Dr. Kim Riddlebarger on Job 30: Men who are regarded like dogs by polite society, now look down on Job. His present predicament and degree of suffering is almost beyond words. But what is worse, Job feels as though he’s been abandoned by God. In verses 16-23, Job cries out, “and now my life ebbs away; … More Feeling like you’ve been abandoned by God?
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger continues: Chapter 29 of Job is very poignant, given what Job once enjoyed in light of his current suffering. Job’s opening comments about the days in which he enjoyed God’s favor reiterate what was said of Job in the book’s prologue. “Job continued his discourse: `How I long for the months gone … More Providence, Pain and Promises
The consequences of Israel’s disobedience in Joel’s day were hitting hard- for both man and animal. A combination of locusts and drought had destroyed the crops. Everyone was suffering. Additonally, the shortage of food had affected the cycle of temple sacrifices and festivals (Joel 1:16). The hungry cattle lowed pitifully, and the starving sheep bleated … More Panting After God
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger helps us understand Job 25-26: In Job 25, we have the very short and final speech from Bildad, along with Job’s response. After three increasingly heated exchanges, Job and his friends have clearly run out of steam. But like trains passing on parallel tracks, Job and Eliphaz have been speaking past each … More The mysteries of God’s providence and wisdom
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments on Job 24: Job does not understand. How can God allow the strong to exploit the weak? When will judgment befall them? Why? When? How? None of this fits with Job’s hope in a coming redeemer. It is not until we come to Job 24:22-25 that Job’s “thinking out loud,” comes … More Haunting Questions
In Job 22:5, Eliphaz, one of Job’s “friends” says to him “Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.” Hmmm, probably not the best example for us to follow when visiting a friend who is suffering! Can we learn something from Job’s friends about how to help the hurting? John Piper’s … More Can we learn something from Job’s friends about how to help the hurting?
Ray Stedman, in a sermon, “Why Doesn’t God Intervene?”: In Chapter 21 we get Job’s very reasoned reply. There are times when Job speaks rather testily, rather sharply, to his friends, and other times, perhaps when the pain is not as intense, he is able to speak more calmly and dispassionately. And here, in Chapter 21, you … More Job: Mock on.
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me! Job 19:25-27 Here … More Spare me your packages of God
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger: One thing is now becoming clear–Job, the sufferer, is now longing to probe deeper into the mysteries of God’s providence, while Job’s friends focus entirely on the their distorted views of the suffering of the wicked. Bildad is clearly resentful of Job’s low estimate of his three friends’ theological abilities.Whereas Eliphaz … More Pondering the mysteries of God’s providence
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger comments on Job 17: Because of his glimmer of hope and because he has faith in the God of the promise (however, weak that faith may be), Job knows his friends cannot help him. This is why his hope is in God. As Job’s mood swings widely, even to the point of despair as … More Hope in God and fight back
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