Job 40: God asks Job to respond and he does in the beginning of this chapter. But with a very short response. Job pretty much tells God that heās already said what he needed to say and he wonāt say it again. God gives his second speech.
3/1 Reading (Job 37-39; Matthew 1)
Job 37: The theme from the end of the last chapter continues here. Elihu continues to describe Godās power and control over natural events. Most of the events are focused on weather related disasters. His point here is that he wants to emphasize that God is a powerful being who controls everything. Elihu ends his speech telling Job that God is pretty much too busy to listen to him specifically.
2/28 Reading (Job 34-36; 2 Timothy 4)
Job 34: This is the start of Elihuās second speech. He initially addresses the three friends and then turns to Job again. In his statements to the friends he pretty much argues that God doesnāt do evil things, God doesnāt sin. Instead, God ārepays people based on what they do, paying back everyone according to their waysā (34:11). He argues that God doesnāt do wicked things or distorts justice. In essence, he seems to be agreeing with the friends.
2/27 Reading (Job 31-33; 2 Timothy 3)
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.
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.
1/25 Reading (Job 1-3; 1 Timothy 4)
Job 1: Iāve never read Job. In fact, whenever I hear anyone say Job I think of the movie Mission: Impossible with Tom Cruise. Job 3:14 played a big role in that film. I know, a silly story, but thatās what happens.
1/25 Reading (Intro to Poetical books-Intro to Job)
Introduction to the Poetical and Wisdom Books: The NRSV has a full introduction to the 5 books classified in the Poetical and Wisdom Books. Thereās a lot in there, especially about Biblical poetry. I just want to put this quote here and move on to Job:
Continue reading “1/25 Reading (Intro to Poetical books-Intro to Job)”