Day 9

III The Age of The Patriarchs - 1967-1606 B.C. ~ cont.

A. Job ~ cont.

2. Job and his three friends ~ cont.

c. Second round of speeches ~ cont. - Job 20:1-29; 21:1-34

d. Third round of speeches - Job 22:1-30; 23:1-17; 24:1-25

I was pondering upon how wholly inadequate a verse here and there is to an overall understanding of any book of the Bible. To have a comprehensive picture one would need to study the book in context, not just pull a verse here and there. Inductively studying verse by verse, chapter upon chapter would give a much better overview and comprehension of the book. 'Camping out' is not a possibility for me at this juncture. Though what a glorious thought, to study each book of the Bible in-depth, researching each word, tracing it through its usage in other verses. **sigh** So many delights in our Father's Word, so little time!

There were several verses which caught my attention while reading through this day's passage, but spent a wee bit of time on this one...exploring.  :-D

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? (Job 20:5)

There are numerous verses which echo this statement. While it 'appears' that the wicked prosper, in light of eternity they do not. My perception of Zophar's statement? An accusation against Job. While Poole and Gill did not explicitly state it, Henry in his commentary overview of Job 20:1-5 affirmed the accusation as being leveled at Job.

That verse reminded me of several in the Psalms ~ the word wicked is H7563 ~ used 263x in 249 verses. I found a few which I thought helped my understanding:

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. (Psalm 11:6)

The ungodly are not so: but like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (Psalm 1:4)

Chaff is mentioned in Job 21:18 - They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff (H4671) that the storm carries away. ~ Spoken by Job about the wicked.

The word chaff is used 12 times in 12 verses in the OT.

H4671 - מוץ מץ - môts môts - motes, motes -From H4160; chaff (as pressed out, that is, winnowed or (rather) threshed loose).  This is the word used in Psalm 1:4 and Job 21:18.

Used only 8 times in 8 verses in the OT. Chaff is spoken of twice in the NT: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. (Matthew 3:12 and Luke 3:17)

The other incidences of chaff are (H2842) which means dry grass. I especially thought this verse in Daniel appropriate, a future foretelling of events which will take place:

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff {H5784 chaff (as the naked husk)} of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:35)

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. (Job 32:10)

Mercy - H2617 - חסד - chêsêd - kheh'-sed - From H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opprobrium) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty.

Used 127 times in 127 verses in the Psalms alone ~ 247 times in 241 verses in the OT.

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. (Psalm 13:5)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23:6)

Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. (Psalm 42:8)

What a consolation to our war weary souls as we battle for the truth of Father's word on this side of glory.

Day 5

III The Age of The Patriarchs - 1967-1606 B.C.
A. Job
1. Trials of Job
a. Satan and the Lord discuss Job - Job 1:6-12
b. God's permission to scourge - Job 1:13-22; 2:1-10
2. Job and his three friends
a. Job complains - Job 2:11-13; 3:1-26

I can not even imagine being worthy enough for God and Satan to discuss me.  That is a intense thought.  Father says this about Job:

"Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:8)

considered - H7760 - שׂים    שׂוּם - śûm  śı̂ym - soom, seem - A primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literally, figuratively, inferentially and elliptically). ~ Used 580x in 546 verses (I am taking a pass on reviewing each verse :-)  Used in Genesis 2:8 when God put the man in the garden of Eden.  Nehemiah 8:8 read the law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand.

none - H369 - אין - 'ayin - ay'-yin - As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.

perfect - H8535 - תּם - tâm - tawm - From H8552; complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically gentle, dear.  Used 13x in 13 verses.  First usage in Genesis 25:27 of Jacob as a plain man, dwelling in tents.  Second usage in Job 1:1, then 1:8 and 2:3 said by God.  In Proverbs 29:10 the bloodthirsty hate the upright, but the just seek his soul.  Also translated as undefiled in the Song of Soloman.

upright - H3477 - ישׁר - yâshâr - yaw-shawr' - From H3474; straight (literally or figuratively).

• H3474 - ישׁר - yâshar - yaw-shar' - A primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (causatively to make) right, pleasant, prosperous.

119x in 119 verses...Exodus 15:26 used as right; used in Josh 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18 as Jasher; used of the Lord in Psalm 92:15, HE is upright.

feareth - H3373 - ירא - yârê' - yaw-ray' - From H3372; fearing; morally reverent.

• H3372 - ירא - yârê' - yaw-ray' - A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten.

43x in 43 verses...Father said if of Abraham about fearing HIM by not withholding his son, Issac (Genesis 22:12); ahhh, even our Proverbs 31 woman - feareth the Lord (31:30); and this one:

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book  of remembrance was written before him for them that feared (H3372) the Lord, and that thought upon his name (Malachi 3:16).

escheweth - H5493 - שׂוּר    סוּר - sûr  śûr - soor, soor - A primitive root; to turn off (literally or figuratively).  Used 301x in 282 verses...I always wonder when there are less verses and more hits, where is that word duplicated.  E-sword will do a search for H5493H5493, but it still comes up with the same results.  :-(

Interestingly this word is used in Genesis 8:13 when Noah removed the covering of the ark.  In Malachi 2:8 it used as departed; in Jeremiah 6:28 it is translated as grievous and 5:23 as revolted.

What he lost:  oxen plowing (yoked 500), asses (500) beside them, servants (#?); sheep destroyed (7,000), servants (#?); camels (3000), servants (#?); sons and daughters, servants (#?).  {How did she come up with those #'s?  :-) - well....in Job 42, verses 12 and 13 it delineates what Father blesses Job with, and in verse 10 it states Job was given twice as much as he had before.}

What he kept: servant, servant, servant, servant, wife.

1st test - Loss of  livestock, servants, children - yet Job does not sin nor charge God foolishly (Job 1:20-23).

2nd test - Health tested, boils from the sole of his feet unto the crown of his head.  Rebukes wife for receiving good, but not evil with same attitude (Job 1:9-10).

3rd test - Eliphaz (god of gold or the endeavor of god), Bildad (old friendship), Zophar (departing or rising early, crown) come to visit - silent for 7 days (can you imagine? no words spoken for 7 days!).

The tests are not numbered in Scripture, that is solely my way of keeping track - the names for the three friends are taken either from Strong's or the Hitchcock Bible Names Dictionary.

After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.  (Job 3:1)

Been there, done that...Okay God, I am done...can't take anymore of whatever You are allowing and/or dishing out to me...just take me home.  Don't want to be here no more!  {said with a southern twang}  How sad is that:?!  In comparison to Job, my trials and tribulations are nothing.  I wonder if he had any idea that his story would be used to comfort people.  Have you ever stopped to consider that whatever you are going through is designed to:

1. remove dross from your life;
2. glorify God; and
3. help someone else through their tough times?

Our level of compassion rises tremendously when someone is going through something similar.  We are (or should be able) to offer prayer, comfort, and consolation.  Obviously that is a very brief objective, but diligence to see a larger picture of what Father is doing helps to keep current situation(s) in perspective.

Lord, we all have trials, tribulations and tests (3T) in our lives.  Some we sail through, others we slog.  Father, You are always gracious and merciful to Your servants, never allowing more in our lives but what we can stand and/or endure.  Lord, help each of us to learn from the 3T's in our lives the first time around, rather than running around the mountain again, and again, and... :-D  Lord, help us to not sin with our lips, to keep our eyes focused upon You.  Lord, raise up people to pray for us and for us to pray with and for during the times we are challenged and discouraged.  Father, help us to keep our eyes focused solely upon You.  Create in us a growing desire to give a proper estimate of You in and through all of life's hills, valleys, mountains, gorges, etc.

A book which I have enjoyed reading, recommended by our Bible study teacher (1st Peter - NT book to the OT book of Job) is:

When All Hell Breaks Loose: You May Be Doing Something Right: Surprising Insights in the Book of Job, Steven Lawson