Psalms 42-43

Dear RTB’ers,

Back to the Psalms for a bit. It was around Thanksgiving last year when we last read the Psalms, when we closed Book 1 with Psalm 41. Today we begin Book 2 with two psalms that apparently (according to my Study Bible) are actually one psalm, somehow split into two along the way. There is repetition between the two psalms. We see verses 5 and 11 in Psalm 42 repeated in verse 5 in Psalm 43. We also see the phrase, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” twice in Psalm 42, in verses 3 and 10.

It seems to me like the author has been captured by an enemy and is far from home, far from the Promised Land. In Psalm 42 he speaks of “the oppression of the enemy” (v. 9) and “my adversaries” (v. 10). Then Psalm 43 mentions “an ungodly people” (v. 1) and, again, “the oppression of the enemy” (v. 2). These phrases seem like more than just the taunts from a group of people in his hometown. He also misses the temple worship, where he was one of the leaders: These things I remember … how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. (v. 42:4) Finally he mentions one location, Hermon (presumably, Mt. Hermon), which is in a mountain range far north from Israel, even further north than Caesarea Philippi.

Beyond geography we have the psalmist’s words, clearly a lament over his current situation. Like Job, he feels almost abandoned by God: I say to God, my rock: “Why have You forgotten me?” (v. 42:9) Yet he has hope for deliverance, as cited in those three identical verses mentioned above: Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.

Finally a personal note – one verse stuck out for me: Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy… (v. 43:4a). When I was in Boy Scouts years ago, one of the merit badges that a Catholic boy could earn was the Ad Altare Dei badge, referring back to this exact verse, I will go to the altar of God. Sweet!

Blessings!

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See also:

• April 14 (2022) / Psalm 42
• April 15 (2022) / Psalm 43

Job 1-42

Today’s STS reading list calls for a review of the book of Job. I suggest, as I have all along, that there’s no better place to start than John’s posts from 2022 (one chapter at a time) and 2023 (multiple chapters daily). His posts are deep, insightful, and challenging to our faith and our behavior. Most of his 2023 posts simply offer a “See also” back to his 2022 posts, so if you want to be serious about a Job “Review”, begin with his August 26 (2023) post, following all the links back to 2022, then continue with the “Next Post” link and so on through the book. Even if you don’t actually read the daily chapter readings, you will get a lot out of the book of Job just reading his posts and the associated comments.

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See also:

• August 26 (2023) / Job 1-2
• August 27 (2023) / Job 3-5
• …
• September 8 (2023) / Job 40-42

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 to say further? I think I’ll cover that tomorrow.

For today we have God commending Job (spoken of Me what is right) and railing out against Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (a “not” added to the verse just cited), with no mention of Elihu. Much of what the three friends had said about Job was downright wrong. Presumably that’s what displeased God about them; then again, it may have simply been their attitude toward Job. God looks at the heart, right? But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) And their hearts, apparently, were not “pure”!

God is silent regarding Elihu. Does that signify approval? I tend to think so. Then I ask myself, if I sense that God has been silent in my life, does that signify His approval? Or, has He really been silent? Maybe I’m not a good listener? I know that I’m hard-of-hearing, but all of us need to learn to recognize those “still small voices” through which He speaks. (I Kings 19:12, KJV) Listen carefully; maybe He is asking you to comment today…??

Blessings!

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See also:

• March 14 (2022) / Job 42
• September 8 (2023) / Job 40-42

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 asks Job, Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? (vv. 41:1-3) Obviously, Job is at a loss for words and acknowledges his human frailty: I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (vv. 42:5-6)

I was intrigued by God’s challenge to Job to save himself: Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. … Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. (vv. 40:12, 14) By implication, God has done these things Himself – and Job cannot! That’s also a reminder for us: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Yes, Jesus has done it all; we simply trust in His work. However, I also like to add Eph. 2:10 to these two verses: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. We do have work to do!

One item for clarity – quotation marks are important in today’s final paragraph. In your ESV you will see a distinction between single quotation marks (‘) and double quotation marks (“). The single quotation marks in verses 3a and 4 are Job quoting God. The rest of 42:2-6 is Job speaking for himself. Just that…

Blessings!

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See also:

• March 12 (2022) / Job 40
• March 13 (2022) / Job 41
• March 14 (2022) / Job 42

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 we have a series of questions that God directs to Job regarding creation and the Earth’s natural forces, even the sky and its constellations and the (mostly) wild animals that populate the land. Job, of course, has no answer to these questions. God is simply establishing His power and His authority.

In reading these words it’s strange to comprehend that what we really have is one ancient person writing poetry and putting God’s words down on paper (papyrus?). We have Timothy’s guidance that All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17) At some point the book of Job was incorporated into the Hebrew Scriptures and thereunto into our Bible today, so we readily accept it as God’s word to us. But I do like to ponder this ancient writer penning God’s words as He reveals them to him. Awesome!

Blessings!

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See also:

• March 10 (2022) / Job 38
• March 11 (2022) / Job 39
• September 7 (2023) / Job 38-39

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 does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding. He … gives the afflicted their right. He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous… (vv. 36:5-7a) Wrongdoing and repentance will lead to prosperity (vv. 36:9-11), but sinners who have shut Him out will suffer. (vv. 36:13-14) He then warns Job against being judgmental and wrathful and calls him to task for his attitude: Take care do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction. (v. 36:21)

From 36:22 and through the next chapter Elihu speaks mostly of God’s power, especially as reflected in atmospheric conditions – the clouds, the wind, the rain, thunder and lightning, all according to His will: Whether for correction or for His land or for love, He causes it to happen. (v. 37:13) Elihu closes this final speech with words directed specifically to Job: Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. … He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. (vv. 37:14, 24b) And maybe words directed specifically to us…??!!

Blessings!

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See also:

• March 8 (2022) / Job 36
• March 9 (2022) / Job 37

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. Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. (vv. 34:12-13) Furthermore, God sees all and knows all, so if God is silent, He is still God: For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps … When He is quiet, who can condemn? (vv. 34:21, 29a) Elihu then finds fault with Job’s earlier comments and challenges him accordingly: Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin; he … multiplies his words against God. (vv. 34:36-37) He continues. God is so far above man that nothing that we do can affect Him: Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give to Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? (vv. 35:5-7) Today’s reading closes with Elihu’s very simple charge against Job, that he …opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge. (v. 35:16)

Blessings!

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See also:

• March 6 (2022) / Job 34
• March 7 (2022) / Job 35

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 older men) and claims that he has something to say, even that the Spirit of God is within him. (v. 33:4) I was excited to listen to him!

Elihu’s pattern is to speak directly to Job, recounting his words (sometimes as a direct quote, other times as a paraphrase) and then offering his own replies, typically countering what Job has said. Here’s a first example, first Elihu quoting Job: You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me. Behold, He finds occasions against me …’ Then offering his reply: Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. Why do you contend against Him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’? (vv. 33: 9-10a, 12-13) Elihu then follows with ways in which God speaks – through dreams and with the humbling brought about with our suffering. In both of these (and more?) God knows what He is doing: Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. (vv. 33:29-30)

My Study Bible pointed out that Elihu even addressed Job by name (vv. 33:1, 31), something that the three friends had never done! More from Elihu, four more chapters!

Blessings!

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See also:

• March 4 (2022) / Job 32
• March 5 (2022) / Job 33

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 scorned in the first eight verses of chapter 30 and now they turn that scorn back to him in the next seven verses. He then reflects on his own situation again and directs his anger toward God: I cry to You for help and You do not answer me; I stand, and You only look at me. You have turned cruel to me; with the might of Your hand You persecute me. (vv. 30:20-21)

Today’s second chapter is beautifully written – in that chapter’s first 34 verses Job lists possible sins that he may have committed and the just punishment for those sins. In so doing, Job consistently proclaims his innocence. For example, If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it, …if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering … then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. (vv. 31:16, 17, 19, 22) Job then “signs” the oaths that he has spoken and asks to be judged accordingly. He closes with a curse on his land if he is guilty of these sins.

Fittingly, The words of Job are ended. (v. 40b)

Blessings!

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See also:

• March 2 (2022) / Job 30
• March 3 (2022) / Job 31
• September 4 (2023) / Job 29-31

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 with God. Man can seek wisdom only by seeking God: And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ (v. 28:28)

In today’s second chapter Job is remembering his past, how he had been blessed by the Lord and honored by mankind. I particularly like his claims for the good that he did for the needy. When people saw him, they approved: …because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. (vv. 29:12-13, ff.) He continues listing his good deeds for another four verses. I really appreciated Job countering a false charge made by Eliphaz, You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed. (v. 22:9) Job specifically mentions widows and orphans in the verses quoted above.

Job will continue his monologue another two chapters. But they will certainly have a different tone about them!

Blessings!

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See also:

• February 28 (2022) / Job 28
• March 1 (2022) / Job 29