Job – Page 7 – Be Still…

Job 15:1-16 – Round Two Begins

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Eliphaz gets a second turn and begins the next cycle of dialogue. He largely revisits his earlier comments but in a more serious tone. Eliphaz can’t begin to fathom that Job was truthful about being innocent. You don’t call someone a windbag if you don’t think they’re saying too much of the wrong thing.

Job’s friend seems a bit cynical when he is asking Job to let everyone know what sin has been committed. I’m sure Job would oblige if only he knew himself. Friends should challenge each other, but I think Eliphaz takes that a little too far in his attack on Job. Continue reading “Job 15:1-16 – Round Two Begins”

Job 14:7-22 – What’s Next?

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Job seems to be questioning life, at least the end of life and what happens next. He uses the familiar example of a tree, showing his understanding of that side of nature. But what about death? A fallen leaf is replaced the next Spring, but for humans, what happens after we die?

Job imagines we must evaporate, never to rise again. That’s true in the sense of our physical bodies. They will be laid to rest and will rot in the grave. I’ve never personally exhumed a body but seen plenty of reenactments to know it’s not a pretty sight. When we have the hope of heaven that Jesus ushers in for us, death loses a lot of its mystery. Continue reading “Job 14:7-22 – What’s Next?”

Job 13:20-14:6 – Have I Messed Up?

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Job mustered up a lot of courage in our last reading, and now he boldly takes his stand before God. Job covers a lot of ground. Is there anything we can learn from how he approached God?

Job starts by asking for two things. “Remove your heavy hand from me, and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence.” It’s helpful to remember that Job has never wavered in his awe of the LORD. Job wants to understand what has happened to him and why. Continue reading “Job 13:20-14:6 – Have I Messed Up?”

Job 13:1-19 – Job Decides Something Big

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This is monumental news. Job is about to take a bold step. He can’t contain his curiosity and burning need to understand why things happen to him. Inquiring minds want to know if there are times we fall short that we aren’t aware of. There are plenty of other little life failures that keep us on our knees.

Job finishes out his rant back to Zophar with this. What do you think Zophar did when he heard Job say, “I know as much as you do. You are no better than I am.” If that was indeed the case, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, than Zophar may have been fearing his own potential for receiving a curse. Could that fear have been playing into Zophar in any way with his remarks to Job? Continue reading “Job 13:1-19 – Job Decides Something Big”

Job 12:1-25 – God is in Control

Read Job 12:1-25

Their words may scoff and bite, but I haven’t heard any laughter myself. But Job calls it out when he says, “yet my friends laugh at me.” If there was some laughter, it would not have been the funny, “that’s a good joke” kind of laughter. It would have been mocking, smirking, disgusted kind of laughter.

Job does a great job of recovering from the blows of his friends. He didn’t have a far fall after he was already so low because of his great loss. Still, Job is thoughtful in his responses even if we can see his agony shining through. Continue reading “Job 12:1-25 – God is in Control”