Job 42:7-17; Epilogue Dear RTB’ers, In addition to our eleven verses today, our STS authors have given us two days to rethink the book of Job. We had a really good discussion at our RTB gathering this past Sunday, covering many of the main points that readers typically point out about the book. So, what …
Monthly Archives: July 2025
July 21 / Job 40:6-42:6
Job 40:6-42:6 Dear RTB’ers, God continues his discourse from yesterday. All but seven of today’s 59 verses have God speaking – and in most of those verses God is speaking of two creatures, Behemoth (hippopotamus, elephant?) and Leviathan (crocodile?), challenging Job to control these creatures the way that God Himself does it. For example, God …
July 20 / Job 38:1-40:5
Job 38:1-40:5 Dear RTB’ers, Finally, the three friends are silent, Elihu is silent, Job is silent and God speaks. He quickly sets the tone: I will question you, and you make it known to Me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (vv. 38:3b-4) Then …
July 19 / Job 36-37
Job 36-37 Dear RTB’ers, Elihu continues, again. Elihu sums up today’s reading with his first verse: Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf. (v. 36:1) Then he says it, mostly today about God’s power and His justice: Behold, God is mighty and …
July 18 / Job 34-35
Job 34-35 Dear RTB’ers, Elihu continues. He argues that God is just, that He would not favor one person over another, but that He would reward or punish according to man’s actions: For according to the work of a man He will repay him, and according to his ways He will make it befall him. …
July 17 / Job 32-33
Job 32-33 Dear RTB’ers, I can remember when I first read the book of Job that Elihu seemed like a breath of life to me. I was tired of Job’s first three friends and I was sympathetic toward Job. Now a younger man comes on the stage (after standing by listening respectfully to the three …
July 16 / Job 30-31
Job 30-31 Dear RTB’ers, Job concludes his monologue today with two chapters, the first detailing his misery and the second again claiming his innocence. Yes, he is troubled by his current state, a dramatic contrast with how he felt about himself in prior days (as we read yesterday). He remembers people that he had once …
July 15 / Job 28-29
Dear RTB’ers, Two very different chapters today, Job speaking in both. The first chapter is about wisdom, the second Job recounting days gone by. As for wisdom, Job contrasts mining for minerals in the first eleven verses with searching for wisdom in the next eleven verses. And yes, mankind can find minerals, but wisdom rests …
July 14 / Job 25-27
Job 25-27 Dear RTB’ers, Not a lot to say today that hasn’t already been said. We conclude Job’s three friends’ speeches with the shortest of all – Bildad’s third speech, only six verses. (Zophar doesn’t even offer a third speech.) Bildad sees God’s power and man’s frailty: Behold, even the moon is not bright, and …
July 13 / Job 22-24
Job 22-24 Dear RTB’ers, Eliphaz’ third speech, reprimanding Job without evidence. Was Job really so wicked? Has he exacted pledges … stripped the naked of their clothing … given no water to the weary … withheld bread from the hungry … with power possessed the land … sent widows away empty and crushed the arms …