Day 30
Job 15:1-18:21
(15 | 16 | 17 | 18)
Eliphaz questions Job's wisdom in saying everything he has so far; by doing what he's doing, he's making things worse for himself. He goes on to say that since man is inherently corrupt, how can God trust him? The rest of his argument seems to be that implying that Job must have done something wrong, as God punishes the unjust.
Job starts his reply by saying his friends are terrible at comforting him. If the roles were reversed, he would only encourage them, even though he could certainly do to them what they're doing to him. Job laments his position, and wonders if there is any hope at all for him, or if it has gone down to the grave, where he is sure to rejoin it soon.
Bildad (in one of the earliest recorded cases of the pot calling the kettle black) tells Job to stop going off on lengthy speeches, and to start speaking sensibly. It seems that by this he means he wants Job to admit he's actually done something wrong, as he also goes off on one implying that Job must have done something wrong.
So far, the formula seems to be thus; Job saying he's done nothing wrong, inviting God to destroy him if he has, and asking God to end him anyway, as this torment is too much for him to bear; Job's friends telling him he must have done something wrong, and going on lengthy speeches about what happens to the unrighteous by way of supporting evidence.
Matthew 20:20-34
(20:20-34)
The mother of John and James comes to Jesus and asks a favour of him; she asks that her sons be given the right to sit either side of Jesus in heaven. Jesus tells her it is not his place to grant that request; rather it is the Father who decides these things. Interestingly, when he asks them if they can "drink the cup that I am going to drink", he says that they will. I don't know what this means - James is martyred, but not by crucifixion, and John survives the rest of the twelve into old age. Anyway, when the rest of the twelve hear of this, they're indignant for John and James. Jesus repeats to them that anyone of them who wants to become great must first become a servant. This is also the first mention of the reason for Jesus' death - "whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (verses 27-28).
On the way out of Jericho, two blind men call on Jesus, whom they call "Lord, Son of David", to heal them. At first, the crowds following Jesus rebuke the two men. The two blind men just shout louder. It's then that Jesus stops, has compassion and heals the two men. When we call on God, we need to be patient for a response. More than that, we need to be persistent.
Psalm 17:13-15
(17:13-15)
It's been said at various points that people who do things for themselves instead of God, under the pretence of doing it for God, or just to be seen doing something super-holy don't get any points in heaven - all they'll receive for their actions is whatever they get on earth. In this psalm, David is asking to be saved from such people. The people whose reward is on earth and not in heaven are attacking David, and David asks to be saved from them. David lists some of God's attributes and promises, and finishes off by saying he's looking forward to the day when he can look on God's face.
Job 15:1-18:21
(15 | 16 | 17 | 18)
Eliphaz questions Job's wisdom in saying everything he has so far; by doing what he's doing, he's making things worse for himself. He goes on to say that since man is inherently corrupt, how can God trust him? The rest of his argument seems to be that implying that Job must have done something wrong, as God punishes the unjust.
Job starts his reply by saying his friends are terrible at comforting him. If the roles were reversed, he would only encourage them, even though he could certainly do to them what they're doing to him. Job laments his position, and wonders if there is any hope at all for him, or if it has gone down to the grave, where he is sure to rejoin it soon.
Bildad (in one of the earliest recorded cases of the pot calling the kettle black) tells Job to stop going off on lengthy speeches, and to start speaking sensibly. It seems that by this he means he wants Job to admit he's actually done something wrong, as he also goes off on one implying that Job must have done something wrong.
So far, the formula seems to be thus; Job saying he's done nothing wrong, inviting God to destroy him if he has, and asking God to end him anyway, as this torment is too much for him to bear; Job's friends telling him he must have done something wrong, and going on lengthy speeches about what happens to the unrighteous by way of supporting evidence.
Matthew 20:20-34
(20:20-34)
The mother of John and James comes to Jesus and asks a favour of him; she asks that her sons be given the right to sit either side of Jesus in heaven. Jesus tells her it is not his place to grant that request; rather it is the Father who decides these things. Interestingly, when he asks them if they can "drink the cup that I am going to drink", he says that they will. I don't know what this means - James is martyred, but not by crucifixion, and John survives the rest of the twelve into old age. Anyway, when the rest of the twelve hear of this, they're indignant for John and James. Jesus repeats to them that anyone of them who wants to become great must first become a servant. This is also the first mention of the reason for Jesus' death - "whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (verses 27-28).
On the way out of Jericho, two blind men call on Jesus, whom they call "Lord, Son of David", to heal them. At first, the crowds following Jesus rebuke the two men. The two blind men just shout louder. It's then that Jesus stops, has compassion and heals the two men. When we call on God, we need to be patient for a response. More than that, we need to be persistent.
Psalm 17:13-15
(17:13-15)
It's been said at various points that people who do things for themselves instead of God, under the pretence of doing it for God, or just to be seen doing something super-holy don't get any points in heaven - all they'll receive for their actions is whatever they get on earth. In this psalm, David is asking to be saved from such people. The people whose reward is on earth and not in heaven are attacking David, and David asks to be saved from them. David lists some of God's attributes and promises, and finishes off by saying he's looking forward to the day when he can look on God's face.
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