Reading Plan · Day 149
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Job 25-27
Day 149
Previously · Day 148 · Job 22-24
The previous day's reading covered Eliphaz's weak Deterministic Third Round perspective and Job's response.
Day 149 Read
Where You Stopped
Job 25
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Commentary · verse 1
2Dominion and fear are with him; He maketh peace in his high places.
3Is there any number of his armies? And upon whom doth not his light arise?
4How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
5Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, And the stars are not pure in his sight: 6How much less man, that is a worm! And the son of man, that is a worm!
2Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.
3Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?
4How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
5Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
6How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
Commentary · verses 2-6
Bildad's argument was short and abstract, making his point that "everyone is bad." He was analogous to Traditionalists today (a belief in "total depravity"?). He appealed to the doctrine that they had followed from the past and could not begin to make a coherent point in his concluding speech. If man was a "worm," then why was Bildad speaking at all?
Commentary · verse 6
Zophar did not speak at all during the Third Round. He was analogous to Post-Moderns today. He did not believe we could understand God, God was unjust, and none of this mattered anyway.
All three of the "comforters" arguments towards Job diminished in quality the more they spoke. Each of the three rounds' arguments grew more abstract, more contradictory, and weaker. We were done hearing from Job's three friends.
Where You Stopped
Job 26
1Then Job answered and said, 2How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!
3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!
4To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?
1But Job answered and said,
2How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
Commentary · verses 1-4
Job asked his "comforters" who they had helped. Job blatantly asked them "whose spirit" came out of them (God or enemy?). Job was beginning his "victory" speech.
5They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.
6Sheol is naked before God, And Abaddon hath no covering.
5Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
6Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
Commentary · verses 5-6
The word "Abaddon" was Strong's #11 and it meant "destruction."
7He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.
9He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.
11The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.
12He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.
13By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.
7He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
9He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
11The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
12He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
13By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
Commentary · verses 7-13
Job gave a list of attributes that showed how awesome God was! Remember, the word "Rahab" was Strong's #2793 and it meant "proud," however, it was also used in the Old Testament as a poetic reference to Egypt.
14Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?
14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
Commentary · verse 14
Job stated that this list was only a portion of how awesome God was! Job had declared victory. Next, it was time to conclude his interaction with his three friends.
Where You Stopped
Job 27
1And Job again took up his parable, and said,
1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Commentary · verse 1
Job presented his conclusion with a "parable." This word "parable" was Strong's #4912 mashal which meant "sense of superiority in mental action." Job was completely in charge of this debate.
2As God liveth, who hath taken away my right, And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul 3(For my life is yet whole in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils); 4Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, Neither shall my tongue utter deceit.
5Far be it from me that I should justify you: Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.
6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
2As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
3All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
4My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
5God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Commentary · verses 2-6
Job stated his will that he would not renounce God.
This was officially the moment that God was proven right before Satan.
Satan believed that Job would renounce God if his HAVE and DO were taken away and Job had proven that he would not. Job stated he would not, even in the very midst of his extreme suffering.
7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.
8For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, When God taketh away his soul?
9Will God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?
10Will he delight himself in the Almighty, And call upon God at all times?
7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
8For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
Commentary · verses 7-10
Job concluded: The godless may gain in the short term but will lose in the long term. The godless did not inquire of God.
11I will teach you concerning the hand of God; That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; Why then are ye become altogether vain?
13This is the portion of a wicked man with God, And the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty:
11I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
Commentary · verses 11-13
Job's objective became teaching the three "comforters," and he stated his objective to them.
14If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, And his widows shall make no lamentation.
16Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay; 17He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.
18He buildeth his house as the moth, And as a booth which the keeper maketh.
19He lieth down rich, but he shall not be gathered to his fathers; He openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; And it sweepeth him out of his place.
22For God shall hurl at him, and not spare: He would fain flee out of his hand.
23Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.
14If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
16Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
17He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
18He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
19The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
22For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
23Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Commentary · verses 14-23
Verses 14-23 was a list of things that happen to the wicked, making the point that "the wicked will not get away with their wickedness." Job was not done with his conclusion.
Commentary · verse 23
This day's reading covered the conclusion of the Third Round and the beginning of Job's "victory speech."
Bildad was the second "comforter" to speak in the Third Round.