kjv@Job:1:1@ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
kjv@Job:1:2@ And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
kjv@Job:1:3@ His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
kjv@Job:1:4@ And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
kjv@Job:1:5@ And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
kjv@Job:1:6@ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
kjv@Job:1:7@ And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
kjv@Job:1:8@ And the LORD said unto Satan, 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?
kjv@Job:1:9@ Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
kjv@Job:1:10@ Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
kjv@Job:1:11@ But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
kjv@Job:1:12@ And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
kjv@Job:1:13@ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
kjv@Job:1:14@ And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
kjv@Job:1:15@ And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
kjv@Job:1:16@ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
kjv@Job:1:17@ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
kjv@Job:1:18@ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
kjv@Job:1:19@ And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
kjv@Job:1:20@ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
kjv@Job:1:21@ And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
kjv@Job:1:22@ In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
In many passages such as this we see the infallibility of the Bible in an interesting scope. Here there is an obvious contradiction of thought presented in debate form; both sides cannot be true, perhaps neither, perhaps parts of both. The Bible is accurate in its record of what was said. The synthesis of the debated points in the context of the remainder of scripture is the truth. The writers attempt is to challenge and stretch our understanding which when properly done leads to growth. We see also the difficulty of cherry picking single verses for our personal use without understanding the verse's immediate and general context.
Great and awesome and feared is our God; his way's and thoughts beyond knowing, and yet at times like this knowing what cannot be understood is precisely what we attempt to do. Each of these men can be correct in their diverse points and still not know the half of it. What they do know without knowing the rest can easily be misapplied to Job's situation and the relief that he seeks. Can this be the infallible truth that the Bible is presenting?
As long ago as these conversations occurred, it remains very interesting that all of these things discussed we still ponder over today. It is amazing how deep and concerned they were about these central issues so long ago. When we think how far back and how different culturally these men were from us, our similarities are striking.
As we are often counselors to others in their times of need, we should heed Job's advice. We intend to do well by our counsel but how well if we are merely heaping up words against a person. The object of this type of counsel should be to strengthen and to comfort grief. Sometimes only people who have been through similar are able to fully understand this.
Sometimes it feels not only that we are suffering for God but, also being piled upon by our friends and neighbors. Feelings of punishment can come from those who otherwise seek to help us. Grief over lost loved ones is not meant as a time of punishment but a time of cleansing and healing. There is nothing wrong in telling your friends so when such is the case or even separating yourself from them for a short time.
Well that's comforting to know Mr. Bildad. He apparently didn't listen to what Job had just said. Perhaps he was too busy thinking of what he would say next to hear straight. Profound as it is it is not beneficial. We too should be advised.
It might be better at this point for Job's friends to stop talking. How about taking a wet wash cloth and damping his wounds? How about walking him down to the stream and reminiscing? How about a campfire under the stars? How about reading from the Word and worshiping/praising/singing? How about anything other than the line of conversation these men insist on continuing?
This is a prophecy. It is also his salvation. Just as we look back to the cross for our salvation, the saints of that day were judged by their belief forward to the cross. It is also a detailed description of a physical resurrection of our flesh. Not sure how the Sadducee explained this one away.
Job insists that God looks upon him as an enemy which is not true. Job's friends see God as extracting a restitution for some hidden unconfessed sin which isn't true either. Job's one saving belief is the belief that he will one day see his redeemer on earth.
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
