JOB - Chapters 4-14
DIALOGUE: Round 1
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(4:1-6) You should follow the advise you have given to others.
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In the past, you helped others with encouraging words.
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But now, when things aren't going your way, you impatiently give up.
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Shouldn't the righteous lifestyle/character you had in the past be sufficient to sustain
you through your trials now?
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(4:7-11) It is not the innocent who suffer, but rather those who deserve
it.
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(4:12-21) No man is capable of a totally righteous relationship with
God.
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This is supported by a vision I once received.
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Angelic beings are impure in God's sight. How much worse off is man, with
all his limitations!
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(5:1-7) Resentment of discipline is very unwise.
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No holy one (heavenly being) will change your circumstances.
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A stubborn refusal to learn from it will result in death.
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I've seen it happen before: A person living in folly is prosperous for
a while... then he is suddenly destroyed. [In other words, your situation
is not unique.]
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The source of the problem is not man's environment (circumstances), but
man's heart.
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(5:8-16) Look to God for deliverance!
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God does wondrous things!
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He helps those who are hurt and oppressed, but destroys the wicked!
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(5:17-26) Accept the Lord's discipline! Learn from it, and God will bless
you in might ways.
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(5:27) Job, please accept this faithful advice.
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(6:1-7) My complaint is justified!
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If you could comprehend my anguish, you would understand.
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Look at what God has done to me! That's why I complain.
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Your speech is very inappropriate for the circumstances.
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(6:8-10) If only God would give me death (the only hope I've got left!).
Then I could at least have the consolation that I had remained faithful to
God - all the way to the end!
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(6:11-13) What other hope do I have? Why should I quietly wait for something
good to happen, when all my resources have been destroyed?
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(6:14-23) You have failed in your obligations toward me.
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You ought to be devoted (loyal) to me... even if I were to give up expecting
help from God.
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But you have proved undependable - like desert streams that dry up when
they are most needed.
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The implications of my situation terrify you, and you have abandoned your
loyalty to me.
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I am not asking too much from you!
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(6:24-27) Show me my errors, even if it hurts! You've accomplished nothing
so far. Don't treat me like a "wind bag." That would be comparable to some
of the cruelest things you could do!
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(6:28-30) Look at my sincerity! Don't accuse me without giving a good
reason for doing so!
- (7:1-5) Men's lives are normally full of burdens, with limited joy...
but I have a burden from which there is no relief.
- (7:6-10) My days are nearly over, with nothing good remaining. [Now talking
to God:] Soon I will be gone - never to return, no matter how much you may
desire it.
- (7:11-16) So, I protest! Why do you treat me like an enemy? You won't
even let sleep ease my pain! I'd rather be dead. Give me a break!!!
- (7:17-21)
- Why so much attention on me? Won't you leave me alone even for a
moment?
- Even if I did sin, it wouldn't hurt you. Why not, in that case, show mercy
and forgive?
- Once I die (which will be soon!), it will be too late for you to do so.
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(8:1-7)
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Your words against God are a bunch of hot air. God doesn't distort what
is right.
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Your children died because of sin. But if you repent, God will not give you death, but blessings beyond imagination!
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(8:8-19)
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All the wisdom of past generations has said this!
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The godless quickly perish, just like reeds that suddenly die when they
lose their source of water. What the godless depend on is untrustworthy and
frail.
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(8:6-19 - Two views, depending on interpretation of the Hebrew)
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VIEW A (applied to the wicked): They will be uprooted, withered, and replaced
by others (they have no hope).
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VIEW B (applied to the righteous): When uprooted, they can rejoice, for they
will sprout back again (they do have hope).
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(8:20-22) All of this illustrates my point: that you (if you repent) will
be blessed, whereas evildoers will be shamed!
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(9:1-13)
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I agree that God doesn't pervert justice...but HOW can I demonstrate my
righteousness to Him?
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I am no match for Him: He is too wise and too powerful to answer.
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Look at His power in creation! See how He works in catastrophic events
and in the heavens! His works are beyond comprehension!
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And this is merely the effects of His presence. We don't even see God
Himself!
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In all, God does as He pleases. No enemy can oppose Him or even question
Him!
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(9 :14-20)
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Because of His greatness, I'm helpless to defend myself.
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In fact, if I tried, I'd probably be destroyed!
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He is just too great...none is above Him.
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In his sight I couldn't even utter a word without sounding guilty!
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(9:20-24)
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But nonetheless, I am blameless, and I want to die.
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God, for some reason, lets blameless people suffer just like the wicked.
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If it isn't God doing it, then who is it?
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(9:25-31)
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My days are ending. [Even though the agony seems to go on "forever" -
see 7:3- 4]
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Wishful thinking ("positive thinking") cannot change reality. If I tried
it, I would still end up suffering and being treated as guilty.
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In fact, anything I might do to prove myself innocent would be of no value.
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(9:32-35)
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I cannot approach God in a court as I would a man. (This puts me at a
great disadvantage.)
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It would take some type of arbitrator to restrain God's actions against
me; only then could I defend myself.
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(10:1-7) Why the injustice? ("Why, God, are you doing this to me?")
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I hate my life; I'm going to protest: "Stop condemning me until you have
shown me my sin!"
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Do you somehow get enjoyment from attacking me, while at the same time
favoring the wicked?
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Do you have a faulty, human perspective on things?
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Are you restricted by time (as men are) that you must resort to such actions,
in order to "pry-out" sin that might be in my life? [Perhaps comparable to
the "Inquisition" against Christians, several centuries ago. "Must you run
me through an 'inquisition'?"]
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You know that I'm innocent and you know that I'm helpless before you.
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(10:8-12)
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It just doesn't make sense! Why would you make me, and then turn around
and destroy me!
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Look at the commitment you once had toward me!
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(10:13-17)
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But it appears that you had evil motives! You would be eager to find even
the tiniest sin that I might commit, so that you could punish me! [Probably
not an accusation against God, but a description of how things appear.]
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If I am guilty, it would be hopeless for me; if I am not...I still face
horrible affliction and humiliation. [A no-win situation]
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You continuously attack me.
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(10:18-22)
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So, why did you let me be born? I would rather be dead or non-existent!
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But since I'm alive, leave me alone for a little while, so I can have
a little joy before my impending death. (At that time, it will be forever
too late.)
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(11:1-6)
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Is it conceivable that such a wordy person (implying Job) could be in the right? [According
to Proverbs, FOOLS are the ones who utter lots of words!] Can such impious
speech reduce men to silence, so that you appear to have won the argument?
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You claim that your opinions and lifestyle are flawless! I wish that God
himself would show you how wrong you are!
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If you were wise, you would gratefully realize "the other side" of your
case: you are being punished for only PART of your sins!
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(11:7-9) Can you comprehend the unfathomable aspects of God? His knowledge
and power surpasses the limits of creation! How does that compare with YOU?
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(11:10-12)
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If He judges sin, who is capable of opposing His actions? He knows the
truth about what is going on.
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[Meaning uncertain - possibly: Job, you are hopelessly foolish!]
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(11:13-20)
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So, repent! Turn back to God and forsake your sins!
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Then you will experience wonderful blessings...the past will be totally
forgotten!
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But the wicked (including you, if you don't repent) will have a tragic
end.
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(12:1-3) You people think you have a monopoly on intelligence; but I too,
know something about these things. In fact, what you've said ANYONE can know.
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(12:4-6)
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Even though I am righteous and blameless, and have had fellowship with
God, I am now an object of ridicule.
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This is because men in easy circumstances have contempt for those who
have misfortune.
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And in contrast with me, wicked men are secure!
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(12:7-12)
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Ask any part of creation... it all is aware that this has been done by
God, who is in control of everything.
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[12:11-12 - 2 views]
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VIEW A (a command): Test the truth of this for yourself! After all, you "aged ones"
supposedly have wisdom. [OR: After all, "the Aged One," (that is, God) is
the source of all wisdom.]
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VIEW B (a caution): The aged do have wisdom, but we must carefully test what they say.
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(12:13-25)
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God is more wise and more powerful than men. If He destroys something
in judgment, its destruction is irreversible.
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He has power to conquer all - not only people who blindly follow their
leaders, but also the leaders themselves!
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Nothing is hidden from Him - even what is done in darkness.
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He can exalt or destroy any and all. Even the greatest of men can be brought
to nothing.
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(13:1-12) (Job plans to confront God.)
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(Talking to his "friends") I am equal to you all in intelligence.
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(I plan to pursue a course of action that is totally different from what
you have recommended.) Since I consider myself innocent, I plan to confront
God.
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But you, claiming that I am guilty, speak lies and worthless advise. Silence
would be better!
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Why do you distort the truth in order to promote what you claim is "God's
cause"? One-sided arguments and favoritism are wrong. Don't you know that
God will eventually judge you for it?
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Your words have little value.
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(13:13-19)
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Let me speak without interruption, then let come what may!
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Why do I endanger my life by daring to confront God? Admittedly, he may
destroy me!
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Yet I plan to defend myself... [Two interpretations of the Hebrew:]
- VIEW 1 ("regardless of what happens"): ... even if my attempt proves hopeless (and I die). [What have I to lose?]
- VIEW 2 ("I expect good to happen"): ... and I will hope that he vindicates me.
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Perhaps the very fact that I am willing to do this might testify to my
innocence and result in my deliverance. No godless person would dare to do
such a thing!
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So, pay attention; I'm ready to speak. And I am confident that I will
win!
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Can anyone find sin anywhere in my past? If so, I will willingly be silent
[a sign of defeat] and die!
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(13:20-27)
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I request these things from you, God: stop acting against me, and don't
let your greatness terrify me. [...so we can speak on equal terms].
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Then communicate with me! (You can even decide who speaks first.)
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Show me ANYTHING I have done to deserve such treatment. Why do you treat
weak creatures this way?
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Look at what you are doing: You are bringing bitter charges against me.
You even appear to be punishing me for things I may have done as an immature
child, before I even had a chance to learn wisdom!
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You are restricting me and examining my every move, hunting for the tiniest
mistake!
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(13:28; 14:1-6) [Here, Job speaks in general terms, but implies his own
specific situation.]
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Man slowly rots away. [I obviously am!] He lives a short life - full of
problems - and then dies.
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Why do you focus so much attention on him? Do you expect him to have absolute
perfection? It's not possible!
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You have already determined that his days will be few, so why add to his
suffering? Let him "do his time" until his days are ended.
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(14:7-12) Even a tree has it better than man does.
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When a tree dies, new shoots can sprout up. (It just takes the right
conditions.)
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But when a man dies, it's all over for him. He is like water that evaporates
and is gone.
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As long as this present system lasts, man will not come alive again.
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(14:13-17) If only it were possible to be like the tree!
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If only I could temporarily die and come alive again after your anger
has passed!
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Suppose it were possible... I would put up with everything, waiting in
hope for my renewal to come - when communion and fellowship would be
restored!
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(v. 16-17) [Two interpretations]
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VIEW 1 (a continuation of his wishful thinking): Then you would not hold
against me all the things for which you appear to be judging me.
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VIEW 2 ["back to reality"): But you are attacking me - holding against me
all sorts of things.
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(14:18-22) Instead, man is like an eroding mountain.
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You destroy man's hopes and he dies.
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What happens to those left behind is meaningless to him. As he dies
[OR: "After" he dies?] the only thing on his mind is what is happening to
himself.
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Dennis Hinks © 1989
050105