metals he mentioned earlier. And in v11 he says "nor is it found in the land of the living".
Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Finally from v23, Job reveals that wisdom can only be found in God and by God - "God understands its way, And he knows its place". Job describes the all-knowing God as wisdom itself. Job ends this passage with the well known definition of wisdom in v28 which is also found in:
Proverbs 9:10
“ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
Job 28
1 “Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the earth, And copper is smelted from ore.
3 Man puts an end to darkness, And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from people; In places forgotten by feet
They hang far away from men; They swing to and fro.
5 As for the earth, from it comes bread, But underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones are the source of sapphires, And it contains gold dust.
7 That path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.
8 The proud lions[a] have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
9 He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams from trickling; What is hidden he brings forth to light.
12 “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.
22 Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’
23 God understands its way, And He knows its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,
25 To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.
26 When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw wisdom[b] and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28 And to man He said, ‘ Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’”
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