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. …
Author Archives: Fred
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 …
July 12 / Job 20-21
Job 20-21 Dear RTB’ers, Zophar, the third friend now offers his second speech. Nothing new here, just the standard claim that the wicked will always get their due: The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. (v. 20:27) Unstated, but suggested is that Job is hiding his sin and …
July 11 / Job 18-19
Job 18-19 Dear RTB’ers, Today we have the second of Job’s friends, Bildad giving his second speech. This second speech is the shortest that we have seen from Job’s friends. And he has little to say. After initially chastising Job, he spends the rest of his time responding to Job’s desire to die with his …
July 10 / Job 15-17
Job 15-17 Dear RTB’ers, I hope you’ve been reading through John’s “See also…” comments. They are very good – much better than mine! Today, three chapters in Job, one of our longer daily readings as we begin a second round of Job’s friends’ speeches. First up, Eliphaz again. Although his first speech was probably the …
July 9 / Job 13-14
Job 13-14 Dear RTB’ers, Job continues his response to Zophar from yesterday. Job is tired of hearing his friends smear him; he suggests that they will have a difficult time when they themselves appear before God. Even though Job was blaming God yesterday for all his troubles, he maintains his faith. I really appreciate this …