Job 25-31
Bildad spends short chapter 25 comparing the dominion and awe deserving of God to the status of man, whom he compares to a maggot and a worm.
Job then begins his final discourse of the book sarcastically toward his friend Bildad. Then at 26:5 he begins again his complaint. He begins in basic agreement with Bildad, speaking of God's awesome power. At the beginning of chapter 27, Job's outlook shifts. He claims that God has denied him justice. Little does he realize that God has simply delayed it, not denied it. Yet still through all the suffering, Job will not give up or give in. He will keep his integrity which his wife told him to give up early in the book. He cites the example of the wicked and ruthless -- they never have enough. Terror grips the wicked at the thought of death.
Chapter 28 speaks of that which is, but cannot be seen. Silver mines and the like lie beneath the surface, just as the punishment of the unrighteous. But in the same way, men search for the elusive wisdom. They search the darkness, but it is not there. It is not in the sea. It cannot be purchased with great wealth. Although wisdom is hidden, it is not hidden in the same places as man's earthly treasures. The only way to wisdom is known by God. And God has revealed it to man. Job confirms it in 28:28: "The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom, and to shun evil is
understanding." Wisdom begins by realizing who God is and who we are. When we finally put it all together and act upon our "fear" of God, then we are shown to have understood.
In chapter 29, Job recounts his former life; how intimate his friendship with God was and how others respected him for that. He speaks of the good that he has done. He remembers thinking that his life will be long and trouble-free because of his lifestyle. He was on top of the world.
Then in chapter 30, Job contrasts the previous chapter with the way things are now. Now he is mocked by scoundrals. Job is mocked by the lowest of people. They even sing about Job's troubles! They work harder to make Job's life miserable. Job's cries for mercy go unanswered, so far as he can tell. He wants to know why God is continuing to strike him and ignore him. Job continues to try to understand how he could be being punished to this degree after all he has done. Chapter 31 is yet another recounting of many of the good deeds Job has done. It is his final argument. This is all he has left to say.
Job then begins his final discourse of the book sarcastically toward his friend Bildad. Then at 26:5 he begins again his complaint. He begins in basic agreement with Bildad, speaking of God's awesome power. At the beginning of chapter 27, Job's outlook shifts. He claims that God has denied him justice. Little does he realize that God has simply delayed it, not denied it. Yet still through all the suffering, Job will not give up or give in. He will keep his integrity which his wife told him to give up early in the book. He cites the example of the wicked and ruthless -- they never have enough. Terror grips the wicked at the thought of death.
Chapter 28 speaks of that which is, but cannot be seen. Silver mines and the like lie beneath the surface, just as the punishment of the unrighteous. But in the same way, men search for the elusive wisdom. They search the darkness, but it is not there. It is not in the sea. It cannot be purchased with great wealth. Although wisdom is hidden, it is not hidden in the same places as man's earthly treasures. The only way to wisdom is known by God. And God has revealed it to man. Job confirms it in 28:28: "The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom, and to shun evil is
understanding." Wisdom begins by realizing who God is and who we are. When we finally put it all together and act upon our "fear" of God, then we are shown to have understood.
In chapter 29, Job recounts his former life; how intimate his friendship with God was and how others respected him for that. He speaks of the good that he has done. He remembers thinking that his life will be long and trouble-free because of his lifestyle. He was on top of the world.
Then in chapter 30, Job contrasts the previous chapter with the way things are now. Now he is mocked by scoundrals. Job is mocked by the lowest of people. They even sing about Job's troubles! They work harder to make Job's life miserable. Job's cries for mercy go unanswered, so far as he can tell. He wants to know why God is continuing to strike him and ignore him. Job continues to try to understand how he could be being punished to this degree after all he has done. Chapter 31 is yet another recounting of many of the good deeds Job has done. It is his final argument. This is all he has left to say.
posted by rev-ed @ 9:34 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home