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 …

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 …