Job’s reply here to Zophar is quite simple – you’ve got to be kidding me… Look around… The wicked don’t suffer like this… They prosper and go to their grave in peace… Your words are completely false, they don’t stand up to the most simple and basic observations of life. As we’ve seen before, Job’s words here are an expansion… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 20
Zophar continues to sound like an expert health, wealth and prosperity preacher. Zophar seems to pick up from Job’s words that Job isn’t taking him seriously or listening his perspective (3). He then proceeds to tell Job what is supposedly so obvious that everyone knows it, but Job (4). Verse 5 sums up Zophar’s thesis – “the exulting of the… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 19
If I were planning this series down to the day, I would have planned for this chapter to fall on Easter Sunday. Yet we come to it on Easter Monday – as it is called here in New Zealand. Through the first 22 verses of his reply, Job continues to describe and lament his plight. His “counsellors” have continued to… Read more →
The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God by John Piper
I highly recommend taking the time, even this Easter Sunday to watch and listen to John Piper’s retelling of the Job story. You can download and read the book free here. You can watch the film here. (This is what I am particularly recommending. 45 minutes well spent for your soul!) Here are the words to Piper’s poem which he… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 18
Today is Easter Sunday and a most unusual Easter Sunday at that. it is also day 18 of our national lockdown in New Zealand. As a result this will be the third Sunday when we will meet as a church online rather than in one another’s physical presence. As far as I know this will be the first Easter Sunday… Read more →
Psalm 22:21-31 – Easter Sunday – Quotes from Calvin
Quotes from Calvin: He does not pray in a doubting manner; but he promises himself the assistance which the eye of sense did not as yet perceive. The cause is only put instead of the effect; for our deliverance is the consequence or effect of God’s hearing us. If it is asked how this can be applied to Christ, whom… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 17
Job 17 is a difficult chapter. Here Job concludes this speech. In his conclusion he further critiques his friends and their lack of help. He further loathes his suffering. He then raises some difficult questions near the end, which he does venture to answer here. Firstly, it is helpful to recognise in the Old Testament, the word “Sheol” is not… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 16
Job’s reply in chapter 16, though immediately following Eliphaz’s second speech is more a reply to all of his “friends” than only Eliphaz. We see this in how he refers to them as a group in verse 2. He begins his reply by stating how worthless their words have been thus far. Job could have said as much as they… Read more →
Psalm 22:1-21 – Good Friday – Quotes from Calvin
Quotes from Calvin: From the tenor of the whole composition, it appears that David does not here refer merely to one persecution, but comprehends all the persecutions which he suffered under Saul. It is, however, uncertain whether he composed this psalm when he peaceably enjoyed his kingdom, or in the time of his affliction; but there is no doubt that… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 15
Round two begins. Eliphaz steps back up to the mic. He has much to say, at least in words. He doesn’t really say much in substance. His message is similar to what has already been said – Job has sinned. All of this would not have happened to him unless he had sinned in some way. Specifically, Job is accused… Read more →