Archive for December 2022

John 18:28-40, Revelation 12, Job 35, Micah 4-5    Job 35: So Elihu continues his rebuke of both Job and of Job’s so-called “comforters.” In this chapter he focuses on Job. Elihu is saying that Job is wrong for criticizing God. When Job says that he (Job) is in the right and God is wrong, Job has a diminished…

John 18:19-27, Revelation 11, Job 34:21-37, Micah 1-3  Job 34:21-37:   What can we say about this? Elihu now seems to turn his passionate resolve to focus on Job and criticize him sternly. Job, you will remember, is suffering through no fault of his own. Job’s friends have insisted that Job has done something wrong to deserve his suffering—for…

John 18:1-18, Revelation 10, Job 34:1-20, Jonah 1-4  Job 34:1-20: In the Book of Job, we have a simple—and stunning—story. Job, a righteous man, is visited by the most painful suffering imaginable. His family dies. His wealth is destroyed. He himself is in physical pain. Job’s wife encourages him to “curse God and die,” but instead Job determines…

John 17:20-26, Revelation 9, Job 33:12-33, Obadiah 1-21 Job 33:12-33: Elihu continues with his “mixed” response to Job and to Job’s “comforters.” They, the so-called “comforters,” had criticized Job for being unwilling to admit that he was deserving of his suffering. Surely he could only have suffered because he had done something to deserve it? What other reason…

John 17:6-19, Revelation 8, Job 33:1-11, Amos 7-9 Job 33:1-11: Elihu is mounting his criticism of Job (as well as of Job’s so-called “comforters”). Job is suffering terribly. Job’s friends have accused him of having sinned—it is their own explanation for his suffering. Why else would God allow Job to suffer unless Job deserved it? But Job…

John 17:1-5, Revelation 7, Job 32, Amos 5-6 Job 32: Now we come to Elihu and his lengthy speech, the first part of which we are looking at in this chapter 32. Elihu is probably the most difficult character in this book to interpret. What is he saying? Is what he is saying right, or is it wrong?…

John 16:25-33, Revelation 6, Job 31:24-40, Amos 3-4 Job 31:24-40: Job, in this second part of this chapter, now concludes the final part of his defense. You’ll remember that he has been accused by his so-called “comforters” of deserving the suffering that he is experiencing. They feel there can be no other explanation for his…

John 16:12-24, Revelation 5, Job 31:1-23, Amos 1-2 Job 31:1-23: Job is now coming towards the end of his final defense. In this first section of this ending part of his final defense, the section we are looking at today, Job lists the things that he has not done. He is describing how he has…

John 16:1-11, Revelation 4, Job 30, Joel 2-3 Job 30: This is perhaps, in some ways, the most depressing chapter in the whole book. And that is saying something! Job is now continuing his complaints. He is mounting his defense against those who have attacked him in the midst of his suffering. As if his…

John 15:18-27, Revelation 3:14-22, Job 29, Joel 1 Job 29: Job now is moving towards the final part of his defense. As we remember, Job has suffered extreme suffering. The pain of physical ailments, but also the deep horrendous pain of the sudden loss of his children. His finances are ruined, his family is destroyed,…