A congregational study of the Book of Job. By Pastor Jose Luis
Session Fifteen. Read Job Chapters 25-31
Chapter 25 brings Bildad´s great theological question that is fundamental to the history of salvation: How then can a mortal be righteous before God? V. 4. In Chapter 26, Job answers these questions with multiple questions that reveal that he does not have an answer, neither do his friends. God is so powerful and immense that any human being can have an answer: Sheol is naked before God, He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not torn open by them. He covers the face of the full moon, and spreads over it his cloud.26, 6-8.
Chapter 27. Job recognizes that his tribulations are under God´s providence: The Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, as long as my breath is in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils. 27, 2-3. Only Job and God know the truth about Job´s righteousness: I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. 27, 6.
Chapter 28 is the search for wisdom in the middle of calamity: “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? 28, 20. Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’ ” 28, 28.
Chapter 29. Job tries to apply the wisdom of God to his situation: I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. 29, 12-14. Job lives as a pious man but now all is gone, and people forget his good deeds: “And now they mock me in song; I am a byword to them. They abhor me.” 30, 9-10.
Chapter 31 is the summary of Job´s good deeds and the paradox of his calamity and his cry for an answer from God: let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity! V. 6. Then Job turned into silence again.
How do you feel when you consider that you are living a righteous and spiritual life like Job, attending church, practicing Christian teachings and suddenly calamity arrives to your life turning your whole world upside down?
How do you define wisdom in our time? Do you think that our society is searching for wisdom?
Tell me your impressions. pastor@lcostampa.org