Day 27
Job 4:1-7:21
(4 | 5 | 6 | 7)
If you've ever read Job before, you'll know this is where the book starts getting unnecessarily wordy. It can be a bit difficult to wade through at times, and nigh on impossible to actually comprehend at others. I can't say that any notes I write will actually make anything any better. In fact, they might make matters even more convoluted. I'm going to try anyway; it might actually help me make sense of what's going on!
Job has just finished cursing the day he was born. Job doesn't blame God for the ill that has befallen him, but he does bemoan his lot; he compares his life unfavourably to that of a slave; even they receive the odd reprieve from their struggles and torment. He wishes that circumstances hadn't aligned themselves so that he might be born. It's at this stage that one of Job's friends, Eliphaz jumps in and speaks for a good two chapters. His argument seems to essentially be that Job should take his own advice; he had encouraged so many others in the past, but now, at the first sign of trouble, here he is, moping. He seems to insinuate that Job brought this on himself somehow:
Job's response is to reiterate how much he is suffering. He wishes that God would just kill him for two reasons; firstly, if he were dead, his suffering would be over; secondly, if God were to kill him, Job could die safe in the knowledge that he had not cursed God for his suffering. Job's concern is understandably in the amount he's suffering. Yet he's still concerned about sinning against God - he hasn't reached that stage, but he clearly fears that it will arrive. Job bemoans the reliability of his friends; in his hour of need, they're of little help, some even disappear altogether. Job begs his friends to tell him what he's done wrong. Job describes the transient nature of human existence; how it's gone in the blink of an eye. It is for this reason that he bemoans his life; he would rather die than continue living. He then turns direct to God and begs him to reveal what he's done wrong.
Matthew 19:1-15
(19:1-15)
Now in Judea, Jesus greets a crowd of people who had followed him there and heals their sick. Some Pharisees ask Jesus if it's acceptable under any circumstance for two people to be divorced. I'm not sure if they're trying to trip Jesus up here. If they are, Jesus isn't fooled. Jesus' reply is no; in the act of marriage, two become one flesh. That union is from God, and should not be broken. Why then, the Pharisees ask, did Moses say that a man can give his wife a divorce? Jesus' response is that this wasn't the way it was originally intended. Moses allowed it because the Israelites' hearts were hard. Jesus declares that unless the reason for divorce is adultery, any man who divorces his wife and remarries is committing adultery. Jesus acknowledges that some will find this difficult to accept this.
In a previous chapter, Jesus spoke about those with faith like children being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He reiterates that here, saying "the kingdom of heaven belongs to those such as these." The disciples try to stop a group of kids receiving Jesus' blessing, and rebuke those who brought them. The disciples are still viewing the children through earthly eyes; they still only understand children as mini humans with minimal rights. Why should they be allowed to bother a rabbi such as Jesus? But Jesus' command is that we should become like children; we should deliberately humble ourselves, serve others, put others above ourselves. It sounds simple, but it's certainly hard to do sometimes!
Psalm 17:1-5
(17:1-5)
The start of David's prayer here speaks of vindication. David asks for vindication, confidently proclaiming that if the LORD were to test him, he'd find no fault in David. Quite what David seeks vindication in I'm not sure. This psalm will be continued in two days' time, and concluded a day later, so I'll probably just do the psalm as a whole then.
Job 4:1-7:21
(4 | 5 | 6 | 7)
If you've ever read Job before, you'll know this is where the book starts getting unnecessarily wordy. It can be a bit difficult to wade through at times, and nigh on impossible to actually comprehend at others. I can't say that any notes I write will actually make anything any better. In fact, they might make matters even more convoluted. I'm going to try anyway; it might actually help me make sense of what's going on!
Job has just finished cursing the day he was born. Job doesn't blame God for the ill that has befallen him, but he does bemoan his lot; he compares his life unfavourably to that of a slave; even they receive the odd reprieve from their struggles and torment. He wishes that circumstances hadn't aligned themselves so that he might be born. It's at this stage that one of Job's friends, Eliphaz jumps in and speaks for a good two chapters. His argument seems to essentially be that Job should take his own advice; he had encouraged so many others in the past, but now, at the first sign of trouble, here he is, moping. He seems to insinuate that Job brought this on himself somehow:
"Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plough evil and those who sow trouble reap it." (4:7-8)He also suggests that Job should turn to God and seek his forgiveness:
"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." (5:17)Eliphaz believes that Job must have done something to incur God's wrath. Job is obviously oblivious to it, so if he seeks God, and seeks his correction on the issue, he'll be blessed by God's renewed protection.
Job's response is to reiterate how much he is suffering. He wishes that God would just kill him for two reasons; firstly, if he were dead, his suffering would be over; secondly, if God were to kill him, Job could die safe in the knowledge that he had not cursed God for his suffering. Job's concern is understandably in the amount he's suffering. Yet he's still concerned about sinning against God - he hasn't reached that stage, but he clearly fears that it will arrive. Job bemoans the reliability of his friends; in his hour of need, they're of little help, some even disappear altogether. Job begs his friends to tell him what he's done wrong. Job describes the transient nature of human existence; how it's gone in the blink of an eye. It is for this reason that he bemoans his life; he would rather die than continue living. He then turns direct to God and begs him to reveal what he's done wrong.
Matthew 19:1-15
(19:1-15)
Now in Judea, Jesus greets a crowd of people who had followed him there and heals their sick. Some Pharisees ask Jesus if it's acceptable under any circumstance for two people to be divorced. I'm not sure if they're trying to trip Jesus up here. If they are, Jesus isn't fooled. Jesus' reply is no; in the act of marriage, two become one flesh. That union is from God, and should not be broken. Why then, the Pharisees ask, did Moses say that a man can give his wife a divorce? Jesus' response is that this wasn't the way it was originally intended. Moses allowed it because the Israelites' hearts were hard. Jesus declares that unless the reason for divorce is adultery, any man who divorces his wife and remarries is committing adultery. Jesus acknowledges that some will find this difficult to accept this.
In a previous chapter, Jesus spoke about those with faith like children being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He reiterates that here, saying "the kingdom of heaven belongs to those such as these." The disciples try to stop a group of kids receiving Jesus' blessing, and rebuke those who brought them. The disciples are still viewing the children through earthly eyes; they still only understand children as mini humans with minimal rights. Why should they be allowed to bother a rabbi such as Jesus? But Jesus' command is that we should become like children; we should deliberately humble ourselves, serve others, put others above ourselves. It sounds simple, but it's certainly hard to do sometimes!
Psalm 17:1-5
(17:1-5)
The start of David's prayer here speaks of vindication. David asks for vindication, confidently proclaiming that if the LORD were to test him, he'd find no fault in David. Quite what David seeks vindication in I'm not sure. This psalm will be continued in two days' time, and concluded a day later, so I'll probably just do the psalm as a whole then.
No comments:
Post a Comment