“Before I go—and I shall not return—to the land of darkness and deep shadow, the land of utter gloom like darkness itself, of deep shadow without order, and it shines like darkness.” Job 10:21-22 NASB I shall not return – There could hardly be a more definitive statement about the permanence of death. “I shall not return.” …
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” James 1:2 NASB 1995 Various trials – How about the trial of living in poverty—for your entire life! Of growing old with nothing but worn out shoes, a few sticks for a fire, an old coat, and a small bag of food. Job was reduced…
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” James 1:2 NASB 1995 Joy – Although we investigated this verse more than six years ago, I thought it might be reconsidered in light of Job’s story, especially our discovery about the complexity of Job 10:20. Do you suppose Paul would have written this verse…
Would He not leave my few days alone? Withdraw from me so that I may have a little cheerfulness Job 10:20 NASB Cheerfulness – Before we look at the term translated “cheerfulness” in the NASB, we should notice the translation provided by Chabad. Are not my days few? So desist and withdraw from me, and I…
If I am wicked, woe to me! But if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. Job 10:15a NASB Dare not – Doesn’t Job teach us that it’s better not to be too religious? After all, if Job were just an ordinary person like us, God would not have pointed him out. He wouldn’t have gone through…
For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 NASB Satan – What was the first century Jewish view of “Satan”? Why does Paul refer to Satan when he writes to the Thessalonians? Where did the idea come from? For most contemporary believers, Satan is as real as it gets. …
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Job 1:1 NASB Blameless – We started our investigation of the story of Job with a commentary on the three critical terms used to describe Job’s spiritual state. Do you remember? As we begin…
Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; Romans 8:33 NASB Justifies – Paul pens the Greek verb dikaióō, “to justify.” We often find the term in religious circles. But what does it really mean? How can “justify” help us resolve Job’s situation? The Concept of Law in the OT. This concept…
Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; Romans 8:33 NASB Bring charges – The lessons from the first ten chapters of Job are discomforting. Maybe even despairing. If the perfect man suffers for unknown (to him) reasons, if God plays chess with His creation, if the heavens are silent, if the…
I am full of shame, and conscious of my misery. Job 10:15b NASB Shame – You might think that the Hebrew word here is the common word translated “shame,” i.e., bôš. That word is found in verses like Psalm 25:2 (“Let me not be ashamed”). Its primary meaning is public humiliation. “to fall into disgrace, normally through…
