Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments: Job is not finished. In Job 13:13-19 Job utters what amounts to a confession of faith, “Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope … More Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him
Job’s friends have theories about God. They think they understand God. But these theories can’t explain the reality of Job’s situation. These theories attempt to place God in a box, to reduce God to someone they can control. But in Job 12, it is clear that God cannot be managed. “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel … More God cannot be managed
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments on Job 11: This, then, brings us to cycle one–round three, the speech from Zophar the Naamathite and Job’s response to the most difficult words yet. Job’s response to Eliphaz and Bildad was to protest their charges and proclaim his innocence. Zophar has been listening to all of this and now applies the principle … More Suffering? “Just get your act together!”
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger continues in the commentary on Job: In Job 10:1-7, without breaking stride, Job turns from debate to prayer, demanding a hearing before the heavenly court. “I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to … More If God is indeed good and all powerful, then why have things turned out like they have?
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger on the second half of Job 9: Beginning in 9:25, Job describes his situation as a sign of God’s condemnation. “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey. If I say, … More If only there were someone to arbitrate between us….
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger on the first half of Job 9 Despite his lowly state, Job cannot let these heartless words go without a response. In chapter 9, Job addresses Bildad directly, while in chapter 10, Job pours out his heart before God. As the dialogue with his friends now takes on the shape of a … More God’s wisdom is profound, His power is vast…
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger on Job 8: This brings us to cycle one, round two, and the speech from Bildad and Job’s response. Bildad picks up where Eliphaz left off. Utterly insensitive to Job’s lament and his defense against Eliphaz’s accusation, Bildad doggedly returns to the theme of divine justice, even calling Job a windbag in … More Round Two: Bildad calls Job a windbag
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments: In Job 7, the sufferer speaks directly to the Almighty. His friends have no answer and do not understand his plight. Thus it is only natural for Job to look anew to his creator, friend and redeemer for an answer. Job cries out in verses 1 and following, “Does not man … More Job: I will not keep silent
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments on Job 6 Job cannot take anymore. And so in 6:1-7:2, he responds to his friend. Eliphaz’s words do not bring Job comfort. Instead, they bring forth an emotional outbrust and protest from Job against the insinuation that there is some hidden sin in his life which has caused God … More Job Defends Himself
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger sheds some light on Job 5: The problem is not so much with Eliphaz’s theology, but his ineptness as a counselor. A sufferer not need to be told to take his suffering like a man, any more than someone who has lost an unbelieving relative needs to hear a lecture on reprobation. … More Impeccable logic, inept counsel
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