For Tuesday, April 22, please read through Chapters 1-5, 19 and 37-42 of the Book of Job. In addition to addressing the problem of evil, what other wisdom does Job offer? Cite a verse or two you think would be particularly good to include in an anthology of ancient wisdom, and explain why you think this verse or these verses are particularly worth including.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Job (assignment for April 22)
For Tuesday, April 22, please read through Chapters 1-5, 19 and 37-42 of the Book of Job. In addition to addressing the problem of evil, what other wisdom does Job offer? Cite a verse or two you think would be particularly good to include in an anthology of ancient wisdom, and explain why you think this verse or these verses are particularly worth including.
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Job 9:12, "Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?" This is a great piece of wisdom for people to know. That God has all the power. He does what He wants and no one can stop Him. God has given us everything we have and He can take any of it away of he so chooses. This is a life that comes and goes with each passing moment. God is in control and we just have to let Him be in control.
ReplyDeleteJob 42:5, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee."
ReplyDeleteSeeing is believing. This reminded me of the "looking but not seeing" phrase that is sometimes used. I think this can also mean seeing something in a new light. A good addition to an anthology of ancient wisdom because I think people should remember that situations may change and there is always a chance that you might look at something differently down the road.
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Job 38:36
ReplyDeleteI think this verse is particularly useful when looking at Job. When God is asking this question he's really saying that we as human beings cannot possibly understand everything he has in mind. Since Job had to face so much and there seemed to be little or no real reason for that suffering, it's important to understand that we don't know better than God, and we may not understand what his purpose is until much later.
Job 1:10 Job answered, "You are talking nonsense! When God sends us something good, we welcome it. How can we complain when he sends us trouble?" Even is all this suffering Job said nothing against God.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good thing to remember in times of trouble and difficulty because we are always happy when someone gives us something and are less than thrilled when something doesn't go our way. We need to realize that we have to work on things to make the good times even better than what they are. We do not want to become spoiled and expect everything to be handed to us. So we need to be more tempered when bad things happen to us.
Job 42:1-6 All of this is wise to remember because it is human nature to talk without thinking or realizing just exactly what is going on. It usually ends up that we are mistaken in what we have said or done. It is wise to know when we are wrong and to be able to say so and repent. These are the signs of a good, humble and wise person. This is the way to acquire more insight into the world.
Job Chapter 5:17-24: "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the almighty." This verse up through verse 24 tells us that we should listen when God points us in the right direction. When we do, he will have protection and security and will be able to laugh at the days to come. With this security, God will command the "stones of the field and the wild animals" to be at peace with you."
ReplyDeleteJob 4: 8-9: "As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish." These verses explain that evil never does anyone any good. Any evil thing a person does, will reign down thousands of more trouble on their lives. God also states that he will destroy anyone who is evil. Good will always triumph over evil.
Job 7:1 "Is there not an appointed time to ma upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?" It's important to remember that we do not have total control. Remember that our time is limited and that the Lord has a plan for our lives, including our death is important.
ReplyDeleteJob 19:25 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" This is one of my favorite verses because it's a constant reminder that the Lord is always there for us. Even when we don't think he's there, he truly is.
Job36;13 Godless people are too angry to ask for Gods help when he punishes them. I think this is a good verse people with out Gods grace are angry. They are filled with shame they never will ask for Gods help. Maybe they are to proud filled with their own self pride. This sounds like the people of Israel keep falling from Gods grace, It is too late for them they are invaded by other tribe then they think God has abandon them. If they would have stay their course it would never had happened.
ReplyDeleteJob40:15 I created you and the hippopotamus it only eats grass like an ox . It humbles a person I guess people don't realize all the time God created everything. Describing the way everything is created on the hippo a certain way shows the important and task of the hippo. Gaining wisdom or knowledge of the creator and the creatures he has placed on the earth. Showing his power by comparing his self against the hippo telling it a strong creature but I am stronger. Showing the strength of God being stronger then the hippo may give you a closer idea how powerful God is.
Job 28:18
ReplyDeleteNo mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
This verse is one that I particularly enjoy. It is something that I would expect Solomon would say and indeed the entire first part of this chapter is worth quoting but that would take up too much space. This would be a great addition to any anthology of wisdom, due to the truth of how valuable it can be. It does not mean that Wisdom is more valuable due to how one could use it to acquire more wealth but more how valuable it is in helping one make the right choices. In Job's case this is invaluable based on the mostly deplorable advice given to him by his so called 'friends'
Overall, I think Job offers the wisdom of maintaining one's integrity as well as the wisdom of having confidence. Chapter 19, Verses 25-29 might make for good additions to an anthology of wisdom, but to be honest I had a hard time finding a verse that really summed up the wisdom of Job. The story is great, but the verses are all expository!
ReplyDelete"And He said to man, "The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
ReplyDeleteVery straightforward here. It is morally impossible to fear Go and yet continually go our own way and defy Him. The person that acknowledges God's supreme authority and power and recognizes his opposition to evil will make every effort to reject sin and stay away from whatever displeases God.
I like the power that is given behind Job 42:2, "'I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.'" Even though Job went through so much, he realized that he had God. There was a plan that God had for Job and once he realized that, he knew that he could have faith in God. In this passage, Job is directly telling God that even though he has difficulty understanding all of the reasons behind it, he will always trust in God and follow him.
ReplyDeleteJob gives Christians a glimpse into the fact that righteousness does not attribute to worldly wealth, or that just because we are righteous in the lords eyes that we will not experience trials and tribulations. Job gives us a glimpse into the fact that there is a spiritual battle going on all around us, perhaps even more than we like to believe at times. I think another huge aspect of this story is that the unjust judgement which Job was experiencing was allowed by God, but not carried out by him in actuality. God questions Job in 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" I think this is a verse which could be added to a book of wisdom simply because it is a question we should ask ourselves to put our lives in perspective. God is so much bigger than our situation, even the horrible situation Job goes through.
ReplyDeleteJob 5:15-16. "But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth, from the hand of the mighty. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth." In my mind this shows that faith in God will always overcome bad times. It will help the poor and it will make just the unjust.
ReplyDeleteJob 9:2&4 But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? These seem like pretty profound statements. Wise enough to be included in an ancient wisdom text. Job struggles with his painful afflictions and can figure out why God would let his suffer like this. No matter the pain, he won’t curse God, but continues to question himself, humans, and mankind. Is Job resisting God in some way? He list several ways that resisting would painfully unpleasant.
ReplyDeleteJob 1:20-21 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Named I came from my mother's womb, and named I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
ReplyDeleteI think these words are a reminder that God is here in the good and the bad. Just because a person may be going through a rocky patch in life doesn't mean one should turn away from God. I think these words are very important because in our society many people believe that God can not exist because of the fact that bad things happen.