Day 183: Job C8–17; Life is Short; from a Flower to a Shadow; Live Life Fully!
“Man born of woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries. Who cometh forth like a flower, and is destroyed, and fleeth as a shadow, and never continueth in the same state.”
The poor saga of Job continues, After Eliphaz gives his first speech and condemns him as a sinner in need of repentance now his other two friends Baldad and Sophar take their turns. Then Eliphaz begins Round Two. If it wasn’t so tragic it would be funny as in reality friends do occasionally let friends down. I guess this is not the biblical version of Friends the TV sitcom show.
What I have realized is that Job’s friends are coming from the outside-in on this one. Job’s life is in shambles after the loss of his seven children and his wealthy assets. Not only that but he is afflicted with grievous ulcers from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. They see that and assume Job must have sinned grossly to deserve such wrath of God.
Job, on the other hand, is an innocent victim of some sort of God-Satan setup to see if he will crack and abandon God. Coming from his inside-out he knows his innocent and is taking the high road and proclaiming some very inspirational but previously unheard words for someone in his condition.
Job telling his wife that “if we have received good things at the hand of God, why should we not receive evil?” is quite revolutionary and so against the human “avoid pain at all costs” instinct.
Here is my interpretation and translation of the Scriptures noted in the Bible Notes below:
Baldad Speaks to Job: Listen Job, God’s punishments are just. If you will seek God, confess your sins, and turn from them then God will give you peace and prosperity for the rest of your life. Look back to your fathers and previous generations. We are here for such a short period of time; our life is like a shadow. Do not forget God; seek him so that your hope will not perish! Come out of your confusion, rejoice and be saved!
Job Responds to Baldad: Indeed Baldad, I know God is just and all powerful! Man cannot be justified compared with God. Who has resisted God and found peace? God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; He does countless great, incomprehensible, and wonderful things!
No man can resist the wrath of God. He can crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds, even without cause. If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me. If I would show myself innocent, He shall prove me wicked. Although I am a simple man avoiding evil, my soul might not know and I will be weary for the rest of my life.
Baldad, I know both the good and the evil suffer. If I am to suffer I hope to die at once. Time is flying by and I know my life is coming to its end. But I am innocent. I don’t have to prove that I am innocent to you. One thing I do know is that While I a God-fearing man I cannot live my life in fear.
God, please do not condemn me! Please tell me why You judge me so evil that I have lost everything and am sick all over my body. I have done no wicked thing, but accept Your Judgment for I am your servant and You my Master.
God, you granted me life and mercy and have preserved my spirit. With all due respect, why was I ever born. I wish to die now.
Sophar Speaks to Job: Listen Job, you talk too much? Maybe you need to listen more?
God knows us, knows our vanity. Our vanity lifts us up into pride and we think we are free to do as we please but we are not. Repent!
Job Responds to Sophar: You three turkeys, my so-called friends lack wisdom! My heart has not hardened. I am praying to God for relief of my illness. Don’t mock me as God is watching!
Who is ignorant of God? Not me!
I know he is wise and strong, that He can counsel and understand me. He can change the hearts of people sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad when in their vanity they walk in the dark unable to find the light!
Job goes on to consider further his situation:
You, my three friends, are lying. Why do you think I am inferior to you? How dare you judge me? God knows everything; nothing can be concealed from Him! I trust in Him. If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
Dear God, what are my iniquities and sins? Are you condemning me for the sins of my youth?
Life is so very, very short. We come in like a flower and leave like a shadow, never to be and live again.
Death is final. Unlike a tree that when cut can grow again, springing forth leaves like it was first planted; people who die do not rise up and walk again.
When God calls me I shall come. He indeed has numbered my days. I ask Him for mercy to be spared of my sins. I will be grateful to leave the flesh and this pain behind.
Eliphaz Speaks to Job a Second Time: Job, my friend, you say things that are not good for you. When you blaspheme the Lord your own mouth condemns you.
Who are you- the first man to be born? A man with wisdom is greater than God’s counsel? What don’t we know? Who made you smarter than us?
Your wicked words hinder God from comforting you. Why does your heart elevate you and you look like you are thinking great things? Stop sinning like you are drinking water.
You must confess. Otherwise you will not be enriched by God. Neither will you have a legacy on this earth. You will die earlier than need be. Stop conceiving sorrow, being deceitful, and sinning.
Job Responds to Eliphaz a Second Time: Look, Eliphaz I have heard this before. You, Baldad, and Sophar are troublesome comforters. Why are you speaking falsely and contradicting me? I used to be so wealthy but all of a sudden it is gone; all broken into pieces. Why are you beating me up when I am so down?
I have suffered all this without sinning. I don’t deserve this. God in Heaven is my witness; He knows my conscience. I am innocent I tel you!
I am walking on a path by which I shall not return. I will be dying soon. Only the grave remains for me yet I have not sinned. All good people should be astonished that this has happened to me.
Stay tuned for more of the Book Of Job and remember we come in as a flower and leave as a shadow so enjoy each day!
Bible Notes:
Day 183: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective;
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Job, Chapters 8–17: Life is Short; from a Flower to a Shadow; Live Life Fully!
This book takes its name from its chief character, Job. After he had lost his riches, his children, and his health, three of his friends carried on a debate with him, trying to show him that his afflictions were punishment for his sins. But Job rightly proclaimed his innocence, though he seeks vainly for an explanation of his sufferings. Finally God intervened, showing Job the folly of questioning divine providence, but at the same time praising Job for not accepting the false solution offered by his friends.
Job Chapter 8: The First Speech of Baldad; God’s Punishments are Just; The Evil Fate of the Wicked; God’s Treatment of the Good and the Evil.
The First Speech of Baldad:
Then Baldad the Suhite answered, and said:
God’s Punishments are Just:
Doth God pervert judgment, or doth the Almighty overthrow that which is just?
Although thy children have sinned against him, and he hath left them in the hand of their iniquity: yet if thou wilt arise early to God, and wilt beseech the Almighty, if thou wilt walk clean and upright, he will presently awake unto thee, and will make the dwelling of thy justice peaceable. Insomuch, that if thy former things were small, thy latter things would be multiplied exceedingly.
The Evil Fate of the Wicked:
For inquire of the former Generation, and search diligently into the memory of the fathers (for we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant that our days upon earth are but a shadow), and they shall teach thee:
When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked up with the hand, it withered before all herbs. Even so are the ways of all that forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish.
His roots shall be thick upon a heap of stones, and among the stones he shall abide. If one swallow him up out of his place, he shall deny him, and shall say: I know thee not. For this is the joy of his way, that others may spring again out of the earth.
God’s Treatment of the Good and the Evil:
God will not cast away the simple, nor reach out his hand to the evildoer, until thy mouth be filled with laughter, and thy lips with rejoicing. They that hate thee, shall be clothed with confusion: and the dwelling of the wicked shall not stand!
Job Chapter 9: Job’s Reply to Baldad; God is All Powerful; No One Can Resist God; The Good and the Evil Suffer; Job’s Life Coming to its End; Job Pleads His Innocence.
Job’s Reply to Baldad:
And Job answered, and said:
God is All Powerful:
Indeed I know it so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God… He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?
He commandeth the sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal.
He doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
No One Can Resist God:
God, whose wrath no man can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice. For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would show myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.
Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.
The Good and the Evil Suffer:
One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth. If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
Job’s Life Coming to its End:
My days have been swifter than a post… as an eagle flying to its prey…
I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow. I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offended.
Job Pleads His Innocence:
But is so also I am wicked, why have I labored in vain?… for I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment.
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me. I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
Job Chapter 10: Job Asks the Reason for His Suffering; God’s Past Favors to Job; Job Again Asks for Release.
Job Asks the Reason for His Suffering:
I will say to God: Do not condemn me: tell me why thou judges me so… I have done no wicked thing, whereas there is no man that can deliver out of thy hand.
God’s Past Favors to Job:
Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me wholly round about, and dost thou this cast me down headlong on a sudden?
…thou hast made me as the clay, and thou wilt bring me into dust again.
…thou hast granted me life and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Job Again Asks for Release:
…I know that thou rememberest all things…
…why dost thou not suffer me to be clean from my iniquity?
Why didst thou bring me forth out of the womb?
Shall not the fewest of my days ended shortly?
Job Chapter 11: The First Speech of Sophar; Job Talks too Much; The Infallible Wisdom of God; Job Urged to Repent.
The First Speech of Sophar:
THEN Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:
Job Talks too Much:
Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? Or shall a man full of talk be justified?
For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight…
…and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee than thy iniquity deserved.
The Infallible Wisdom of God:
Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?
For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it? A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.
Job Urged to Repent.
But thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him. If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and let not injustice remain in thy tabernacle, then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shall be steadfast, and shalt not fear.
Job Chapter 12: Job’s Reply to Sophar; Job’s Three Friends Lack Great Wisdom; Sophar’s Knowledge is Possessed by All; Power and Wisdom of God.
Job’s Reply to Sophar:
THEN Job answered, and said:
Job’s Three Friends Lack Great Wisdom:
Are you then men alone, and shall wisdom die with you? I also have a heart as well as you: for who is ignorant of these things, which you know?
He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God and he will hear him: for the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn.
The lamp, despised in the thoughts of the rich, is ready for the time appointed.
Mock—to attack or treat with ridicule, contempt, or derision—to ridicule by mimicry of action or speech; mimic derisively—to mimic, imitate, or counterfeit.
Scorn—open or unqualified contempt; disdain—an object of derision or contempt—a derisive or contemptuous action or speech.
Sophar’s Knowledge is Possessed by All:
Who is ignorant of the hand of the Lord hath made all these things? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all flesh of man
In the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days prudence.
Prudence—the quality or fact of being prudent, or wise in practical affairs, as by providing for the future—caution with regard to practical matters; discretion—regard for one’s own interests—provident care in the management of resources; economy; frugality.
Power and Wisdom of God:
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
He knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived.
He changeth the speech of true speakers, and taketh away the doctrine of the aged.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.
He multiplieth nations, and destroyeth them, and restoreth them again after they were overthrown.
He changeth the heart of the princes if the people of the earth, and deceiveth them, that they walk in vain where there is no way. They shall grope as in the dark, and not in the light, and he shall make them stagger like men that are drunk.
Job Chapter 13: Job Charges His Friends with Lying; God Cannot be Deceived; Job’s Trust in God; Job’s Miseries.
Job Charges His Friends with Lying:
According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you. But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. Having first shown that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions. And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.
God Cannot be Deceived:
Hath God any need of you lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him? Do you accept his person, and do you endeavor to judge for God? Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed?
Job’s Trust in God:
Although he should kill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight. And he shall be my savior: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.
Hear ye my speech, and receive with your ears hidden truths. If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.
Job’s Miseries:
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my crimes and offences. Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?
For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.
Job Chapter 14: The Brevity of Life; Death is Final; Job Asks Mercy for His Sins.
The Brevity of Life:
Man born of woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries. Who cometh forth like a flower, and is destroyed, and fleeth as a shadow, and never continueth in the same state.
Who can make him clean that is conceived of unclean seed?
Depart a little from him, that he may rest, until his wished for day come, as that of the hireling.
Death is Final:
A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it groweth green again, and the boughs thereof sprout… it shall spring, and bring forth leaves, as when it was first planted.
But man when he shall be dead, and stripped, and consumed, I pray you where is he?
…so man when he has fallen asleep shall not rise again: till the heavens be broken, he shall not awake, nor rise up out of his sleep.
Shall man that is dead, thinkest thou, live again?
All the days in which I am now in warfare, I expect until my change come. Thou shalt call me, and I will answer thee: to the work of thy hands thou shalt reach out thy right hand.
Job Asks Mercy for His Sins:
Thou indeed hast numbered my steps, but spare my sins… but last cure my iniquity… so in this manner thou shalt destroy man.
Whether his children come to honor or dishonor, he shall not understand. But yet his flesh, while he shall live, shall have pain, and his soul shall mourn over him.
Job Chapter 15: The Second Speech of Eliphaz; Insincerity of Job; Pride of Job; The Wicked are Always Punished.
The Second Speech of Eliphaz:
AND Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:
Insincerity of Job:
Thou reprovest him bywords, who is not equal to thee, and thou speakest that which is not good for thee.
For thy iniquity hath taught thy mouth, and thou imitatest the tongue of blasphemers. Thy own mouth shall condemn thee, and not I: and thy own lips shall answer thee.
Pride of Job:
Art thou the first man that was born, or wast thou made before the hills? Hast thou heard God’s counsel, and shall his wisdom be inferior to thee? What knowest thou that we are ignorant of? What dost thou understand that we know not?
Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? But thy wicked words hinder this. Why doth thy heart elevate thee, and why dost thou stare with thy eyes, as if they were thinking great things? Why doth thy spirit swell against God, to utter such words out of thy mouth?
What is a man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just? Behold among the none is unchangeable, and the heavens are not pure in his sight. How much more is man abominable and unprofitable, who drinketh iniquity like water?
The Wicked are Always Punished:
Wise men confess…
The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.
Tribulation shall terrify him, and distress shall surround him…
He hath run against him with his neck raised up, and is armed with a fat neck. Fatness hath covered his face, and the fat hangeth down on his sides.
He shall not be enriched, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he push his root in the earth… before his days be full he shall perish.
For the congregation of the hypocrite is barren… he hath conceived sorrow, and hath brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepareth deceits.
Job Chapter 16: Job’s Second Reply to Eliphaz; Eliphaz is Repeating Old Charges; Job Describes His Sad Condition; Job Places His Trust in God.
Job’s Second Reply to Eliphaz:
THEN Job answered, and said:
Eliphaz is Repeating Old Charges:
I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.
I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul’
NOTE: Unclear what “God your soul were for my soul” means.
Job Describes His Sad Condition:
But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.
…and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.
God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked. I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces…
I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes. My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim. These things Have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
Job Places His Trust in God:
For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.
And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companions! For behold short years pass away, and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.
Job Chapter 17: Job Appeals from Men to God; Job Expects Rest in Death.
Job Appeals from Men to God:
My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened, and only the grave remaineth for me. I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness.
Deliver me O Lord, and set me beside thee…
Thou have set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted…
He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them.
The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite. And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
Job Expects Rest in Death:
My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart. They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again. If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness.
All that I have shall go down into the deepest pit: thinkest thou that there at least I shall have rest?
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