Job misses the Good 'Ole Days

I loved the first four verses of Job's response to Bildad. It is not one of my more virtuous character traits, as it can be used as a potent verbal weapon, but I do enjoy sarcasm! I love it when the Bible characters who often seem remote and super-human, are portrayed just as we are! After Job's outburst, he goes on to extol the awesome power of God. In this section, Job mentions a sea monster. I got out my red pen at that point, but will not address the topic until later on in the book, as he will bring this creature up again, in addition to Leviathan and Behemoth. So, we'll tackle those all at once.

Job goes on to discuss the fleeting prosperity of the wicked, recognizing that while they appear to be untouched by hardship, their situation is hopeless. "Can they take delight in the Almighty? Can they call to God anytime?" Or "What hope do the godless have when God cuts them off and takes away their life?" In this life and in the next, they miss out on a relationship with God, which Job knew to be invaluable. And even their prosperity is a facade. "The wicked go to bed rich and wake to find that all their wealth is gone". The trappings of this world cannot be counted on to satisfy or to endure.

Finally Job gets to what is on his mind. He wants his old life back. These verses comprise a catalog of all the things Job feels have been taken away from him. Clearly, he is lonely and hopeless. When we get nostalgic, we tend to glamorize the past, but we have no reason to doubt Job's rendering of his life. And if all the things he says about himself are true, no wonder God was bragging about him to Satan.

Tomorrow's reading: Job 30-31