3:17. "There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest". Job is talking about death here. Now, perhaps it is because of the increased debate raging now in Christian cirlces about heaven and hell (thanks to Rob Bell and Francis Chan) that I am more sensitive to verses about life after death, but this seems to be somewhat of a universalist statement. Is Job referring to heaven, where both the wicked and weary will rest and cease from turmoil? Or is Job just referring to the bleak death, burial and decay of the body. Was Job a closet universalist all this time? Was the greatest, most God-fearing man also of the belief that everyone will make it to heaven? Am I reading way too much into this verse, and just trying to stir up some controversy and debate? Very Likely.
3:18-26. Rest of the chapter is very similar to the previous parts. Why was I born, I wish my life never began, yada yada.
Chapters 4 and 5. Of the three friends, Eliphaz is the first to speak. Now, I'm not going to lie, Eliphaz is not very easy to understand. He speaks very poetically, and cryptically (or, perhaps I just much slower and incompetent than others). From what I do understand though, I have to actually say, I somewhat agree with what he is saying. To be honest, his words sound very similar to many of the Psalms and Proverbs. Take for example, verses 9-16:
"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
He bestows rain on the earth;
he sends water upon the countryside.
The lowly he sets on high,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
He catches the wise in their craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
Darkness comes upon them in the daytime;
at noon they grope as in the night.
He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth;
he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth."
Eliphaz, from what I understand (and based upon how Job reacts) is essentially saying that God blesses the good, and punishes the wicked. Of course, the way he says it is worthy of Shakespeare, and actually (based on what they believed about God at that time, and what we still believe about God today) isn't too far-fetched or controversial. Job is being punished and cursed, and therefore Job must have done something wrong!
6:1-7:21. Job sticks to his guns, and continues claiming that he has done nothing wrong. He also sticks to his previous sentiments and negative tone, in which he wishes he was never born and begs to die. While he does believe that he has done nothing wrong, it seems as if he starts to take the possibility to heart. A few times, he asks (both of his friends and of God) "show me where I have been wrong". He's not ruling out the possibility of sin being the root of this anguish, but he isn't accepting it yet. Chapter 7 verses 17-19 are both a frustrating lament and an awe-inspiring praise. Job says:
"What is man that you make so much of him,
that you give him so much attention,
that you examine him every morning
and test him every moment?
Will you never look away from me,
or let me alone even for an instant?"
You can feel Job's frustration at how much attention God is lavishing upon him (and understandably so, as he is covered in boils, and his house, family, and wealth are all gone), and yet you can also sense a hint of comfort in the words. God will never look away. He will constantly be there for us. Who are we to be worthy of such attention by the Creator? Of course, the verse about being tested every moment is somewhat frightening.
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