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 Job and the Greater Job
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 in a box?
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments on Job 11: In Zophar’s estimation, Job refuses to see the obvious. Even if Job were granted what he requests–an open debate with God–God’s justice would consume him immediately. Job is an exaggerator and an impatient man. But Zophar has missed Job’s point and now mocks his friend. What Zophar cannot grasp is that … More Job 11: More self-righteous lectures from “friends”
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 Job: From debate to prayer to tears
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. He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his … More Job needs a mediator
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.—1 John 2:1-2 … More How is Jesus an advocate for us before God?
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 Win an argument with God?
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 Job and Friends: Round Two
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 to … More Job: “Back off!”
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 Logic: Impeccable. Counsel: Cruel
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