I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Job’s friend Eliphaz is the first to respond. Eliphaz starts off by telling Job that he, Job, had encouraged others in their times of trouble, but now when trouble strikes him, he loses heart. I struggle when I read this, to what degree am I finding fault with what Eliphaz said because I know from previous experience that Eliphaz is in the wrong? How do I read this passage and interpret what Eliphaz says on the basis of what is in the passage I am reading? I think sometimes we read too much condemnation of Job’s friends in the ending of Job, but on the other hand we need to be careful not to read too little as well.
Eliphaz gives Job some good advice. He tells him,
Can anyone be pure before the Creator?”
And this is certainly a valid question because the answer is “No.” He further says that resentment and jealousy destroy the fool. Eliphaz also says that does great things that are too marvelous to understand and performs countless miracles. This all true. These are things we would all do well to remember. However, he also tells Job that he should go to God with is troubles, which is good advice, except that Eliphaz says this in a manner that implies that Job has not already done so. Eliphaz at several points essentially accuses Job of sin without saying what sin Job has committed.
Job responds to Eliphaz by admitting that he spoke impulsively. Job asks if he does not have a right to complain about his suffering since even animals do the same when they are hungry. Job says that he takes comfort in the fact that despite his suffering he has not denied the words of God. He demands that Eliphaz stop assuming that he is guilty. We, also, should not assume the guilt of others. If we witness them sinning and confront them over it, that is one thing, but we should not assume that someone is guilty. We should seek their interpretation of what happened before we conclude that they are guilty.
Paul continues his teaching on spiritual gifts by thanking God that he speaks in tongues more than any of the Corinthians, but says that he would rather speak five intelligible words in a church meeting than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Paul goes on to tell them that if an unbeliever comes into a service and everyone is speaking in tongues, the unbeliever will be convinced that the believers are crazy. On the other hand, if the believers are prophesying, the unbeliever will be convicted by their inmost thoughts being revealed.
Paul segues into telling the believers that services should be orderly, with only one person speaking at a time. He tells us that those who speak in tongues should only do so in the service if there is someone there to interpret what they say and even then only two or three should speak in tongues. He goes on to say that the service should be orderly. Those who prophecy are in control of their spirits and can take their turns. God is not a god of disorder, but a God of peace. As part of his teachings on orderly worship, Paul says that it is improper for women to speak in the church meetings. That if they have questions they should ask their husbands at home. This instruction troubles me. It seems clear and unequivocal, yet there are other passages which seem to suggest that there are qualifiers to this. On the other hand, if this instruction has qualifiers, why did Paul not put them in here? I continue to pray for the Spirit’s guidance on understanding this teaching. Paul concludes this section by telling us to be eager to prophecy and to not forbid speaking in tongues, but reminds us that our services should be orderly and done properly.
The psalmist tells us that the godly offer good counsel, while the wicked seek an excuse to destroy the godly. The wicked may seem to be prospering and flourishing, but soon they will disappear completely. God will provide shelter for the godly and rescue them in times of trouble.
Today’s proverb tells us that the sacrifice of an evil person is detestable. Those who are doing evil cannot cover it over by offering a sacrifice to God. Offering sacrifices to God are only of value when one is truly intending to change one’s ways and turn from evil. It is bad enough when someone offers a sacrifice with no intention of turning from their sin, but it is even worse when they offer the sacrifice in order to further their evil plans.