This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:14
14 Lo, these are parts [qatsah] of his ways [derek]: but how little [shemets] a portion [dabar] is heard [shama`] of him? but the thunder [ra`am] of his power [gabuwrah] who can understand [biyn]? KJV-Interlinear
14 'Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; And how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?' NASB
Job lived a very long time ago. In his day, there was not much in the way of science. Although the Egyptians, as well as others, were building some pretty impressive pyramids, and had quite a knowledge of engineering, surveying, astronomy and such, still their knowledge was nothing when compared to what we have and know today.
The scriptures were written to all of humanity, both those who lived in ancient times as well as those who are yet to live in the future from out present time.
Mans knowledge in science, technology, innovation, and invention are advancing by leaps and bounds on a daily basis it seems.
But all that we know, and all that we have are mere nothings, mere shadows of what God actually is.
The fringes are the fuzzy things that exist on the outermost edge of a thing. Like the foam on the edge of the ocean. The fringes amount to almost nothing when compared to the whole.
Likewise, the thunder of God here is a reference to peals of thunder from an extremely violent storm, loud and deafening. In contrast, what we hear from God, what we hear from mans discoveries collectively throughout history, are mere whispers.
The faint word, is the action of hearing a whisper that fades away. We hear the tiniest bit of the softest and quietest whisper, and then the greater portion of the whisper fades such that we cannot hear it all.
Such is the knowledge and wisdom of God, vast and unimaginably infinite, as compared to that of man, whose knowledge and wisdom is miniscule to almost non-existent. In fact our understanding is nothing more than the fringes of a whisper of the infinite.
Yet you can look around you and see the boastings of mans philosophies, religions, beliefs and such. People pursue with great passion, the lies they have invented themselves. People promote and give even their last dollar to ideologies that are empty pits.
People who are the most rebellious against God, make the most noise in this world. They boast profusely and try as they may, to suppress truth. In fact anyone who opposes the views of others (regardless of whether they are right or wrong) is in fact a hater of truth.
Those who support truth are usually regarded as the silent majority. But where evil promotes its own philosophies, those who view themselves as righteous or conservative (Biblically speaking, not politically speaking) usually are reluctant to support their own. By the way, political conservatism is not Biblical conservatism. You should know that by now.
Gods whispers, which far surpass all of mans knowledge, are far greater than the expanse of this universe. And yet man gives little heed to the Word of God. Even those who fancy themselves as Christian, are more comfortable in taking, without giving back. If Christians supported their own faith to the extent even to the extremes that other false religions are supported, then this would be a very different world.
Supporting social activities, soccer, dances, and handing out blankets are more attractive than attending Bible classes and taking notes. Not that there is anything wrong with these functions, but when ones Bible study is excluded or replaced by these types of things, then the whole view of life has been misapplied.
Foundations and individuals alike give to charities and have for many, many years. But Jesus healed and cured, and told us that these things though good, are not what man needs. Soul healing through salvation and spiritual growth is far more important than inoculations and cures. Get doctrine and the shots will come. Forget doctrine and all of the shots in the world will not help you after you leave this world.
When the British flag flew around the globe, along with it went the military, the merchants, and the missionaries. All three being integral parts of freedom, liberty, prosperity, and eternal repercussions for millions. But the haters of truth, hate anything that has to do with the attributes of truth.
But that has been the course of history for a very long time, and still is. It is very easy to sit back and pretend to not understand ones obligations, to sit back and find excuses as to why one does not or cannot fulfill their obligations, or to sit back and wait for someone else to do what is needed.
But God looks to each individual to be obedient to His mandates. Each person is evaluated on what they do, not on what others do.
We all live in a world of beauty, music, tastes, and such. We all live in the world with pressures and stresses and anxieties galore. But there is nothing in our human experience that can match the phenomenal glories that await us in heaven.
Too often we look at the world around us and no further, and that tends to hold us back in how we conduct our lives. We think that we are screaming along in a billion mile race, when in fact we are stuck in our reluctance to take the first few steps. Arrogant excuses, thin skinned and shallow attitudes toward life are among the biggest barriers to spiritual growth.
What God has awaiting us defies our comprehension. The extent of Gods power and control over life escapes our trust. How can anyone genuinely grow up in their spiritual life when faith is so weakened by stubborn opinions?
What possible solution could there be?
Showing posts with label Job 26. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Job 26. Show all posts
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
Job 26:13
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:13
13 By his spirit [ruwach] he hath garnished [shiphrah] the heavens [shamayim]; his hand [yad] hath formed [chuwl] the crooked [bariyach] serpent [nachash]. KJV-Interlinear
13 'By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent. NASB
The word for spirit sometimes refers to ones breath, to the spirit of ones essence, to the power of ones own will. Sometimes it refers to the Holy Spirit, but that deity is not in view here. Not by Himself anyway.
Job is referring to Gods creative function in the creation of the heavens of the universe. He created the sun and the moon and the stars beyond. God did not randomly throw these objects into space, but arranged them as one would decorate a large room.
The serpent is the dragon. Typically this is a reference to the constellation Draco, which circles the North Pole. Today the North Star is Polaris, but back in 2700 B.C., Thuban was the North Polar star. Thuban was in the head of the dragon constellation.
There a lot of mythical stories surrounding the constellations, including the oldest of those myths, which was that battles occurred on the earth between man and dragons, and when the dragons were defeated, the gods threw the dragons up into the night sky, sometimes breaking them into two pieces, one piece residing in the sky and the other piece remaining on the earth.
Though the origins of the constellation names is not known, this book of Job along with other ancient writings points to the ancient Mesopotamians as the source. This would imply that Noah and his three sons, who lived both before and after the flood, told stories of the great creature people (breeding between women and angels) from Gen. 6, and these stories developed into the stories and mythology that we are familiar with today.
The constellations become a means of recording the stories of the battles between good and evil, between God and Satan, between man and demon.
Psa. 33:6
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. NASB
God not only created the universe, but He arranged the stars, decorated the heavens, not by some random or natural explosive event, but by means of His will through design and arrangement.
Not only were the stories of ancient events handed down through verbal communication, recorded in the written scriptures, but they are also recorded in the names and mythological stories (as we know them), from the stars themselves.
Back in those ancient times, people knew of God and the stories of creation. People knew the fundamental proverbs and principles of truth. As we have seen, their applications sometimes differed but their knowledge and acceptance of life and history did not.
Today, we face a very different view of doctrine. Today we have a growing trend of anti-truth, anti-God, anti-Christian attitudes.
Not only are the stories of old being systematically rejected as nonsense, but principles of fundamental social order are being rejected as well.
Through attempts to render illegal all prayer in the schools, to separate all links between faith and government, to gain acceptance between for all sorts of alternate lifestyles, and to separate people from their responsibilities at home and abroad, thus the trends of the world to disengage itself totally from God is all too evident.
To disengage from God is to disengage from truth. And once truth is gone, then lies are all that remain.
Way back then, people had virtually no technology, no science, no knowledge as we have today, but they did have common sense and could see life reasonably clearly. People knew their place and they knew Gods place.
Today we have so much information saturating the airways, and yet the attitude of the day is to ridicule the stories from scripture, and to disregard the teachings of old, as outdated and non-relevant to life.
Today people think that they know more, and are better off than those who lived in the past. But today, beliefs are formed from theories, conjecture, imagination, consensus and so forth, rather than on objective facts. Even the methodologies in todays sciences, of the past, make many assumptions in order to make themselves legitimate.
Mans attitude will vacillate for and against God, and in time, it will generally fade away from truth, but Gods truth will never change and man can never totally eliminate it from history. For man can no more change truth than he can change the positions of the stars.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:13
13 By his spirit [ruwach] he hath garnished [shiphrah] the heavens [shamayim]; his hand [yad] hath formed [chuwl] the crooked [bariyach] serpent [nachash]. KJV-Interlinear
13 'By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent. NASB
The word for spirit sometimes refers to ones breath, to the spirit of ones essence, to the power of ones own will. Sometimes it refers to the Holy Spirit, but that deity is not in view here. Not by Himself anyway.
Job is referring to Gods creative function in the creation of the heavens of the universe. He created the sun and the moon and the stars beyond. God did not randomly throw these objects into space, but arranged them as one would decorate a large room.
The serpent is the dragon. Typically this is a reference to the constellation Draco, which circles the North Pole. Today the North Star is Polaris, but back in 2700 B.C., Thuban was the North Polar star. Thuban was in the head of the dragon constellation.
There a lot of mythical stories surrounding the constellations, including the oldest of those myths, which was that battles occurred on the earth between man and dragons, and when the dragons were defeated, the gods threw the dragons up into the night sky, sometimes breaking them into two pieces, one piece residing in the sky and the other piece remaining on the earth.
Though the origins of the constellation names is not known, this book of Job along with other ancient writings points to the ancient Mesopotamians as the source. This would imply that Noah and his three sons, who lived both before and after the flood, told stories of the great creature people (breeding between women and angels) from Gen. 6, and these stories developed into the stories and mythology that we are familiar with today.
The constellations become a means of recording the stories of the battles between good and evil, between God and Satan, between man and demon.
Psa. 33:6
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. NASB
God not only created the universe, but He arranged the stars, decorated the heavens, not by some random or natural explosive event, but by means of His will through design and arrangement.
Not only were the stories of ancient events handed down through verbal communication, recorded in the written scriptures, but they are also recorded in the names and mythological stories (as we know them), from the stars themselves.
Back in those ancient times, people knew of God and the stories of creation. People knew the fundamental proverbs and principles of truth. As we have seen, their applications sometimes differed but their knowledge and acceptance of life and history did not.
Today, we face a very different view of doctrine. Today we have a growing trend of anti-truth, anti-God, anti-Christian attitudes.
Not only are the stories of old being systematically rejected as nonsense, but principles of fundamental social order are being rejected as well.
Through attempts to render illegal all prayer in the schools, to separate all links between faith and government, to gain acceptance between for all sorts of alternate lifestyles, and to separate people from their responsibilities at home and abroad, thus the trends of the world to disengage itself totally from God is all too evident.
To disengage from God is to disengage from truth. And once truth is gone, then lies are all that remain.
Way back then, people had virtually no technology, no science, no knowledge as we have today, but they did have common sense and could see life reasonably clearly. People knew their place and they knew Gods place.
Today we have so much information saturating the airways, and yet the attitude of the day is to ridicule the stories from scripture, and to disregard the teachings of old, as outdated and non-relevant to life.
Today people think that they know more, and are better off than those who lived in the past. But today, beliefs are formed from theories, conjecture, imagination, consensus and so forth, rather than on objective facts. Even the methodologies in todays sciences, of the past, make many assumptions in order to make themselves legitimate.
Mans attitude will vacillate for and against God, and in time, it will generally fade away from truth, but Gods truth will never change and man can never totally eliminate it from history. For man can no more change truth than he can change the positions of the stars.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Job 26:12
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:12
12 He divideth [raga`] the sea [yam] with his power [koach], and by his understanding [tabuwn] [tabuwn] he smiteth [machats] through the proud [rahab]. KJV-Interlinear
12 'He quieted the sea with His power, And by His understanding He shattered Rahab. NASB
All too often commentators try to apply this verse to the dividing of the Red Sea or to the dividing of the oceans after the Noah flood. But remember that the Bible is one long series of parables, using worldly terms or situations to describe spiritual concepts.
Throughout the Bible, the sea has been used to describe the will of humanity or the will of the nations. In one sense, God has a plan, a divine plan for history. In another sense, Satan has a plan, an evil plan wherein he desires to be better than God, and in effect overthrow God as the ruler of the universe.
Mans plan follows that of Satan in that man has for a long time seen himself as the ruler and determiner of his own destiny. Since ancient times, men have abused there power in quests for territory and authority over the weaker masses. Rulers did not hesitate to force armies of men to charge to their own death, simply because that ruler was power greedy.
And so history's ebb and flow of the human will, like the ocean tides, try to escape their boundaries. They storm and they settle down into a calm. But try as they may, the seas cannot break out of Gods defined boundaries.
The seas are literally water. They have no soul, no mental capacity. The seas do not think. And yet here they are ascribed with arrogance (Rahab). The nation is often referred to as Rahab for its unleashed arrogance and the destruction which comes out of it.
But Job uses Rahab here also to describe monsters, sea demons, dragons, crocodiles and such things. These pose great danger to man or to anyone who is caught up in their jaws.
Wisdom from God is of course His truth. Gods truth encompasses many things. Gods wisdom is not restricted to the words written in the Bible, but apply to all things that God has designed, defined and created. The primary concept here being Gods divine plan for the dispensations of human history, the work of salvation, and so forth.
The world of course wants to define things differently, leaving God out of pretty much everything. But the defiance, the rebellion, the animal predator arrogant attitude of humanity which is described here, is all controlled by God.
Try as he may, neither Satan nor mankind will be able to alter Gods plan. Neither Satan nor mankind will be able to superimpose their own will over that of Gods, and force a different outcome for history, than that which God has already foreseen.
Man, apart from God, is driven by arrogance. Arrogance is the great destroyer of life. People will boast about their desires, their goals, their intentions. People will boast about their beliefs and try to impose their standards and will, onto others.
But try as they may, the gossips, the politicians, the celebrities, the tyrants of the world, everyone can go only so far and no further.
God has placed limits on man, and on history.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:12
12 He divideth [raga`] the sea [yam] with his power [koach], and by his understanding [tabuwn] [tabuwn] he smiteth [machats] through the proud [rahab]. KJV-Interlinear
12 'He quieted the sea with His power, And by His understanding He shattered Rahab. NASB
All too often commentators try to apply this verse to the dividing of the Red Sea or to the dividing of the oceans after the Noah flood. But remember that the Bible is one long series of parables, using worldly terms or situations to describe spiritual concepts.
Throughout the Bible, the sea has been used to describe the will of humanity or the will of the nations. In one sense, God has a plan, a divine plan for history. In another sense, Satan has a plan, an evil plan wherein he desires to be better than God, and in effect overthrow God as the ruler of the universe.
Mans plan follows that of Satan in that man has for a long time seen himself as the ruler and determiner of his own destiny. Since ancient times, men have abused there power in quests for territory and authority over the weaker masses. Rulers did not hesitate to force armies of men to charge to their own death, simply because that ruler was power greedy.
And so history's ebb and flow of the human will, like the ocean tides, try to escape their boundaries. They storm and they settle down into a calm. But try as they may, the seas cannot break out of Gods defined boundaries.
The seas are literally water. They have no soul, no mental capacity. The seas do not think. And yet here they are ascribed with arrogance (Rahab). The nation is often referred to as Rahab for its unleashed arrogance and the destruction which comes out of it.
But Job uses Rahab here also to describe monsters, sea demons, dragons, crocodiles and such things. These pose great danger to man or to anyone who is caught up in their jaws.
Wisdom from God is of course His truth. Gods truth encompasses many things. Gods wisdom is not restricted to the words written in the Bible, but apply to all things that God has designed, defined and created. The primary concept here being Gods divine plan for the dispensations of human history, the work of salvation, and so forth.
The world of course wants to define things differently, leaving God out of pretty much everything. But the defiance, the rebellion, the animal predator arrogant attitude of humanity which is described here, is all controlled by God.
Try as he may, neither Satan nor mankind will be able to alter Gods plan. Neither Satan nor mankind will be able to superimpose their own will over that of Gods, and force a different outcome for history, than that which God has already foreseen.
Man, apart from God, is driven by arrogance. Arrogance is the great destroyer of life. People will boast about their desires, their goals, their intentions. People will boast about their beliefs and try to impose their standards and will, onto others.
But try as they may, the gossips, the politicians, the celebrities, the tyrants of the world, everyone can go only so far and no further.
God has placed limits on man, and on history.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Job 26:11
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org Daily Bible Study Index Page Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:11
11 The pillars [`ammuwd] of heaven [shamayim] tremble [ruwph] and are astonished [tamahh] at his reproof [ga`arah]. KJV-Interlinear
11 'The pillars of heaven tremble, And are amazed at His rebuke. NASB
Job is a man. Job lives on this planet earth. Job cannot possibly see into heaven and observe its reactions to Gods will or actions. Job cannot even see God.
And yet Job describes activity on this earth which is far greater than anything we have seen in our present age.
The pillars of heaven are general references to great mountains. Mountains carried a superstitious characteristic of holding heaven up high in the sky.
If we recall that Job lived in a generation, which was not too many centuries after the flood of Noah, then given the nature of that flood in that it covered over the entire earth with water, then we can reasonably assume that the continents and mountains and such were in a state of high activity for a few centuries following the flood.
Now just a quick thought in speculation. And remember that this is simply speculation, but I will use it to teach a point below.
Researchers have found grasses and bugs and such things everywhere on the planet. From Siberia to Antarctica. That means that good weather did occur at some point all over the planet, or that all of the continents were in a place of good weather.
I suggested, long ago in Genesis, that the continents, which number seven, were one great continent prior to the flood, and that they were split up during that flood. What with all of the power of the ocean waters and such. It could very well have been that there were no great mountains during the time prior to the flood. Perhaps just great hills, and plains and valleys and such. Again this is speculation, and just a scenario for a point of doctrine later. So don't get upset and don't write me emails.
Most folks want to believe that the continents moved into their positions over a period of millions of years, and that is ok if that is what you want to believe.
But again, there may not have been a Mt. Everest, so water would not have had to rise up some 28,000+ feet in order to cover the earth if such high places did not exist.
Ok, given that presumption, then the flood occurs and a year later Noah lands on high ground.
What happened during that entire year of a flooded world? Lets presume that God used that time to break up that one continent and caused all seven pieces to drift off in their respective directions. Antarctica went south and was covered with a mile of ice and snow. Maybe that is where the Garden of Eden is, or was. The Americas drifted west. Australia drifted east. Africa, Asia, Europe and India drifted north, all colliding at their respective positions.
At such an early time after the flood, Job would have witnessed or heard stories from others, of great and catastrophic geological changes, that probably would have occurred reasonably frequently. Remember too that the early generations of people lived several hundreds of years. So folks would have seen a great deal during their long lifetimes.
The mountain ranges of today could well have developed from all of those early eruption and colliding effects.
Well, ok it is possible, and personally, I believe that it is more than a possibility. Anyway, Job describes massive reactions of the earth, which impressed him so much, that heaven itself seemed to be shaking or trembling.
All of this geological activity, if that is the right phrase, would have been sufficient to make people stand in awe at the tremendous power behind it all.
Today we see all kinds of events on the television, but with the media, with movies and such, people seem to be desensitized against such massive events. Unless you are right in the middle of one, of course.
So it takes quite a lot to impress folks these days. And with television, movie graphics and such, each succeeding generation, after our time, will likely become less and less impressed with massive disasters.
And here is the point of doctrine. In ancient times, a mountain moved and God was its cause. Today, a mountain moves and it is just a function of nature. We change the channel.
When people are impressed, then they will begin to think about the spiritual realm. As people become less and less sensitive toward world or personal activities, then it will take greater events in order to get their attention.
God has a massive plan. In that plan, are dispensations. As time moves forward, the generations will become less and less impressed with the power of God until the Rapture, and even that will be swept under the rug as some sort of media hoax. So, the Tribulation will be the final set of world events to get people to change their ways.
Most, still will not.
Your greatest risk in life is to become indifferent toward God, Christ, doctrine and your spiritual life.
Your greatest trap in life is to become distracted with things I say, things others say, sensitive toward world affairs, and desensitized toward Gods affairs.
DailyBibleStudy.Org Daily Bible Study Index Page Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:11
11 The pillars [`ammuwd] of heaven [shamayim] tremble [ruwph] and are astonished [tamahh] at his reproof [ga`arah]. KJV-Interlinear
11 'The pillars of heaven tremble, And are amazed at His rebuke. NASB
Job is a man. Job lives on this planet earth. Job cannot possibly see into heaven and observe its reactions to Gods will or actions. Job cannot even see God.
And yet Job describes activity on this earth which is far greater than anything we have seen in our present age.
The pillars of heaven are general references to great mountains. Mountains carried a superstitious characteristic of holding heaven up high in the sky.
If we recall that Job lived in a generation, which was not too many centuries after the flood of Noah, then given the nature of that flood in that it covered over the entire earth with water, then we can reasonably assume that the continents and mountains and such were in a state of high activity for a few centuries following the flood.
Now just a quick thought in speculation. And remember that this is simply speculation, but I will use it to teach a point below.
Researchers have found grasses and bugs and such things everywhere on the planet. From Siberia to Antarctica. That means that good weather did occur at some point all over the planet, or that all of the continents were in a place of good weather.
I suggested, long ago in Genesis, that the continents, which number seven, were one great continent prior to the flood, and that they were split up during that flood. What with all of the power of the ocean waters and such. It could very well have been that there were no great mountains during the time prior to the flood. Perhaps just great hills, and plains and valleys and such. Again this is speculation, and just a scenario for a point of doctrine later. So don't get upset and don't write me emails.
Most folks want to believe that the continents moved into their positions over a period of millions of years, and that is ok if that is what you want to believe.
But again, there may not have been a Mt. Everest, so water would not have had to rise up some 28,000+ feet in order to cover the earth if such high places did not exist.
Ok, given that presumption, then the flood occurs and a year later Noah lands on high ground.
What happened during that entire year of a flooded world? Lets presume that God used that time to break up that one continent and caused all seven pieces to drift off in their respective directions. Antarctica went south and was covered with a mile of ice and snow. Maybe that is where the Garden of Eden is, or was. The Americas drifted west. Australia drifted east. Africa, Asia, Europe and India drifted north, all colliding at their respective positions.
At such an early time after the flood, Job would have witnessed or heard stories from others, of great and catastrophic geological changes, that probably would have occurred reasonably frequently. Remember too that the early generations of people lived several hundreds of years. So folks would have seen a great deal during their long lifetimes.
The mountain ranges of today could well have developed from all of those early eruption and colliding effects.
Well, ok it is possible, and personally, I believe that it is more than a possibility. Anyway, Job describes massive reactions of the earth, which impressed him so much, that heaven itself seemed to be shaking or trembling.
All of this geological activity, if that is the right phrase, would have been sufficient to make people stand in awe at the tremendous power behind it all.
Today we see all kinds of events on the television, but with the media, with movies and such, people seem to be desensitized against such massive events. Unless you are right in the middle of one, of course.
So it takes quite a lot to impress folks these days. And with television, movie graphics and such, each succeeding generation, after our time, will likely become less and less impressed with massive disasters.
And here is the point of doctrine. In ancient times, a mountain moved and God was its cause. Today, a mountain moves and it is just a function of nature. We change the channel.
When people are impressed, then they will begin to think about the spiritual realm. As people become less and less sensitive toward world or personal activities, then it will take greater events in order to get their attention.
God has a massive plan. In that plan, are dispensations. As time moves forward, the generations will become less and less impressed with the power of God until the Rapture, and even that will be swept under the rug as some sort of media hoax. So, the Tribulation will be the final set of world events to get people to change their ways.
Most, still will not.
Your greatest risk in life is to become indifferent toward God, Christ, doctrine and your spiritual life.
Your greatest trap in life is to become distracted with things I say, things others say, sensitive toward world affairs, and desensitized toward Gods affairs.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Job 26:10
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:10
10 He hath compassed [chuwg] the waters [paniym] [mayim] with bounds [choq], until the day ['owr] and night [choshek] come to an end [takliyth]. KJV-Interlinear
10 'He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness. NASB
If you are into history and want to add a set of volumes to your library, then the Encyclopedia of Geography is a good source of information, both of the real world and the imagined world as seen through the eyes of the ancients.
Job is describing a boundary between the light and the darkness, between the land masses and the oceans, between the planet earth and the heavens above. And throughout history, people have interpreted Jobs writing in all of these ways.
With regard to maps, the ancients in Egypt viewed the world as a vast globe, with land in one portion and waters surrounding the great expanse beyond sight.
Opposed to this view was just about everyone, as the world was seen as a great plane, surrounded by a greater ocean, which was contained by impassable mountains.
No maps exist in our present day, from the time of Job. However maps have been constructed from the descriptions in Strabo, Herodotus, and others, which were summarized in the early Roman times circa 54 A.D. And these maps show the world surrounded by an ocean on every side, with a 'dark' ocean running beneath the earth, sometimes referred to as an Abyss.
The ancient Arabs viewed the earth in similar fashion, encompassed by a vast ocean and a 'Sea of Darkness' beyond. Similar maps existed during the time of the crusades.
It was not until the early centuries of the 'teens' that the landmasses began to take on their better shapes. More speculation of course led Columbus and others in the early 1500's A.D., to discover the spherical shape of the planet.
Job comments here are clues to more than just the circular shape of the earth, however.
His mention of the architects compass as used to draw curved lines or arc's, forms the curvature shape of the planet, or the horizon.
Anyone knows that when you place water in a pan it will settle to a level plane, but Job describes the shape of the waters as curved across the horizon.
The horizon also forms a line of separation between day and night. The sun being on one side at a time. The light side is on the sun side and the dark side exists when the sun is on the other side. Given that Job experienced both day and night, as we all do, then one has to presume that either the sun moved or the earth moved. Something had to move in order for the day and night to produce their changes.
Now these are all temporal views of the world around us. But we all should know that the Bible is not used to simply describe geography, but rather uses the truths of the world to teach the truths of the spiritual life.
In the last portion of this verse, the boundary of light and darkness is a reference to its 'completion.' This is not a separation description, but a chronological timetable. In other words, light and darkness will continue until history comes to a point of completion. At that time, the darkness will go away, and only the light will remain.
So we have several views now. The geographical description of the circular shape of the oceans. Their boundary or inscribed circle, which contains them (between the continents, within the planet, etc). Their relation to the separation between the day and the night. And the continuation of this boundary until a time of completion, at which time that boundary will cease to exist.
Light and dark are always used as illustrations of good and evil, of the spiritual life and the carnal life. Each being separated from the other.
People always have the choice between remaining in the light, or sailing off into the darkness's of the unknown, wherein lies the unknown abyss of no return.
In this life you can always sail off and probably return, but in the spiritual life, when life is over for you, if you have sailed away from God, as an unbeliever, then return is not possible.
Life has boundaries. We are born and we will all die. We all have choices. Good decisions bring more opportunities. Bad decisions lose opportunities for you.
Your choices in life place additional limits on your life. Your life can be either long or short depending on your lifestyle. The quality of your life can be either good or bad, depending on a lot of factors.
No matter who you are or what you do in life, you have limitations, physical, mental, or whatever.
You cannot change the world, you cannot change your limitations which God has placed on you.
You can, however, change the quality of your destiny, by making the right choices in life - faith in Christ, positive volition toward spiritual growth.
This planet was designed by God, complete with all of its limitations. Your life was designed by God, also complete with all of your limitations.
Just as you will not be here for an unlimited period of time, so neither will the planet, so neither will history.
Getting upset over the politics of the day, over the social ills of the day, over some standard which you believe to be important to society, making a big deal about how man should interact with man, or how people should or should not live their lives, will not change your limitations.
Pursue your spiritual life and all of these things will fall into place by natural means. Ignore your spiritual life, as most of the world does, and you will never see an end to problems.
So make the best of the time which God has given you, because once your time is up …..
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Job 26:10
10 He hath compassed [chuwg] the waters [paniym] [mayim] with bounds [choq], until the day ['owr] and night [choshek] come to an end [takliyth]. KJV-Interlinear
10 'He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness. NASB
If you are into history and want to add a set of volumes to your library, then the Encyclopedia of Geography is a good source of information, both of the real world and the imagined world as seen through the eyes of the ancients.
Job is describing a boundary between the light and the darkness, between the land masses and the oceans, between the planet earth and the heavens above. And throughout history, people have interpreted Jobs writing in all of these ways.
With regard to maps, the ancients in Egypt viewed the world as a vast globe, with land in one portion and waters surrounding the great expanse beyond sight.
Opposed to this view was just about everyone, as the world was seen as a great plane, surrounded by a greater ocean, which was contained by impassable mountains.
No maps exist in our present day, from the time of Job. However maps have been constructed from the descriptions in Strabo, Herodotus, and others, which were summarized in the early Roman times circa 54 A.D. And these maps show the world surrounded by an ocean on every side, with a 'dark' ocean running beneath the earth, sometimes referred to as an Abyss.
The ancient Arabs viewed the earth in similar fashion, encompassed by a vast ocean and a 'Sea of Darkness' beyond. Similar maps existed during the time of the crusades.
It was not until the early centuries of the 'teens' that the landmasses began to take on their better shapes. More speculation of course led Columbus and others in the early 1500's A.D., to discover the spherical shape of the planet.
Job comments here are clues to more than just the circular shape of the earth, however.
His mention of the architects compass as used to draw curved lines or arc's, forms the curvature shape of the planet, or the horizon.
Anyone knows that when you place water in a pan it will settle to a level plane, but Job describes the shape of the waters as curved across the horizon.
The horizon also forms a line of separation between day and night. The sun being on one side at a time. The light side is on the sun side and the dark side exists when the sun is on the other side. Given that Job experienced both day and night, as we all do, then one has to presume that either the sun moved or the earth moved. Something had to move in order for the day and night to produce their changes.
Now these are all temporal views of the world around us. But we all should know that the Bible is not used to simply describe geography, but rather uses the truths of the world to teach the truths of the spiritual life.
In the last portion of this verse, the boundary of light and darkness is a reference to its 'completion.' This is not a separation description, but a chronological timetable. In other words, light and darkness will continue until history comes to a point of completion. At that time, the darkness will go away, and only the light will remain.
So we have several views now. The geographical description of the circular shape of the oceans. Their boundary or inscribed circle, which contains them (between the continents, within the planet, etc). Their relation to the separation between the day and the night. And the continuation of this boundary until a time of completion, at which time that boundary will cease to exist.
Light and dark are always used as illustrations of good and evil, of the spiritual life and the carnal life. Each being separated from the other.
People always have the choice between remaining in the light, or sailing off into the darkness's of the unknown, wherein lies the unknown abyss of no return.
In this life you can always sail off and probably return, but in the spiritual life, when life is over for you, if you have sailed away from God, as an unbeliever, then return is not possible.
Life has boundaries. We are born and we will all die. We all have choices. Good decisions bring more opportunities. Bad decisions lose opportunities for you.
Your choices in life place additional limits on your life. Your life can be either long or short depending on your lifestyle. The quality of your life can be either good or bad, depending on a lot of factors.
No matter who you are or what you do in life, you have limitations, physical, mental, or whatever.
You cannot change the world, you cannot change your limitations which God has placed on you.
You can, however, change the quality of your destiny, by making the right choices in life - faith in Christ, positive volition toward spiritual growth.
This planet was designed by God, complete with all of its limitations. Your life was designed by God, also complete with all of your limitations.
Just as you will not be here for an unlimited period of time, so neither will the planet, so neither will history.
Getting upset over the politics of the day, over the social ills of the day, over some standard which you believe to be important to society, making a big deal about how man should interact with man, or how people should or should not live their lives, will not change your limitations.
Pursue your spiritual life and all of these things will fall into place by natural means. Ignore your spiritual life, as most of the world does, and you will never see an end to problems.
So make the best of the time which God has given you, because once your time is up …..
Monday, October 29, 2007
Job 26:9
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:9
9 He holdeth back ['achaz] the face [paniym] of his throne [kicce'], and spreadeth [parshez] his cloud [`anan] upon it. KJV-Interlinear
9 'He obscures the face of the full moon, And spreads His cloud over it. NASB
The face of the moon is an expression used for the view of Gods throne.
Gods throne faces the earth. Yet we cannot see Him or His throne because it is behind a curtain or veil or thick cloud, as it were.
From our perspective, we reside on the planet earth. The earth is surrounded by a vast universe, and that universe is very similar to the heavy clouds which block out our view of the sun during the day, or the moon and stars during the night.
When the sky is overcast with thick dark clouds, then our view of the sky is limited to only the clouds. We cannot see beyond them.
And so Job gives us a symbolic example of the barrier which exists between God and man, between the spiritual and the temporal.
Man is incapable of understanding the spiritual realm. One has to first be born again, or have believed in Christ, and second, then man has to be in fellowship before anything of the spiritual realm can be understood.
And even then, remember that we live in a shadow state. The Bible refers to many things as being nothing more than shadows of the realities that exist in heaven.
So, even though you can see great sights, and hear great music, and taste great foods and so forth, our life here in this world is nothing more than a shadow experience. No one, none of us, have ever experienced the real life that will exist in eternity.
The sun by day and the moon and stars by night illustrate the magnificent glory of truth and of God. But when the clouds rise up and block it all out, then we cannot see any of them, yet we know that they exist.
Everyday, we can look about ourselves and discover something, which illustrates the spiritual side of life, or the divine side of reality. Whether driving past a cemetery, or watching a giant cloud drift by, it makes no difference what we look at. Even some of the nonsense we hear in the media can serve to illustrate the differences between the spiritual side of life verses the temporal side.
And here Job uses the cloud as the illustration of how mans view can be blocked, and there is nothing that man can do about it.
The universe is so vast, that we could never fly to its outer edges in order to see the face of God, but then, if we could accomplish that, then we might discover that Gods throne is in a different dimension. He is always a step or two ahead of us.
And, the humorous thing about all of this is, that God is right next to you all of the time, in His written Word. And yet most folks still miss seeing Him, because they are indifferent. And, they are indifferent because the shadows of this life interest them more, than the realities that are still to be experienced.
One presumes that when we do leave this life and enter into the realities of heaven, then those realities will overwhelm us with a massive emotional overload. And of course, those who go in the other direction, their emotional reactions will be phenomenal on the terror side of the emotional scale.
We at least have the present to get our priorities in order, and our life in compliance with Gods mandates. Do not get distracted away from your spiritual objectives, by the politics or society defined standards which are designed to lead you astray.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:9
9 He holdeth back ['achaz] the face [paniym] of his throne [kicce'], and spreadeth [parshez] his cloud [`anan] upon it. KJV-Interlinear
9 'He obscures the face of the full moon, And spreads His cloud over it. NASB
The face of the moon is an expression used for the view of Gods throne.
Gods throne faces the earth. Yet we cannot see Him or His throne because it is behind a curtain or veil or thick cloud, as it were.
From our perspective, we reside on the planet earth. The earth is surrounded by a vast universe, and that universe is very similar to the heavy clouds which block out our view of the sun during the day, or the moon and stars during the night.
When the sky is overcast with thick dark clouds, then our view of the sky is limited to only the clouds. We cannot see beyond them.
And so Job gives us a symbolic example of the barrier which exists between God and man, between the spiritual and the temporal.
Man is incapable of understanding the spiritual realm. One has to first be born again, or have believed in Christ, and second, then man has to be in fellowship before anything of the spiritual realm can be understood.
And even then, remember that we live in a shadow state. The Bible refers to many things as being nothing more than shadows of the realities that exist in heaven.
So, even though you can see great sights, and hear great music, and taste great foods and so forth, our life here in this world is nothing more than a shadow experience. No one, none of us, have ever experienced the real life that will exist in eternity.
The sun by day and the moon and stars by night illustrate the magnificent glory of truth and of God. But when the clouds rise up and block it all out, then we cannot see any of them, yet we know that they exist.
Everyday, we can look about ourselves and discover something, which illustrates the spiritual side of life, or the divine side of reality. Whether driving past a cemetery, or watching a giant cloud drift by, it makes no difference what we look at. Even some of the nonsense we hear in the media can serve to illustrate the differences between the spiritual side of life verses the temporal side.
And here Job uses the cloud as the illustration of how mans view can be blocked, and there is nothing that man can do about it.
The universe is so vast, that we could never fly to its outer edges in order to see the face of God, but then, if we could accomplish that, then we might discover that Gods throne is in a different dimension. He is always a step or two ahead of us.
And, the humorous thing about all of this is, that God is right next to you all of the time, in His written Word. And yet most folks still miss seeing Him, because they are indifferent. And, they are indifferent because the shadows of this life interest them more, than the realities that are still to be experienced.
One presumes that when we do leave this life and enter into the realities of heaven, then those realities will overwhelm us with a massive emotional overload. And of course, those who go in the other direction, their emotional reactions will be phenomenal on the terror side of the emotional scale.
We at least have the present to get our priorities in order, and our life in compliance with Gods mandates. Do not get distracted away from your spiritual objectives, by the politics or society defined standards which are designed to lead you astray.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Job 26:8
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:8
8 He bindeth up [tsarar] the waters [mayim] in his thick clouds [`ab]; and the cloud [`anan] is not rent [baqa`] under them. KJV-Interlinear
8 'He wraps up the waters in His clouds; And the cloud does not burst under them. NASB
'He' in all of these verses is a reference to God. And again, Job did not have the knowledge of the meteorological sciences that we have today. Whether or not he had been to a mountain top or high hills during his life and encountered fog or the mists of clouds is possible, but that is not the purpose of his comments here.
It is God who devised a watering and cooling system for this planet. We call it evaporation and condensation, but Jobs comments here draw a line between that which God is able to do and that which man is not able to do.
Look at our systems of irrigation. Today we have lots of machines, pumps, plumbing and so forth which we use to water our lawns, and crop fields.
We even depend on good snowfalls in the winter mountains, to provide a dependable water supply for each coming year. Cities are always having problems from year to year in maintaining lake and reservoir levels.
But God has designed and implemented a system for holding billions of gallons of water in the clouds of the atmosphere. Those clouds can be thousands of miles wide and long, and tens of miles in height or thickness.
Gentle sprinkles or horrendous storms can come from their rain. And yet while the vapor sits high in the sky, the clouds do not tear or cave under the weight of so much water. The clouds just seem to glide along with the winds, to a destination that no one knows.
And yet man takes the clouds and the rain for granted, as he does so many things in life. Back in Jobs day, the population of the world could easily fit into a small area. The population could easily travel to regions that had plenty of rain and water.
If there were no rain or water, then man just move on until he found another good location for living.
But Jobs point here is that the systems which God has created are so massive and yet so simple, but still man cannot duplicate them. Nor does man seem to see the gift of the creators' weather systems. They are taken for granted.
But one day soon the population of the world will grow to double what it is today, and then it will double again and again. Perhaps in a hundred years or perhaps in two-hundred, humanity will come face to face with a dilemma. Water, where to find it, or how to live without it.
The Tribulation accounts in Revelation, tells us that water will be a big problem, in that the oceans will become useless and fresh water will become scarce.
Ever since man was booted from the Garden, a region of perfection, sin has brought with it a deterioration in the world around us. That deterioration will reach its maximum by the time of the Tribulation. Everything is moving slowly in that direction.
It won't be until the Second Advent, which will mark the beginning of the Millennium, when everything will almost instantaneously be restored to its former perfect state.
But until then, we have Gods marvelous design right in front of us, day in and day out. A design which should help us to focus our attention on Him and His overall plan, and especially on His plan specifically for each of our individual lives.
Job lived how long ago? And He could see it all. Is there a reason that we cannot figure it all out now?
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:8
8 He bindeth up [tsarar] the waters [mayim] in his thick clouds [`ab]; and the cloud [`anan] is not rent [baqa`] under them. KJV-Interlinear
8 'He wraps up the waters in His clouds; And the cloud does not burst under them. NASB
'He' in all of these verses is a reference to God. And again, Job did not have the knowledge of the meteorological sciences that we have today. Whether or not he had been to a mountain top or high hills during his life and encountered fog or the mists of clouds is possible, but that is not the purpose of his comments here.
It is God who devised a watering and cooling system for this planet. We call it evaporation and condensation, but Jobs comments here draw a line between that which God is able to do and that which man is not able to do.
Look at our systems of irrigation. Today we have lots of machines, pumps, plumbing and so forth which we use to water our lawns, and crop fields.
We even depend on good snowfalls in the winter mountains, to provide a dependable water supply for each coming year. Cities are always having problems from year to year in maintaining lake and reservoir levels.
But God has designed and implemented a system for holding billions of gallons of water in the clouds of the atmosphere. Those clouds can be thousands of miles wide and long, and tens of miles in height or thickness.
Gentle sprinkles or horrendous storms can come from their rain. And yet while the vapor sits high in the sky, the clouds do not tear or cave under the weight of so much water. The clouds just seem to glide along with the winds, to a destination that no one knows.
And yet man takes the clouds and the rain for granted, as he does so many things in life. Back in Jobs day, the population of the world could easily fit into a small area. The population could easily travel to regions that had plenty of rain and water.
If there were no rain or water, then man just move on until he found another good location for living.
But Jobs point here is that the systems which God has created are so massive and yet so simple, but still man cannot duplicate them. Nor does man seem to see the gift of the creators' weather systems. They are taken for granted.
But one day soon the population of the world will grow to double what it is today, and then it will double again and again. Perhaps in a hundred years or perhaps in two-hundred, humanity will come face to face with a dilemma. Water, where to find it, or how to live without it.
The Tribulation accounts in Revelation, tells us that water will be a big problem, in that the oceans will become useless and fresh water will become scarce.
Ever since man was booted from the Garden, a region of perfection, sin has brought with it a deterioration in the world around us. That deterioration will reach its maximum by the time of the Tribulation. Everything is moving slowly in that direction.
It won't be until the Second Advent, which will mark the beginning of the Millennium, when everything will almost instantaneously be restored to its former perfect state.
But until then, we have Gods marvelous design right in front of us, day in and day out. A design which should help us to focus our attention on Him and His overall plan, and especially on His plan specifically for each of our individual lives.
Job lived how long ago? And He could see it all. Is there a reason that we cannot figure it all out now?
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Job 26:7
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:7
7 He stretcheth out [natah] the north [tsaphown] over the empty place [tohuw], and hangeth [talah] the earth ['erets] upon nothing [baliymah]. KJV-Interlinear
7 'He stretches out the north over empty space, And hangs the earth on nothing. NASB
In ancient times all that anyone had to go on regarding the makeup of the universe was in what they could see. The earth or ground which man stood on was obvious, and the clouds above the ground are obvious as well. Then there is a vast emptiness followed by the sun, moon and stars.
With no science, no telescopes, and no satellite tools at their disposal, knowledge was limited pretty much, to what man could see.
This certainly should make obvious sense.
If you stand outside in the early morning or early evening and see the moon or some of the nearest planets in the sky, they seem round, like giant spheres. And, if they are near the horizon, the atmosphere has tendency to magnify them to appear larger than they would if they were directly overhead.
And what holds them up? Nothing which is apparent. There are no pillars, no ropes, certainly no person is standing there and holding the celestial objects in their place. They just seem to be floating on a vast region of nothingness.
The throne of God is said to reside in the north,
Isa. 14:13
13 'But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. NASB
The north is not somewhere on this planet, but outward into the far reaches of the heavens.
The ancients had a view of the planet, or rather an opinion, and that opinion or belief was pretty accurate. Especially when you know that they had no proof of gravity, the vacuum of space, or even how everything was organized.
Remember that Job lived only a few generations following the flood of Noah. So this is a pretty early time in mans history.
Most history books teach that the predominate thought was of a flat earth with the earth being the center of the solar system. That theory being promoted from the time of Aristotle, who lived in the mid 300's B.C., until the time of Copernicus, who lived in the late 1400's A.D.
Of course, there were others who believed in a round earth. Men such as Columbus, who sailed west in search of the Far East. However, the predominate thought for centuries was of a flat earth, and any disagreement would certainly bring ostracism or even execution for speaking such heresy.
Job speaks in a tone and manner of common knowledge. No one present will disagree with him, because they all are well aware of the facts of life. At least as everyone believes them.
They can all see into the evening or night sky, and they can all see the spherical shape of the moon and other objects. It is not a giant leap to believe that the earth is also a sphere. Job has already made mention earlier in this book, of the unseen celestial objects in the southern sky.
How can any of this be? Well it is obviously by means of the power of God. They lacked any further science or explanation. But what is seen, is obvious. The how's and why's were not for their generation to understand.
The world will have to wait another 2000 years before it hears from Aristotle and still another 2000 years before the world sails with Columbus, and still another 500 years before we get to our current day.
And, even though we have more knowledge and science with regard to how this universe works, we still have our theories regarding things we do not understand. We also have our subjective or superstitious beliefs, too.
Job's generation lacked modern science, but their common sense functioned pretty well. We have phenomenal science and may have a better understanding of the things God has designed, but when the spiritual side of life is ignored, then common sense fails, too.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:7
7 He stretcheth out [natah] the north [tsaphown] over the empty place [tohuw], and hangeth [talah] the earth ['erets] upon nothing [baliymah]. KJV-Interlinear
7 'He stretches out the north over empty space, And hangs the earth on nothing. NASB
In ancient times all that anyone had to go on regarding the makeup of the universe was in what they could see. The earth or ground which man stood on was obvious, and the clouds above the ground are obvious as well. Then there is a vast emptiness followed by the sun, moon and stars.
With no science, no telescopes, and no satellite tools at their disposal, knowledge was limited pretty much, to what man could see.
This certainly should make obvious sense.
If you stand outside in the early morning or early evening and see the moon or some of the nearest planets in the sky, they seem round, like giant spheres. And, if they are near the horizon, the atmosphere has tendency to magnify them to appear larger than they would if they were directly overhead.
And what holds them up? Nothing which is apparent. There are no pillars, no ropes, certainly no person is standing there and holding the celestial objects in their place. They just seem to be floating on a vast region of nothingness.
The throne of God is said to reside in the north,
Isa. 14:13
13 'But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. NASB
The north is not somewhere on this planet, but outward into the far reaches of the heavens.
The ancients had a view of the planet, or rather an opinion, and that opinion or belief was pretty accurate. Especially when you know that they had no proof of gravity, the vacuum of space, or even how everything was organized.
Remember that Job lived only a few generations following the flood of Noah. So this is a pretty early time in mans history.
Most history books teach that the predominate thought was of a flat earth with the earth being the center of the solar system. That theory being promoted from the time of Aristotle, who lived in the mid 300's B.C., until the time of Copernicus, who lived in the late 1400's A.D.
Of course, there were others who believed in a round earth. Men such as Columbus, who sailed west in search of the Far East. However, the predominate thought for centuries was of a flat earth, and any disagreement would certainly bring ostracism or even execution for speaking such heresy.
Job speaks in a tone and manner of common knowledge. No one present will disagree with him, because they all are well aware of the facts of life. At least as everyone believes them.
They can all see into the evening or night sky, and they can all see the spherical shape of the moon and other objects. It is not a giant leap to believe that the earth is also a sphere. Job has already made mention earlier in this book, of the unseen celestial objects in the southern sky.
How can any of this be? Well it is obviously by means of the power of God. They lacked any further science or explanation. But what is seen, is obvious. The how's and why's were not for their generation to understand.
The world will have to wait another 2000 years before it hears from Aristotle and still another 2000 years before the world sails with Columbus, and still another 500 years before we get to our current day.
And, even though we have more knowledge and science with regard to how this universe works, we still have our theories regarding things we do not understand. We also have our subjective or superstitious beliefs, too.
Job's generation lacked modern science, but their common sense functioned pretty well. We have phenomenal science and may have a better understanding of the things God has designed, but when the spiritual side of life is ignored, then common sense fails, too.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Job 26:6
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:6
6 Hell [sha'owl] is naked [`arowm] before him, and destruction ['abaddown] hath no covering [kacuwth]. KJV-Interlinear
6 'Naked is Sheol before Him And Abaddon has no covering. NASB
Within these verses there is no reference to Paradise, which is one of the four compartments of Hades. Hades is the general reference to the underworld. The other three compartments are Tartarus, Torments, and the Abyss.
Torments is the holding place for all unbelievers. Tartarus is the holding place for all of the half-angel, half-man products of Genesis six. It is the destination of the defeated gods of Greek mythology. The Abyss is the deepest and darkest of the habitations of Hades, and it holds all of the really bad demon angels. Their character is identified by the name of their general, Abaddon, which means destruction in its worst possible sense.
Abaddon is sometimes used as the name for hell or destruction, Prov. 15:11 and Psa. 88:11, and as the name of the demon leader of the demons in the Abyss from Rev. 9. The names here are used to identify the residences of the dead. And more specifically those demons of extreme ancient times.
Even in their bodiless form, as shadows or ghosts of the deep underworld, they all still possess life or a consciousness which allows them to experience extreme fear from the only source of fear, which is God.
Nothing else in existence can bring fear in such a manner. Everything else in existence has no power, no strength in which to cast any type of control over life and/or death.
The deepest most darkest recesses of the Abyss, house the worst of the worst of creatures. And even in their hiding places, they are naked, they have no covering, no shield, and are totally exposed to Gods eyes. They cannot hide. They cannot escape the eyes or reach of God.
Such are the extremes of Gods dominion. There is nothing so far, so deep, so dark, as to escape the sovereignty or command of God.
Anyone who presumes that God is not interested in them, that God is asleep, that they can somehow get past Gods observation, are indeed the dumbest of the dumb.
And that is the nature of arrogance. It allows the imagination to paint a picture of the absurd into the mind of the spiritually negative, and then that picture becomes their reality. A false reality which is nothing more than a shadow, and then within that shadow which has no substance, they become easily offended, easily boastful, easily intimidated, easily affected by all ranges of emotions. And over what? Nothing. And nothing has become the god of the spiritually deficient person.
And unfortunately it isn't until one leaves this life, that the real realities of truth become apparent.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:6
6 Hell [sha'owl] is naked [`arowm] before him, and destruction ['abaddown] hath no covering [kacuwth]. KJV-Interlinear
6 'Naked is Sheol before Him And Abaddon has no covering. NASB
Within these verses there is no reference to Paradise, which is one of the four compartments of Hades. Hades is the general reference to the underworld. The other three compartments are Tartarus, Torments, and the Abyss.
Torments is the holding place for all unbelievers. Tartarus is the holding place for all of the half-angel, half-man products of Genesis six. It is the destination of the defeated gods of Greek mythology. The Abyss is the deepest and darkest of the habitations of Hades, and it holds all of the really bad demon angels. Their character is identified by the name of their general, Abaddon, which means destruction in its worst possible sense.
Abaddon is sometimes used as the name for hell or destruction, Prov. 15:11 and Psa. 88:11, and as the name of the demon leader of the demons in the Abyss from Rev. 9. The names here are used to identify the residences of the dead. And more specifically those demons of extreme ancient times.
Even in their bodiless form, as shadows or ghosts of the deep underworld, they all still possess life or a consciousness which allows them to experience extreme fear from the only source of fear, which is God.
Nothing else in existence can bring fear in such a manner. Everything else in existence has no power, no strength in which to cast any type of control over life and/or death.
The deepest most darkest recesses of the Abyss, house the worst of the worst of creatures. And even in their hiding places, they are naked, they have no covering, no shield, and are totally exposed to Gods eyes. They cannot hide. They cannot escape the eyes or reach of God.
Such are the extremes of Gods dominion. There is nothing so far, so deep, so dark, as to escape the sovereignty or command of God.
Anyone who presumes that God is not interested in them, that God is asleep, that they can somehow get past Gods observation, are indeed the dumbest of the dumb.
And that is the nature of arrogance. It allows the imagination to paint a picture of the absurd into the mind of the spiritually negative, and then that picture becomes their reality. A false reality which is nothing more than a shadow, and then within that shadow which has no substance, they become easily offended, easily boastful, easily intimidated, easily affected by all ranges of emotions. And over what? Nothing. And nothing has become the god of the spiritually deficient person.
And unfortunately it isn't until one leaves this life, that the real realities of truth become apparent.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Job 26:5
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:5
5 Dead [rapha'] things are formed [chuwl] from under the waters [mayim], and the inhabitants [shakan] thereof. KJV-Interlinear
5 'The departed spirits tremble Under the waters and their inhabitants. NASB
A couple of quick points here first. From time to time, I receive emails from folks with concerns. Usually they are new students. Most emails I receive are in fact very supportive. Generally, however, some express a concern regarding a term or phrase I have used in a study.
So, when one opinion is expressed, then others might also exist, but just not communicated.
Follow the study for its spiritual content, from the broad spectrum of the studies, and not from an occasional phrase that may be used. If you get offended from time to time, then that is a problem which you have to deal with. Persistence in your studies will help you overcome shallowness and build depth and toughness within your soul.
Rest assured that I will not turn this study into a political campaign. I will however mention from time to time a candidate or two, but not generally until we get a great deal closer to an election. But the nature of life and of this study cannot separate realities into simple little rooms where we can run to and be safe, pretending that the rest of the world does not exist.
Every prophet dealt with the leadership of his day. That is political. And politics by definition, deals with the beliefs, opinions and affairs of government and its citizens. This crosses all lines of society, including theology.
There are but two opinions that exist - Gods and everything else. Politics falls into the latter category. Only when people are influenced by the principles of scripture, can their opinions reflect truth. Scripture generally follows the conservative view, but that does not mean that the conservative view is scriptural. Far be it. Many conservatives are wicked to the max.
The political liberal view is by its very nature, anti-God, and therefore anti-truth. Anything that is anti-God, be it liberal or conservative, is by default deceitful and corrupt. And by corrupt, we come back to the scriptures for a definition, and corruption means that which is putrid, infested by maggots, a dead thing in its worst possible sense.
And that finally brings us to our study for today, which by the way has to do with departed spirits, or the land of the dead. Something which we have just been talking about.
The dead are folks who have been separated from life. Life and death are mutually exclusive. A person cannot exist within both worlds. Note this principle. A person who lives in this world will function within the land of the wicked, or the land of the spiritual.
No one can exist simultaneously in both. The pattern of life which you choose for yourself determines the realm (spiritual or carnal) in which you live.
Now when we get to Isaiah 14, we will study in depth the concept of Sheol and the land of the dead. But for now, we will review it briefly.
Job is speaking of those who were living, but now have departed to the depths of Sheol. The living were the wicked ones who have occupied the conversation for several chapters now.
Bildad had stated that God possesses dominion over the world and the armies of the heavens. And Job extends that dominion even down into the depths of the land of the dead.
The dead include anyone who live outside of life. In this world you may b physically alive, but spiritually dead. Unbelievers have no spiritual value whatsoever. Believers out of fellowship are physically alive, but their out of fellowship status places them in the carnal 'dead' state.
Physical death is our real world illustration of spiritual death for both unbelievers and out of fellowship believers. Physical death is however permanent. Spiritual death has a solution which can be overcome through faith or through confession, which ever applies.
All who live in the realm of the dead, tremble.
Under the waters, is a reference to the nations or to the human self-determination concept of history. The seas of the world illustrate the rebellion of humanity, against God and His divine plan.
The seas rise up in storms and then they run out of steam so to speak, and settle back into the place where God has placed them.
But waters here also refer to the urine of humanity. That is where the dead go to rest - under the urine of humanity.
Sheol is the land of the dead. It is sometimes referred to as Hades. But Hades is a broad reference to the underworld. Sheol is said to have many rooms, and always rooms available for new occupants.
The dead, 'rapha' also refers to the shadows or ghosts of the dead. Remember from many studies ago, that shadows amount to nothing. A shadow has no substance, no texture, no color, no aroma, nothing. A shadow is evidence of something real, but is not real in its self.
So now Job makes it really clear to us all, that the dead, who are separated from life, who are in themselves, nothing, who are the corrupt and putrid within their existence in death, even they exist in tremendous fear of God. They tremble as a leaf in a hurricane. If you have ever seen anyone who was really afraid, just trembling and shaking, not breathing well, absolutely terrified, then you can understand this concept.
God is life. God is truth. God is reality.
And in this world there exists many folks who disregard God, who make fun of God, who think very highly of themselves, who push and shove, and try as they may to carve out their own little empire in life. But what is their destiny? Something they know of very well, but ignore in this life. And then when they move on to the next life, their trembling will never cease. Such is the extent of Gods dominion.
Do not imagine yourself as being any better than anyone else. Do not be shallow or offended by mere words. God is the real source of real and genuine fear, if you choose to disregard truth. Job is blasting his three friends, and blasting them hard. And through his words, blasting us too, lest we get a little too uppity in our pinions.
And with this verse, Job is about to begin probably the greatest discourse in the entire Bible.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:5
5 Dead [rapha'] things are formed [chuwl] from under the waters [mayim], and the inhabitants [shakan] thereof. KJV-Interlinear
5 'The departed spirits tremble Under the waters and their inhabitants. NASB
A couple of quick points here first. From time to time, I receive emails from folks with concerns. Usually they are new students. Most emails I receive are in fact very supportive. Generally, however, some express a concern regarding a term or phrase I have used in a study.
So, when one opinion is expressed, then others might also exist, but just not communicated.
Follow the study for its spiritual content, from the broad spectrum of the studies, and not from an occasional phrase that may be used. If you get offended from time to time, then that is a problem which you have to deal with. Persistence in your studies will help you overcome shallowness and build depth and toughness within your soul.
Rest assured that I will not turn this study into a political campaign. I will however mention from time to time a candidate or two, but not generally until we get a great deal closer to an election. But the nature of life and of this study cannot separate realities into simple little rooms where we can run to and be safe, pretending that the rest of the world does not exist.
Every prophet dealt with the leadership of his day. That is political. And politics by definition, deals with the beliefs, opinions and affairs of government and its citizens. This crosses all lines of society, including theology.
There are but two opinions that exist - Gods and everything else. Politics falls into the latter category. Only when people are influenced by the principles of scripture, can their opinions reflect truth. Scripture generally follows the conservative view, but that does not mean that the conservative view is scriptural. Far be it. Many conservatives are wicked to the max.
The political liberal view is by its very nature, anti-God, and therefore anti-truth. Anything that is anti-God, be it liberal or conservative, is by default deceitful and corrupt. And by corrupt, we come back to the scriptures for a definition, and corruption means that which is putrid, infested by maggots, a dead thing in its worst possible sense.
And that finally brings us to our study for today, which by the way has to do with departed spirits, or the land of the dead. Something which we have just been talking about.
The dead are folks who have been separated from life. Life and death are mutually exclusive. A person cannot exist within both worlds. Note this principle. A person who lives in this world will function within the land of the wicked, or the land of the spiritual.
No one can exist simultaneously in both. The pattern of life which you choose for yourself determines the realm (spiritual or carnal) in which you live.
Now when we get to Isaiah 14, we will study in depth the concept of Sheol and the land of the dead. But for now, we will review it briefly.
Job is speaking of those who were living, but now have departed to the depths of Sheol. The living were the wicked ones who have occupied the conversation for several chapters now.
Bildad had stated that God possesses dominion over the world and the armies of the heavens. And Job extends that dominion even down into the depths of the land of the dead.
The dead include anyone who live outside of life. In this world you may b physically alive, but spiritually dead. Unbelievers have no spiritual value whatsoever. Believers out of fellowship are physically alive, but their out of fellowship status places them in the carnal 'dead' state.
Physical death is our real world illustration of spiritual death for both unbelievers and out of fellowship believers. Physical death is however permanent. Spiritual death has a solution which can be overcome through faith or through confession, which ever applies.
All who live in the realm of the dead, tremble.
Under the waters, is a reference to the nations or to the human self-determination concept of history. The seas of the world illustrate the rebellion of humanity, against God and His divine plan.
The seas rise up in storms and then they run out of steam so to speak, and settle back into the place where God has placed them.
But waters here also refer to the urine of humanity. That is where the dead go to rest - under the urine of humanity.
Sheol is the land of the dead. It is sometimes referred to as Hades. But Hades is a broad reference to the underworld. Sheol is said to have many rooms, and always rooms available for new occupants.
The dead, 'rapha' also refers to the shadows or ghosts of the dead. Remember from many studies ago, that shadows amount to nothing. A shadow has no substance, no texture, no color, no aroma, nothing. A shadow is evidence of something real, but is not real in its self.
So now Job makes it really clear to us all, that the dead, who are separated from life, who are in themselves, nothing, who are the corrupt and putrid within their existence in death, even they exist in tremendous fear of God. They tremble as a leaf in a hurricane. If you have ever seen anyone who was really afraid, just trembling and shaking, not breathing well, absolutely terrified, then you can understand this concept.
God is life. God is truth. God is reality.
And in this world there exists many folks who disregard God, who make fun of God, who think very highly of themselves, who push and shove, and try as they may to carve out their own little empire in life. But what is their destiny? Something they know of very well, but ignore in this life. And then when they move on to the next life, their trembling will never cease. Such is the extent of Gods dominion.
Do not imagine yourself as being any better than anyone else. Do not be shallow or offended by mere words. God is the real source of real and genuine fear, if you choose to disregard truth. Job is blasting his three friends, and blasting them hard. And through his words, blasting us too, lest we get a little too uppity in our pinions.
And with this verse, Job is about to begin probably the greatest discourse in the entire Bible.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Job 26:2-4
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:2-4
2 How hast thou helped [`azar] him that is without power [koach]? how savest [yasha`] thou the arm [zarowa`] that hath no [lo'] strength [`oz]?
3 How hast thou counselled [ya`ats] him that hath no [lo'] wisdom [chokmah]? and how hast thou plentifully [rob] declared [yada`] the thing as it is [tuwshiyah]?
4 To whom hast thou uttered [nagad] words [millah]? and whose spirit [nashamah] came [yatsa'] from thee? KJV-Interlinear
2 'What a help you are to the weak! How you have saved the arm without strength! 3 'What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided! 4 'To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit was expressed through you? NASB
Job blasts Bildad and the other two friends for offering impotent comfort.
Beginning in verse four, Job asks, 'From whose spirit did y'all get your wisdom?' And that is the source of their impotence. Their words have no authority, and therefore no power. They are random proverbs that have no connection to Jobs situation.
The three friends have presented extraordinary statements, which amount to nothing more than pretentious wisdom.
And by the way, this passage seems right in line with the comments that have been coming out of the mouths of critics of the fires in California. When all of the attention should be placed on the effort that has and is being made down there, then there are the liberal losers (that is about as nice as I dare get) who want to make these fires a product of global warming or a product of manpower shortages, and yet none of the critics are on hand to lend a hand in aid.
This is the very thing, which Job is faced with. His friends are not hurting at all. They came with the intention of offering comfort, and then pretend wisdom, presuming that Job has need for instruction to change his ways. And all of the time what they really want is to present themselves as wise orators.
Most folks when they are hurting, need medicine or financial support, or something along those lines, and not instruction or criticism regarding their loss and how it could have been avoided, and how it is all the fault of someone or something else in life.
And so the pretended wisdom becomes nothing more than stupidity, expressed by the stupid.
So what help is offered to those who are weak, to those who are in need of help? How can an impotent arm pull on an arm in need?
The words of fools do nothing but serve the fools, who want only attention. Their words come abundantly, and that is all they have to offer.
Remember the meanings of their respective names. Eliphaz's name means 'God is fine gold,' or 'God of strength,' with emphasis on the earthly nature, the shimmering visual pleasure of seeing something beautiful. Bildad, means, 'son of contention,' or 'Bel has loved.' Bel means, 'wisdom of the distant East.' Zophar means 'chirping' or 'to leap.'
And so goes their wisdom. They are three people who have fallen in love with their own words. Words made up of proverbs, which any normal person could assemble during the course of a lifetime of observation. History is full of quotes and sayings that have come out of the minds of men.
But sayings in themselves do not constitute wisdom, nor do they help one who is in need.
When someone needs food, or clothing, or a blanket, or a few dollars, then that is what they should have. Tell a starving person that 'God loves you, but you have to repent,' probably won't have much effect. But give him a plate of food and tell him that 'God loves him,' (excluding the criticism) and he will hear your words, and remember them.
People with useless words and pretended wisdom, are worthless. People who make random comments, which are unsupported with facts, are worthless. People who talk and talk only to bring attention to themselves, are worthless.
And Job sums this all up with his suggestion, 'With all of your words, what good have you done?'
People with egos have a deep desire for higher office in life, but an ego is not an attribute that qualifies them for anything.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:2-4
2 How hast thou helped [`azar] him that is without power [koach]? how savest [yasha`] thou the arm [zarowa`] that hath no [lo'] strength [`oz]?
3 How hast thou counselled [ya`ats] him that hath no [lo'] wisdom [chokmah]? and how hast thou plentifully [rob] declared [yada`] the thing as it is [tuwshiyah]?
4 To whom hast thou uttered [nagad] words [millah]? and whose spirit [nashamah] came [yatsa'] from thee? KJV-Interlinear
2 'What a help you are to the weak! How you have saved the arm without strength! 3 'What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided! 4 'To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit was expressed through you? NASB
Job blasts Bildad and the other two friends for offering impotent comfort.
Beginning in verse four, Job asks, 'From whose spirit did y'all get your wisdom?' And that is the source of their impotence. Their words have no authority, and therefore no power. They are random proverbs that have no connection to Jobs situation.
The three friends have presented extraordinary statements, which amount to nothing more than pretentious wisdom.
And by the way, this passage seems right in line with the comments that have been coming out of the mouths of critics of the fires in California. When all of the attention should be placed on the effort that has and is being made down there, then there are the liberal losers (that is about as nice as I dare get) who want to make these fires a product of global warming or a product of manpower shortages, and yet none of the critics are on hand to lend a hand in aid.
This is the very thing, which Job is faced with. His friends are not hurting at all. They came with the intention of offering comfort, and then pretend wisdom, presuming that Job has need for instruction to change his ways. And all of the time what they really want is to present themselves as wise orators.
Most folks when they are hurting, need medicine or financial support, or something along those lines, and not instruction or criticism regarding their loss and how it could have been avoided, and how it is all the fault of someone or something else in life.
And so the pretended wisdom becomes nothing more than stupidity, expressed by the stupid.
So what help is offered to those who are weak, to those who are in need of help? How can an impotent arm pull on an arm in need?
The words of fools do nothing but serve the fools, who want only attention. Their words come abundantly, and that is all they have to offer.
Remember the meanings of their respective names. Eliphaz's name means 'God is fine gold,' or 'God of strength,' with emphasis on the earthly nature, the shimmering visual pleasure of seeing something beautiful. Bildad, means, 'son of contention,' or 'Bel has loved.' Bel means, 'wisdom of the distant East.' Zophar means 'chirping' or 'to leap.'
And so goes their wisdom. They are three people who have fallen in love with their own words. Words made up of proverbs, which any normal person could assemble during the course of a lifetime of observation. History is full of quotes and sayings that have come out of the minds of men.
But sayings in themselves do not constitute wisdom, nor do they help one who is in need.
When someone needs food, or clothing, or a blanket, or a few dollars, then that is what they should have. Tell a starving person that 'God loves you, but you have to repent,' probably won't have much effect. But give him a plate of food and tell him that 'God loves him,' (excluding the criticism) and he will hear your words, and remember them.
People with useless words and pretended wisdom, are worthless. People who make random comments, which are unsupported with facts, are worthless. People who talk and talk only to bring attention to themselves, are worthless.
And Job sums this all up with his suggestion, 'With all of your words, what good have you done?'
People with egos have a deep desire for higher office in life, but an ego is not an attribute that qualifies them for anything.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Job 26:1
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:1
1 But Job ['Iyowb] answered [`anah] and said ['amar], KJV-Interlinear
1 Then Job responded, NASB
The three friends have had their say. They have nothing further to add to their side of the debate. You get the feeling that there must have been a period of silence in which everyone just sat there looking at each other.
And so it is with those who really have nothing to add to the welfare of society. They talk and talk and talk and talk. They do not listen, and they are not interested in anything anyone else has to say anyway. Spiritually deficient people have their minds made up and that is all that matters.
And then, just as anything with limited energy, they run out of gas. They spend all of their energy and then they have nothing, which is exactly what they have been giving all along - nothing.
They have their own agenda, but their words have no power, no strength, no wisdom.
This is true for humanity, and it will be true for Satan one day. He just happens to have a great deal more criticism to spend and more time through history, than man does. But he will run out too.
Job will take center stage and rebuke them, and specifically Bildad, in short order, for their lack of empathy, and lack of wisdom. After all, why did they come to visit Job in the first place?
Their sympathy and support soon changed to criticism, accusation, and conviction. And they were relentless in their effort. And they were relentless while looking straight at Job who was suffering with tremendous physical distress.
When you come across a person who has been severely injured in a car accident, do you first begin to scold them? There are words for people like that. I think they begin with the letter 'b.'
Bildad's closing remarks were brief, and so Jobs opening rebuke will be brief.
And then Job will launch into a phenomenal discourse of truth, which will continue for the next six chapters. And it is Job who is severely sick here, not them.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 26:1
1 But Job ['Iyowb] answered [`anah] and said ['amar], KJV-Interlinear
1 Then Job responded, NASB
The three friends have had their say. They have nothing further to add to their side of the debate. You get the feeling that there must have been a period of silence in which everyone just sat there looking at each other.
And so it is with those who really have nothing to add to the welfare of society. They talk and talk and talk and talk. They do not listen, and they are not interested in anything anyone else has to say anyway. Spiritually deficient people have their minds made up and that is all that matters.
And then, just as anything with limited energy, they run out of gas. They spend all of their energy and then they have nothing, which is exactly what they have been giving all along - nothing.
They have their own agenda, but their words have no power, no strength, no wisdom.
This is true for humanity, and it will be true for Satan one day. He just happens to have a great deal more criticism to spend and more time through history, than man does. But he will run out too.
Job will take center stage and rebuke them, and specifically Bildad, in short order, for their lack of empathy, and lack of wisdom. After all, why did they come to visit Job in the first place?
Their sympathy and support soon changed to criticism, accusation, and conviction. And they were relentless in their effort. And they were relentless while looking straight at Job who was suffering with tremendous physical distress.
When you come across a person who has been severely injured in a car accident, do you first begin to scold them? There are words for people like that. I think they begin with the letter 'b.'
Bildad's closing remarks were brief, and so Jobs opening rebuke will be brief.
And then Job will launch into a phenomenal discourse of truth, which will continue for the next six chapters. And it is Job who is severely sick here, not them.
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