2025 Bible Study Group

Job 8 & 9

Bildad replies to Job. What's interesting is that Job actually affirms what Bilhad has to say.

7 The One who says for the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars; 8 Who alone stretches out the heavens, And tramples down the waves of the sea; 9 Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; 10 Who does great things, unsearchable, And wondrous works, innumerable.
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A few doctrinal items here. God stretching out the heavens is also used in Isaiah. Trampling the waves of the sea = God walking on water. The star constellations also correspond to angels.

11 Were He to sweep by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
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This language of passing by also shows up elsewhere. In Exodus, God passes by Moses in the cleft of the rock. In Mark 6, Jesus intended to pass by the disciples when He was walking on the sea.

20 Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am blameless, He will declare me perverse.
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Job feels that he cannot win with God. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

33 There is no adjudicator between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both. 34 Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me. 35 Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.
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One of the more significant passages here. Job feels the need of an adjudicator, a mediator. Someone to come between him and God, put his hands on them both, and make them at one. In short, Job feels the need of Christ to atone for him. And without Christ as your Mediator, there is nothing left for you with God but fear and punishment.
 
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In amongst Bildads’ response to Job he does offer up some encouragement in verse 20 of chapter 8. Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers.
 
Job 10 & 11

Job continues his lamentation towards God.

7 According to Your knowledge I am indeed not wicked, Yet there is no deliverer from Your hand.
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Job sees that in God's recognition, he is innocent, yet he still suffers. The same is true for us who are justified in Christ Jesus. Innocent, but still suffering. Why is this? It's important to remember that the suffering of the saints is not punitive. It's not like suffering God's curses as a heathen. That kind of suffering is meant to break you down and leave you there. In Christ, God is not punishing you to even the score, for that Christ already died in your place. But the suffering of the saints is sanctifying, it is meant to build up. It is like a father chastising a son whom he loves, not like the state giving a criminal the death penalty. These two kinds of suffering can look the same to eyes that can't discern, but there is a world of difference between them. One lifting up to heaven, the other burning down to hell.

7 “Can you find the depths of God? Can you find the limits of the Almighty? 8 They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? 9 Its measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. 10 If He sweeps by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, who can turn Him around? 11 For He knows worthless men, And He sees wickedness, so will He not carefully consider it?
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Job's third friend, Zophar, replies to him. His theology here is very similar to the Psalmist's in Psalm 139:
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
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There is no escaping God. His omnipresence transcends us. We can't run from Him and we can't hide from Him, but that doesn't stop many people from vainly trying.

Hebrews 12:7: Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
 
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Job 12

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, The one who called on God and He answered him; The righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock.
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This is one of my favorite and more underrated themes in the Scriptures: that the godly man is a clown. Remember that they mocked and laughed at Christ on the cross. Do not be afraid to be a clown for Christ's sake. The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men.

6 The tents of the destroyers are complacent, And those who provoke God are secure, Whom God brings into their power. 7 “But now ask the beasts, and let them instruct you; And the birds of the sky, and let them tell you. 8 Or muse to the earth, and let it instruct you; And let the fish of the sea recount it to you. 9 Who among all these does not know That the hand of Yahweh has done this, 10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all the flesh of man?
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Not only are the righteous punished but the wicked are rewarded, and this too by God's ordaining. God has a purpose in this as well. To the first, a purpose to forgive and restore. To the second, a purpose to bring about justice and destroy.

22 He reveals mysteries from the darkness And brings out the shadows of death into light. 23 He makes the nations great, then makes them perish; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away. 24 He removes the heart of wisdom from the heads of the earth’s people And makes them wander in a pathless waste. 25 They grope in darkness with no light, And He makes them wander about like a drunken man.
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It's hard not to think about America when you read something like this. God is opposed to all nations and to all the world. The only nation He is for is His nation, His Church. If you are on God's bad side, He will set you up just to knock you down. Better to be on His good side where He will knock you down just to set you up.

Job 13

7 Will you speak what is unrighteous for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him? 8 Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? 9 Will it be well when He examines you? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man? 10 He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality. 11 Will not His exaltedness terrify you, And the dread of Him fall on you? 12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes; Your defenses are defenses of clay.
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Job is getting fed up with his friends' counsel. What he warns about does eventually come to pass when God reproves Job's friends.

15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. 16 This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before His presence. 17 Listen carefully to my words, And let my declaration fill your ears. 18 Behold now, I have arranged my case for justice; I know that I will be declared righteous.
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Job will continue to suffer and trust in God. He knows that he will be declared righteous, justified. He will indeed have that "legal status" as some slander it. Have the same hope for yourselves if you trust in Christ.
 
GodfatherPartTwo said:
Job 12


This is one of my favorite and more underrated themes in the Scriptures: that the godly man is a clown. Remember that they mocked and laughed at Christ on the cross. Do not be afraid to be a clown for Christ's sake. The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men.


Not only are the righteous punished but the wicked are rewarded, and this too by God's ordaining. God has a purpose in this as well. To the first, a purpose to forgive and restore. To the second, a purpose to bring about justice and destroy.


It's hard not to think about America when you read something like this. God is opposed to all nations and to all the world. The only nation He is for is His nation, His Church. If you are on God's bad side, He will set you up just to knock you down. Better to be on His good side where He will knock you down just to set you up.

Job 13


Job is getting fed up with his friends' counsel. What he warns about does eventually come to pass when God reproves Job's friends.


Job will continue to suffer and trust in God. He knows that he will be declared righteous, justified. He will indeed have that "legal status" as some slander it. Have the same hope for yourselves if you trust in Christ.
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Yes you are spot on with your point regarding verse 23. I have “USA?” penciled in beside that verse in my bible. Sad but true.
 
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