36-42

Good morning, my friends!
The next few days will be jam-packed at church, so I need to finish up Job this morning.
Here are my thoughts.
Thanks for joining me for the journey.  Let's do this again soon.


Much love,
Pr. Em

Chapter 36 - 
It does seem Elihu's heart is in a better place.  But he, too, shares some troubling theology from my perspective. He says that the righteous prosper and the wicked don't.  In life - it doesn't seem so simple.  Aren't we all wicked?  And righteous?  Sinner and saint?  I like verse 26: "How great is God - beyond our understanding!  The number of his years is past finding out."  :)

Chapter 37 - 
Ha ha!  In light of all our recent snow, verse 6 is a hoot.  "He says to the snow, Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour."  Elihu sees everything that happens in creation and in the atmosphere as the work of God, and he is trying to impress that upon Job.

Chapter 38 -
God speaks!  I've been looking forward to these chapters, and had been saving them for the very end instead of reading ahead.  I was a little surprised in reading them.  God definitely takes a direct approach with Job!  He says, "Have you ____?  Have you ever _____?  How about ____?  Speak up if you were there!"  He seems to be saying, "Job, I'm the one who understands.  You don't know the whole picture."  How did you feel reading this chapter?

Chapter 39 -
God continues.  This chapter is about many different animals.  God seems to say, "Job, I understand all of them because I created al of them.  Did you? I didn't think so. Job, there is much you do not understand."

Chapter 40 and 41-  
Job answers God at the very beginning of chapter 40 and then God talks again.  Job's response surprised me!  "I am unworthy - how can I reply to you?  I put my hand over my mouth."  And then God shares more....especially highlighting two giant, mysterious animals - the behemoth and the leviathan.

Chapter 42 -
The final chapter!  Wow! This is it!  Job responds to God.  Interestingly, Job's conclusion is - "Sure I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know....I had heard of you but now my eyes of seen you."  Initially, I thought, "WHAT?!?!  Job!  You had legitimate concerns.  Don't back down now!  God didn't even address your undeserved suffering!"  But then I thought, "Well, Job had a face to face encounter with God and it totally transformed his understanding.  He gained understanding he didn't have before.  Who can argue with that?  Not me!"

Then, in the Epilogue,  God basically says to Job's first three friends, "Guys, you need to apologize to me and to Job.  You were not very good friends."  And the rest of Job's life is apparently blessed and wonderful.

My Concluding Thoughts - 
Hmmmm.  At some point, I need to take time to process all this.
Job is a very fascinating book of the Bible.  I'm not exactly sure what I'm "taking away" yet.
Life is complicated and there is MUCH we do not understand but God does understand- I guess that's something Job taught me.
How about you?  What have you learned on the journey?

35 (Monday)

Holy Week begins.
And Job is coming to a close!
These are exciting chapter we're entering into.

Chapter 35 was a little tricky for me. 
How did you respond?
What do you think Elihu is trying to say?

I'm just waiting eagerly for God to finally talk!!!!! :)

Chapters 31 (Wednesday), 32, 33, and 34 (Saturday)!

Hey friends! Sorry I got behind. We're almost there!  It's almost Holy Week.

Here are some thoughts on 31-34...

YIPPEE!!! Elihu is here! He seems like a good friend, huh?
What are your thoughts on our new friend Elihu so far?

Chapter 29 (Monday) and Chapter 30 (Tuesday)

29:

Job is looking back on the "good old days," isn't he?
If only things could be like the were before.....
If only God was my friend like in the olden days.....
If only I could have my old life back....

I think we can all relate a little to Job in this chapter. How about you?

30:

The reverse of Chapter 29.
Job says, "But now everything is awful. My old life is a distant memory."

Question for Reflection:
-Where do you see yourself in the book of Job? As Job? As a friend? As Job's wife? As a distant observer?

Chapter 28 (Saturday)

Very fascinating chapter!
It's all about wisdom.  Job says no one understand where wisdom comes from except for God.
I liked this chapter.
It seems like Job is coming to a new place of awareness in himself and in God.
He's realizing that God's wisdom is huge and impossible to explain.

P.S. - Enjoy the day off tomorrow.  We're almost coming to the finish line of our Lenten journey.  2 weeks until Easter!

26 (Thursday) and 27 (Friday)

Job is speaking in these two chapters. 

26:
-Job says some awesome things about God's power and might.  Interesting.

27:
-I think verses 1-6 are fascinating.  Job is saying, "Even though I've been a good man and I have no idea what God is doing, I'm going to maintain my integrity."  I found verses 13-23 disturbing!  How about you?  Is Job describing that terrible things happen to wicked people?  Hasn't he spent the whole rest of the book talking about how good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people - and there's never a rhyme or a reason?  Why is he now saying that terrible things happen to terrible people?

Job 25

"Prayer by 3 Friends" by Cornelis Monsma

Yikes, Bildad!
This chapter is not a very encouraging portrait of human beings, huh?
Worse than worms - or so Bildad says.

What are your thoughts on human beings?
Can mortals be righteous before God?  What do you think "righteousness" is all about?

Chapter 23 (for Monday) and Chapter 24 (for Tuesday)

By Vladimir Borovikovsky

23:This is an interesting chapter, isn't it?  Job seems to have a very genuine awe and respect for God, even though he doesn't understand what God is up to.  That's often how I feel, too.  How did you interpret verse 10?  It sounds like Job is saying: "I'm going to come through this okay.  I'm going to pass this test."

24:

If I were to summarize this chapter, I'd say: "The bad people prosper and the good people suffer.  God, why does this happen?"  24:25 seems to be saying, "If I'm wrong, tell me!  Tell me what I'm saying isn't true!" 

And basically, Job is right in a lot of ways, don't you think?  A lot of things happen in life that I sure can't explain (although it would be nice).  We don't always know the answers, but we can trust that God is present in the midst of it.  That gives me hope.  What is bringing you hope today?

Chapters 21 and 22

Hey friends!  I fell a day behind.  Sorry about that!  Thanks for sticking with it.  :)

Chapter 21 -

Job is continuing to process what's going on around him.  He's hurting and frustated.  It seems he's asking, "Why do great things happen to wicked people while terrible things are happening to me?" 

Chapter 22 -
Eliphaz is NOT being a good friend!  Did you notice verse 5?  He tells Job there is no end to his sin and wickedness.  Ouch!

Chapters 19 and 20

Chapter 19 - Job's Reply

Does Job have hope?!?!  What did you think about verse 25?  "I know that my Redeemer/defender lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth/my grave."  It sounds hopeful to me!

And verses 26 and 27 are neat, too.  "I myself will see him with my own eyes..." 



Chapter 20 - Zophar shares some additional totally unhelpful thoughts

Oh my.  Zophar just doesn't get it.  He seems to be saying that terrible things only happen to terrible people.  God punishes people who are wicket.  So it seems he's saying Job must be wicked, or at least partially wicked.  Zophar, you are way off!



Well, folks, we're in the middle of Lent!  Way to go!  :)  Our journey continues.  I can't wait to get to the chapters where God talks!

Chapter 18

Now it's Bildad's turn to share.

This chapter was very hurtful.  It seems that Bildad's compassion is long gone.  Now he's just being mean! 

Reflection Question:
-If you met Job on the street today, and you had 1 minute with him, what would you say?

Chapter 17

Job's frustrations and complaints continue.  I am glad for his brutal honesty, although it's still painful to read.  I thought verses 12-16 were interesting.  In verse 12, it seems like Job is saying, "Don't try to make lemonades out of my lemons!  This situation stinks!  Just acknowledge how painful and terrible this is, guys!"  It made me think about how to honor and value people's painful circumstances as a pastor.  Oftentimes, I don't think people want to hear, "Everything is going to be just fine.  Just keep your chin up."

When you read verse 15, what did you think?  Job says "Where then is my hope?  Who can see any hope for me?"

Chapter 16

Job is in so much emotional pain.  I think he is really longing for someone to understand. 
Verses 2 and 3 made me giggle a little.  The NRSV translation says, "windy words."  What do your translations say?  I'm glad Job is able to express his dislike of the way his friends speak to him. 

I am cheering for Job.  I hope something more positive will happen soon.....

Chapter 15: Let's Journey On

The Patient Job
Gerard Seghers (1591-1651)

Job's good ol' friend Eliphaz speaks.  Interesting.  I read his words and thought, "This is not very helpful" many, many times.  Actually, I found his words painful to read when I thought of what Job has been though.  Eliphaz seems to be turning it all around so it's Job's fault once again. 

This journey through Job is getting exhausting.  Chapter after chapter is painful to read!  What are your thoughts?  I think we should stick with it.  It's kind of a metaphor for the whole Lenten experience; it is meant to be a challenge.  It's meant to push us into directions we wouldn't want to otherwise go on our own.  I'm thankful to be reading Job in community with others.  I think God is teaching us about life and hope and sadness.  And I think by the end, we'll learn some new things about God, too.  Let's journey on. 

Chaper 14

"Job Prays" by Chagall

Job's speech continues.  It's quite a grim chapter once again.  I did think verses 7-9, about the tree, were kind of hopeful.  At least, hopeful from a tree's perspective and depressing from Job's perspective.

With the current situations in Japan and Libya, I imagine there are people who would certainly be able to identify with Job.  Job is a challenging, extremely sad book to me.  I can also appreciate that it might be a comfort to some, to know that they aren't alone in their pain.

Reflection question:
-What do you think about Job's perspective on death?
-Do you think Job has any hope at this point?
-Where does YOUR hope come from?

Chapter 13

by William Blake

Hello gang! Verse 3 of this chapter is fascinating! My translation reads: "I desire to argue my case with God."  What did you think about those words?  Do you feel like Job is brave?  Or asking for trouble?  This whole chapter is a very bold side of Job.  In verse 15 he states that he's ready to see God face-to-face and make his case.  Verses 20-28 shifts to Job's prayer to God. 

Reflection Questions:
-It seems that Job pictures God as a judge.  Is this a comfortable or uncomfortable image for you?
-In this chapter, is Job being overly-confident, bold, or completely broken?

Chapter 12

"Job and His Friends" by Gustave Dore

Hello folks!  I hope you enjoyed your Job-free Sunday (I did), but now we're diving right back in!  Thank you for joining me for this biblical exploration.  I'm finding it a really helpful exercise.  Job has taught me a lot so far, and I hope God is speaking to you through this book of the Bible, too.

For chapter 12, we're back to a response from Job.  I found some fascinating ideas in these verses!  Verse 5 makes a lot of sense, basically: if you're in the midst of a wonderful, joyful chapter of life, it's hard to sympathize with people who are int he midst of a terrible chapter of life.  I think that's very true.  Also, I really like verses 7, 8, and 9.  Animals, birds, the earth, fish - they all know how challenging things can be.  I was intrigued that the "earth" is mentioned in light of all the catastrophes our earth experiences: pollution, war, disasters, etc.  The earth has definitely experiences challenge over and over again.   

Reflection Questions:

-Do you think Job is afraid of God?

-Job believes he has become the joke among his friends.  My translation reads "laughinstock" - if you were having coffee with Job later today, how would you comfort him?

Chapter 11

Image from 1392 - artist unknown.

Now Job's friend Zophar speaks.  It's interesting, isn't it?  Taken separately and out of context, many of these verses would probably be "good advice," or at least commonly-given advice.  And yet, push come to shove, Zophar doesn't get it either.  In life, it isn't as clear as "good things happen to good people" and "bad things happen to bad people."  It isn't like that at all!  And Job knows this to be true first hand.

Reflection questions:

-What has the book of Job taught you?

-Would you recommend it to others?

-What verses of Zophar's speech did you identify with?
-Which of Zophar's sentences made you cringe?

Chapters 9 and 10

"Job and His Three Friends" by James Tissot

Chapter 9 is interesting.  It sounds like Job really has an awareness of God's greatness and power in the first part of the chapter.  Then Job's speech takes a turn - it sounds like he's saying, "How can I even argue with God?  God is God."  Job longs for someone who could be a go-between/an arbitrator/an advocate. 

Chapter 10 begins on a note of deep pain: "I loathe my very life."  I think we've all been there at some point.  10:8 and 10:9 are beautiful and so very sad.  My translation says: "Your hands shaped me and made me.  Will you now turn and destroy me?  Remember you molded me like clay.  Will you now turn me to dust again?"  This words reminded me of Ash Wednesday. 

Questiosn for reflection: 
-What jumped out to you from Job's speech in chapters 9 and 10?

-Can you relate to his feelings? 

-If Jesus were having a conversation with Job, what do you think he'd say?

Day 8, Chapter 8

"Job's Complaint" by William Blake

Now Job's friend Bildad enters the scene.  Does Bildad's advice strike you as good or troubling? 
Even though his friends might be well-intentioned, the truth is - they are wrong.  Their advice stinks because Job hasn't done anything wrong. 

Reflection questions:

-Was there any part of Bildad's advice today that you liked?
-When you sit through "bad advice" conversations, what is your response?
-What would YOU have said to Job?

Day 7, Chapter 7

"The Story of Job" - unknown artist (around the year 1200)

Thank you for your responses so far.  I hope you'll take time to read one another's thoughts on the book of Job.  How did you feel about chapter 7?

A few of my thoughts:
-I read in a book the other day that Job expresses some of the most deep despair and pain and sadness in the whole Bible.  That seems clear in chapter 7.  Again, today, I cannot read these words without thinking of the people in Japan. 
-Many of these verses are painful to read (especially verses 19 and 20). But I can only imagine that in some ways, I think Job's words would be a comfort to people in the midst of turmoil and chaos.  When people are in the middle of extremely trying times, sometimes it's helpful to know they aren't alone. 

Questions for reflection:
-In what situations might the book of Job be a comfort to someone?
-Has anything about the book of Job surprised you yet?
-Does it seem like appropriate reading for the season of Lent? 

Chapter 6

"Job's Comforters" by William Blake

Today I'm reading chapter 6 of the book of Job.  How about you?  For the rest of Lent, I plan to read one chapter a day.  I will not read a chapter on Sundays.  At this pace, I think we will end up finishing the book of Job just as the season of Lent comes to a conclusion.  We will definitely need to revisit chapters 1-5 in the coming weeks on the blog!  I have all kinds of questions about those chapters. 

As for today....what did you think about chapter 6?  Job's friend has just given him a giant earful of pretty bad advice.  Job is expressing his profound sadness and grief. 

As I read verses 11-13, I couldn't help but think of our brothers and sisters throughout the country of Japan.  It's hard to even fathom all that is happening there.  Verse 11 says, "What strength do I have, that I should still hope?  What prospects that I should be patient?"  Job lost everything.  He didn't understand why such horrible things had happened to him.  He didn't know what do to next.

A few questions for reflection:
-Can you identify with Job?  Have there been times when your sadness was beyond words?
-Job has friends who try but miserably fail.  Their advice stinks.  Have you ever received bad advice?  Have you ever given bad advice?
-Up to this point in the book of Job, what have you found meaningful?

Please share your thoughts!

Welcome

Welcome to "Journey with Job"!  This will be a community space for all people to share their thoughts, reflections, and questions about the biblical book of Job.  We can share our moments of outrage and our moments of comfort.  Job is a complicated and beautiful book.  You might love Job (sometimes I do).  You might find it confusing (I often do).  You might not like the book of Job at all (sometimes I'm in this boat).  Feel free to share any and all feelings here.  There's no "perfect way" or "right way" to feel.  Our goal is just to journey through this book together and see what God will teach us along the way!

I was searching for a Lenten discipline, and stumbled across the book of Job last week.  I'll be reading about 1 chapter a day, and then posting a brief reflection here on the blog.  I'll also try to post different paintings and poetry that has been created relating to Job.  PLEASE post comments on each entry; you can always remain anonymous if you prefer.  Hopefully we can get some good dialogue going.  In order to post a comment, just click on the underlined word "comments" at the bottom of each post.  Then, you'll be able to type right into the "Comments" section.  Then click "Post Comment."

Thanks for visiting!

Sunrise: 3.14.2011

Sunrise this Morning: 3.14.2011