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Bible Discussion / The book of Job
« on: September 30, 2020, 11:17:41 PM »
Hi everyone,
Today I finished reading through Job for the first time. I enjoyed it and I was in awe about some of the things God has allowed me to understand, after understanding more lately about justifying oneself and repentance. I believe I have justified myself the way Job has, and I have been angry with God about my circumstances.
With the concept of repentance in mind, it was interesting to read these verses:
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not. Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. (Job 30:20-21)
Job was not crying out to God in repentance, but rather, was crying out in complaint and anger towards God. He was justifying himself based on his own perceived righteousness so there wasn't humility in his crying out to Him.
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.(Job:32:1)
Elihu's response/reaction was also very interesting to me, especially because he states that he was younger than the other men.
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
There's a few things I find interesting about this passage.
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.(Job 33:8-13)
There are other things I got from the book as a whole, but Elihu's words did stand out to me when I read them.
So I do have a couple of questions. Sometimes I was a little confused by Job's three friend's responses. It seemed like some of what they were saying was right, but it is clear that they were unjustified in some of what they said. Was it simply that because they were making judgements based on assumptions about Job? Did they ever say anything that was actually doctrinally false, possibly? I know I should go back and read these portions more slowly, because sometimes it was slightly hard for me to follow.
I am going to continue studying it, so if anyone also has any important concepts, favorite verses/passages, important details from the book of Job, please feel free to share those. Also if I was wrong in anything I said, please correct me. I really want to have a better understanding and I know I truly have a lot of room to grow. And if there is anything wrong with the type of post I am making here, let me know. I just wanted to share a couple thoughts from the passage, ask a couple questions, and open up an opportunity for people to share any additional topics from the book in general.
Today I finished reading through Job for the first time. I enjoyed it and I was in awe about some of the things God has allowed me to understand, after understanding more lately about justifying oneself and repentance. I believe I have justified myself the way Job has, and I have been angry with God about my circumstances.
With the concept of repentance in mind, it was interesting to read these verses:
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not. Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. (Job 30:20-21)
Job was not crying out to God in repentance, but rather, was crying out in complaint and anger towards God. He was justifying himself based on his own perceived righteousness so there wasn't humility in his crying out to Him.
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.(Job:32:1)
Elihu's response/reaction was also very interesting to me, especially because he states that he was younger than the other men.
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
There's a few things I find interesting about this passage.
- Elihu is younger, and he is respectful towards them that are older, but he eventually does speak because none of the other men were able to answer Job. I appreciate this because it gives some guidance on how God's younger people should conduct themselves in situations like these.
- He was able to answer simply because the Holy Spirit gave understanding, not because of age or position. He was silent in observation and he was able to give righteous judgement when his three friends couldn't, because (I believe) they were making judgements based on assumption, while Elihu actually had evidence for where Job was wrong.
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.(Job 33:8-13)
- He also addresses accepting persons and giving flattering titles (which he also does later on), which I have also recently come to more understanding about, by God's grace. So, I just find it really exciting to see the concepts in scripture when I read it for myself.
There are other things I got from the book as a whole, but Elihu's words did stand out to me when I read them.
So I do have a couple of questions. Sometimes I was a little confused by Job's three friend's responses. It seemed like some of what they were saying was right, but it is clear that they were unjustified in some of what they said. Was it simply that because they were making judgements based on assumptions about Job? Did they ever say anything that was actually doctrinally false, possibly? I know I should go back and read these portions more slowly, because sometimes it was slightly hard for me to follow.
I am going to continue studying it, so if anyone also has any important concepts, favorite verses/passages, important details from the book of Job, please feel free to share those. Also if I was wrong in anything I said, please correct me. I really want to have a better understanding and I know I truly have a lot of room to grow. And if there is anything wrong with the type of post I am making here, let me know. I just wanted to share a couple thoughts from the passage, ask a couple questions, and open up an opportunity for people to share any additional topics from the book in general.