Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 10

Job 10



-Despair begins to rule Job’s life as he continues his complaint before God not understanding why all this bad stuff had occurred in his life. He loathed his life and he was now going to give a full venting speaking out on the bitterness of his soul. He wanted to say to God, “Do not condemn me.” He felt guilt placed on him with no reason for it. He wanted to know why God was contending with him. He felt the oppression and rejection intensely. He even assumed the LORD was looking favorably on the schemes of the wicked. He was almost certain God had made some mistakes having human qualities of flesh to see only as man sees. Was God mortal? He concluded that no, God didn’t have to search for guilt or sin. According to His knowledge, he was not guilty; however, he was not getting any deliverance from the Hand of the LORD (Job 10:1-7). He was having a hard time dealing with this in his despondent spirit.

-He then reminded his God that it was His Hands that fashioned him and put him all together with skin, flesh (or body), bones, and sinews. How could He destroy such a one Job wondered? He asked God to remember that he was but clay, and pondered that God would turn him back into dust again. He felt poured out like milk and curdled like cheese. He knew the God of life, lovingkindness, care, and preservation of the spirit, yet he truly believed at this point the LORD was concealing these things in His Heart. In other words, he knew that it was within God to bless, but he was feeling excluded. He postulated that if he sinned, God would surely take note of it and would not acquit. He stated that if he were wicked, woe unto him. But, even in his righteousness he dare not lift up his head. He was sated with disgrace and completely conscious of his misery. Should he lift his head up in pride, God would simply hunt him down like a lion and demonstrate His supreme power. He reiterated that God had renewed His witness against him and increased His anger towards him. He vented yet again, “Hardship after hardship is with me (Job 10:8-17).”

-Job even questioned God on why He brought him out of the womb. He wished that he had died before any eye could have seen him. He uses the term “womb to tomb” to relate is abhorrence. He felt his life was totally useless at this juncture. Hope had so diminished in his spirit. He just wanted the LORD to leave him alone for his last few days on earth, withdrawing from him that he would have just a little cheer before he went, never to return, to the land of darkness and deep shadow in the afterlife. It was a land of utter gloom and total darkness without order, even shining in darkness (Job 10:18-22). The term “shines as the darkness,” I interpret to mean that darkness is the afterlife’s glory in this doomed place. Job’s view of eternity would eventually turn as we can read in Job 19:25-26. He was simply in the deep funk of despair in this outpouring of emotion.

-*Application* We’ve all pretty much been in this state of despondency at one time or another in our lives if we have lived very long. Life can be tough reeking all sorts of havoc in bringing us into a place of negativity and wishing we never existed. God understands our pain more than we know. God hears our sorrow and can certainly take our honesty in such moments of frustration. Thankfully, He is patient and kind even in our worst instances. His answers will come, just give Him time. We can’t afford to let our souls grow bitter. Continue in faith of His love, care, compassion, grace, and everlasting life.





Verse to Memorize: Job 10:1

Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 9

Job 9



-Job answered Bildad, his friend, in this chapter after some scrutiny had been laid on him. Job recognized the truths in what Bildad was laying out regarding the facets of God; then, he went into his own observations based on his experience. He begins with a deep theological question that each of us need to ponder. This is the age-old question, “How can a man be in the right before God?” As believers in Christ Jesus, that issue is settled. He has become our righteousness (Romans 3:21-24; 5:17, 1 Corithians 1:30, Philippians 3:9). We place our trust in Him, and not ourselves for salvation and redemption. Job was right, no one can dispute with God. We have no answer for Him when He presses us, not even once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart (all-wise, in other words omniscient) and mighty in strength (all-powerful, in other words omnipotent). God is in total charge of everything. Job wanders, “Who has defied Him without harm?” The answer is no one, but the LORD lovingly and sacrificially gave His Son to satisfy that demand of justice. The faithful get set free from the penalty of sin (or missing the mark of God’s perfection). Job ventures on into the might of God. He removes the mountains overturning them in anger if it is His desire, and no one can even know how. He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble. He commands the sun not to shine, and sets His seal upon the stars. In other words, He controls the weather as well as the universe. He alone stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea to fit His purposes. He ordains the constellations, like the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, even the chambers of the south. He does great things, unfathomable things, working wonders without number. Job concludes this section of awe saying that, “Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him. Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing (Job 9:1-12)?’”

-Job poetically takes the reader now through this intense agony of grief that he is feeling trying to figure out what God is doing in all this calamity. God had yet to turn back from His anger in Job’s mind. The reference to the “helpers of Rahab” would have referred to the name of a legendary sea monster of that period according to Babylonian creation myth. In their story, Murduk (the Babylonian supreme being) defeated Tiamat (otherwise known as Rahab), and then captured all of her helpers (see http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Le-Me/Marduk.html). Job’s friends were apparently aware of this legend as an artistic allegory. In other words, Job is actually saying that God has power over all demons and demonic activity. Job knows he as human cannot answer to the LORD. Even if he might have felt like he was in the right, his case could not possibly stand up to the Sovereign One. His recourse is rightly pleading for mercy. God is the only judge and has the final say on matters. Again, in the agony of grief and overwhelming feelings of loss, Job wanders at the effectiveness of his prayers. He is wrongly convinced that the LORD was not listening to his voice during this time. He felt bruised by the tempest, and his wounds were multiplied without cause. This statement his friends would definitely take issue with as the discussion escalates. Job felt like God would not even allow him to catch his breath. He was saturated with bitterness at this point. But, he wisely concludes that if it is a matter of power, God is certainly the One with the upper Hand. His justice is the only justice that counts. In the depths of his depression, God’s kindness seemed far, far away. He held to a righteous claim, but he stated that his mouth would condemn him nonetheless. Though he felt he was guiltless, and he was, he just knew that the LORD would declare him guilty. His self-pity party continued, “I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.” He saw the righteous suffering just as much as the wicked in this scenario of destruction. He poured out his frustration saying, “If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it (Job 9:13-24)?”

-Job continues in his disparaging comments through the rest of chapter feeling powerless and lost. His days were now fleeing away with no good in them, faster than a speedy runner, reed boats, and an eagle swooping upon prey. He was trying to forget his complaint and sad countenance, and become cheerful. But, he was afraid of all his pains, and he did not believe that God would acquit him. This was a false assumption caused by his inner turmoil. He felt accounted with the wicked, and that his toil was in vain. He believed that even if he cleaned himself, he would be plunged by God into the pit of despair and have no recourse. Of course, God was not a man like him that he could take Him to court. There was umpire between the two of them who could render a verdict. Job ended up begging the LORD to remove His rod from him and to not let the dread of Him terrify him any longer. However, he basically recants all that he just poured out in the last verse with this repentant statement that God will later take note of, “Then I would speak and not fear Him; but I am not like that in myself (Job 9:25-35).”

-*Application* Job’s vacillations can be ultra-confusing for us unless we have been through extreme situations that have brought us to the end of ourselves. When trauma hits, it has profound effects on our mind and words, which this sequence clearly illustrates. Job was accurate in his theology of sovereignty, but he often misses the goodness of God in the throes of pain. We can empathize with Job and conclude, like him, that some of our complaining is nonsense, and we are not like that in ourselves deep at the core. We should never let the gravity of life weigh us down, but learn to rise above it by keeping the right perspective and a rejoicing spirit (Philippians 4:4). This is the LORD’s true desire for us as His children.





Verses to Memorize: Job 9:2, 32

Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 8

Job 8



-Bildad the Shuhite now speaks into the situation concerning how God rewards those who are truly good and don’t forget about Him. Some, but not all, of what Bildad says here in this chapter is good advice and counsel. He begins by questioning Job as to how long he could say these things in complaint towards God. He rhetorically asks how long these words of his mouth be a mighty wind (ruwach- breath, wind, spirit). I interpret this to mean spirit here more than the translation of wind. Bildad was questioning Job’s spirit in his speech. His mighty spirit was not being led of the Holy Spirit, and this was troubling to Job’s friend. Bildad goes on to ask, “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?” Then he gives a series of “if” remarks intended to instruct Job. He starts this with saying, “If your sons sinned against Him, then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.” This was falsely assumed we can take from the text, but the “if” is there for a reason. In fact, Job’s children had done nothing wrong to deserve the fate they experienced. It was a venomous attack of Satan in this case. The next “if” statement attempts to get Job to “seek God” and “implore the compassion of the Almighty.” The last “if” statement says to Job, “If you are pure and upright, surely now He would rouse Himself for you and restore your righteous estate. Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly (Job 8:1-7).” This is exactly what would eventually happen with Job (Job 42:10-17). However, it took some time and spiritual growth to realize this truth. God had to take His servant through the school of hard knocks first.

-Bildad also advised his friend in this dialog to inquire of past generations and consider the things gleaned by their fathers through time. Experience is a great teacher was his message. They had only been around for what seemed like a yesterday, and Bildad concluded that they knew virtually nothing “because our days on earth are as a shadow.” The ancestors can teach and tell bringing forth wise words from their minds of the past to the present if they would only pay attention (Job 8:8-10).

-The poetry continues with an analogy to the papyrus. Papyrus cannot grow without a marsh, and the rushes cannot grow without substantial water. If it is green, it will not be cut down, but it is a weak plant in its construction. In dry seasons, it withers before any other plant. Bildad compares this to the paths of all who forget God. He plainly says, “The hope of the godless will perish, whose confidence is fragile, and whose trust (like) a spider’s web.” Putting trust in and holding fast to a temporary house will not stand and will not endure. This is a product of this passing earth. There is a seasonal thriving before the sun as roots spread out over the garden, but they wrap around the rock pile and it becomes a house of stones in the end. There is denial in the end with this type of striving. Bildad is wrongly convinced that Job has been sucked in by materialism here. He develops this futile philosophy of creating joy simply by doing the best one can and then passing it on to his descendants. He wraps up his speech with some positive comments on the Heavenly Father. Truth is found in the statement, “Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, nor will He support the evildoers.” Hope and retribution enter back into the equation as he completes his thought, “He (God) will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting. Those who hate you will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no longer (Job 8:11-22).”

-*Application* We must take a long-term approach in our relationship with the Sovereign God. Short-term lessons prepare us for the “hope and future” that we have in Christ Jesus (Jeremiah 29:11). Our spirit should always be in tune with His Spirit, we should listen to wisdom from our ancestors if they had proper faith and doctrine, and we should be like trees planted by streams of Living Water (Psalms 1:3, John 7:38, Galatians 5:25, 2 Timothy 1:5). So, remain steady, hold fast, and keep the faith. Better times are coming for those called to the Kingdom of God.





Verse to Memorize: Job 8:6

Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 7

Job 7



-As Job continues in his misery he gives a reminder of the curse brought by sin to this world upon man (Genesis 3:17-19). He asks the question, “Is not man forced to labor on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired man?” In his toil, he has felt like “a slave who pants for the shade” and “a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages.” He believes he was dealt months of vanity (shav'- emptiness, falsehood, vanity, nothingness), and nights of trouble have been appointed to him. His dark state continues seemingly merciless. He continually tosses and turns up until dawn longing for relief from the anguish and constant pain. This is his nightmare season, and it’s a total reality in his existence. He states that his flesh is clothed with worms (could be metaphorical relating to death, but also could be literal here as he is being tormented) and a crust of dirt (`aphar- dry ground, dust, powder, ashes, earth, mortar, rubbish). His skin hardens under the strain of disease and his wounds run with puss from the sore boils (Job 2:7-8). Job sees his life as confusing as the intertwinings of a weaver’s shuttle, twisting and turning rapidly in a concocting of material, but he has found no hope in it (Job 7:1-6).

-In this hopeless estate, Job contemplates death for the next few verses. He correctly compares life to a breath (James 4:14). But, he wrongly predicts that his eye will see no more good in his lifetime (Job 42:10-17). He really thinks he’s about to pass on from the earth, and that folks will see him no longer. He mistakenly believes he will be gone like a vanishing cloud going down to Sheol never to return. Further, he thinks he will never return to his house and that those in his place will not know him anymore (Job 7:7-10). Perhaps he feels like he will be forgotten as a non-entity, a worthless fellow, a loser. Job had totally lost perspective.

-Because of these erroneous feelings, he determines that he will not restrain his mouth concerning the anguish of his spirit and the bitterness of his soul. He will speak; he will even complain about it. Job here sets his complaints on the Heavenly One pouring out his honest feeling over the situation. He first asks if he is the sea, or the sea monster, that God would set His guard over him. He has wanted his bed to comfort him and his couch to ease his complaint, but these only garnered the frightening dreams and terrifying visions Job attributes to the Father. Job claims that his soul would prefer suffocation and death rather than his pains. Job felt his life wasting away. He knew he was not going to last forever, and the brevity of life was his forethought. He wanted to be left alone. He wondered why God had magnified mankind, and why He was even concerned about him. He knew the LORD examined man every morning and tried him every moment. He asked plainly, “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?” This last phrase may refer to the diseased condition he was experiencing in his body, or it could have been a proverbial idiom of the time to denote a need for more proper time to contemplate and figure things out on his own. Whatever the case, Job continues with his inquisition of the Sovereign, “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O Watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, so that I am a burden to myself? Why then do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity?” Exasperated, Job concludes his tirade with the LORD, “For now I will lie down in the dust; and You will seek me, but I will not be (Job 7:11-21).”

-*Application* Sometimes when things go, they go from bad to worse. The struggle of trauma, disease, and affliction are real and bring out the true angst in us as human beings. We are no different than Job when we reflect on those moments in our lives when we have questioned God about things that surely weren’t going our way, even when we felt like we’d done nothing to deserve it. The LORD can absolutely take our honesty. Any seeking in the psalms of David easily identifies and proves that point. God knows our heart anyway. We might as well be truthful in our thoughts toward Him, just like we see Job doing in this passage. However, let us be cautioned to guard our tongues properly in this matter. Our testimony can be tarnished, and this can have devastating effects on those around us if we are not careful and sensitive with what comes out of our mouths. It is better to glorify and thank God in stressful situations even when we don’t totally understand what He is doing (Ephesians 5:20).





Verse to Memorize: Job 7:20

Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 6

Job 6



-Job now answers Eliphaz with a heart rendering comeback that we can learn from. He starts with the fact that his grief is so heavy. Metaphorically he says that if it, along his calamity, were actually weighed and laid in the balances, it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. Anyone who has had to pick up a few sandbags know the gravity of this comparison. Job admits his words have been rash, but he felt like the attack of the Almighty was within him. He calls them arrows, and his spirit was drinking their poison. In fact, he states plainly, “The terrors of God are arrayed against me.” He considers the advice of his friend as tasteless food eaten without salt, or as he says, tasteless like the white of an egg. He refuses to touch these comments for “they are like loathsome food to me (Job 6:1-7).”

-Job prays that his request for death might come to pass. He is in such agony on this earth and longs for release. He longs for the afterlife in other words. He wishes God would “crush” him and “cut” him “off.” However, he contrasts everything with these pertinent words, “But it is still my consolation, and I rejoice in unsparing pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” This statement shows Job’s unwavering fortitude. In poetic fashion the solemn man now contemplates, “What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?” He wondered whether or not his strength was as the strength of stones and his flesh like toughness of bronze. He questioned if his help was within him, and meditated on the question of his deliverance being driven from him (Job 6:8-13). He was in new territory, and his mind had many intriguing, disturbing, and deep thoughts. At least he was yielded to his Maker in this state of destitution.

-Then, he let his comrades know what he needed. This is sage counsel for us living in the modern era too. “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; so that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.” He goes on to call these brothers wadis (Definition- A dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.), torrents which vanish, like when the ice melts or sudden rains hit and then are gone leaving behind dryness and no hope of sustaining water. He complains that his friends had seen terror and were afraid. He asked them, “Have I said, ‘Give me something,’ or ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’ or ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’ or ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?” He had asked nothing of them. Now, he wanted them to teach him. He said he would be silent if they would only honestly show him how he’d erred. These honest words would be painful, but he wondered what their argument would prove. He admitted his words of despair belonged to the wind (quickly fading), but he indeed questioned their reproof. He maintained his innocence in all this asking them to look at him and see if he was being dishonest. He finishes this section with this, “Desist now, let there be no injustice; even desist, my righteousness is yet in it (or my righteousness still stands). Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern calamities (Job 6:14-30)?” What Job was maintaining was his relationship with God even in disaster. He truly was not guilty of the sins his friends were accusing him of, not that he was perfect.

-*Application* Have we considered how to help our friends in times of intense stress, trauma, or tribulation. Grief is a scary monster, and our kindness towards those going through it is paramount. Sometimes it is just best to be present and listen not taking too seriously what they may be saying. Those words in despair, as Job points out, “belong to the wind.” If we are careless with our words to those going through an extremely difficult time, we run the risk of turning their fear of the Almighty into outright anger and hatred towards God. These are times when there is much disillusionment, suffering, and confusion. Kindness is the best way to bring them back to where they need to be (Romans 2:4). Let’s be good counselors with all the consideration, compassion, and insight of the Scriptures.





Verses to Memorize: Job 6:10, 14

Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 5

Job 5



-Eliphaz, one of the three friends of Job, continues his discourse in chapter five. He asks first in this pericope, “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?” Then he postulates his observations. These include some proverbs, which he begins with: 1) anger slays the foolish man, 2) jealousy kills the simple, 3) the foolish take root (deep laziness gets entrenched and spreads), 4) the foolish man’s abode is cursed, 5) the foolish man’s sons are far from safety, 6) the foolish man is oppressed (literally- crushed) in the city gate, 7) the foolish man has no deliverer, 8) the foolish has his harvest devoured by the hungry and taken to a place of thorns, 9) the schemer is eager for other’s wealth, 10) affliction doesn’t come from the dust, 11) trouble doesn’t sprout from the ground, 12) man is born for trouble as sparks fly upward (Job 5:1-7).

-As for him, Eliphaz says that he would seek God and place his cause before Him. Then he proceeds to give some general truths about the LORD. God is described as doing great and unsearchable things, “wonders without number.” God gives rain on the earth and the fields thereof. He sets on high those who are lowly (James 1:9). He lifts those who mourn to safety (Matthew 5:4). The LORD frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, so that their hands will not attain success. The LORD captures the worldly wise by their own shrewdness. The advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted by God. Darkness overwhelms the cunning, and they grope around aimless at mid-day (noon) just like it was night. Great poetic play here. God saves the poor from the sword and the hand of the mighty. Therefore, the helpless have hope, and the unrighteous man must shut his mouth (Job 5:8-16).

-Eliphaz continues, “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” God inflicts pain, but He is good to give relief. He wounds, but His Hands also heal. “From six troubles He will deliver you, even is seven evil will not touch you.” In times of famine, the LORD will redeem from death, and in war, He will keep from the power of the sword. The reproved man will be hidden from the scourge (showt- a whip) of the tongue. In other words, gossip won’t affect the person whom God has taken through His discipline. This man will not be afraid of violence when it comes. In fact, he will laugh at violence and famine, and wild beasts will not scare him. This person need not fear stones of the field (rock slides that could harm in that region) for he will be in league with them, and all the beasts of the field will be at peace with this one. The reproved of the LORD will have a secure tent and will fear no loss when he visits his abode. He will have many descendants; his offspring will be as the grass of the earth. He will even come to his grave in full vigor, “like the stacking of grain in its season.” Eliphaz concludes, “Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself (Job 5:17-27).”  

-*Application* We too can observe and discern many things as we see the LORD’s interactions with mankind. We should obediently learn when God seeks to teach and correct us. We must understand that we are fallen creatures in desperate need of a Savior, Protector, and Higher Friend (1 John 4:14, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, John 15:14-15). Therefore, we should heed this counsel when it comes to the discipline and reproof of the Almighty. We should not despise it, but actually be happy about it because of what it produces, the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:5-13).





Verse to Memorize: Job 5:17

Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 4

Job 4



-Eliphaz the Temanite answers his friend as this section gets underway after Job has poured out his heart in grief. We, as examiners of the text, must keep in mind that while some of Eliphaz’s statements contain truth, there is definitely some error mixed in as well (Job 42:7). This is important to ascertain. Eliphaz begins with counsel that is intended to help Job, but in some ways could be interpreted to be a harsh demonstration. He says that if one ventures to say a word with him, would he become impatient? It would be difficult to refrain from speaking in this situation. He retold how Job’s words had admonished man, strengthened weak hands, helped the tottering to stand, and strengthened feeble knees. But now (notice the stark contrast here), these things have come upon this righteous man, Job, and Eliphaz accuses him of becoming impatient in the process. Dismay has overtaken. Eliphaz rightly calls his friend back to reverence for God to be his confidence and the integrity of his ways his hope (Job 4:1-6).

-Eliphaz gives his observations as he questions Job. He asks, “Who ever perished being innocent?” and “Where were the upright destroyed?” According to what he has seen, only those who plow iniquity and sow trouble harvest it. He has only speculated, for he concludes, “By the breath of God they (sinners) perish, and by the blast of His anger they come to an end.” These, who he compares to roaring lions, have their teeth broken and are scattered by the Sovereign in such cases (Job 4:7-11).

-Now, Eliphaz continues, a word was brought to him stealthily as if by whisper. “Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,” dread had come upon him, which made his body tremble and all his bones shake. A spirit passed before his face making his hairs bristle up on his body. The spirit stood still, but he could not discern its appearance. There was a form before his eyes, there was silence, then he heard a voice, “Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before His Maker?” The spirit continues, “He (the LORD) puts no trust even in His servants; and against His angels He charges error. How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!” The chapter concludes at this point with the spirit’s final words, “Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; unobserved, they perish forever. Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom (Job 4:12-21).”

-*Application* When friends try to pick us up in our down moments of life, we still need to use wisdom and discernment to know if this is a word from the Lord or someone else. Sometimes even the best intentions are not that helpful. Only counsel from the Living God in coordination with His Word (which can be found in the Bible) is absolute truth that we can count on. We must remember this when we find ourselves in these types of life situations. Fact is, with Christ on our side, we can be justified and pure before our Maker, and He does trust us with a call on our lives (Romans 5:1-10, 2 Corinthians 11:2, 1 John 3:3, 2 Timothy 1:9).





Verse to Memorize: Job 4:17