July 23 / Job 1-42; Review

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 …

July 22 / Job 42:7-17; Epilogue

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 …

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 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 …