Grandparents in the group.  Wow! How’d that happen?  Where has the time gone?  What trials and turmoils have the others had to go through in life’s journey?

 

Nothing is wasted.  God makes sure of that.  I am so curious about what twists and turns and self-defeating games they’ve played to bring them to where they are.  To be honest it’s not all curiosity, there’s this sense of caring about these people I spend several formative years of my life with.  A sense of how are you doing, how has your heart navigated the choppy waters of life.

 

That being that, love is work.  Love is relational maintenance in action.  Sometimes the fruit is kind of small and wrinkly, sometimes the tree is so full of fruit you are afraid it’ll be crushed under it’s own weight.

 

Can there really be a relationship without action?

 

I figured I could turn a tidy 100% profit in 2 weeks.  Invest $300 for a return of $600!  The Christmas season was only weeks away – that would only aide my endeavor.

 

That was the plan.  You have guessed by now that that plan turned out less than ideal.  After 2 weeks of listing my retail inventory on email for a steal of $199 plus free shipping I did not even get a nibble.  Craigslist, nothing.  I notice there are more than a few competitors on eBay selling for almost cost and even a few under my cost.  eBay finally says they’ve given me enough free postings so I began listing solely on Craigslist.

 

Today I finally sold the 3rd and last unit!  Total profit for all three units was approximately $100.  $300 invested $100 profit.  Not bad if it hadn’t taken ¼ of a year to sell the units.

 

Future forays will likely be more cautious.

 

Bildad’s final hand is something like this story:

 

This week Bildad tries to trump Job with the “God” card.

 

Bildad says his last
Bildad: Man cannot be righteous when compared to God
Job 25 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered: 2 “Dominion and awesome might belong to God;       he establishes peace in his heights.	God is over all whether in the heavens, on earth or below the earth. “establishes peace” (or order) – either God brings order from chaos or in the realm of spiritual warfare, it is God who rules.
3 Can his armies be numbered?       On whom does his light not rise?	“armies” adds to the concept of warfare vs. simple chaos
4 How then can a human being be righteous before God?       How can one born of a woman be pure? 5 If even the moon is not bright,       and the stars are not pure as far as he is concerned, 6 how much less a mortal man, who is but a maggot —       a son of man, who is only a worm!”	Bildad echoes Eliphaz’ statements from v4:17-19 & v15:14-16 God is more brilliant than the stars, the moon is reflected light and less brilliant yet. Has Bildad’s argument run it’s course and now he must seize Eliphaz’ in one last try?
Q: What is Bildad trying to say to Job? Q: Is there untruth in what Bildad says? Explain. Job: God is indeed all you say AND MORE
Job 26 1 Then Job replied: 2 “How you have helped the powerless!       How you have saved the person who has no strength! 3 How you have advised the one without wisdom,       and abundantly revealed your insight! 4 To whom did you utter these words?       And whose spirit has come forth from your mouth?	“you” is singular.  Job is very specifically speaking to Bildad whereas beginning in Chapter 27 “you” is plural Sarcasm! Q: What is the message of Job to Bildad underneath the sarcasm?
Q: Bildad has defended God, condemned the wicked and warned Job about his place with God.  What has he done to comfort Job? The might of God in death
5 “The dead tremble —       those beneath the waters       and all that live in them. 6 The underworld is naked before God;       the place of destruction lies uncovered.	Q: Might Job be trying to “one up” Bildad? Q: Why are the dead trembling/in anguish? (The “elite dead” should have nothing to fear but even they tremble before God from Sheol.)
The might of God in the visible universe
7 He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;       he suspends the earth on nothing.	“empty space” = without form.  Allusion to the creation account. Notice how he brings in Bildad’s argument about the the stars (v25:5) to show even great power than Bildad referred to… the power of creation!
8 He locks the waters in his clouds,       and the clouds do not burst with the weight of them. 9 He conceals the face of the full moon,       shrouding it with his clouds. 10 He marks out the horizon on the surface of the waters       as a boundary between light and darkness. 11 The pillars of the heavens tremble       and are amazed at his rebuke.	Science & mysteries: 1. Water falling from the sky 2. Moon, master of the night sky, so easily hidden by the clouds, eclipses & phases 3. “marks out the horizon” = marks a circle.  Did job understand the earth as spherical?  It is not possible to see the arc of the terminator line from the ground but the horizon is circular. 4. Pillars hold the heavens in their place
12 By his power he stills the sea;       by his wisdom he cut Rahab the great sea monster to pieces. 13 By his breath the skies became fair;       his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.	5. Maintains order in chaos 6. Orders the weather God are over chaos: refer to Rahab in v9:13 and mythos in Dec 17, 2009 study.  Note: Reference to Rahab has not been found in extra-biblical sources. Compare v26:12 in NET, NIV, NASB, KJV “By his power he stills the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab the great sea monster to pieces.“ Compare Isaiah 51:9 in NET, NIV, NASB, KJV “Wake up! Wake up!  Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the LORD!  Wake up as in former times, as in antiquity!  Did you not smash the Proud One?  Did you not wound the sea monster?“ Babylonian Creation Epic, in which the storm god Marduk defeats the sea monster Tiamat and creates the earth and sky by cleaving her corpse in two.  Tiamat could be Rahab.
14 Indeed, these are but the outer fringes of his ways!       How faint is the whisper we hear of him!       But who can understand the thunder of his power?”	“outer fringes” – this is just scratching the surface of His omnipotence.
All scripture quotations from the New English Translation (NET) “Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”

Some commentators feel that v26:5-15 either belong to Bildad’s speech (which is very truncated) or that they are part of Zophar’s 3rd speech and somehow the credit to Zophar is not given.  Their basis is the general lack of flow and at times seeming contradiction to a stance taken through out.  Since it seems there are no manuscripts to fit this theory, I feel it is best to interpret the text as listed.  The bottom-line is that the thrust of the discourses is not changed nor the overarching themes in the book.

Failures of Jobs counselors and friends

1. They did not express sympathy toward Job

2. They did not intercede with God on Job’s behalf

3. They seemingly ignored his expressions of physical and emotional agony

4. They talked too much and did not listen enough

5. They became defensive and argumentative

6. They belittled Job vs. encourage him

7. They insisted they knew the cause of Job’s suffering and misery

8. They stubbornly persisted in their thoughts even when the facts contradicted their thinking

9. Their suggestions to Job were inappropriate because they missed the “problem”

10. They condemned Job for expressing deep grief, anguish and frustration

11. They already had a solution for the problem before they met Job

12. They did not offer comfort in words or actions

A weak weather system could herald the beginning of another series of storms coming into the region

“We are lining up for a series of storms again,” said a National Weather Service meteorologist. “That’s good news. We had this brief springtime break. Looks like we will be getting back into it. And not a moment too soon.”

The region’s rainfall had been above average for much of the winter. However, this week the weather turned dry and the seasonal rainfall total dropped below normal.

The region has received 13 inches of rain since July 1, which is 96 percent of average.

The total rainfall for February, usually one of the wettest months, stands at 1.12 inches. Average rainfall for the entire month is 3.77 inches.

 

OK, 13″ = 96% of average.  That means 100% of average = 13.542″

Now look again, the month dipped below average because of a mid-month dry spell.  The “average” for February is 3.77, actual so far is 1.12.  That’s 2.65″ less than “average”  - somethings missing here.

 

If it only takes .542″ more rain to equal the average then how could the month be more than 2.1″ below the average.

 

Good think meteorologists don’t sent shuttles to space.  For that matter, good thing most of us don’t really put a whole lot of credence into their weather forecasts.

 

Eliphaz confronts Job one last time
Your stance is not helping God, let it go
Job 22 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: 2 “Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit?       Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable? 3 Is it of any special benefit to the Almighty       that you should be righteous,       or is it any gain to him       that you make your ways blameless? 4 Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you       and goes to judgment with you? 5 Is not your wickedness great       and is there no end to your iniquity?”	v1-5 are difficult to understand.  It appears Eliphaz is saying: “Job, you keep insisting you are blameless as if that will somehow help God.  Do you think He finds this pleasing?  Afterall, He KNOWS otherwise and He would not be punishing you if it weren’t true.” In other words: God neither gains nor loses nothing whether a person is wicked or righteous; therefore suffering & blessing must simply be punishment or reward. See THE MESSAGE: “Are any of us strong enough to give God a hand, or smart enough to give him advice? So what if you were righteous–would God Almighty even notice? Even if you gave a perfect performance, do you think he’d applaud? Do you think it’s because he cares about your purity that he’s disciplining you, putting you on the spot? Hardly! It’s because you’re a first-class moral failure, because there’s no end to your sins. ” Job 22:2-5
…Job, here is what your wickedness looks like
. . . charge 1! 6 “For you took pledges from your brothers       for no reason,       and you stripped the clothing from the naked. . . . charge 2! 7 You gave the weary no water to drink       and from the hungry you withheld food. 8 Although you were a powerful man, owning land,       an honored man living on it, . . . charge 3! 9 you sent widows away empty-handed,       and the arms of the orphans you crushed. 10 That is why snares surround you,       and why sudden fear terrifies you, 11 why it is so dark you cannot see,       and why a flood of water covers you.	Q: Where in the world is this coming from?  Did Eliphaz have knowledge that these were Jobs sins?  If so, why didn’t he bring them up before?  Why bring them up now? Q: How does this differ from where Eliphaz began speaking in chapter 4? Q: Might Eliphaz be emphasizing what Job failed to do vs. what he did? (omission vs. commission)
…Job, God is not blind as you seem to be saying
12 “Is not God on high in heaven?       And see the lofty stars, how high they are! 13 But you have said, ‘What does God know?       Does he judge through such deep darkness? 14 Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us,       as he goes back and forth       in the vault of heaven.’	Evil men can hide but God will find them out.  (i.e. Why would God punish you for righteousness?)
…Will you go down this path as well?
15 Will you keep to the old path       that evil men have walked — 16 men who were carried off before their time,       when the flood was poured out       on their foundations? 17 They were saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’       and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’ 18 But it was he who filled their houses       with good things —       yet the counsel of the wicked       was far from me.	“Will you be as wicked as the men God destroyed in Noah’s flood?” Eliphaz uses Jobs own words re: the wicked (Cf v21:14-16) Eliphaz sneers: I (Eliphaz) am rejecting the ideas of the wicked by not agreeing with wicked (as some are)!
…Don’t be like them, submit to God!
19 The righteous see their destruction and rejoice;       the innocent mock them scornfully, saying, 20 ‘Surely our enemies are destroyed,       and fire consumes their wealth.’ 21 “Reconcile yourself with God,       and be at peace with him;       in this way your prosperity will be good. 22 Accept instruction from his mouth       and store up his words in your heart. 23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;       if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,	Remember Job said they could “mock on” (v21:3)? Compare to v5:17-26.  He makes the same plea but note how the entire delivery is far more direct Q: After scathing words & outright lies he now pleads with Job to repent.  What barriers might you have to repentance at this point? Q: Would Eliphaz’ words convinced you to repent?
24 and throw your gold in the dust —       your gold of Ophir       among the rocks in the ravines — 25 then the Almighty himself will be your gold,       and the choicest silver for you. 26 Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty,       and will lift up your face toward God.	“let go of your treasures (aka thinking) and God will provide far greater ‘riches’ ”
27 You will pray to him and he will hear you,       and you will fulfill your vows to him. 28 Whatever you decide on a matter,       it will be established for you,       and light will shine on your ways. 29 When people are brought low and you say       ‘Lift them up!’       then he will save the downcast; 30 he will deliver even someone who is not innocent,       who will escape through the cleanness of your hands.	God will more than hear your voice, he’ll consider what you say His desire and do that for you. Q: Thoughts on this theology?
God allows wickedness but will judge in His time
Job 23 1 Then Job answered: 2 “Even today my complaint is still bitter;       his hand is heavy despite my groaning. 3 O that I knew where I might find him,       that I could come to his place of residence! 4 I would lay out my case before him       and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know with what words he would answer me,       and understand what he would say to me. 6 Would he contend with me with great power?       No, he would only pay attention to me. 7 There an upright person       could present his case before him,       and I would be delivered forever from my judge.	Job presses on that IF he could present his case the charges would be dropped. BUT Job does not know where to find God – in other words – for some reason God is not listening to my pleas
…even though I don’t understand “why?”, I know I’ve listened closely
8 “If I go to the east, he is not there,       and to the west, yet I do not perceive him. 9 In the north when he is at work,       I do not see him;       when he turns to the south,       I see no trace of him. 10 But he knows the pathway that I take;       if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. 11 My feet have followed his steps closely;       I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;       I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion.
…God does as He pleases and I know my place
13 But he is unchangeable, and who can change him?       Whatever he has desired, he does. 14 For he fulfills his decree against me,       and many such things are his plans. 15 That is why I am terrified in his presence;       when I consider, I am afraid because of him. 16 Indeed, God has made my heart faint;       the Almighty has terrified me. 17 Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness,       because of the thick darkness       that covered my face.	Q: Does God act “fairly” or “legally?”
…Why doesn’t God judge when needed?
Job 24 1 “Why are times not appointed by the Almighty?       Why do those who know him not see his days?	Job: Why doesn’t God hold appointed times of judgment vs waiting so long for justice?
…see the wickedness done TO THE INNOCENT
2 Men move boundary stones;       they seize the flock and pasture them. 3 They drive away the orphan’s donkey;       they take the widow’s ox as a pledge. 4 They turn the needy from the pathway,       and the poor of the land hide themselves together. 5 Like wild donkeys in the desert       they go out to their labor,       seeking diligently for food;       the wasteland provides food for them       and for their children. 6 They reap fodder in the field,       and glean in the vineyard of the wicked. 7 They spend the night naked because they lack clothing;       they have no covering against the cold. 8 They are soaked by mountain rains       and huddle in the rocks because they lack shelter. 9 The fatherless child is snatched from the breast,       the infant of the poor is taken as a pledge. 10 They go about naked, without clothing,       and go hungry while they carry the sheaves. 11 They press out the olive oil between the rows of olive trees;       they tread the winepresses while they are thirsty. 12 From the city the dying groan,       and the wounded cry out for help,       but God charges no one with wrongdoing.
…see who is doing it AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT
13 There are those who rebel against the light;       they do not know its ways       and they do not stay on its paths. 14 Before daybreak the murderer rises up;       he kills the poor and the needy;       in the night he is like a thief. 15 And the eye of the adulterer watches for the twilight,       thinking, ‘No eye can see me,’       and covers his face with a mask. 16 In the dark the robber breaks into houses,       but by day they shut themselves in;       they do not know the light. 17 For all of them, the morning is to them       like deep darkness;       they are friends with the terrors of darkness.	Light = compare to John 1:5 & John 3:19-21
God will judge in his time
18 “You say, ‘He is foam on the face of the waters;       their portion of the land is cursed       so that no one goes to their vineyard. 19 The drought as well as the heat carry away       the melted snow;       so the grave takes away those who have sinned. 20 The womb forgets him,       the worm feasts on him,       no longer will he be remembered.       Like a tree, wickedness will be broken down. 21 He preys on the barren and childless woman,       and does not treat the widow well. 22 But God drags off the mighty by his power;       when God rises up against him, he has no faith in his life. 23 God may let them rest in a feeling of security,       but he is constantly watching all their ways. 24 They are exalted for a little while,       and then they are gone,       they are brought low like all others,       and gathered in,       and like a head of grain they are cut off.’ 25 “If this is not so, who can prove me a liar       and reduce my words to nothing?”	“You say” is not in original text but is presupposed by translators as the context. Here Job describes the fate of the wicked – it sounds strikingly like his friends words. Some commentaries feel that this words perhaps belong to Bildad’s next speech or as a minimum are Job parroting back his friends’ words. Q: What do you think and why?
All scripture quotations from the New English Translation (NET) “Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”

 

Unfortunately in 2006 the international community of astronomers voted to downgrade Pluto’s planet status after years of debate then discovery of a solar system object larger than Pluto.  The discussion could have resulted in 10 planets rather than the eight we enjoy today.

 

I guess for me it was more of a decision to remove a highlight in my wonderment and exploratory nature as a young lad.  It was a loss for me to make a mysterious hero into an ordinary citizen.

 

Funny the things we consider loss.

Zophar tries to convince Job one last time
Zophar defends himself by explaining his position
Job 20 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered: 2 “This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back —       because of my feelings within me. 3 When I hear a reproof that dishonors me,       then my understanding prompts me to answer.
4 “Surely you know that it has been from old,       ever since humankind was placed on the earth,		<= authority = “common knowledge”
	…no one gets away with it, for long 5 that the elation of the wicked is brief,       the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. 6 Even though his stature reaches to the heavens       and his head touches the clouds, 7 he will perish forever, like his own excrement;       those who used to see him will say, ‘Where is he?’ 8 Like a dream he flies away, never again to be found,       and like a vision of the night he is put to flight. 9 People who had seen him will not see him again,       and the place where he was       will recognize him no longer.	In this discourse Zophar refines what he has said so far (sorry, had to say it).  In v11:13-20 he stated that the wicked get their due.  Now he admits that the wicked may prosper for a while BUT they will get their due.
	10 His sons must recompense the poor;       his own hands must return his wealth. 11 His bones were full of his youthful vigor,       but that vigor will lie down with him in the dust.	A wicked man’s children must pay as well. Q: What are your thoughts on “generational” sin?
	12 “If evil is sweet in his mouth       and he hides it under his tongue, 13 if he retains it for himself       and does not let it go,       and holds it fast in his mouth, 14 his food is turned sour in his stomach;       it becomes the venom of serpents within him. 15 The wealth that he consumed he vomits up,       God will make him throw it out of his stomach. 16 He sucks the poison of serpents;       the fangs of a viper kill him. 17 He will not look on the streams,       the rivers, which are the torrents       of honey and butter. 18 He gives back the ill-gotten gain       without assimilating it;       he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce. 19 For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them;       he has seized a house which he did not build. 20 For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite;       he does not let anything he desires escape. 21 “Nothing is left for him to devour;       that is why his prosperity does not last. 22 In the fullness of his sufficiency,       distress overtakes him.       the full force of misery will come upon him. 23 “While he is filling his belly,       God sends his burning anger against him,       and rains down his blows upon him.	Q: Zophar is referring to food/eating – what message is he conveying in this symbology?
	24 If he flees from an iron weapon,       then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him. 25 When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back,       the gleaming point out of his liver,       terrors come over him. 26 Total darkness waits to receive his treasures;       a fire which has not been kindled       will consume him       and devour what is left in his tent. 27 The heavens reveal his iniquity;       the earth rises up against him. 28 A flood will carry off his house,       rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.	Note iron and bronze.  These were not in common use in the middle east until ~1,200 B.C.  – the time of the judges, about 800 years after Abraham.
29 Such is the lot God allots the wicked,       and the heritage of his appointment from God.”		<= THESIS
Job asks his friends to stop mocking long enough to listen
Job 21 1 Then Job answered: 2 “Listen carefully to my words;       let this be the consolation you offer me. 3 Bear with me and I will speak,       and after I have spoken you may mock.
Don’t you see what I’m going through?
	4 Is my complaint against a man?       If so, why should I not be impatient? 5 Look at me and be appalled;       put your hands over your mouths. 6 For, when I think about this, I am terrified       and my body feels a shudder.
	Physical proof the wicked prosper
	7 “Why do the wicked go on living,       grow old, even increase in power? 8 Their children are firmly established       in their presence,       their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe and without fear;       and no rod of punishment from God is upon them. 10 Their bulls breed without fail;       their cows calve and do not miscarry. 11 They allow their children to run like a flock;       their little ones dance about. 12 They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp,       and make merry to the sound of the flute. 13 They live out their years in prosperity       and go down to the grave in peace.	Job contradicts some arguments of all three: v7-Zophar – The wicked will die empty (cf v20:11) v8-Bildad – The wicked man will have no offspring (cf v18:19) v9-Eliphaz – If God corrects you and you respond you will have a safe house (cf v5:24) Q: List some examples in which you have observed the wicked prospering.
	14 So they say to God, ‘Turn away from us!       We do not want to know your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?       What would we gain       if we were to pray to him?’ 16 But their prosperity is not their own doing.       The counsel of the wicked is far from me!	Q: Why would they need God? cf. Ex 5:2 Q: Who is responsible for their prosperity?
	Physical proof the wicked aren’t punished
	17 “How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished?       How often does their misfortune come upon them?       How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger? 18 How often are they like straw before the wind,       and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind?	Q: Is this true?  How often HAVE YOU seen the wicked duly punished?
	19 You may say, ‘God stores up a man’s punishment for his children!’       Instead let him repay the man himself       so that he may know it! 20 Let his own eyes see his destruction;       let him drink of the anger of the Almighty. 21 For what is his interest in his home       after his death,       when the number of his months       has been broken off?	Job: answers the statement that is begging to be made… At least the children will be punished!  But what good is that when a man can live life as he chooses and doesn’t “pay” for it? Q: Is punishment for generational sin fair? Q: Is there any recourse if WE are paying for the sins of our fathers?
	22 Can anyone teach God knowledge,       since he judges those that are on high? 23 “One man dies in his full vigor,       completely secure and prosperous, 24 his body well nourished,       and the marrow of his bones moist. 25 And another man dies in bitterness of soul,       never having tasted anything good. 26 Together they lie down in the dust,       and worms cover over them both.	God does as He wills.  Can any of you (3 friends) teach God how things work.  Look and see!
	You have seen and heard for yourself
	27 “Yes, I know what you are thinking,       the schemes by which you would wrong me. 28 For you say,       ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house,       and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?’ 29 Have you never questioned those who travel the roads?       Do you not recognize their accounts — 30 that the evil man is spared       from the day of his misfortune,       that he is delivered       from the day of God’s wrath? 31 No one denounces his conduct to his face;       no one repays him for what he has done. 32 And when he is carried to the tombs,       and watch is kept over the funeral mound, 33 The clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him;       behind him everybody follows in procession,       and before him goes a countless throng.	Note that the wicked man even has someone guarding his grave!
Mock on
34 So how can you console me with your futile words?       Nothing is left of your answers but deception!”
All scripture quotations from the New English Translation (NET) “Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”

 

 

Flashbacks and flashforwards were fine but how in the world do I reconcile flashsideways, in alternate timelines that don’t fit the pieces I know to be true… or do I know that?