[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟝
"Behold,
He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His
sight;"
Interesting
statement by Eliphaz that even the heavens are not pure in His sight. Indeed,
Satan was there for meetings. And if heaven itself is not that pure in His
sight, no mere man is. Job's friends were having their round of 2nd
condemnation and not comforting him! 😬
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟙𝟞:𝟞
"If
I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?"
What
a situation! Complaining doesn't make sense. Staying silent doesn't help
either!
And
actually, talking seems to help when we are in pain. That's why we shout, etc.,
but talking in pain will make us say even things we aren't supposed to say—crossing
the line.
A
difficult situation indeed!
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟙
"My
days are past, my plans are torn apart, Even the wishes of my heart."
Ever
thought these? "Shattered Dreams. Too late to plan new things. Time's
gone! Too old to do this and that! No hope. All are gone!" "Even the
heart stops desiring anymore. Completely disappointed! This is not fair!" That
sounds like Job! God vindicated Job again!
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟙𝟠:𝟙
"Then
Bildad the Shuhite responded."
Who
is the shortest man in the Bible? John MacArthur said it's Bildad because his
height is shoe-high 👞 because he is "Shuhite" 😂😂
Bildad
did accuse Job again in this chapter. Not only as an ignorant sinner but as an
arrogant sinner in front of God and his friends!
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟙𝟡:𝟞
"Know
then that God has wronged me And has closed His net around me."
Job
knew no reason why God should let this trouble befallen him. If it was wrong
for him to be in this situation, it was God who was wrong. [Actually, it was
right for him to be in that situation because God was using him to shame Satan,
so neither God nor even Job was wrong]
Job
felt that God had put a net on him, which he had never trapped himself nor
something he could escape. Like a fisherman throwing a net upon the fish!
Prophet Ezekiel also used this metaphor in his writing. Haven't you been in
some situation where every door is closed to you? Well, Job suffered, knew much
more!
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟝
"He
swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his
belly."
The
imagery Zophar used in this chapter is quite catchy. Swallowing riches, not
chewing or eating, but sudden riches, easy money, shortcut, black trade.
Hungry. Greedy.
And
the picture of vomiting. Tasteful to the mouth, not in the stomach. Refused to
stay. God expels them from his belly!
Let's
aim for Righteous living all the time!
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟚𝟙:𝟟
"Why
do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?"
Job
refuted Zophar's theology/ argument.
That
God does not punish but allows the wicked to prosper oftentimes. And He allows
the righteous to suffer.
Thus,
proving he was not a wicked sinner, but a righteous man in suffering. His
friends couldn't agree with that. They weren't wise actually. They failed to
see the plain things happening in this world. Ibobi is rich, Mehul Chokshi is a
billionaire. And many missionaries have to see their kids in rags. William
Carey's kids died in India. Graham's boys were burnt alive in Orissa.
Zophar
and the others were even suggesting that God should do this and that, Job
mocked them back (21:22). And indeed, in the end, God vindicated Job and
rebuked them for saying inaccurate things about God.
Takeaway:
Prosperity is not a sign of Faithfulness, nor is Adversity a sign of
Unfaithfulness.
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟚𝟚:𝟟
"To
the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have
withheld bread."
Job's
friends are actually like modern Christians, going to church and worshipping
God, but highly influenced by unbiblical philosophy.
In
social media, the word "karma" is very popular. Maybe even our church
members have mentioned it a lot. "Karma" is a religious concept of
Hinduism and Buddhism. That whatever you get is the result of your past
actions. Job's friend believed a sort of this [though they would deny re-incarnation].
That there's no purpose of suffering, but suffering is the result of evil
actions. In fact, the Hindus and Buddhists will even go on to say that
suffering is not real, it's just an illusion.
True,
suffering comes because of our actions, but not always. Job's suffering was not
because of his wicked sins. Christ's crucifixion was not because of His sin.
And
Job's friends to prove their philosophy pointed out that Job failed to help
some people, the basic help: food to the hungry and water to the thirsty.
Well,
who is not guilty of this by this logic? Are we guilty because we didn't give
food to every homeless beggar in Delhi? Is Christ guilty that He didn't feed
all the hungry ones in the land of Israel? Or that Christ didn't come to India
to feed the poor?
Suffering
is not karma. It has a purpose. That purpose is not always retribution.
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟚𝟛:𝟙𝟙
"My
foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside."
When
I am disappointed, I tend to sin. I tend to do things that I have been
withholding. Job was holding fast. Indeed, the scripture tells us to be all the
more godly and holy when we are suffering. Something to learn from Job.
𝕁𝕆𝔹 𝟚𝟜:𝟚𝟝
"Now
if it is not so, who can prove me a liar, And make my speech worthless?"
Job
didn't back down, rather he went on to challenge everyone to prove him wrong!
Would we have such integrity and courage in life!