[Brother V]

Job 7-9

In today's Bible in a Year reading, we get:

• Job stops bitching at Eliphaz and questions God
• Bildad asks his question
• Job answers

Job 7

Remember Eliphaz was trying to get Job to confess to some perceived sin, something that MUST HAVE caused Job's great suffering.

Job had just told Eliphaz that he wasn't lying. Now he starts off on a tangent asking God why.

2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

Job is saying he did his job, and wants his pay!

4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

Job complains that he can't sleep. Which really sucks, because his days are so horrible that he yearns for sleep so he can escape his pain, but he doesn't even get good sleep.

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

He's not complaining to God... directly, he's complaining to whoever is listening.

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

Again he requests to die, but he isn't man enough to kill himself.

20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

He finally asks for forgiveness, even though he doesn't really believe that he's sinned.

21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Now he's asking God why he isn't instantly healed.

Job 8

Bildad finally talks.

2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

The strong wind was considered to be the east wind. The east wind is also considered to be parching. The east wind dries out and kills plants. Bildad tells Job that his words are choking.

4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

Bildad claims that God killed Job's children because they sinned, which we know isn't the case, God only killed Job's children to see how he'd react.

6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Bildad, like Eliphaz can't comprehend that Job's suffering is anything other than punishment for sin.

11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

Remember the strong wind, Bildad continues talking about plants needing water, the East wind is from the desert, it kills baby plants.

13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

Without God, you are a desert breeze that doesn't cool, but instead whisks away the rest of the water.

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

God has to be good to the good, and bad to the bad.

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

Bildad started out being nice to Job, but when he started talking about the strong wind, he became an accuser.

Job 9

Job responds.

2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Finally something smart from Job. How can a man be just/right/good, compared to God?

3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

No matter how good a man is, God is 1000 times better.

Job lists some of God's accomplishments.

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

God moves mountains.

9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

Wait... what was that?

Arcturus is the third brightest star. Arcturus is a Greek word. Which is rather odd. Zechariah is the first to mention Greece at all, and he was about 300 years later.

The word Orion, and most Greek mythology comes from the Homeric era. Homer lived around 850 BC. That's roughly 500 years AFTER the time we are thinking this story took place. Which shows that the Greeks stole the names of their Gods and constellations from the jews!

10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

Naming the constellations in Greek, before the greeks, that's truly a wonder!

Even in the Original Hebrew.

ט עֹשֶׂה-עָשׁ, כְּסִיל וְכִימָה; וְחַדְרֵי תֵמָן

Which translates 9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.



11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Job says that even though he (Job) doesn't notice God is there, God is there anyway. Just because Job's life sucks, doesn't mean that God has abandoned him. Job, even though he begs for death, knows God is there for him.

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job knows that he can't justify himself. He's not good enough, even though he's darn good.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Job knows that the things he does are good, so they can't all be bad.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

God is ... well... God.

So what have we learned today?

1. Job almost accuses God of doing this to him.

2. Bildad starts out nice, but quickly starts accusing Job of some hidden sins.

3. Job names Orion nearly 500 years before the greeks!

YIC
V

[Pastor Billy-Reuben]

Originally Posted by Brother V

Job complains that he can't sleep.

Job 7:5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

No wonder he can't sleep! He's got maggots living in his festering sores.

Originally Posted by Brother V

He's not complaining to God... directly, he's complaining to whoever is listening.

Job takes a line of reasoning that I have heard from unrepentant sinners when I am out street preaching:

Job 7
17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

Basically, Job is saying that man is not worth God's notice and our petty little "sins" are not worth His attention. It's like some homosexual once asked me, "God has a whole universe to run. Why does He even care if I like men?"

The answer is that sin is rebellion against an infinitely holy God. Every sin, no matter how minor or petty our sin may seem to us, makes God absolutely furious.

Psalm 7
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Originally Posted by Brother V

the Greeks stole the names of their Gods and constellations from the jews!

Back when we covered II Chronicles 26, we learned that the Jews had catapults and ballistas four hundred years before anyone else did, but the Greeks later stole the credit for inventing them. It doesn't surprise me that those thieving Greeks stole their constellations from the Jews.

I'm guessing it happened when Alexander was meeting with High Priest Jaddua. His spies were probably running around stealing all the Jewish technology.

Originally Posted by Brother V

Job knows that he can't justify himself. He's not good enough, even though he's darn good.

Job was as clean and pure as a man can be, but he was still utterly vile compared to God.

Job 9
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

Job is perfect in his own eyes, but if he could see himself as God sees him, he would despise himself as much as God despises him. See Isaiah 64:5-7.

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

God punishes people according to His justice, not ours. People who are considered perfect by men and people who are considered wicked are equally vile in God's sight. See Romans 3:10-12.

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

Even though we might seem pure in our own eyes, we are totally corrupt before God.

This is what is so dangerous about the so-called "self-esteem" gospel. Itching ears are told that they are good enough for God, and that they have inherent worth as individuals. Nothing could be further from the truth. The "self-esteem" gospel is the exact opposite of the true gospel message.

If people don't understand that they are vile wretches, abhorrent in God's sight, if people mistakenly believe that God loves them exactly the way they are, they aren't going to repent of their sinful lifestyles and get saved.

Pastor Billy-Reuben