April 9, 2015.

Daily Reading: Job 27-28.

Background: Job 25-26.

Concepts and Connections.

Chapter 25

“I have held my integrity”: Time and again Job has heard from his friends, “You must have transgressed the Lord somewhere, just repent of your sin and everything will be alright.” He has told them multiple times that he has not done anything to warrant this situation, but they simply will not believe him. Instead of comfort, they have meet him with rebuttals and accusations, to the point where it would be understandable for Job to even have started to believe them. Most people would have by now. But Job takes up his discourse in this chapter to set things straight. He has held his integrity. He has not transgressed the command of the Lord. He does love the Lord with his whole heart. And he will continue to keep his integrity until he dies. Knowing this, he can confidently say that the wicked will perish, for he is not among the wicked. There is a difference between the struggles of the righteous and the perils of the wicked, and Job seems to conceptually understand that here. He will press on, though his way be hard, for he knows that his friends are not right. We can look to Job here when we go through rough times, and know that we can still maintain our integrity no matter what the situation. We can always keep our eyes on God, and not be swayed by the world around us. May we ever have this spirit.

Chapter 26

Where wisdom comes from: After beginning his discourse by committing to maintaining his integrity, Job goes a bit deeper in to philosophy here, asking where wisdom comes from. He notes various kinds of knowledge throughout the world, and the seeking of man. He looks to nature and sees it working continuously (compare with Ecclesiastes 1). Mankind has developed various weapons and ingenuities to help him through this life, but the ultimate question is where is wisdom? Where does it come from? How is it obtained? Man doesn’t know. Nature doesn’t have it. Material things are at a loss when asked about it. If wisdom is to be found, there is one, and only one being to ask- He who created wisdom. The One who created all things. The one who gave weight to the wind and formed the oceans. God knows the path to wisdom, and He has revealed it to the sons of man. For He has said: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding (see also Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 15:33).” This is similar to the conclusion that the preacher in Ecclesiastes comes to when all things are heard (see Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The fear of the Lord is wisdom. It is only though Him that we can ever hope to come to true understanding.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Jeremiah 7-11.

Grace and peace.

-Walter