Job 31: This chapter marks the end of Jobās tenth speech. In this chapter he asks God to directly face him. Job actually declares an oath, declaring his innocence against seven possible charges: ādeceit (vv. 5ā8), adultery (vv. 9ā12), disregard of servants (vv. 13ā15), disregard of the poor (vv. 16ā23), trust in wealth (vv. 24ā28), rejoicing at the misfortune of others (vv. 29ā34), and assault on the land (vv. 38ā40b)ā (NRSV Study Bible notes, p. 757). In essence, Job is presenting his case again. He is so confident he is right that he says he is willing to accept punishment if he is lying.
2/26 Reading (Job 28-30; 2 Timothy 2)
I had a great chat last week with Father Kevin. Itās been a while since we talked, but it felt good to share how this is all going. I mentioned the idea of writing a book someday and how Iāve noticed that at the foundation of all of this is asking questions. Itās important for us to ask questions while reading the Bible as well as questions associated with religion. And guess what…itās also important for us to ask questions in science too. This is not to argue that science and religion are the same, but perhaps if people started to view religion with this mindset then maybe not everyone would leave. Just throwing ideas out there now.
2/17 Reading (Job 25-27; Psalms 82-85)
I’ve been so swamped at work these past few weeks that I got behind, again. So I adjusted the schedule, again. But, it’s my schedule, so it’s all good.
Job 25: We see Bildadās very short third response here. He seems to be arguing that God is simply too important and great to be questioned by Job. Bildad does directly ask Job āHow can a person be innocent before Godā (25:4), seeming to challenge Jobās earlier arguments that he has done nothing wrong. Still sticking to their arguments.
2/2 Reading (Job 22-24; 2 Timothy 1)
Job 22: Third cycle begins. This time, only Eliphaz and Bildad speak followed by Jobās responses. Here we see Eliphaz speak for a third time.
2/1 Reading (Job 19-21; Titus 3)
Job 19: Job responds to Bildad. He asks them why do they continue to treat him this way and talk to him in such a negative way. He wants to know if it will end soon. Job then shifts his tone to state again that God is purposefully targeting him and doing bad things to him. First Jobās examples focus more on violence. He then talks about how Godās actions toward him have ostracized him from the community. He then directly challenges his friends again, wanting to know why they are so nasty to him like God is. He desires to finally come face to face with God hoping that God will acknowledge that he has done nothing wrong.
1/31 Reading (Job 16-18; Titus 2)
Job 16: Job responds to Eliphaz in a pretty mean way. He admonishes his three friends for how they are treating him during this tough time. He actually calls them āsorry comfortersā (16:2). Yikes! He tells them that if the roles were reversed, he would focus on trying to comfort them and give them strength instead of tearing them down.
1/30 Reading (Job 13-15; Titus 1)
Job 13: Job starts this chapter with a declaration that he knows everything his friends know and instead wants āto speak to the Almighty; I would gladly present my case to Godā (13:3). And ouch…Job flat out tells his friends that they are āplasterers of lies; ineffective healersā (13:4). He urges them to stop talking and actually listen to his arguments. He tells them that they clearly are biased against him. He then presents a compelling argument about his desire to directly speak to God:
1/29 Reading (Job 10-12; 1 Timothy 6)
Job 10: More direct challenging and questions toward God. He specifically questions God, asking why he is being punished. He asks God why sinners are ok, but he isnāt. Job seems to remind God that he is fully aware of his current predicament and that God knows Job isnāt guilty. He continues to want to know why God wonāt put an end to his suffering. More challenging by Job using different metaphors. No matter what, Job directly questions God and why this is happening. Job actually asks God why he ever let him live in the first place considering what he is currently experiencing.
1/27 Reading (Job 7-9; Psalms 79-81)
During the BINY class today (1/28), I remembered a conversation I had with one of my F3 brothers when my stepmother passed away. My stepmother made the tragic decision to take her own life in April 2015. It was and still is a challenging situation for my family, especially my father and me. One F3 brother, probably trying to console me, said that her death was part of āGodās planā and that we just need to understand his plan. I remember how much that bothered me. The notion that God wanted my stepmother to take her life did not sit well with me. Thankfully I donāt agree with this person that this is how God works in our lives, but Iām amazed that people think this. I hear the phrase āitās all part of Godās planā all the time, but I canāt recall someone taking it to this extreme.
On to my thoughts about the readings.
1/26 Reading (Job 4-6; 1 Timothy 5)
Job 4: Just a little note to start off this reading: I learned after my last post that I was actually wrong to write āSatanā down as the person who challenged God. I shouldāve written āthe satanā or even āthe adversary.ā Hereās a nice little tidbit from James L. Kugelās book, How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now: āThis is not yet the devil, the Satan of later Judaism and Christianity who is Godās opponent and the embodiment of evil, but merely one of the heavenly attendants, the āsons of God.ā The Hebrew satan means āaccuserā or āadversaryāā (p. 638). Nice little tidbit for me to know.