"Then Job spoke again:
2 “You people really know everything, don’t you?
And when you die, wisdom will die with you!
3 Well, I know a few things myself—
and you’re no better than I am.
Who doesn’t know these things you’ve been saying?
4 Yet my friends laugh at me,
for I call on God and expect an answer.
I am a just and blameless man,
yet they laugh at me.
5 People who are at ease mock those in trouble.
They give a push to people who are stumbling.
6 But robbers are left in peace,
and those who provoke God live in safety—
though God keeps them in his power."
I think Job's words in verse 2 are sarcasm. I mean look at them. I can't say that I probably be sarcastic and respond similarly if I were ever in a similar situation, haha. Then Job enlightens them, informing them that he knows just as much as they do, haha. I would love to have been a fly on the wall and hear this conversation between Job and his friends. Isn't is so true, though, what Job says in verse 5? I've heard people use the saying, 'kick them when they're down' and I've seen people actually do it. Apparently, it happened in Job's day too.
Verses 7-12:
Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
8 Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you.
Let the fish in the sea speak to you.
9 For they all know
that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord.
10 For the life of every living thing is in his hand,
and the breath of every human being.
11 The ear tests the words it hears
just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.
12 Wisdom belongs to the aged,
and understanding to the old."
I think verse 10 is the gem of this section. Every life that exists comes from God. I can't help but think of Paul's words in Colossians:
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together."
That's so cool to think about too, especially for those of us who have been reconciled to God through Jesus. I bet it would be a scary thought if I didn't know Jesus or God and my life was in His hand. There also is a lot of truth, most of the time because of a few exceptions, with Job's words in verse 12. I try to surround myself or connect myself with someone who is older than me so that I can soak up some of their wisdom. You can learn a lot that way! =)
Verses 13-21:
counsel and understanding are his.
14 What he destroys cannot be rebuilt.
When he puts someone in prison, there is no escape.
15 If he holds back the rain, the earth becomes a desert.
If he releases the waters, they flood the earth.
16 Yes, strength and wisdom are his;
deceivers and deceived are both in his power.
17 He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment;
wise judges become fools.
18 He removes the royal robe of kings.
They are led away with ropes around their waist.
19 He leads priests away, stripped of status;
he overthrows those with long years in power.
20 He silences the trusted adviser
and removes the insight of the elders.
21 He pours disgrace upon princes
and disarms the strong."
Ultimately, wisdom comes from God. I like the words in James 1:
Boy, our God is strong and powerful! I'm thankful that our God, who has the power to do all of these things, is a loving God who desires us and calls us by name! Aren't you? =)
Verses 22-25:
he brings light to the deepest gloom.
23 He builds up nations, and he destroys them.
He expands nations, and he abandons them.
24 He strips kings of understanding
and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland.
25 They grope in the darkness without a light.
He makes them stagger like drunkards."
Just when I think Job has done a good job at describing our God, he adds even more to that. Jesus echos parts of Job's words here when he warned his hearers that whatever is whispered in secret will be shouted from the roof tops. Thinking through this, there's a lot of stuff that I'm embarrassed and ashamed of, but as I've said multiple times during this study, thank God for Jesus! =)
"Father in Heaven, I pray that You are glorified by our study. I pray that You continue to move through the words on this screen and in Scripture to help us grow closer to You. Thank You for giving us this account of Job and allowing us to read, process, learn from, and grow. Please mold us and shape us into people who are more honoring to You and who bring glory to You in everything that we do! It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen!"
This passage really describes God's power. It's amazing that he can do all of the things that Job says and that's not even the half of it. Those are all physical things that he was saying but God can do just as much in the hearts and minds of people. He can melt hearts of stone. I should know, I used to be a very bitter and angry person bit through God, I've learned to to calm down and control myself and be happy.
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