Job 42

3 Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

This is where all of the characters in this chapter went array.  As we were reading thru the chapter, I found myself thinking, "duh, are you guys idiots?"  But, I think I make similar mistakes about God.  They may be in slightly different directions, but I'm still probably speaking of things I don't understand.  Its important to be reminded of the granduer of God.  And to remember how vastly superior he is to all of us combined.


I'm curious about the end of the chapter, when it talks about how beautiful Job's daughters were, and how the inherited a son't share of Jobs fortune.  Why was this put in there.  Is there some significance that I'm missing?  Curious.

Overall, Job lead a complete roller-coaster life.  Way up......way down....and then WAY up again.
And thru it all, God was still God.  No matter our opinion of him, or our attitude toward him, or our own personal situation....God is still the ultimate.

tp
 

Job 41

I was reading thru the chapter....and this popped out to me.

Everything under heaven belongs to me.

In a consumer based world......of "get all you can", "he who dies with the most toys wins", and me trying to put myself into a position of a comfortable retirement.  Its sometimes hard to remember that verse.  It all belongs to him anyway.  The big the small, the handsome and the ugly.  Its all his.  We are just borrowing it for a time. 
I know this isn't exactly what God was talking about, in this context.  He is talking about the Leviathon, I think, because that was the most fierce, wild, scary thing those people probably knew.  Even that belongs to him.  And everything bends to his will.

good reminder.

Job 40

I opened this up this morning......read the beginnning of the chapter, and almost spit my coffee right out of my mouth.  This is funny.  I can almost feel Job's embarassment.  Its an awful feeling when you realize the person you have been ranting in front of, knows WAY more about what your ranting about than you do.  I've been there.  AAAAHHHHH MAN!  I just can't stop laughing about it.

 

^3-5 Job answered:

“I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me.
I should never have opened my mouth!
I’ve talked too much, way too much.
I’m ready to shut up and listen.”

Job 39

The only thing that's pops into my head this morning, is the lyric from the MercyMe song.  "And all of creation, sing with me now.  Lift up your voice, and lay your burden down.  Lift up your voice and let his glory resound."

This fits perfectly with this chapter.  He knows every detail of evey part of his creation.  And its all vastly different.  All the creatures that he describes in this chapter couldn't be farther from each other in characteristics and habits.

Amazing!

Job 38

Whoa!
So many questions here.  Literally every line is a question.
Usually when we read about an interaction with God.  He is very "to the point" and short.....I am that I am.....that sort of thing.  I think he is trying to prove a point here to Job.

I'm paraphrasing what I gather from his questions.
"Don't think you are pure, and my equal.....let me remind you of a few that I've done and are doing.......things that you take for granted or maybe don't even see."

Point taken.

I sometimes feel that awe of creation when I'm out in the boat fishing.....looking over the vastness of the water, and seeing the shore-line off in the distance.  It makes me realize how small I am.  Like a little white and green bobber floating on the surface of his handywork.  I haven't had the chance to do that this year.  We were over there for the 4th, but somehow we couldn't make it work to go out.
Sad.

I miss the Labor Day weekend too.  What's it look like for you guys this year?  Luke still playing football?

tp

Job 37

15 Do you have any idea how God does it all,
Nope.  I don't.  I'm glad he does.  I'm eternally grateful.

Job 36

^27-33 “He pulls water up out of the sea,
distills it, and fills up his rain-cloud cisterns.
Then the skies open up
and pour out soaking showers on everyone.
Does anyone have the slightest idea how this happens?
How he arranges the clouds, how he speaks in thunder?
Just look at that lightning, his sky-filling light show
illumining the dark depths of the sea!
These are the symbols of his sovereignty,
his generosity, his loving care.
He hurls arrows of light,
taking sure and accurate aim.
The High God roars in the thunder,
angry against evil.”

I love it when the Bible describes God's intelligent designs of the universe.  I saw a guy on facebook the other day, it may have been posted by Gina...I'm not sure.  He was talking about how it takes a LOT more faith to believe in the godless creation, than it does to believe in an intelligent, guided creator.  Order doesn't come from chaos.  When you really study the intricacies of creation.....its UNBELIEVABLE.  I laugh at people that tend to worship the science of what God has put together.  If you think about it, you need to create a construct and a basis for creation.  And that's what people tend to focus more on than him.

I heard a comedian one time say that if a nuclear bomb hits all the smart people....we are in trouble.  "I don't even understand how a refridgerator works".  I complelety agree.  I don't know how a lot of things that God created works......but, I'm completely amazed my them.

Job 35

13 People are arrogantly indifferent to God—
    until, of course, they’re in trouble,
    and then God is indifferent to them.


This is one of the reasons I started my daily prayer list, trying to avoid being exactly as Elihu is saying.  But even with this feeble attempt, my prayers tend to be much more detailed and intentional when I need some help or am feeling some pain than they are when I'm telling him thank you for all the blessings in my life.  kind of sobering, but if i'm honest with myself...true.

knut

Job 34

³⁷ To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”

Job is considered to be a just man, and a man of God.  But Elihu is right.  He is still a sinner, and deserves anything that comes his way.  Elihu paints a good picture of how important God is in sustaining human existance.

Its a good reminder.  We said it at the beginning of the book.....God is still God, regardless of your position or situation.

I like Elihu.  He has good insight.

Job 32-33

32:14 For God does speak—now one way, now another—
    though no one perceives it.

Young Elihu seems pretty wise.  He is kind of putting all 4 of them in their place.  He makes the above statement which is good to remember.  I may pray about something and get frustrated because He doesn't seem to be listening or answering, but He will or has already.

Elihu points out God always answers us---though we may not be smart enough to even notice, and He does it in His time not ours.  I do want to strive for the kind of relationship where I know and feel His presence.  I want to be able to frequently observe His answers to my thoughts and concerns--I'm guessing likely there will be some level of understanding that will always be beyond me like Elihu suggests.

knut

  

Job 31

I didn't have any insights to comment on, so I read Tom's post which I thought was good--see below.  Knut

http://tomvanderwell.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/chapteraday-job-31/

Weigh me on a set of honest scales so God has proof of my integrity. Job 31:6 (MSG)

I always loved it when teachers graded on a curve. I knew I would be well ahead of most people in my class without having to put forth much effort!

We love scales, don't we? There's something in my innate human nature that likes to mentally and spiritually measure myself, especially when I can then place myself on the curve ahead of a lot of other people I know.

"Well, I might not be perfect, but at least I don't [name a sin here] like that guy!"

"Yes, I secretly struggle with that, but I'm not publicly disgracing myself by acting like[name a person here]!"

As I thought about Job's request to be weighed, it strikes me that Job's argument all along has been one of measurement. "Weigh the evidence," he's asking. "I'm not like the wicked, and my goodness should account for something."

I, of course, have the luxury of viewing Job's ancient arguments from this side of Jesus' teaching on the subject. Jesus taught that we can keep the entire law, yet fall short in one small, insignificant sin – and we're still as guilty as if we broke every rule of the book. God doesn't grade on a curve. In his scales, not one of us measures up.

That's why we need a savior.

That's why he sent His Son.

Job 30

0-23 20-21 “I shout for help, God, and get nothing, no answer!  I stand to face you in protest, and you give me a blank stare!  You’ve turned into my tormenter—you slap me around, knock me about.

I can't blame him for feeling this way but I was reading Tom V.W. post on this and it made me think about this from God's perspective and how silly he must sound.  We are His children, can you really imagine tormenting your children?  No of course God isn't slapping him around.  Now on the flip side if I had the power to prevent my kids from experiencing pain like this would I step in?  It seems like the answer is yes, God certainly has this power so why doesn't He intervene in all bad situations?

A question I hope to gain more insight in as we journey through Job.

knut

Job 29

2 “Oh, how I long for the good old days,
    when God took such very good care over me.

Again, I don't have any real takeaway today.  Job is feeling like God isn't with him now and looks back in time and longs for it to be the way it use to be.  But God is still there, he can't just be there in the good ole days.  Not to mention I wonder if the good ole days in there day were really as good as he remembers them.  Funny how when I look back I can remember things in some sort of perfect light yet at the time I was living it I'm sure I had some other stress going on because I don't seem to remember living when I wasn't thinking I was feeling some stress.

Actually for me I think right now are the future good old days, life is pretty good and I shouldn't let it pass me by without realizing it.

knut