Looking for Job

[JLG]

282) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 9

Even if I were in the right, I would not answer him.

- Yes, Job respects God!


- Yes, Job knows his position compared to God!


- Yes, he knows he is only a human beings with limitations!


- But he wants to tell God about his pain and sufferance!


- He wants to call for God because he needs his help!


- And he needs his relationship!


- Can we spend a day without thinking of God?


- Can we spend a day without praying to God?

 

[JLG]

283) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 9

I could only plead for mercy from my judge.


- Think about this humility!


- And he is special to God!


- And he is suffering!


- And he is crying!


- And he is left alone because of the devil!


- And God was always with him!


- And he has always served him!

 

[JLG]

284) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 9

If I call out to him, will he answer me? I do not believe that he will listen to my voice, For he crushes me with a storm And multiplies my wounds for no reason. He does not let me catch my breath; He keeps filling me with bitter things.


- He is away from God!


- No more communication!


- The link is cut!


- And he thinks it is because of God when it is because of the devil!


- And this distress is more destructive than the rest!


- Because God is his compass and his light and his creator!


- And he has always been close to him!


- So Job thinks there is no way and no escape!


- He can’t live without God’s approval!


- Thus there is nothing left for him!

 

[JLG]

285) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 9

If it is a matter of power, he is the strong one. If it is a matter of justice, he says: ‘Who can call me to account?’ If I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; Even if I keep my integrity, he will declare me guilty. Even if I keep my integrity, I am not confident about myself; I reject this life of mine. It is all the same. That is why I say,‘He destroys the innocent and the wicked alike.’ If a flash flood should cause sudden death, He would mock the despair of the innocent. The earth has been handed over to the wicked; He covers the eyes of its judges. If it is not he, then, who is it?


- Yes, Job doesn’t understand what’s on!


- He knows he is not guilty!


- And he is sure about that!


- And it is not pride!


- We must remember God’s words!


- There is no one like him on the earth!


- And the rest of God’s words are also important and are connected with these ones!


- And he thinks God is responsible!


- Because he can’t think about anyone else!


- “If it is not he, then, who is it?”

 

[JLG]

286) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 9

Now my days are swifter than a runner; They run away without seeing good. They glide by like reed boats, Like eagles that swoop down on their prey. If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,’ I would still be afraid because of all my pains, And I know you would not find me innocent. I would be found guilty. So why should I struggle in vain?


- Yes, Job is lost!


- And he can’t find his way because he has lost his light so he can’t know where he is!


- God is away from him!


- There is nothing left for him!


- That’s why he is waiting for death!


- It is hard to imagine Job’s situation except if you are in the darkness and you can’t find your way anymore and if you think God is away from you!


- And you just feel empty!

- And no words can help!


- And you feel distress!

 

[JLG]

287) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 9


- And think of the empty words of the three individuals!


- It would be better for Job to be completely alone!


- Because they make it worse!


- Of course, the devil wants it!


- But for Job it only means more stress!


- Thinking about such a situation, we may try to be careful when we want to comfort others!


- Because we can make it worse!


- Especially when we don’t know exactly what’s on!


- So let’s try to be careful when we want to help others!


- And first of all, if it is possible, let them express themselves and speak about their distress!

 

[JLG]

288) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 9


If I wash myself in water from melting snow, And I cleanse my hands in lye, Then you would dip me in a pit, So that even my own garments would detest me. For he is not a man like me that I may answer him, That we should go to court together. There is no person to decide between us, Who could serve as our judge. If he would stop beating me And not let his terror frighten me, Then I would speak to him unafraid, For it is not in me to speak out of fear.


- He thinks God is against him!


- Job doesn’t know what to do!


- Everything is against him!


- Listening to him, we understand he is ready to keep fighting and complaining!


- But we all have limits!


- When we think about old people, they keep being active till a certain age but their mental and physical health goes down!


- And when they lose their will for survival, then it is difficult to keep going!


- Of course, it is important to maintain mental health and physical health, but in Job’s case, he has found his limits!


- Thus we can question ourselves, it depends on each individual!


- At the difference of Job, we can prepare the field before things get worse!

 

[JLG]

289) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 10

I loathe my life. I will give vent to my complaints. I will speak out in my bitter distress!


- Job is not ready to give up easily!


- That’s his fighting spirit!


- Every time he speaks you can feel it!


- He got it by helping others without limits!


- He got it by developing his strong relationship with God!


- That’s why he was so confident!


- Now he has lost his confidence because he has lost everything and in particular his special relationship to God!


- He has lost hope!


- But keeping alive means complaining to God!


- He will keep calling for him!


- And tell him about his pain and suffering!

 

[JLG]

290) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 10


- I will say to God: ‘Do not pronounce me guilty. Tell me why you are contending with me. Does it benefit you to oppress, To despise the work of your hands While you favor the advice of the wicked? Do you have eyes of flesh, Or do you see as mortal man does? Are your days like the days of mortals, Or are your years like those of a man, That you should search out my error And keep looking for my sin? You know that I am not guilty; And no one can save me from your hand. Your own hands have shaped me and made me, But now you would completely destroy me.


- Job thought God was against him!


- He had no idea of the devil!


- It seems that today it is the same!


- But how is it possible!


- Job didn’t have the bible, we have it!


- And the Bible says that the devil is the leader of this world!


- And many people keep complaining about God!


- Do you remember the Israelites in the desert?


- They always used to complain against God!


- And they kept paying a high price!


- But they never understood!


- Today it is the same!


- And every time we get into more troubles!


- But people don’t change!


- If they don’t prepare know for what is coming, there will be no room for them!


- That’s pure logic!


- But it’s not logical for the majority!


- They just think let’s wait and see!


- But then it will be too late to complain!

 

[JLG]

291) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 10


- Remember, please, that you made me out of clay, But now you make me return to dust. Did you not pour me out like milk And curdle me like cheese? With skin and flesh you clothed me, And with bones and sinews you wove me together. You have given me life and loyal love; You have guarded my spirit with your care.


- Even if Job thinks that God is against him, he never forgets what he has done for him!


- Life and loyal love and care!


- In fact, Job speaks about God as a Father!


- He is not someone quick to forget!


- Of course, he wasn’t living in a commercial world where people consume and throw away!


- Really a different world!

- That’s what people call progress!


- They don’t speak about contamination everywhere!

- Our world is so contaminated that we breathe and eat and drink it!

 

[JLG]

292) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 10


- But you secretly intended to do these things. I know that these things are from you. If I sinned, you would watch me, And you would not acquit me of my error. If I am guilty, too bad for me! And even if I am innocent, I cannot raise my head, For I am filled with dishonor and affliction. If I raise my head up, you hunt for me like a lion And again show your power against me.


- It is really hard to think that you were betrayed by someone you love or care for or someone with whom you have a special relationship!


- You feel lost!

- Then it is hard to trust anybody!


- And when this relationship is powerful, it seems that your world is falling apart!


- Especially when it has always been stable!


- Then it is hard to trust people!


- And the devil knew it perfectly!


- And he kept striking Job without pity!


- Because he wanted to win against God!

 

[JLG]

293) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 10


- You bring new witnesses against me And increase your anger against me, As hardship after hardship comes upon me. So why did you bring me out of the womb? I should have died before any eye could see me. It would have been as though I never existed; I would have been taken straight from the womb to the grave.’ Are not my days few? Let him leave me alone; Let him turn his eyes away from me, so that I may find some relief Before I go away—and I will not return - To the land of deepest darkness, To the land of utter gloom, A land of deep shadow and disorder, Where even the light is like the gloom.”


- Job has lost hope!


- He would only appreciate having some relief!


- Of course, when we reach such a mental condition, it is really hard!


- But we know that God is not responsible!


- So whatever may happen, we have the Bible to find comfort!


- We have examples of God’s faithful servants!


- And we can find resources and energy and strength to keep going!


- God’s world is waiting for us!

- It is worth waiting for it and preparing for it and speaking about it!

 

[JLG]

294) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 12


- Then Job said in reply: “Surely you are the people who know, And wisdom will die out with you! But I too have understanding. I am not inferior to you. Who does not know these things?


- It seems to be that Job has lost hope!


- But he also shows his fighting spirit!


- He shows us the way!


- Whatever the situation, we need to find the resources to keep fighting!


- And we must never forget to speak to God!


- And ask him for help!


- And to give us part of his spirit to understand better the Bible!


- And to be able to keep studying it and find strength in it!

 

[JLG]

295) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 12


- I have become a laughingstock to my companions, One calling to God for an answer. A righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock.


- Righteous and blameless!


- It sounds like there is no one like him on the earth!


- Definitely an excellent example to follow!


- And don’t forget he didn’t have the Bible to help him in his relationship with God!

- And Job was an authority!


- He was respected!


- But then people started to laugh at him!


- Don’t forget that anything can happen at any time!


- But is that a reason or an excuse to forget God?


- Job would never do that!

 

[JLG]

296) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 12


- The carefree person has contempt for calamity, Thinking it is only for those whose feet are unsteady. The tents of robbers are at peace, And those who provoke God are secure, Those who have their god in their hands. However, ask, please, the animals, and they will instruct you; Also the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you. Or give consideration to the earth, and it will instruct you; And the fish of the sea will declare it to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of Jehovah has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing And the spirit of every human.


- Job sees wickedness everywhere!


- But animals, birds, the earth, the fish of the sea tell about our creator!


- God created everything!


- It was evidence for Job!


- It is not evidence for many men!


- But look at what they have done to the earth!


- Every time they have more capacity to destroy all life on the earth!


- Life vs destruction!


- Two opposite ways!


- We must make a choice!


- Like Job!

 

[JLG]

297) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 12


- Does not the ear test out words As the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged, And does not understanding come with a long life? With him there are wisdom and mightiness; He has counsel and understanding.


- We have ears: do we still hear?


- We have eyes: do we still see?


- We have a nose: do we still smell?


- We have hands: do we still touch?


- We have a palate: do we still taste?


- We have a mind: do we still learn?


- God has wisdom and mightiness and counsel and understanding: do we listen to him?


- Job kept doing it all his life and he was blessed!

 

[JLG]

298) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 12


- When he tears something down, it cannot be rebuilt; What he has shut, no man can open. When he withholds the waters, everything dries up; When he sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.


- Nothing is impossible for God!


- All faithful servants of God know that!


With him there are strength and practical wisdom;


- There is no one more powerful than him!


- All faithful servants of God know that!


- To him belong the one going astray and the one leading astray; He makes counselors go barefoot, And he makes fools of judges. He loosens the bonds imposed by kings, And he binds a belt around their waist. He makes priests walk barefoot, And he overthrows those who are firmly established in power; He deprives trusted advisers of speech And takes away the sensibleness of old men; He pours out contempt upon nobles, And he makes powerful ones weak;


- He can teach a lesson to anyone!


- But the faithful etch it in their mind and heart!


- And they keep it forever!


- like a precious gift and treasure!


- So did Job!

 

[JLG]

299) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 12


- He reveals deep things from the darkness, And he brings deep darkness into the light; He makes nations grow great in order to destroy them; He enlarges nations, that he may lead them into exile. He takes away the understanding of the leaders of the people And makes them wander in trackless wastelands. They grope in darkness, where there is no light; He makes them wander about like drunken men.


- Job has always been looking for light!


- Do we do the same?


- The world is going to its destruction!


- What about us?


- Do we act like drunken men?


- Or do we look for understanding?


- We have to choose one way like Job and walk straight away!

 

[JLG]

300) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 13


- “Yes, my eye has seen all of this, My ear has heard and understood it.


- Have we heard and understood it like Job!


What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. For my part, I would rather speak to the Almighty himself; I desire to argue my case with God.


- Do we want to speak with God like Job?


- For that, we must be taught by him!


- We must listen to him again and again!


- But you are smearing me with lies;All of you are useless physicians.


- We don’t need lies!


- We don’t need useless physicians!

 

[JLG]

301) There is no one like him on the earth and a wealthy farmer


Job 13


- If only you would keep absolutely silent, That would show wisdom on your part.


- Sometimes it is better to keep silent and listen!


- Sometimes it is better to speak like Job!


- We must learn to do the right thing at the right time!


- Listen, please, to my arguments, And pay attention to the pleadings of my lips.


- If we don’t use arguments, why speaking to say nothing?


- Will you speak unjustly on God’s behalf, And will you speak deceitfully for him? Will you take his side, Will you try to plead the case of the true God?


- Do we really take God’s side like Job?


- Or do we just wait and see?