Day 008 (Job 17-20) - Year 7
The Bible Recap
Deep Dive
What does Job's statement 'My Redeemer lives' reveal about his faith and God's nature?
Job's statement 'My Redeemer lives' reveals his deep faith and trust in God, even in the midst of immense suffering. It highlights God's role as a redeemer, someone who buys back and restores. Job's use of 'my Redeemer' shows a personal and intimate relationship with God. Additionally, it underscores the eternal nature of God—He is alive and present, offering hope beyond Job's current struggles. This statement is also prophetic, pointing to Christ's first and second comings.
Why does Tara-Leigh Cobble caution against taking Job's friends' words out of context?
Tara-Leigh Cobble cautions against taking Job's friends' words out of context because their statements, while recorded in Scripture, are personal opinions and not direct revelations from God. For example, Zophar accuses Job of greed and selfishness, but these accusations don't align with God's own assessment of Job. Misinterpreting these passages can lead to incorrect conclusions about Job's character and God's message.
What does Job's response to Bildad reveal about his perspective on suffering?
Job's response to Bildad reveals that he sees God as central to his suffering and eventual rescue. Despite Bildad's accusations that Job's suffering is punishment for wickedness, Job maintains his trust in God's role in his life. He acknowledges the difficulty of his situation but clings to the hope that God will ultimately redeem his story, demonstrating his unwavering faith even in despair.
How does Tara-Leigh Cobble suggest handling personal impressions of God's guidance?
Tara-Leigh Cobble suggests handling personal impressions of God's guidance with caution. She advises against claiming absolute certainty by saying 'God told me X,' instead recommending phrases like 'I feel like God was saying X' or 'I feel like God was impressing this on my heart.' She also warns against seeking specific future revelations from God, as this can lead to confusion and error, often stemming from a desire to control outcomes rather than trust God.
What does Zophar's speech in chapter 20 reveal about his view of Job?
Zophar's speech in chapter 20 reveals his harsh and accusatory view of Job. He suggests that Job's suffering is a result of greed and selfishness, claiming that Job has exploited others for personal gain. Zophar's words reflect a lack of empathy and understanding, as he fails to recognize Job's integrity and instead assumes his suffering is deserved. This contrasts sharply with God's own assessment of Job as blameless and upright.
What is the significance of Job's prophetic statement about Christ's return?
Job's prophetic statement about Christ's return is significant because it points to both the first and second comings of Christ. When Job says, 'At the last, He will stand upon the earth,' he foreshadows Christ's future reign on earth, as described in Zechariah 14:3 and Revelation 5:10 and 20:6. This statement not only reflects Job's hope in God's ultimate redemption but also aligns with broader biblical prophecy about Christ's return and eternal kingdom.
Shownotes Transcript
Hey, Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for The Bible Recap. Yesterday, as we finished our reading, Job was calling his friends miserable comforters. Today, he continues talking to them, and he opens by saying, My spirit is broken. I just feel for him. I've been there. There were times when Job and Lamentations were the only books of Scripture I wanted to read. I felt known by Job.
In chapter 18, Bildad speaks again. You probably remember Bildad as bad friend number two. He's the one who told Job that he needed to repent. So now he's doubling down, just like Eliphaz did yesterday, with reminders that God punishes the wicked. This is a catch-22, because it not only means Job's suffering was punishment for his wickedness, but also that if he doesn't change his ways, more punishment is coming for him. But I love Job's reply in chapter 19.
He continues to point to God's role and rescue in his troubles. He says things like, These sound like really hard things to say about God, and yet, in 1925, Job says,
This quote isn't just hopeful on Job's part, it's actually prophetic. It points not only to the first coming of Christ, which for us has already happened, but also to the second coming of Christ, which is yet to come.
At the last, he will stand upon the earth. We're not to the last yet, but Zechariah 14.3 tells us more about Christ's return. And Revelation 5.10 and 20.6 point to a future time when Christ will reign on earth. Even in his darkest moments, Job points out eternal truths about God.
In chapter 20, Zophar, bad friend number three, speaks again. He claims a spirit spoke to him, and he believes it was a word from God. The same thing happened a few days ago when we read about the first time Eliphaz spoke in 4.12-16. Eliphaz said,
So far, an Eliphaz presumably do this to add more weight to their words and force Job to listen and comply. But here's what's interesting to me. This spirit or spirits that they're referencing in chapter 4 and chapter 20, they never identify themselves. Scripture doesn't tell us who those spirits are. Hold on to that thought as we continue reading, because there might be some conclusions you could reach about who this spirit was or spirits were.
One of the things that's important for us to do is to weigh carefully where the Word of God intersects with our own thoughts. For instance, I want to be really careful to separate out my own opinions of things from what Scripture is actually teaching. At some point, you're likely going to disagree with one of my opinions. That's a good thing. I'm not trying to convince anyone to agree with anything I say apart from Scripture.
Are there times when God speaks to us? I believe God's Spirit does give impressions to His children. After all, one of His names is Guide. But I'm always aiming to be careful with how I relay that information. Saying, God told me X, carries a lot of certainty with it. I'd be more likely to say it this way. I feel like God was saying X, or I feel like God was impressing this on my heart.
I'm also really careful not to ask God to tell me what He is going to do or reveal the future to me. Few things have gotten me into greater confusion and error than that. Probably because asking those questions is like my own subtle attempt to control my future and not have to trust God, which really gives an opportunity for me to hear my flesh speak more loudly than God.
But back to Job. Remember how I told you I thought Job's friends might have been jealous of him? That last part of Zophar's speech today reinforces that whole idea for me, because in chapter 20, verses 12 through 29, it
It seems like Zophar is accusing Job of being greedy and selfish. He says things like, That sounds terrible. But we have to weigh Zophar's words about Job against God's words about Job.
And we see they don't align. These passages with Job's friends are the ones I usually reference when I'm urging people not to take Scripture out of context. Because if you were to pull some of their quotes out of this section, you would think Job was wicked. Are the statements in Scripture? Yes, and Scripture is God's Word. But this particular passage is a personal quote within God's Word. It's God quoting someone else.
We have to pay close attention to context or we'll miss what's actually being communicated to us by God. What was your God shot for today's reading? The attribute of God I saw portrayed in today's reading was when Job said, I know that my Redeemer lives and at the last He will stand upon the earth. This not only says a lot about Job that he could believe this in the midst of his struggle, but it says a lot about God.
First, we see God's relationship with Job even on his worst days. Job doesn't just call God a redeemer or the redeemer, but my redeemer. It's personal. It's intimate. Second, we see that God is a redeemer. To redeem means to buy back. Job has hope that this isn't the end of his story, even if it's the end of his life. Job trusts that God will redeem this somehow.
Third, we see that God is alive. My Redeemer lives. So many of Job's loved ones had passed away, but not God. He knows that God is still with him and he will be forever. At the last, he will stand upon the earth. I hope I have this kind of trust in God when trouble inevitably comes my way again.
And storing up these truths about him like we're doing as we read right now is one way to make sure our feet are on solid ground when the storms come. Because he is the solid ground. And he's where the joy is.
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