Looking for Job

[JLG]

1) Job - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- When the story of Job starts in the book of Job, Job is an old man!
- There” is no one like him on earth!
- His faithfulness is established!
- He has nothing to prove to Yah.weh!
- And Yah.weh is his only judge!
- No one else!
- There is nothing more important than his relationship to Yah.weh!
- it is like breathing, drinking and eating!
- If we want to understand Job’s faithfulness, we need to feel his relationship to Yah.weh!
- I should say smell it!
- Each drop of perspiration!

 

[JLG]

2) Job - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

• He has everything!
• Many animals!
• Many servants!
• Many children!
• We are told about one wife like Abraham!
• A deep relationship to Yah.weh!
• He is respected by everybody!
• Blameless!
• Upright!
• Fearing Yah.weh!
• Shunning evil!
• Is that not enough?
• Unfortunately, we get nothing about Job’s youth and adulthood!
• Personally, I would have enjoyed having such information!
• Then you can compare with your whole life!
• Compare the different stages!
• Nothing special!
• Just human!

 

[JLG]

3) Job - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

JOB 1:5

And
וַיְהִ֡י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

when
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the days
יְמֵ֨י (yə·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of feasting
הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֜ה (ham·miš·teh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4960: Drink, drinking, a banquet, feast

were over,
הִקִּיפֽוּ֩ (hiq·qî·p̄ū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5362: To strike, to knock together, surround, circulate

Job
אִיּ֣וֹב (’î·yō·wḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 347: Job -- a patriarch

would send [for his children]
וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

to purify them,
וַֽיְקַדְּשֵׁ֗ם (way·qad·də·šêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

rising early
וְהִשְׁכִּ֣ים (wə·hiš·kîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7925: To load up, to start early in the morning

in the morning
בַּבֹּקֶר֮ (bab·bō·qer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

to offer
וְהֶעֱלָ֣ה (wə·he·‘ĕ·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

burnt offerings
עֹלוֹת֮ (‘ō·lō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

for all of them.
כֻּלָּם֒ (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

For
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Job
אִיּ֔וֹב (’î·yō·wḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 347: Job -- a patriarch

thought,
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Perhaps
אוּלַי֙ (’ū·lay)
Adverb
Strong's 194: Perhaps

my children
בָנַ֔י (ḇā·nay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

have sinned
חָטְא֣וּ (ḥā·ṭə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

and cursed
וּבֵרֲכ֥וּ (ū·ḇê·ră·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

God
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

in their hearts.�
בִּלְבָבָ֑ם (bil·ḇā·ḇām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

This
כָּ֛כָה (kā·ḵāh)
Adverb
Strong's 3602: Just so

was Job�s
אִיּ֖וֹב (’î·yō·wḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 347: Job -- a patriarch

regular
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

practice.
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


- To purify them!
- Rising early in the morning!
- To offer burnt offerings for all of them!
- “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts”!
- This was Job’s regular practice!
- Have you ever seen a simple man like you and me doing such a thing in the Bible?
- I haven’t!
- Just this small element opposes powerfully against all those who speak against Job and have no idea about what means FAITHFULNESS TO YAH.WEH!
- It’s easy to understand when we realize that UNFAITHFULNESS IS NEARLY EVERYWHERE IN THE BIBLE!

 

[JLG]

98) Looking for Job


Job 10

So why did you bring me out from the womb?

I should have died before any eye could see

me.


- Yes, Job has only one reference: God!


- So he doesn’t understand what’s on!


- Why having such a life and finishing in such a way: it is a nonsense!


- Except there is no one like him on earth regarding his faithfulness!


- And he was chosen by the devil to oppose God but despite the devil he showed that God was right that is there is no one like him on earth!


- So much was in this trial and till now it has been the same story with humanity: faithfulness to God!

 

[JLG]

99) Looking for Job


Job 10

It would have been as though I never existed;

I would have been taken straight from the

womb to the grave.


- No way!


- Job doesn’t know it but he takes part in something he can’t imagine!


- He is the one who shows that a man can stay faithful to God whatever may happen to him!


- If the devil chose him to fight God, it was because he was special and his relationship with God was exceptional!


- Think about Job’s feelings through his trial and then think about God’s feelings watching Job being tortured physically and mentally by the devil and he couldn’t do anything because there was a trial on!


- The more we read about Job and his relationship with God the more it makes us think about our personal relationship with God!


- It shows we need to build up such a relationship and it may grow or shrink depending on the efforts we do!


- And Job shows us the way!

 

[JLG]

100) Looking for Job


Job 10

Are not my days few? Let him leave me alone;

Let him turn his eyes away from me, so that

I may find some relief


- He doesn’t know but he speaks about the devil!


- He has no idea of tomorrow!


- He just wants his torture to finish!


- It can be death or life, anything but no more torture!


- But he keeps faithful and at the same time he keeps complaining because of his torture!

 

[JLG]

101) Looking for Job


Job 10

Before I go away – and I will not return -

To the land of deepest darkness,

To the land of utter gloom,

A land of deep shadow and disorder,

where even the light is like the gloom.


- These words remind me of those of Jesus speaking about death as if it was sleep!


- deepest darkness, utter gloom, deep shadow and disorder, the light is like gloom!


- Quite a different vision from what people usually think it is!


- Maybe they should think about!

 

[JLG]

102) Looking for Job


Job 12

Then Job says in reply:

“Surely you are the people who know,

And wisdom will die out with you!


- If we didn’t know Job’s situation, would we think about someone so combative?


- Difficult to think so!


- So precise!


- Wisdom is a journey which never ends!


- And the beginning of this journey is humility: no humility, no journey, no wisdom!

 

[JLG]

4) Job - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

(Job 1:1)

• Blameless!
• Upright!
• Fearing God!
• Shunning evil!

(Job 1:8)

• There is no one like him on earth!
• Blameless!
• Upright!
• Fearing God!
• Shunning evil!

• We find twice the same words about Job!
• Once in the text!
• Once when Yah.weh speaks to the devil!
• Thus for Yah.weh, Job’s faithfulness is clear like crystal!
• Job doesn’t need any refinement!
• He does everything Yah.weh expect him to do!
• And even more!
• He does everything according to what he knows!
• In the Bible, Israel does the reverse that is spiritual corruption and follows corruption!
• They know what to do and they do the reverse!
• Today it is the same with mankind, there is absolutely no difference!
• And many speak against Job!
• Thus they also speak against Yah.weh!
• Find the mistake!

 

[JLG]

103) Looking for Job


Job 12

But I too have understanding.

I am not inferior to you.

Who does not know these things?


- Job is not a young boy!


- He has lived for quite some time!


- He has life experience!


- He has helped many people!


- He is someone you can count on!


- We know him through the Book of Job!


- We know them according to what they say!


- And they were supposed to help Job but they are liars, they do the reverse!


- They don’t come from God but from the devil!


- They are just another attempt from him to get rid of Job!

 

[JLG]

104) Looking for Job

Job 12

I have become a laughingstock to my

companions,

One calling to God for an answer.

A righteous and blameless man is a

laughingstock.


- Laughingstock!


- The book of Job tells us a lot about Job!


- He has done so many good things!


- And he is faithful to God!


- And he has become a laughingstock!


- Just concentrate on this word!


- Think about Job’s life and his actions!


- “A righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock”!


- What a shock for him!


- All that for that!


- What a nonsense for Job!


- He can’t situate anywhere!


- He is nowhere!


- Or better said he keeps by his faithfulness!


- It is his torch lighting him in the darkness!


- And he keeps fighting whatever happens!

 

[JLG]

5) Job - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- Are the devil accusations against Job serious?
- In fact, they are completely ridiculous!
- Job is a faithful servant of Yah.weh!
- Because of his faithfulness, Yah.weh blesses him!
- it is a two-way relationship!
- It has always been so!
- In Matthew 4, the devil does it this way when he provokes Jesus!
- And the third attempt is the best: something in exchange for something else!
- He does the same with Eve!
- In the covenant between Yah.weh and Israel, it is the same way again!
- In fact, there is only one way!
- Yah.weh only gives!
- Israel gives nothing back!
- Thus the devil is less than nothing!
- That’s why Yah.weh says: there is nothing like him on earth!

 

[JLG]

105) Looking for Job


Job 12

The carefree person has contempt for calamity,

Thinking it is only for those whose feet are

unsteady.


- The carefree person doesn’t care!


- But Job cares about everything!


- And he cares about God!


- And he cares about people!


- But he also cares about himself!


- And knowing his personal situation he can only be upset!

 

[JLG]

6) Job - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- We breathe CORRUPTION through pollution!
- We eat CORRUPTION through pollution!
- We drink CORRUPTION through pollution!
- We are contaminated through:
- MORAL CORRUPTION!
- RELIGIOUS CORRUPTION!
- MENTAL CORRUPTION!
- HEALTH CORRUPTION!
- HUMAN CORRUPTION!

- When we look at the book of Job, Yah.weh says about Job:
- There is no one like him on earth!
- We are so contaminated that it is so difficult for us to understand these words from Yah.weh!
- We are so contaminated that it is easy for us to condemn Job!
- But we have no roadmap!
- We don’t have constant actions to fight corruption!
- We live in a human society which is completely corrupted!
- Or better said, human society is corruption itself!
- And the devil is the father of human corruption!
- And he started with Eve!
- And he tried everything possible to corrupt Job!
- BUT HE FAILED!
AND IT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE!

 

[JLG]

106) Looking for Job


Job 12

The tents of robbers are at peace,

And those who provoke God are secure,

Those who have their god in their hands.


- God is tortured!


- So he feels bad!

- And he sees what’s on in the world!


- What would he say if he could see what is happening today?

 

[JLG]

107) Looking for Job


Job 12

However, ask, please, the animals, and they will

instruct you;

Also the birds of the heavens, and they will

tell you;

Or give consideration to the earth, and it will

instruct you;

And the fish of the sea will declare it to you.

Who among all these does not knowledge

That the hand of God has done this?


- Yes, Job answers back!


- And he says that God’s creation tells us about God!


- God’s creation is an open Book of God’s wisdom!


- What a difference with man!


- He is only a copier and a bad one!


- Look at what he has done of the earth!


- And the more the time passes the worse it is!


- And he seems to be proud of it!


- And more people talk about a plan B!


- But there is no plan B!

 

[JLG]

108) Looking for Job


Job 12

In his hand is the life of every living thing

And the spirit of every human.


- Yes, God created us!


- And we are his creation!


- And we can live thanks to all his creation!


- And he knows us!


- We can’t trick him!


- And yet he listens to his servants and to those who are really looking for him!


- And he listens to Job!


- But he answers him at the appropriate time!


- And God’s time is not ours!


- It is easy to forget it!


- And think wrong!

 

[JLG]

109) Looking for Job


Job 12

Does not the ear test out words

As the tongue tastes food?


- We have five senses but because of modern life we are losing them more and more!


- And we have good sense: may we use it!


- Job tries to use it as much as he can!


- He keeps fighting!

 

[JLG]

110) Looking for Job


Job 12

Is not wisdom found among the aged,

And does not understanding come with a long life?

- Job tells about what he knows!


- May we listen to him and benefit from his words to build up our personality and be active for God!


- How we need such faithful examples especially in this confused and superficial period of time!

 

[JLG]

111) Looking for Job


Job 12

With him there are wisdom and mightiness;

he has counsel and understanding.


- Job keeps thinking well about God!


- He knows he is the source of wisdom and mightiness!


- And he invites us to listen to him!


- And both testaments are essential for that!