Week 3 - A Taunt - Micah 2:1-5

The previous chapter described what was about to happen.  This chapter explains why.  Powerful individuals had shaken off the accountability of the assembly and the laws of God.

 

Micah 2:1-2 

Woe to those who devise wickedness

    and work evil on their beds!

When the morning dawns, they perform it,

    because it is in the power of their hand.

They covet fields and seize them,

    and houses, and take them away;

they oppress a man and his house,

    a man and his inheritance.   

 

They are no longer accountable to El Shaddai ('ēl šaday),   They have made a new god, the god of their own hand ('ēl yāḏ).  Free from God's law protecting private property (Remember "Thou shalt not steal" and the Year of Jubilee from Leviticus 25?).  They seize land from the less powerful.

 

But the coming calamity was not limited to those powerful individuals.  It was going to be applied to something much larger, the entire "family" (mišpāḥâ).  This is not the small nuclear of the 1040 tax form.  It was as large as the combined kingdoms (See for example Amos 3:1). Because the Jewish nation allowed this sin to go unpunished it would come under judgment.  Because justice was not applied, because the poor were not defended, because the powerful were not punished, the nation was to come under judgment.

 

During that judgment their lands would be seized by a foreign apostate nation and when they did that nation's forces would break out in song!  Micah describes it with the Hebrew equivalent of our childhood playground taunt "Nanna, Nanna, Boo, Boo".  Micah uses three words with consecutive Strong's numbers (nāhâ nᵊhî nihyhā) to describe those forces lamenting back what would be the lamenting lament said by those powerful individuals who were losing what they themselves had stolen.

 

As one leaves the safety of the nest and branches out into a new family that new-found freedom is at first exciting.  But without accountability, families often crumble.  

 

It is unfortunate that the family structure described in Ephesians (Ephesians 5:18-33) abruptly starts with the submission of the wife to husband and creates a seemingly independent family under a single head.  This was never intended.  This would leave the wife without somewhere to appeal.  But a careful reader must read it in context of the book and finds us very connected instead:

Ephesians 2:18-22

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

 

Within the household of God we both support and hold each other accountable.  This is our “family”.  

 

Week 2 - What's in a Name - Micah 1:10-16

In this passage, the vision of Micah gets personal.  He speaks to a series of towns and relates the calamity that is about to occur to the name of their town.  For example,

the lamentation of Beth-ezel

    shall take away from you its standing place.

Beth-ezel contains the Greek word that means proximity ('ēṣel).  This town was a suburb of Jerusalem.  The Septuagint translation speaks of their coming grief -- the loss of those that have been beside them. In the vision that Micah sees, they will lose their longtime standing and source of importance.

We often build our self-worth up from the circumstances and people that surround us.  The loss of a parent, a friend, or even a promotion, can be crushing.  But it need not be.

Isaiah 7:14 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

It need not be, because God is with us (ʿimmānû'ēl)!  There is much in a name.

Week 1 - What Lies Ahead - Micah 1:1-7

 We take pride in what we gather.  Be it awards, grandchildren, cars, or even friends on Facebook.

Genesis 11:4

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

And to be dispersed would indeed be a tragedy, but Micah was given a vision of what was approaching both Israel and Judah as a result of their apostasy:

• Samaria, the capital of Israel whose stones were gathered to protect them would be scattered and the wealth accumulated through pagan worship would be transferred to others (Micah 1:6-7).
• The residents of Judah, including Micah, would be led away as captives (Micah 1:8-9).

Jesus told a parable that is strikingly parallel to the events of this passage.  It was said after a person in the crowd expressed concern over the handling of their family's estate.  Jesus cautioned him that ". . . one's life does not consist in the abundance" (Luke 12:15) and described what happens to one who only gathers:

Luke 12:19-21

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Case Dismissed!

It has been a joy to assemble these materials over the past several months.  They have now been made available in book form (both in Kindle and in Paperback) at:

Case Dismissed: The Hearing of Job's Complaint

[Sound of Gavel]

Case Dismissed!

Week 11 - Justice is Served - Job 42:7-17

After God dismissed the case, there was justice to be served.  The first three friends did not get it right.

Job 42:7

After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

God's anger burned because they repeatedly spoke to Job from the perspective of "If man, then God".  Only Job and Elihu understood the totality of God's sovereignty and that the paradigm is rather "If God, then man".  For after Job called upon God to act as not only as mediator (Job 9:33), but also as witness (Job 16:19), a bondsman (Job 17:3), a redeemer (Job 19:23-27), and, ultimately as a judge (Job 31:34-35), then Elihu presented clearly the ordo salutis in Job 33:22-28.

The punishment dispensed was two fold: first that the three friends were to perform a sacrifice, and second that Job would be their priest.  Imagine the humbling aspect of that!

Job 42:8

Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

God then reversed what happened when Job was placed in “Satan’s Hand” (Job 1:12; Job 2:6).   Literally, God “turned the captivity of Job”, which was an instantaneous change of position.  

Job 42:10

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Please notice this happens "when he prayed for his friends".  It should not go unnoticed that Satan lost his grip on Job, when Job entered the throne room of God by prayer.

Week 10 - Job Takes the Stand - Job 38-42:6

God takes up the case and issues Job a command.  The margin translation for Job 38:3a in the ESV is preferred:

Gird up your loins like a man;

Alternates are:

Get ready

Prepare yourself 

Stand up

Dress for action

Brace yourself 

Be strong 

Now tighten the belt 

Now get ready to fight

While all give the meaning, girding up is a physical act.  In the sun of Arabia, flowing robes are essential, but they are not functional.  How to gird them up is illustrated here.

When we are in Speculator, Robyn and I walk back and forth from our house to Camp.  At the end of summer, Camp throws a party for the volunteers.  In our Sunday-best we walked over, but once we crossed the main road, a fold of Robyn's long dress wrapped itself around her legs and down she went.  A sharp pebble went deep into her hand, so we walked past the party to the camp infirmary!

So this won't be a casual conversation.  We won't be reclining-at-table or sitting around a hookah for a cerebral conversation.  God, the judge, is about to question Job.  Girding up requires one to stand up.  Job must take the "stand".  

God then asks Job a series of questions to see if he, as a man, is qualified.  A particularly telling exchange is Job 38:31-38.  It starts with a series of "can you" questions.  Does Job have the ability to guide the constellations or to instruct the weather?  Did Job put into mankind the ability to wonder about such things?  And with that God-given power of thought, does man have the ability to control either?

Job 40:1-4

And the Lord said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

    He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

    I lay my hand on my mouth.

But God gives him a second chance.  Maybe Job could be qualified as a god.

Job 40:10,14

“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;

    clothe yourself with glory and splendor.

: 

Then will I also acknowledge to you

    that your own right hand can save you. 

If Job was a god, then he could save himself.  So God introduces two celestial beings that Job has never seen: the Behemoth (beast) and the Leviathan (dragon).

• This dragon is also described in Revelation 12.  He is Satan, who was conquered by the blood of the Lamb and expelled from Heaven (Isaiah 14:12).
• The beast is described in Revelation 13.  In fact, the description includes a verse (Revelation 13:4) that asks the same question as Job 40:24.  

Who indeed can fight either of these celestial beasts?  The answer is God, himself, their creator:

Job 40:19

“He is the first of the works of God;

    let him who made him bring near his sword!

God then concludes for a second time that Job is not qualified. 

Job 41:10

No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up.

Who then is he who can stand before me?

Then the case takes a sudden and decisive turn.

Job 41:11

Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?

Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

God is the ultimate owner.  No level of piety or devotion will ever endebt God to Job.   Likewise no loss on Job's part is a debt that God must pay.

Job 42:6 (NASB)
“Therefore I retract,

And I repent, sitting on dust and ashes.”

The complaint he was arguing that concerning his “loss” was then null and void, because he was never the owner.  

So the twice-disqualified Job humbly withdrew his case.

 

 

 

Week 9 - Elihu Speaks Again - Job 36-37

This is his fourth speech.  This is notable because the others spoke three times (except for Zophar who could not respond to Job’s call for an indictment of himself by God).  This speech was added (yāsap̄).  Speeches 2 and 3 were instead introduced with the word “said” ('āmar).  This could have been seen as arrogant.

Job 36:1

And Elihu continued, and said:

But what also should be noted it that Job did not respond to any of Elihu's discourses.  They rang true and they could not be argued.

Elihu explains that on earth God executes justice and instructs through government.

Job 36:6-7

He does not keep the wicked alive,

    but gives the afflicted their right.

He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,

    but with kings on the throne

    he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

Those that do not follow His instruction through them receive just punishment.

Job 36:12
But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword

    and die without knowledge.

Elihu continues to explain that Job had followed God's instruction and was put in a special spot.

Job 36:16 

He also allured you out of distress

    into a broad place where there was no cramping,

    and what was set on your table was full of fatness. 

But this calamity caused Job to become judgmental.  

Job 36:17-18

“But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;

    judgment and justice seize you.

Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,

    and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

It is an easy temptation to take pride in quality of our doctrine, the excellence of our pulpit, and the height of our church's spire.  But with Job that pride turned to judgement, when his efforts did not protect him from this calamity.  This was the sin of Job.

Then Elihu goes on to explain that God teaches through nature.

Job 36:22-23

Behold, God is exalted in his power;

    who is a teacher like him?

Who has prescribed for him his way,

    or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?

Through it God demonstrates his power and the weakness of all others.

Job 37:6-8

For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’

    likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.

He seals up the hand of every man,

    that all men whom he made may know it.

Then the beasts go into their lairs,

    and remain in their dens. 

 And the lesson in all this is:

Job 37:13

Whether for correction or for his land

    or for love, he causes it to happen.

Turning then to Job, Elihu challenges him to speak, because Elihu himself would not want to be put on the stand.

Job 37:19-20

Teach us what we shall say to him;

    we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.

Shall it be told him that I would speak?

    Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?

 The Judge is about to enter the courtroom.