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Chapter 8.
Bildad Speaks;
How long are you going to talk like this?, you are nothing but a big windbag. Do you think God twists things around to suit his own ends. Your children died, because they sinned, and as for you, if you would swallow your pride and plead with God he would restore, if you are pure and right, your future will prove secure and the past prosperity will seem like nothing. It is obvious that you weren’t all you appeared to be.
The old teachers will tell you, after all we are only young compared with them. Hypocrites are like reeds or bulrushes growing without water, they wither even as they are growing.
The hypocrites life is as fragile as a spiders web, or a plant which might be blooming healthily till the day comes when it is uprooted out of the ground and another is put in its place.
It appears that such things have happened to you. but if you’re not a hypocrite, then God will intervene. He will not turn his back on good people, nor will He help the wicked. If you repent and confess to God your sin then He will make you happy again and those at present mocking you will themselves be mocked.
Chapters 9 - 10.
Job’s third speech.
What you are saying, may well be true, but do you think that a mortal man can influence God in his favour, if the Almighty God is not inclined to be so. (It would be as a child trying to convince by argument a man of 70 yrs old.) God’s wisdom is so far above ours that in debate with him we would not answer one question in a thousand that he might put to us in cross examination.. No man would escape unscathed from such a war of words or arguments, in an attempt to convince Him of justice. His power is also far greater. (Man with God is as a mouse contending with an elephant. ) We are completely at His mercy. When I am angry I might kick over a stool, but God overturns mountains. He shakes the earth like a child shakes a rag doll. He can stop the sun and stars from shining. He stretches out the heavens like a man unrolls wallpaper. (if he was a decorator he could paper the heavens) A few steps takes him across oceans. His miracles and wonders are numberless. The great constellations in the sky are the work of his hands such as The Bear and Orion.
If He passed by and snatched something, who would dare to stop him and say “Hey what are you doing?”
I could not find words to question him about my loss. They would be as an insult, compared to his wisdom and power. Though innocent he could well increase my punishment if he so desired. The next storm could crush me and increase my misery further. Arguing with Him in such a way would no doubt cause me to be guilty. When I am summoned to give judgement for my people I go, but who could summon God, if he did not want to come. You say that God treats the wicked and the blameless differently, but I say you are wrong. That is not always the case, and often we have seen the innocent plundered by invading enemies, or cast into despair by sudden death, but God does not help them. He could, and he sees what is going on, but he stands by like a mocking onlooker.
When wicked people take over a country, the judges of the land must be blindfolded for such a thing to happen. Who blindfolds them if it is not God. So the wicked survive and flourish under His oversight. I speak in such a way because my days are without any worth or meaning, and my life passes without any moment of joy. I know you think I should change and get out of this depression, but what if I do wash myself down and buck myself up. with a hearty “hey- ho” and a smile, will that remove my dreadful illness? And you will always count me as guilty as long as I am ill. So if I buck myself up, so to speak, you wont change your opinions of me. I could scrub myself with scouring powder, but I would never make myself pure before you, you will still find reason to say I am dirty, so long as I am ill.
It is useless arguing about it anymore.. I get nowhere with you and there is no point arguing with God. It is not like arguing in court with a fellow human being, when oneargues with God.
If only there was a man who could arbitrate between us, an ombudsman who could lay a hand on God and the other on me, so that we might communicate.
Then perhaps he might remove his rod of affliction and I would not be so afraid to speak my case, but as it is I have no way to do that now.
Chapter 10
Job Continues.
I have nothing to live for, so I will speak out and let God know how I feel.
I will ask why he is oppressing me and what I have done wrong. “I know you are God and I am but a mortal man and there is no-one who would be able to rescue me from your hand. I have always been in your hand. I am the work of your hands, you moulded me like clay. But for what reason or purpose did you make me ? Was this your original intention, this suffering? Has this been hidden in your mind or heart since my birth?
If I was guilty of wrong I would expect your punishment, but guilty or innocent, it makes no difference, we all have to accept affliction from your hand.
I am as a lion being stalked, if I lift my head you will shoot me. I will not argue with you, but keep a low profile. Things are bad enough but now You have set my friends as your witnesses against me, for they say I am guilty. One thing after another confirms your anger against me. I would rather not to have been born than to have finished up like this in your bad books. The last thing I wanted was to displease you. Could you not grant me a few moments of peace and then let me die?
Bildad Speaks;
How long are you going to talk like this?, you are nothing but a big windbag. Do you think God twists things around to suit his own ends. Your children died, because they sinned, and as for you, if you would swallow your pride and plead with God he would restore, if you are pure and right, your future will prove secure and the past prosperity will seem like nothing. It is obvious that you weren’t all you appeared to be.
The old teachers will tell you, after all we are only young compared with them. Hypocrites are like reeds or bulrushes growing without water, they wither even as they are growing.
The hypocrites life is as fragile as a spiders web, or a plant which might be blooming healthily till the day comes when it is uprooted out of the ground and another is put in its place.
It appears that such things have happened to you. but if you’re not a hypocrite, then God will intervene. He will not turn his back on good people, nor will He help the wicked. If you repent and confess to God your sin then He will make you happy again and those at present mocking you will themselves be mocked.
Chapters 9 - 10.
Job’s third speech.
What you are saying, may well be true, but do you think that a mortal man can influence God in his favour, if the Almighty God is not inclined to be so. (It would be as a child trying to convince by argument a man of 70 yrs old.) God’s wisdom is so far above ours that in debate with him we would not answer one question in a thousand that he might put to us in cross examination.. No man would escape unscathed from such a war of words or arguments, in an attempt to convince Him of justice. His power is also far greater. (Man with God is as a mouse contending with an elephant. ) We are completely at His mercy. When I am angry I might kick over a stool, but God overturns mountains. He shakes the earth like a child shakes a rag doll. He can stop the sun and stars from shining. He stretches out the heavens like a man unrolls wallpaper. (if he was a decorator he could paper the heavens) A few steps takes him across oceans. His miracles and wonders are numberless. The great constellations in the sky are the work of his hands such as The Bear and Orion.
If He passed by and snatched something, who would dare to stop him and say “Hey what are you doing?”
I could not find words to question him about my loss. They would be as an insult, compared to his wisdom and power. Though innocent he could well increase my punishment if he so desired. The next storm could crush me and increase my misery further. Arguing with Him in such a way would no doubt cause me to be guilty. When I am summoned to give judgement for my people I go, but who could summon God, if he did not want to come. You say that God treats the wicked and the blameless differently, but I say you are wrong. That is not always the case, and often we have seen the innocent plundered by invading enemies, or cast into despair by sudden death, but God does not help them. He could, and he sees what is going on, but he stands by like a mocking onlooker.
When wicked people take over a country, the judges of the land must be blindfolded for such a thing to happen. Who blindfolds them if it is not God. So the wicked survive and flourish under His oversight. I speak in such a way because my days are without any worth or meaning, and my life passes without any moment of joy. I know you think I should change and get out of this depression, but what if I do wash myself down and buck myself up. with a hearty “hey- ho” and a smile, will that remove my dreadful illness? And you will always count me as guilty as long as I am ill. So if I buck myself up, so to speak, you wont change your opinions of me. I could scrub myself with scouring powder, but I would never make myself pure before you, you will still find reason to say I am dirty, so long as I am ill.
It is useless arguing about it anymore.. I get nowhere with you and there is no point arguing with God. It is not like arguing in court with a fellow human being, when oneargues with God.
If only there was a man who could arbitrate between us, an ombudsman who could lay a hand on God and the other on me, so that we might communicate.
Then perhaps he might remove his rod of affliction and I would not be so afraid to speak my case, but as it is I have no way to do that now.
Chapter 10
Job Continues.
I have nothing to live for, so I will speak out and let God know how I feel.
I will ask why he is oppressing me and what I have done wrong. “I know you are God and I am but a mortal man and there is no-one who would be able to rescue me from your hand. I have always been in your hand. I am the work of your hands, you moulded me like clay. But for what reason or purpose did you make me ? Was this your original intention, this suffering? Has this been hidden in your mind or heart since my birth?
If I was guilty of wrong I would expect your punishment, but guilty or innocent, it makes no difference, we all have to accept affliction from your hand.
I am as a lion being stalked, if I lift my head you will shoot me. I will not argue with you, but keep a low profile. Things are bad enough but now You have set my friends as your witnesses against me, for they say I am guilty. One thing after another confirms your anger against me. I would rather not to have been born than to have finished up like this in your bad books. The last thing I wanted was to displease you. Could you not grant me a few moments of peace and then let me die?
