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Tag: job

Job is first of the books of wisdom in the Bible and thought to be the oldest text included in the Bible.

An Adjudicator of Grace in Every Era
What is the first SCRIPTURE that comes to mind when I ask you to tell me about GRACE?
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Go ahead and COMMMENT with the first BIBLE verse YOU recall.

& Tell us what it speaks to YOU that exemplifies GRACE.
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Grace for the Everyday Sinner in 2024 C.E.

Last time in my initial post of this SERIES I introduced GRACE linked to its root words of both the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS of the Holy Bible.

Since only 15 of the 132 verses naming Grace occur in the Old Testament chances are that the first Bible verse you might SHARE about GRACE will come from the NEW TESTAMENT.

New Covenant GRACE

DYK that “Testament” διαθήκη – diatheke is the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning a “covenant” or agreement?

Was the grace of God different in the OLD TESTAMENT?

Has the grace of God changed in the Common Era of our post-Christian correctness?
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You may as well offer your comments on those two questions as well.
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But before I take on any contemporary question of grace in the Common Era let’s take a look back to one of the oldest illustrations of the Old Testament.

Old Covenant GRACE

JOB – a man blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job..

map source: BibleAtlas.org
Click here to learn more about Job from previous posts and resources.

(I encourage you to ask questions and share comments on these posts as well. – RH)

A man there hath been in the land of Uz — Job his name — and that man hath been perfect and upright — both fearing God, and turning aside from evil.
Job 1:1 Youngs Literal Translation

PERFECT, UPRIGHT AND BLAMELESS?

That could NOT have been this fallen sinner of the Common Era?

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Job was a penultimate Old Testament example of a righteous man as GOD requires of those who worship Him.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

IF any man deserved GRACE it certainly would have been Job.

Yet Satan is as involved in this unseen story of a mere man as he was in the events of Eden.
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Some Christians will no more consider the impact of unseen evil in our daily lives than did Job's friends and speculative advisors. 

But other than your QUESTION about this post that would be a discussion for another day.)
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Have YOU ever heard OR given such ill-conceived advice as Job’s advisors?

Men and women typically try to conceive answers concerning God’s providence with little consideration or understanding of God’s redeeming grace.

Friendly Unhelpful Observations
- Eliphaz Says the Innocent Do Not Suffer
“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright wiped out? – Job 4:4

In an earthly sense, is this not an everyday occurrence in every era?

Job answers:

“For the despairing man lovingkindness should be from his friend;
But he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Job 6:14 LSB

Lovingkindness received from a friend is surly the fruit of grace. But Job does not receive it here.
- Bildad Claims God Rewards the Good
(Yet do the so-called good men and women have their rewards in this brief life?)

If you would seek God earnestly
And plead for the grace of the Almighty,
If you are pure and upright,
Indeed now He would rouse Himself for you
And make your righteous abode at peace.
Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will increase greatly.
Job 8:5-7 LSB (ill-conceived advice of a friend and advisor to Job)

Ah! — Here Job’s smiling friend offers him a cheap grace of the Almighty bringing His power into his friend’s life NOW!

Job’s best Life could be filled with blessings before his end in death (never mentioned).

Is GRACE simply an increase of life’s everyday blessings?

Job Replies There Is No Adjudicator

Picture now a scene in the Heavenly Court of the Old Testament BEFORE God’s revelation of a perfect Priest and Mediator of Christ the only Son of a better Sacrifice for man’s sin.

JOB ASKS THE ENDURING QUESTION OF EVERY AGE:

But how can a man be in the right before God?
Job 9:2b LSB

If one desired to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

Wise in heart and mighty in power,
Who has stiffened his neck against Him and been at peace?

Where do YOU stand before God
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Job continues his hopeless defense (without the Perfect Powerful Advocate pleading his case for him:
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the One who removes the mountains.. who shakes the earth.. out of its place..

Who alone stretches out the heavens,
And tramples down the waves of the sea..

10 Who does great things, unsearchable,
And wondrous works, innumerable.

11 Were He to sweep by me, I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 Were He to snatch away, who could turn Him back?
Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
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After Job's irrefutable argument worthy of any courtroom case he then makes an astounding statement concerning GRACE before the One Lord God.
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“For though I were right,
I could not answer [plead my case];
I would have to plead for the grace of my judge.
Job 9:15 LSB
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I would make supplication to my judge. - KJV
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I would beg mercy of my Judge. – NKJV

Even if I were right, I would have no defense.
I could only plead for mercy. – says the New Living Translation of Job’s silent plea.

“I must appeal for mercy to my accuser and judge” suggests Job.

The MERCY of the LORD relates to HIS graciousness rather than OUR righteousness.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

A blessing of Numbers 6 guides our prayer and plea

6:25 יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ ס

The Adjudicator of Grace, Mercy and Peace

Many would attempt to plead their own case before the Judge!

I would — possibly even as I accuse every accuser who has brought me before the Authority to determine MY GUILT and PUNISH MY SIN.

Of course ALL of us tend to demand JUSTICE for all, i.e. ‘everybody else’, even while covering every personal trespass against others and expecting MERCY in the disposition of our own case.

Even in a Court of Law in a great America of the past …

Job, A RIGHTEOUS MAN (which NONE OF US are), presents a stellar defense before God, the Father of all mercies.

HOWEVER first, the JUDGE of all men has something to say to the accused who had asked to represent himself before God.

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

“Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?

Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you make Me know!
Job 38:1-3 LSB

After a lengthy introduction to JUSTICE by the JUDGE OF ALL MEN Job will relent in his plea with an appropriate answer.

“WHO NEEDS GRACE?”

The simple answer to our own case in every instance is that WE ALL NEED Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace.

The legal question before the Heavenly Seat of Judgment is:

WHO can represent a SINNER so that I might receive MERCY and GRACE?

Then Yahweh answered Job and said,

2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it.”

Job recognizes the flaw in attempting to be his own counsel.

Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I respond to You?

I place my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”
Job 40:3-5 LSB

JOB, A RIGHTEOUS MAN, has a dilemma and can only keep silent before his Judge.

In fact, Job has no Advocate and therefore must rely on any undeserved mercy from God the Father of all mankind before Whom he stands guilty.

Is Job’s judicial dilemma common to YOU — even in this 21st century — post-Christian –Common Era?

NEXT:

God-willing, we will defer to our only Mediator and Advocate

“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,

And my advocate is on high.
Job 16:19 LSB
January 18, 2024
Everythingology for an all-inclusive church
When did astrology become astronomy and science become ‘everythingology?’
Each time adam sought to explain life separate of the glory of God and science dismissed the study of God.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

Let’s study it:

The SCIENCE of false premise

Last time I asked you, (my fellow ‘Christian’ with little interest in ‘theology‘):

Did God really say, Church?

Does the person asking you about “Church“ really want to know what God said?

AND

I warned that not only is it unlikely any man or woman will ask you about your church, but that their least likely question to you will be about THE LORD GOD.

IF & WHEN, however, you happen to identify someone telling you about their science and religion of atheism

AND they want to prove to you WHY GOD is not,

Recognize that the enemy of Truth cannot prove anything from every false premise.

Take any observation of mankind:

James Webb Space Telescope Science
The James Webb Space Telescope will be a giant leap forward in our quest to understand the Universe and our origins. JWST will examine every phase of cosmic history: from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets to the evolution of our own solar system. The science goals for the Webb can be grouped into four themes:

The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization – JWST will be a powerful time machine with infrared vision that will peer back over 13.5 billion years to see the first stars and galaxies forming out of the darkness of the early universe.

Even the atheist must confess that they do not have the answer to WHY?
i.e. WHY the Big Bang?
(It is a theory with speculative premise, right?)
(explain please in your COMMENT to this post about ‘everythingology‘)

SO WHY does the ATHEIST persist in asking the CHRISTIAN, “Why?”

THEY would bring believers down to the despair of THEIR own depths.
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Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah

Psalm 49:14-15 ESV
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Science-onomy & Science-ology

At best, it’s speculative entertainment of an evolved brain of an ape, calculating how train B left the primordial station at the beginning of the line without a builder of its hypersonic engine, to arrive at their earth just in time for them to teach it as ‘proven science.’

WHY so much ‘SCIENCE’ built on FALSE PREMISE?
- Is their premise a veiled dismissal of God
  - (Most likely.)
- and does their ‘SCIENCE‘ disprove God’s Word?
  - (The goal of their questions)
Certainly NOT!

There is NO CONCLUSION for the a-theist,

because they understand that their END will be ashes and dust..

But then, the JUDGEMENT!

And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
Psalm 9:8 [Lexicon :: Strong’s H1777 – dîn – to judge, contend, plead]
1. Because the A-theist stands against the Lord God, THEY must continually QUESTION GOD: i.e. “Did God really say..?”
2. THEN (like Satan) an A-theist must reconstruct TRUTH
3. into a PROOF of Another-truth, built on a FALSE PREMISE.
  1. Some claim their Alternative-truth as proven ‘science.’
  2. Others claim their Alternative-truth as speculative ‘history.’
  3. Still others claim their Alternative-truths as SCIENCE-ONOMY (with any number of familiar names).
What can we know with certainty?

WHEN SCIENCE side-steps LOGIC by tiptoeing around TRUTH, it becomes religion – the A-theist’s doctrine of the distrust of Almighty God, built on inconclusive false premises leading to NO conclusion.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.COM
- What can we know about sociology or psychology with absolute certainty?
- What can we know about ecology or cosmology with absolute certainty?
  - Was a scientist nearby to record the age of the universe?
    Could our mathematical (algebraical) calculations of the numerous variable unknowns of scientific presuppositions of geology and archeology be wrong (inconclusive)?
- How did the archeologist measure rock formed before carbon?
- Did some astronomer set out his telescope and tape to measure the light of Creation?
  - Were ‘light-years’ recorded with white light, curved light, ultraviolet light, x-ray, blacklight or with a nuclear flash?
  - Could Almighty God cause light to travel a varying speeds through some parts of space?
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
“Who is this who darkens the divine plan
By words without knowledge?
“Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man [for battle],
And I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
“Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
Job 38:1-5 NASB20

Science-onomy

Origin & history
From Ancient Greek νόμος (“law, custom”).
Suffix
-nomy
a system of rules, laws, or knowledge about a body of a particular field; distribution, arrangement, management
Derived words & phrases
astronomy
Deuteronomy
“-onomy” – WordSense Online Dictionary (15th July, 2022) URL: https://www.wordsense.eu/-onomy/

Is ALL Law perfect? & do ALL Customs establish FACT?

Science-ology

ology (English)
Origin & history
From the suffix -ology in the names of many sciences
Suffix
-ology
1. Alternative form of –logy, used for phonological reasons when the preceding morpheme ends in certain consonant sounds.
2. (often, humorous) added to an ordinary English word to create a name for a (possibly non-existent) field of study.

-ology – branch of learning
“definition 2 of -ology best describes “everythingology“

Everythingology –

Everythingology – definition:
1. Endless study of everything;
2. Theoretical theology of humanity as god.
TalkofJESUS.com

History & Evolution of the SCIENCE of Everythingology
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Compare to: Ancient Aliens (source: History Channel)
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Proponents of hell’s Devils [PhD’s] esteemed by the Universities of Everythinology preach from their pulpits of MULTIPLE TRUTHS with theoretical atheistic clubs of pointed QUESTIONS seeking to validate their rejection of God. These Doctors of Blurred Science matriculated through curricular gauntlets of eminent scholars of philosophy, who grade ALL their best teaching assistants on the curve and fail any logical conspiracy purists who support a single Truth.

The indisputable EDUCATION of this great Blurred Science continues to evolve toward the perfection of self B.S. demands for our future generations. For example: the evolution of astrology evolves into astronomy — which in turn seeks to gain credibility under the cloak of astrophysics. ALL Science offers numerous examples of this progress away the ignorance of our primordial forebears who fought sabre-tooth and nail for our freedoms and survival.

ALL PhD’s of U of E speculate WHY by teaching darwinology, as professor progeny of history’s fittest primates, hoping by their unspoken premise to strike a mortal blow to the head of logical truth. Their multiple truths must include EVERY human of any theoretical variant — inclusive of all, that is, EXCEPT a man or a woman insistent on One Way, one Truth and One eternal life lived for One God.

Everything-ologists are Religious HUMANS

You will learn SCIENTIFIC teaching [in-doctrine-ation] by HUMANS, cloaked in coats of many truths taught from every scientific discipline; in order that you may apply their theories to humankind, mother earth’s environment and the cosmos for your inner-evolvement of self and the future evolution of SCIENCE into the oneness of HUMANITY.
Student Manual – Universities of Everythinology

These humans hold high reverence for philosophy, rather than tolerate a philosophical reverence of Truth.
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By now, you no doubt see through the academic robes of these Everythingologists exposing their humorous backsides by so many QUESTIONS asking WHY about GOD and Christ's Church. Perhaps if they had studied Orwellian theory [i.e. Animal Farm, 1984], they would name their church: "MINISTRY OF TRUTH." 

Perhaps in a not-so-humorous world of 2022 of 'the common era,' we have evolved into U.N. agencies of Everything-isms determined to bring the Church to Megiddo in a battle for Truth.
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REMEMBER: WHO IS ASKING?

(And WHAT are they subtly teaching?)

One ‘ology’ always absent in false teaching is “Christology,” the developed doctrine of Christ.

Christology

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Letter of Paul to the Romans 5:8 NASB

Already by the middle of the first century, the deity of Jesus was part of the faith of the universal church. It cannot and must not be compromised today.
John Stott – CHRIST the Cornerstone, p.304
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We will hear much more uncompromised Truth from John Stott, Boothe, Murray, Carson, Lloyd-Jones, Bunyan and other Christian theologians as we continue this SERIES addressing the issues of a 21st Century RECALL of the CHURCH.

Grace and peace, in our Lord Christ Jesus.
RH
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July 16, 2022
Gardener, Shepherd and Hunter: 7 Scenes Unseen by Man

ACT 2 – Scene 1 – in an unseen place

Where am I?

I have brought you to a place unseen by man.

You showed me a scene I had never seen of the death of Abel.. and Eve mourning the loss of her son murdered by her other son… and about sin in Eden. Was this story of Moses true?

I have shown you scenes revealed to Moses from near the beginning of time. His story was true, though Moses was not there.

Tell me, why did Moses leave Egypt?

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter..
[Click here to read NASB in context]
Hebrews 11:24

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though seeing Him who is unseen.
Hebrews 11:27 NASB

Moses was sort of a shepherd then, wasn’t he?

Yes, in a sense.. But a later shepherd led his followers to the right answer from Scripture to your question. Do you recall what David said?

מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָֽר׃

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Moses followed the unseen Shepherd as he led the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.

So is this place like when you showed me what happened east of Eden?

These scenes take place in the unseen places above the heavens — or beneath the earth — places connected to the timeline of man yet separate from the mortal life of any one man or woman.

I don’t think I understand, I thought as my Guide explained unseen places where He has evidently led me.

Allow me to show you one such unseen scene from around the time of Moses. The actions here impact a righteous man who lived in a different land. But this scene does not take place there.

Unseen in Uz

One day the angels [sons of God] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [the adversary] also came with them.

The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Job 1:6-7 NIV

Do you know this story?

Yes. It’s about Job, who suffers all kinds of evil without knowing why.

Is Job part of this conversation with the LORD in the unseen place? So who is the main character in this story of Job?

I knew the obvious answer. Job was clueless about God allowing him to suffer severely for some time.

Satan.. And didn’t you also say that Moses called him the Serpent?

You yourself recognized the Serpent as the hunter. And what prey does he hunt?

Souls! The soul of Cain.. the soul of Eve.. the soul of Adam..

So too is Satan hissing at God when he calls for evil to tempt Job’s soul toward the pit of darkness.

So the Serpent’s name is really Satan.

שָׂטָן

śāṭān – noun

superhuman adversary, הַשּׂ׳ :
a. of Job, one of בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים Job 1:6, 7 (twice in verse); Job 1:8, 9, 12 (twice in verse); Job 2:1, 2(twice in verse); Job 2:3, 4 (twice in verse); Job 2:6, 7.
b. of high priest of Israel before י׳, Zechariah 3:1, 2(twice in verse); Greek Version of the LXX. ὁ διάβολος.
c. as proper name שׂ׳ Satan 1 Chronicles 21:1 (interpret 2 Samuel 24:1), Greek Version of the LXX διάβολος (Greek Version of the LXX σατάν 1 Kings 11:14, 23; Σατανᾶς Matthew 4:10; Mark 1:13; Luke 10:18 + 33 times NT).

Source- [Lexicon :: Strong’s H7854 – śāṭān

And as Moses said, this Tempter is cunning; and as a spirit shepherding evil in the unseen places he has many names, sometimes even appearing as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

שָׂטַן

śāṭan – verb

Outline of Biblical Usage
(Qal) to be or act as an adversary, resist, oppose

Strong’s Definitions
שָׂטַן sâṭan, saw-tan’; a primitive root; to attack, (figuratively) accuse:—(be an) adversary, resist.

Strong’s Number H7853 matches the Hebrew שָׂטַן (śāṭan), which occurs 6 times in 6 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

Job seemed helpless; not able to do anything about the evil.

Satan requested permission from God to contend with him on earth.

My thoughts and countenance were really quite dejected by now..

Remember what David said about the valley of the shadow of death? .. It is the place of evil.

I recalled briefly the Lord’s words to Cain before he murdered Abel.. The LORD cautioned Able BEFORE he turned against his brother and against the LORD who was with him and leading him along the valley of the shadow…

So how can any man resist evil from these unseen places and remain faithful to the LORD?

Do you know how David petitioned the LORD when God was angry at him for his sin?

Just like Moses, I thought, David had murdered a man. He had blood on his hands.. NO LESS THAN CAIN!

A psalm of David. A petition. NIV

LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
Psalm 38:1 NIV

Some prayers are praises to God who we cannot see, while others are petitions from our place near the valley of the shadow to the unseen place — a place above time and circumstance where the Lord sits on the Throne of justice and the Mercy Seat of redemption.

Psalm 38 NASB, KJ21, OJB, WLC

Yᵊhōvâ

Hashem, rebuke me not in Thy wrath; neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.

2 (3) For Thine khitzim (arrows) pierce me, Thy hand presseth me sorely.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh, because of Thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin.

4 For mine iniquities have gone over mine head; as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds are foul and corrupt because of my foolishness.

6 (7) I am bent down; I am brought low

I go in mourning all day long.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
And there is no healthy part in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and sorely broken; I have groaned because of the disquiet of my heart.

David pleads for mercy, confessing his guilty deeds by which he deserves the WRATH OF GOD.. He then bows down to God acknowledging:

Lord, all my desire is before You;
And my sighing is not hidden from You.

I know now after seeing these unseen places that I have NO right to expect anything from God…

David is quiet before the LORD, then pleaing:

Yes, I am like a person who does not hear,
And in whose mouth are no arguments.
¹⁵For I wait for You, Lord;
You will answer, Lord my God.

AND listen to David’s plea to the Judge of all men. Read it:

(WLC 38:21) וּמְשַׁלְּמֵי רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה יִשְׂטְנוּנִי תַּחַת רדופי־ טֽוֹב׃

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
Psalm 38:20 KJV

Eve encountered an adversary opposed to God! As did the first adam and the sons of adam.. Job.. and David.. And yes, so have you. And WHY? David tells us.

Because those who follow God and do what is good suffer evil by the hand of the adversary of the LORD God lurking in the unseen places. For Satan is an enemy of all Light which overcomes the darkness.

21 Do not abandon me, Lord;
My God, do not be far from me!
22 Hurry to help me,
Lord, my salvation!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Gospel of John 1:5 NIV

To be continued…

May 14, 2022