Carefully Examining the Text

Job 25 This is the last we hear of Job’s three friends by way of speeches. Elihu will reference them in 32:3 and the LORD will finally speak in 42:7-8. Some try to attribute 26:5-14 or 27:13-23 to Bildad but there is no textual basis for this. The speeches of the friends have been shorter along the way. Bildad’s speech is unusually short, and it may indicate that they are running out of things to say. 25:1-3 The Glory of God 25:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,  ...

24:18-25 The fate of the wicked There are difficult interpretive issues in this passage with words and phrases that are difficult to translate. 24:18 They are insignificant on the surface of the water;- There is no preposition in Hebrew that introduces vs. 18. The Hebrew text has he instead of they. Who does the pronoun refer to? It may be the wicked people described in 24:1-17. The word insignificant, qal, means light and c...

Job 24 This chapter is largely a protest against the injustice of the world. There are many innocent people suffering in the world. Why is it that God takes such little notice of evil? Verses 2-4, 9 focus on the ones who mistreated the poor and needy while verses 5-8, 10-12 focus on the needy themselves. The orphans, widows, needy, and poor are forced to live as the wild donkeys constantly spending their time just finding enough food to keep themselves alive. “The author passes from one group...

Jesus and Job 23 Job 23:12 Jesus treasured the words of God’s mouth more than his necessary food. When Jesus was tempted to turn stones to bread regarded practicing God’s word is more important than having bread to eat. He cherished every word from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:1-4; Luke 4:1-4). Job 23:13 What does it mean that God does whatever He pleases? He does whatever He pleases. Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens- The sarcastic question of 115:2 is answered in 1...

22:12 Is not God in the height of heaven? God dwells in heaven in I Kings 8:30, 39, 43, 49; Psalm 2:4; 11:4; 33:13; 103:19; 113:5. Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!- God is so exalted that He is far above the most remote and massive star. The emphasis is on the greatness of God and the majesty of His dwelling place. In Ps. 113:5-6 God even lowers himself to look upon the affairs of men. God’s exalted nature is a call for reverence for Him (Isa. 40:22, 26; 57:15). Jer. 23:23-2...