SCRIPTURE: Job 41 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Nothing on earth is its equal, no other creature so fearless. Of all the creatures, it is the proudest. It is the king of beasts. [Job 41:33-34] In this conversation, God uses the largest beast known at the time [the behemoth or leviathon, Job 40:15, Job 41:1] to show His own greatness and our smallness….
God’s critics?
SCRIPTURE: Job 40 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too…
the intelligent designer
SCRIPTURE: Job 39 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Do you know when the wild goats give birth? Have you watched as deer are born in the wild? Do you know how many months they carry their young? Are you aware of the time of their delivery? [Job 39:1-2] Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings…
when God questions me
SCRIPTURE: Job 38 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. [Job 38:3-4] Finally, after extended controversy between Job and his friends, we now get to God’s response. But…
with deepest, tenderest fears
SCRIPTURE: Job 37 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence. [Job 37:23-24] I have to admit it, I like much of what Elihu has to say; his reminder about…
befriend… not defend!
SCRIPTURE: Job 36 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Let me go on, and I will show you the truth. For I have not finished defending God! [Job 36:2] Does God need to be defended by us? I often think about this when I hear about people or religions that impose punishments against people who speak against their God or their faith….
expressing our doubts
SCRIPTURE: Job 35 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. [Job 35:13] Have you ever felt that God wasn’t listening to you? Have you ever complained that God didn’t seem to care for you? Well, according to Elihu, this is wrong and you ought to be ashamed of…
systematic theology
SCRIPTURE: Job 34 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God. [Job 34:36-37] The book of Job presents two approaches to the struggle with evil and why suffering happens. Job’s friends…
open, humble hearts
SCRIPTURE: Job 33 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps…
here we go again
SCRIPTURE: Job 32 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. He was…