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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

Today marks the halfway point for our four week lockdown here in New Zealand. There are, of course, rumours the lockdown could be extended. There are, of course, calls for it to be lifted early. The one thing, I think, most of us know is that we really have no idea what the next weeks or even months will be… Read more →

In this middle portion of Job’s reply to his three “friends” he continues firstly by reiterating in no uncertain terms, that their “counsel” has been less than helpful. Job says they have, in fact, misrepresented God and would have shown themselves to be wise if they had stayed silent! Since they didn’t, Job says they will be held to account… Read more →

Chapter 12 is the beginning of a three chapter reply to all that Job’s friends have said thus far. Job begins with a bit of a jab towards his counsellors – “no doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you” – you think you have all the answers?! Clearly Job is distraught and frustrated. His friends haven’t… Read more →

Zophar, the third of Job’s friends speaks. His speech is the shortest thus far of the friends. His main point is similar to what has been said thus far to Job by his other friends. Job’s words and claim that his suffering is not connected to specific or particular sin needs to be answered. Job cannot be right, but he… Read more →