Job's Thoughts Continue
Job continues his speech by describing what the wicked might look like. They rebel against the light.. They do not know the way of light and they do not stay on its path. The move bountary stones, steal flock, take the orphan's donkey and the widow's ox. They push the needy from the path and force the poor into hiding. These poor are left in the desert without food and clothes to protect them from the mountain rain. They work by crushing olives or treading grapes to make wine and yet, they themselves are thirsty. They are the murderers, theives, adulterers, and the like. For them, midnight is their morning. They are friends with the terrors of darkness. Those who have sin get snatched by the grave; in the same way the heat and drought melt snow. God may let these people enjoy the feeling of security for a little while but God keeps his eyes on their ways. They might be exalted here on earth but when they are gone; they are brought low. They are gathered and then they are cut off the way heads of grain are cut off. If this isn't true, who can prove me false and bring my words to nothing?
Bilbad Replies
Yes, dominion and awe describes God to us. He is responsible for doing a lot. He establishes order in heaven. We can't number his forces. His light rises on all people. So... how can a mortal be righteous before God? So, he is saying that since God is so powerful, and we are not, how can our right doings be declared righteous. If the moon and stars are not pure; how in the world can a mortal, who is like a maggot, be abble to stand. Man! He is a mere worm.
Job Replies
Then Job makes these statements that have the attitude of," how dare you of all people!" What kind of advice have you offered to one without wisdom and what great insight you display! Who helped you say all these words and whose spirit spoke from your mouth? Job sounds like he is mocking them for the things they have said to him so far.
In very strong words, Job explains to his listeners about the greatness of God. For example, God wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under the weight. His power churns the sea and by his breath the skies became fair.
Then there are two odd statements that I don't understand. One statement says that by God's wisdom, he cut Rahab into pieces. I am clueless as to what this is about. The only Rahab I can thik of comes later on in the text. The second statement says that God's hand pierced the gliding serpant. I am clueless on this one too. When I hear, serpant, it makes me think of Satan but I can't think of any spiritual reference to this. Perhaps one day, I'll get to read more on this and make sense of it.
Job continues by saying that God has denied him justice. God made his life bitter but as long as he has breath, he will not say anything wicked. His tongue will not utter lies. He tells his friends that he will never admit that they are right. He is committed to this till he dies. He will never deny his integrity. He plans to hold on to his integrity and his innocence.
Job wishes that his enemy will be like the wicked and the unjust. They basically have no place with God. They don't delight in the Almighty and they won't call on him. Job says, now let me teach you about the ways of God. Here is the fate of the wicked: they will die by the sword; his kids won't have enough to eat; their widows will not weep for them; the house he builds is like a moth's cocoon; like a hut made by a watchman... I guess that means flimsy and a tempoorary home. Terror will take over him like a flood. The east wind will carry him away and he will be gone.
Wisdom
Job goes on to describe what it is like to mine ore such as iron, copper and silver from the earth. This search for ore is similar to the search for wisdom. They search the farthest recesses in some of the most blackest places. In these places untouched by humans, there are nuggets of gold. The birds and beasts do not know where this place resides. Although we can find ore and many fine metals, where can we find wisdom? Where does it dwell. Mortals cannot comprehend its worth. We can't find it among the living. The sea and the deep say it is not in me. You cannot buy it with precious metals. So where can we find it?
Wisdom is hidden from every living thing. Only God understands the way to wisdom. He can see the ends of the earth and everything under heaven. He established the force of wind, measured out the waters, he decreed the rain and made a path for the thundertorm. Then God took wisdom and appraised it, confirmed it and tested. The he said to all of the human race... fear The Lord... that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.
My thoughts
These conversations seem to go back and forth describing the good and the wicked; how great God is toward the righteous and how destructive he is toward the wicked. This exchange for today's readings cover the same thing and each day that I read, Job reveals a little more of his circumstance.
I, originally thought that the men that sat with Job were his friends but the more I read, the more they sound less like his friends. They sound more like the sages of the day who came to set Job straight. Afterall, he experienced a plethora of tragedies and therefore must have a lot of wickedness in his heart. So,I'm guessing that they are trying to save Job from himself. But, all of their efforts fall on deaf ears. Job declares in this reading that he is innocent and he is not backing down on his innocence.
As I read through Job, I wonder why God included this book in the Bible. We do learn about extreme suffering and how one man chooses to stick to God; he will not curse him for his tragedies. But beyond this, I find beautiful poetry; very nice metaphors and they are picturesque. We also learn about relationships and how easily our minds deceive us into believing whatever is in our minds at the time. These advisors to Job were convinced that he had wronged God and of course, they were all wrong.
That''s it for today.
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