יהוה , YHWH and Love: Four-letter words
יהוה = Love
YHWH, Jehovah God is a four-letter word which comprehends the most important four-letterword in our life: Love.
Though יהוה , Jehovah, the Creator of all things may be a jealous God he is showing covenant faithfulness, loving kindness and mercy unto thousands of them that love Him, and keep His commandments and who do “not take the name of Mar-Yah your God in vain” (Torah).
“you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה {Jehovah} your Elohim am a jealous visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands. “You do not bring1 the Name of יהוה your Elohim to naught, for יהוה does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught. {Footnote: 1Or lift up, or take}. “” (Exodus 20:5-7 The Scriptures 1998+)
“Love” is the keynote of the Bible, notwithstanding the fact that it contains threatenings as well as promises, and declarations and manifestations of justice as well as of mercy. If God’s character were devoid of justice—if his love should override his justice—it would be a terrible calamity for all those dependent upon him. It would testify weakness of character instead of strength. It is the fact that God’s wisdom, justice, love, and power operate in full harmony—in co-ordination—that gives us admiration for him, confidence in him, love for him; and all these appreciations are intensified as we realize his unchangeableness.
Torah inside of the former Glockengasse Synagogue in Cologne (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Speech
The one who told to His creation that they should not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of their people; but had to love their neighbours as they loved themselves.
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am YY . ” (Leviticus 19:18 IAV)
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wrong. Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who lacks heart. The wise treasure up knowledge, But the mouth of a fool is near ruin. ” (Proverbs 10:11-14 The Scriptures 1998+)
“Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less lying lips for a noble. A bribe is a stone of favour in the eyes of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers. He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. Reproof enters deeper into a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. An evil one seeks only rebellion, So a cruel messenger is sent against him. Let a bereaved bear meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil does not leave his house. The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop fighting before it breaks out. He who declares the wrong right, And he who condemns the righteous, Both of them are an abomination to יהוה. Why is this – a price in the hand Of a fool to buy wisdom, When there is no heart? A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. A man lacking heart shakes hands in a pledge, He becomes a guarantor for his friend. He who loves transgression loves strife, He who exalts his door seeks destruction. He who has a crooked heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. He who brings forth a fool has sorrow for it, And the father of a fool has no joy. A rejoicing heart causes good healing, But a stricken spirit dries the bones. ” (Proverbs 17:7-22 The Scriptures 1998+)
Lose
We can begin to see God as mighty but distant and lose the precious truth that we live from within His eternal hug. We can be so busy with this world, we forget the real worthy things of the world and the universe. How many people are still able to enjoy the beauty of nature or to spend some time to look at the stars?
While many filled their dictionary with awful four-letter words, even when they are not of their mother tongue. In many languages we do hear people using the American English words which they saw introduced by television series and films. Out off these words does not only come the sound of aggressiveness, it is often used to dominate or to take on a superior attitude. Though it is not Dutch, nor French or German, many Belgians often use the words “cock”, “dick“, “damn,” ‘F…”, “foul”, “hell, ””prick”, “shit“, “tart”, “twat” and “wank” like they are married with those sounds and feel real at home. They often do not mind to use the title of the Most High putting in front of the “damn”, and forget that by doing so they use Gods name in vain.
Noob or Oldie
Those who believe in God they call “noob”, whatever it may mean. In the new English language we do find “Newbie“, “newb”, “n00b” or nOOb” as a slang term for a novice or newcomer, or somebody inexperienced in any profession or activity. But those who believe are mostly not so inexperienced as the youngsters may believe. Originally “noob” was indicating the non-experience of a person his Internet activity.
The term “newbie” which had a limited usage among U.S. troops in the Vietnam War as a slang term for a new man in a unit, did not always show the right respect for the new recruit or soldier. In the universe we can all be newbies, even for a long time, because every day there is something to learn anew. And for some it takes a long time to learn certain things. It does not show the love of the persons around the apprentice.
For the Supreme being, the Most High, everybody is just like a small microbe, even not yet an ant, because that animal is always busy and working hard for the whole community. In the world of humans the group idea is far gone and egoism brought in a stance which is not to be proud of.
Though God, out of love was willing to increase the numbers of people. Blessing the fruit of Israel‘s womb, the fruit of their land (the grain, new wine, and oil), the offspring of their herds, and the lambs of their flock, in the land that Jehovah the Lord of Lord of lords, the Elohim promised the ancestors He would give them. (Deuteronomy 7:13) But even there we do here such evil language been entered in the Hebrew and English spoken in Israel. Though God had warned them to be very careful to keep the commands and the Law that Moses the servant of the Only One God commanded them.
To cling to the Right One
“Only, diligently guard to do the command and the Torah which Mosheh the servant of יהוה {Jehovah} commanded you, to love יהוה your Elohim, and to walk in all His ways, and to guard His commands, and to cling to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your being.” (Joshua 22:5 The Scriptures 1998+)
“to love יהוה your Elohim, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him – for He is your life and the length of your days – to dwell in the land which יהוה swore to your fathers, to Abto Yitshand to Yato give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:20 The Scriptures 1998+)
By loving יהוה , Jehovah our God, we should keep to His commandments and should know He does not like bad language or vile talk. He even prefers that we would be silent if we have nothing serious to say. The least said the soonest mended. Speech is silver, silence is golden.
When a person is filled with goodness and has the right thoughts, his mouths shall also be able to utter the right words, and shall not need any bad words to bring forth his ideas.
“The good man brings forth what is good out of the good treasure of his heart, and the wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of the wicked treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks. ” (Luke 6:45 The Scriptures 1998+)
Spirit of the world
In the sermon of the Mount we can see the spirit of Jesus against the spirit of the other men, the apostles and the listeners, who could be compared to us, who are of the spirit of the world. Jesus warns on the mountain against the temptation to judge oneself better than others, even while meeting hatred with goodness, mercy and generosity of an extraordinary kind. The person using abusive language against somebody gives the impression that the speaker is more important and in the right to abase the other. Instead of humbling oneself before one’s Maker, the user of vile words tries to mortify the other. The disciple must strive to make others better by his example, even correcting them when necessary; but let him begin the work of improvement and correction with himself. Only the good can do good and get others interested to do good.
The inferior intellect is as the loftier mind from which it has taken its tone and sentiments. Every one whom God has furnished shall resemble his master. And we as Christians should let the world see who we want to have as master.
“The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of right-ruling. ” (Psalms 37:30 The Scriptures 1998+)
“I have delighted to do Your pleasure, O my Elohim, And Your Torah is within my heart1.” {Footnote: 1Ps. 37:31, Ps. 119:11, Isa. 51:7, Heb. 10:7-9}. I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness, In the great assembly; See, I do not restrain my lips, O יהוה, You know. I did not conceal Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your trustworthiness and Your deliverance; I did not hide Your kindness and Your truth From the great assembly.” (Psalms 40:8-10 The Scriptures 1998+)
The Right Word
Normally we should like be “eating” the Words of God, more to be desired than gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb, so that They can be unto us the joy and rejoicing of our heart, for we are called by the name of our Lord the God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:6, Psalm 19:10) We should refrain our mouth from every evil way, that we might keep to Gods Word.
Even when we may be afflicted, tested, and the wicked may have laid a snare for us, we should be careful not to err from Gods precepts. Gods commandments should and shall make us wiser than our enemies, for when the Law of God is known by and followed by us it shall be with us. (Psalm 119:98-110)
Those who love God and are willing to share this love with others shall be able to sing: “O Elohim, deliver me! Hasten to my help, O יהוה! Let those who seek my life Be ashamed and abashed, Let those who are desiring my evil Be turned back and humiliated. Let those who say, “Aha, aha!” Be turned back because of their shame. Let all those who seek You Rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your deliverance always say, “Let Elohim be made great!” (Psalms 70:1-4 The Scriptures 1998+)
The Elohim Hashem Jehovah, the Only One God shall be with those who want to use their words in the lineage of the Commandments, even when people repay them evil for good, and hatred for their love. But they shall be able to see the other four-letter word “Hope” coming into fulfilment by their better four-letter word than the mockers, the scoffs who do not have any “Faith“.
Rich
Those who laugh may perhaps be more “Rich” in worldly goods, but the believer shall be “Rich” in more valuable goods. The poor one may be ridiculed at, but shall not have to worry, because he shall have a better hope founded in a “Truth” which has deeper grounds.
The one who believes in God and believes in His son, shall keep to the lessons of the son and the Father. He shall prefer to hold on better four-letter words knowing what is “Best”, striving to get to the Right “Amen”. By staying “Calm”, “Glad”, full of “Glow”, being “Glad” doing “Good”, with his “Hope” not afraid to give a ” Kiss” and “Hugs” as a “Free” “Gift”, to offer “Help” and wishing “Luck”. Never being “Rude” but being “Nice” and “Kind” , “Pure”, to “Live” a “Life” full of grace, honour and sweetness, filled with an disarming smile, so that it were also nice five-letter-words that could come on the lips. This all so that both shal be able to become “Holy”. Instigating that they shall go to “Pray” and “Work” so that everything shall be able to “Heal” so that we all may become set-apart making an and to the four-letter word actions of “hate”, to find “True” “Luck” and peace (again a five letter word where we should “aim” for.)
When we speak of love we do not speak of the three letter word many people think off today when they use that four-letter word. The higher notation is for many been mislaid and often not be found. Though all of us should be in search of the “True” “Love”, true generosity, the very reverse of jealousy and envy, which spring from a perverted nature.
Lose
Love by itself can become seen as sloppy sentimentality as we lose sight of the fact that God is our friend but not our mate. Together they show the “awe” filled grandeur and power of the One who loves, as well as the tender Father heart of the Creator and King.
Love rejoices with them that rejoice, in prosperity of every good word and work, and in the advancement in Christian grace and in the divine service of all who are actuated by the divine Spirit.
Live
To “live” the “full” “life” we “need” to experience the fullness of God. His hug is “warm” and His arms are strong.
Sometimes people can get tempted to use bad four-letter words because they feel attacked and can’t get up against the attacker. So often, when we get to fighting, the most important thing of all gets lost. We are confronted in differences of race, culture, and heritage which seem so important to us, but we overlook the similarity and often forget that we came from the same Source. All living on the same globe created by the same Maker, we should be “glad” that we are allowed to “live” here. We should also recognise that everyone has something to ad to the community and can be also being part of one of the Limbs of the Body Christ. What really is most important is faith expressing itself through love. In our high tech world today, isn’t it interesting that the most important issue is the same as it was two thousand years ago — faith expressing itself through love?
“For in Messiah יהושע {Jeshua} neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but belief working through love. ” (Galatians 5:6 The Scriptures 1998+)
Free
When we are willing to be chained by Gods Love, we shall be able to find freedom, being “free” in Christ, who requires that the floating strength in your life must be love.
All other things, although they are important, come on the second place.
Love is the sign of truth discipleship.
Though God is a jealous God and He demands all our love and attention, this does not mean we do not have to love our neighbours. Our love for God should be different from our love for another person, but not less. If we truly love God, we will show our love for Him in practical expressions of love for others. True divine love does not exclude human love; rather, it enhances it.
Kind
The Four-letter word “Love” is the seed other other four”letter word, which we should try to become: “Kind”
This English word “kind” is one of those pale, sentimental words that just does no justice to the original. We should say, instead, that love is considerate showing an active, involved concern for the needs of others, even to the detriment of one’s own comfort. We probably all think of ourselves as being “kind”, for we certainly are never “unkind”! Are we?
“And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, but one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it?” (James 2:15-16 The Scriptures 1998+)
There are times when a “kind word” is no more than hypocrisy, because it masks a failure to help in any practical way. Have we ever been guilty of such an act, in a benign, “friendly” indifference to the circumstances of others? Then we may have been courteous and civil and pleasant, but we have not been “kind” in the Scriptural sense, and we have not been loving.
Fear
We should not be afraid not using the ‘new’ or ‘popular’ words like the much used four-letter words. We do not have to shrink in front of others who use them to impress us. No fear in love we should know better. We can show others that we can live in harmony, using fine and soft words, not having to be aggressive or insulting. If we love God we know how we should live in harmony. Where love has entered, there is no law necessary to focus. We should be afraid for the right things or for the only One.
“And now, let the fear of יהוה be upon you. Guard and do it, for there is no unrighteousness with יהוה our Elohim, nor partiality, nor taking of bribes.” (2 Chronicles 19:7 The Scriptures 1998+)
Bridge
All that God has given us riches, talents, intelligence, health diminishes with the passing of time. Man grows old and dies. Only love remains, as a bridge between this life and the life to come, a bridge over the chasm of eternal nothingness. Every other gift or talent will fail, just as the Holy Spirit gifts finally ceased. The only thing that endures is the character of man, engraven in the infinite mind of God.
“Beloved ones, let us love one another, because love is of Elohim, and everyone who loves has been born of Elohim, and knows Elohim. The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love. By this the love of Elohim was manifested in us, that Elohim has sent His only brought-forth Son into the world, in order that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved Elohim, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning offering for our sins. Beloved ones, if Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen Elohim at any time. If we love one another, Elohim does stay in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we stay in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son, Saviour of the world. Whoever confesses that יהושע {Jeshua} is the Son of Elohim, Elohim stays in him, and he in Elohim. And we have known and believed the love that Elohim has for us. Elohim is love, and he who stays in love stays in Elohim, and Elohim in him. By this love has been perfected with us, in order that we might have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear holds punishment, and he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love Elohim,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one not loving his brother whom he has seen, how is he able to love Elohim whom he has not seen? And we have this command from Him, that the one loving Elohim should love his brother too. ” (1 John 4:7-21 The Scriptures 1998+)
Be Walking in love by faith, not by sight, always using the right words, so that The Spirit of God imparts love,inspires hope, and gives liberty.
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Previously: More-Letter-Words
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Read also:
About Four-Letter words:
- Vile language and behaviour plus little secrets
- The Y generation in conflict with itself
- Alternative four letter words
- I wanted to follow you but, uh, no.
About Love:
- Relying on the Love of God
- God demonstrates his own love
- If his love should override his justice
- The Law of Christ: Law of Love
- Do not foget the important sign of belief
- The first on the list of the concerns of the saint or Love One Another
- This is true love
- He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
- We love because he first loved us
- No person has greater love than this one who surrendered his soul in behalf of his friends
- Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends
- The redemption of man by Christ Jesus
- Lying in the senses in matters of love
- Love is like playing the piano
- Love envieth not
- To be chained by love for another one
- Love turns one person into two; and two into one
- If we love one another, God lives in us
- Experiencing God
- Christ’s ethical teaching
- Making time for payer in Summerholiday
- No good thing will he withhold
- Love been perfected with us
- A man who cannot forgive others
- No fear in love
- When we love we do not need laws
- Spread love everywhere you go
- Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness
- Walking in love by faith, not by sight
- The Greatest of These is Love 1 Corinthians 13
- A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus
- Love and cultivate that which is pure
- God let my compassionate affection be tolerant and kind
- The Spirit of God brings love, hope and freedom
- The Spirit of God imparts love,inspires hope, and gives liberty
- Love will cure more sins than condemnation
- Unarmed truth and unconditional love
- If his love should override his justice
- The one who has not had a taste of love
- Unconditional love
- Enduring Love
- Papal Encyclical explores Divine, Human Love
- Got an Empty Love-Tank
- What is Love
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Additional reading:
- Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
- Attitude to others important for reaching them
- I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! . –Psalm 119:127
- Abhor evil. Adhere to goodness
- Outworking of the faith
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Wisdom in Hebrew alphabet pg 47
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Fragments from the Book of Job #4: chapters 27-31
In the previous chapters the rampant evil in the world was described by Job (Job 24:2-24) and we have heard the speeches of Job’s friends who got to accuse him of gaining his now lost wealth by robbing the poor, withholding sustenance from the hungry and even abusing the weaker ones like widows and orphans. (Eliphaz, the most sympathetic and likely the oldest who appeals to experience for authority, in Job 22:6-9). Eliphaz urged Job to submit to obvious discipline from God, who would bless him if he would repent (Job 5:8-27). For the less sensitive Bildad it was clear that Job and his children were suffering because of his sin (Job 8:1-7). As Bildad argued from tradition, the third friend, Zophar rested on orthodox dogma and argued also that there must have been something in Job’s live that had caused all those problems.
Since neither Job nor his wife knew what had transpired between God and His adversaries, they did not know that those adversaries predicted that Job would curse God (Job 1:11; 2:5). Job at certain moments thought that there was a problem with him and God. His wife even concluded that her husband and she were suffering because God was unfair and that the presupposition that God always blesses the righteous and afflicts the wicked has proven faulty. Job called her views foolishness and did not want to curse God (Job 2:9-10) but after some time also wrongly accused God of mauling him as would a beast (Job 16:9) turning him over to wicked or perverse men, evil people (Job 16:11) using him as would an archer for target practice (Job 16:12-13) and attacking him as would a warrior or like a soldier gone mad with hate (Job 16:14). Job was sad he did not receive an answer from God who had seemed to have wronged him (Job 19:6) because he had kept to God’s Law (contrary to Eliphaz’s charge Job 22:22). He also complained that God did not pay attention and does not have fixed times for the punishment of evildoers, so that people could see that the Almighty Elohim punishes evildoers (Job 24:1,12). But he recognises the sovereignty of Jehovah over the various aspects of the universe. (Job 26:5-13) Gods knowledge goes beyond what we can see and hear (Job 26:14).
Many blame God, but for an other reason than Job did (Job 24:1) for the troubles on this earth, and has Job friends they do not seem to see the underlying factors of men’s free will. Also Job gets the feeling that his sufferings are in the Will of God, though the thought troubles him. (Job 23:14-16) He has also difficulties with ancient teachings or traditions, which or not our best sources of knowledge, according to Job. (Job 9:1-10:22) Those who brought us some sources to think about are just as mortal as we are and we always should remember that they grasped perhaps only a part of reality.Who can discover the depth of God? (Job 11:7) Job recognises that he is not inferior to others who have more luck, and that with the others their wisdom shall die as well. (Job 12:2-3, 12-22, 2425; 13:2,4, 8-11; 14:10; 15:9-11, 18-22,31-32)
For Job as for us it seems that at certain moments of trouble, wherever we go we do not seem to find God and therefore could not present our case before the Almighty. (Job 23:8-9) In Fragments from the Book of Job #2: chapters 12-20 a light is already shed on the fact that God knows the way we take. (Job 23:10) We would love to see the evil of the evil-doer come to an end, and find an end to our misery. Sometimes we may think God does not care for us and does not watches us. But God keeps an eye on the world and follows it. In the Old Testament we do find enough examples how He at certain moments came in action and reacted to situation of which He did not agree with. We can also notice how He also gave strength to the upright. At any time men’s minds and hearts are tested by the God of righteousness. Jehovah puts the upright and the sinner to the test, but He has hate in his soul for the lover of violent acts. (Psalms 7:9; 11:5) “For you, O God, have proven us: you have tried us, as silver is tried.” (Psalms 66:10 KJBPNV) Remember: “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.” (Zechariah 13:8-9 ASV)
Job’s innocence cries for vindication and asks God not to hide the wrongs done to him. (Job 16:18-21) Like Job we can long for a divine helper (cf 1 John 2:1-2) today we have an advocate with the Father. This comforter is Gods son given to us to help see our ways. this is a better friend than those of Job and a real upright helper. He can plead our case by his Father. In chapter 19 of the Book Job, Fragments from the Book of Job #2: chapters 12-20, we could notice that Job believed in a living god who would vindicate his case even after his death. In the future on the earth. The dust, sand or earth mentioned is referring to the dust of the earth or to the dust of Job’s grave. (Job 19:25-27)
“For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27 KJBPNV) We may look forward to Jesus who shall return to the earth and shall look onto what people have done to each other and how they kept to the commandments of God. He shall judge the people before he hands over the Kingdomto his Father.
The 10 commandments of God - A popular image of the Tablets as rounded-off
Though Job looks at Jehovah or Yahweh Yahweh as the redeemer (Heb “goel”) of His people, the Almighty is that one who took care that somebody could speak in the name of men. He first did that with his people in Egypt. “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments:” (Exodus 6:6 ASV)
There is much speculation as to whether Job believed in the resurrection. However we note that Jesus, quoting Job’s words (Matthew 5:8) says that the meek will see God and clearly Jesus is speaking of the blessedness of those who are to be raised from the dead. (Read also: Zechariah 14:1-4,9,16; Isaiah 9:6-7;2:2-4; Matthew 24:3,36,37,44).
Looking for a kinsman-redeemer, ransom, avenge, vindicator, a “daysman” or a mediator Job looked like so many of us a means to obtain justice. That is the theme in these verses of Job 19:25-27, not resurrection, as we gather when we first read them. True justice would demand his bodily presence. Resurrection is thus implied rather than expressed. Job felt that at the resurrection he would be justified. The word flesh Hebrew basar (1320) means flesh, body, person, body, self, etc. while Job 31:14 suggests being called to account at an implied judgement .
“Behold, a day of Jehovah cometh, when thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” (Zechariah 14:1-4 ASV)
“And Jehovah shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall Jehovah be one, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9 ASV)
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:16 ASV)
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting {1} contempt. {1) Or abhorrence}” (Daniel 12:2 ASV)
“Thy dead shall live; my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of {1} herbs, and the earth shall cast forth {2} the dead. {1) Or light 2) Or the shades; Heb Rephaim}” (Isaiah 26:19 ASV)
“For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:21 ASV)
Job sees death as certain “worms destroy this body” (Job 16:22;17:1,14,15,16), “yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 14:13-15 - resurrection Gen 13:15) indicates flesh is regenerated; Job’s redeemer is Jehovah (Isaiah 43:14-15;49:7;54:5) Some people take it from there that Jehovah would be the same person as that redeemer Jesus, but Job spoke about the Spirit who was alive in his time. Thus Job was correct when he said his redeemer “liveth” because has always been alive and people forget that Jehovah has redeemed through his servant, the Lord Jesus Christ (Isaiah 49:6-7; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 7:25; 2 Timothy 1:10). Unfortunately, Job does not expound upon this ‘matter of the future’, and so we are left with an incomplete understanding of what he meant. However, Job is accounted righteous, and an example to follow (Ezekiel 14:14,26; James 5:11) and from that we can imagine that he is going to be one of the persons who shall also be in the coming Kingdom of God.
The sarcastic part of Job comes forward now. In Job 27: 7-23 we get Job’s summary of the erroneous arguments of his 3 friends — who urged his guilt. Job talks here as though his three ‘friends’ are trying to persuade him to fall from grace and to fulfil their words as if they were some sort of prophecy against him. Should we not recognise that it in fact not always the wicked ultimately prosper, though they may for a time. Whatever happens and how long it takes we can be sure that they will be condemned (Job 27:8). They shall not have to count on the help of God (Job 237:9-10). We nor they can be assured of passing on their prosperity to their children (Job 27:14-18). Who knows, destruction can come suddenly over the evil man (Job 27:19).
Brenton Translation
1851 by Lancelot Brenton
Job Chapter 27
Job 27:1 And Job further continued and said in his parable,
Job 27:2 [As] God lives, who has thus judge me; and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul;
Job 27:3 verily, while my breath is yet in [me], and the breath of God which remains to me is in my nostrils,
Job 27:4 my lips shall not speak evil words, neither shall my soul meditate unrighteous thoughts.
Job 27:5 Far be it from me that I should justify you till I die; for I will not let go my innocence,
Job 27:6 but keeping fast to [my] righteousness I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done any thing amiss.
Job 27:7 Nay rather, but let mine enemies be as the overthrow of the ungodly, and they that rise up against me, as the destruction of transgressors.
Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the ungodly, that he holds to it? will he indeed trust in the Lord [and] be saved?
Job 27:9 Will God hear his prayer? or, when distress has come upon him,
Job 27:10 has he any confidence before him? or will [God] hear him as he calls upon him?
Job 27:11 Yet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty.
Job 27:12 Behold, ye all know that ye are adding vanity to vanity.
Job 27:13 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty.
Job 27:14 And if their children be many, they shall be for slaughter: and if they grow up, they shall beg.
Job 27:15 And they that survive of him shall utterly perish, and no one shall pity their widows.
Job 27:16 Even if he should gather silver as earth, and prepare gold as clay;
Job 27:17 All these things shall the righteous gain, and the truehearted shall possess his wealth.
Job 27:18 And his house is gone like moths, and like a spider’s web.
Job 27:19 The rich man shall lie down, and shall not continue: he has opened his eyes, and he is not.
Job 27:20 Pains have come upon him as water, and darkness has carried him away by night.
Job 27:21 And a burning wind shall catch him, and he shall depart, and it shall utterly drive him out of his place.
Job 27:22 And [God] shall cast [trouble] upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
Job 27:23 He shall cause [men] to clap their hands against them, and shall hiss him out of his place.
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Job 28:1 For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.
Job 28:2 For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.
Job 28:3 He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone [is] darkness, and the shadow of death.
Job 28:4 There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from [among] men.
Job 28:5 [As for] the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire.
Job 28:6 Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and [her] dust [supplies] man with gold.
Job 28:7 [There is] a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it:
Job 28:8 neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it.
Job 28:9 He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp [rock], and turned up mountains by the roots:
Job 28:10 and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.
Job 28:11 And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.
Job 28:12 But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?
Job 28:13 A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men.
Job 28:14 The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.
Job 28:15 One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
Job 28:16 Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.
Job 28:17 Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange.
Job 28:18 Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do thou esteem wisdom above the most precious things.
Job 28:19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.
Job 28:20 Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding?
Job 28:21 It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.
Job 28:22 Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.
Job 28:23 God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.
Job 28:24 For he surveys the whole [earth] under heaven, knowing the things in the earth:
Job 28:25 all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water.
Job 28:26 When he made [them], thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.
Job 28:27 Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it [and] traced it out.
Job 28:28 And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.
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Job 29:1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
Job 29:3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
Job 29:4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
Job 29:5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
Job 29:6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
Job 29:7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
Job 29:8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
Job 29:9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
Job 29:10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
Job 29:11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
Job 29:12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
Job 29:13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Job 29:14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
Job 29:15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
Job 29:16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
Job 29:17 And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
Job 29:18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.
Job 29:19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
Job 29:20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
Job 29:21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
Job 29:22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
Job 29:23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
Job 29:24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
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Job 30:1 But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
Job 30:2 Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.
Job 30:3 [One is] childless in want and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
Job 30:4 Who compass the salt places on the sounding [shore], who had salt [herbs] for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
Job 30:5 Thieves have risen up against me,
Job 30:6 whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.
Job 30:7 They will cry out among the rustling [bushes].
Job 30:8 [They are] sons of fools and vile men, [whose] name and glory [are] quenched from off the earth.
Job 30:9 But now I am their music, and they have me for a by-word.
Job 30:10 And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.
Job 30:11 For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
Job 30:12 They have risen up against [me] on the right hand of [their] offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
Job 30:13 My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.
Job 30:14 And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
Job 30:15 My pains return upon [me]; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
Job 30:16 Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.
Job 30:17 And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.
Job 30:18 With great force [my disease] has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
Job 30:19 And thou hast counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
Job 30:20 And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: but they stood still, and observed me.
Job 30:21 They attacked me also without mercy: thou hast scourged me with a strong hand.
Job 30:22 And thou hast put me to grief, and hast cast me away from safety.
Job 30:23 For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house [appointed] for every mortal.
Job 30:24 Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
Job 30:25 Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
Job 30:26 But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
Job 30:27 My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.
Job 30:28 I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
Job 30:29 I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.
Job 30:30 And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.
Job 30:31 My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.
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Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin.
Job 31:2 Now what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance [given] of the Mighty One from the highest?
Job 31:3 Alas! destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity.
Job 31:4 Will he not see my way, and number all my steps?
Job 31:5 But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit:
Job 31:6 (for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence:
Job 31:7 if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if mine heart has followed mine eye, and if too I have touched gifts with my hands;
Job 31:8 then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth.
Job 31:9 If my heart has gone forth after another man’s wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;
Job 31:10 then let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low.
Job 31:11 For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, [in the case] of defiling [another] man’s wife.
Job 31:12 For it is a fire burning on every side, and whomsoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.
Job 31:13 And if too I despised the judgment of my servant or [my] handmaid, when they pleaded with me;
Job 31:14 what then shall I do if the Lord should try me? and if also he should at all visit me, can I make an answer?
Job 31:15 Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yea, we were formed in the same womb.
Job 31:16 But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.
Job 31:17 And if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart [of it] to the orphan;
Job 31:18 (for I nourished [them] as a father from my youth and guided [them] from my mother’s womb.)
Job 31:19 And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;
Job 31:20 and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were [not] warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
Job 31:21 if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:
Job 31:22 let them my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.
Job 31:23 For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of his burden.
Job 31:24 If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;
Job 31:25 and if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]:
Job 31:26 (do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not [power to continue]:)
Job 31:27 and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:
Job 31:28 let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I [should] have lied against the Lord Most High.
Job 31:29 And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha!
Job 31:30 let then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword among my people in my affliction.
Job 31:31 And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:
Job 31:32 for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came:
Job 31:33 or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;
Job 31:34 (for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them: ) and if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom:
Job 31:35 (Oh that I had a hearer,) and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and [as to] the written charge which I had against any one,
Job 31:36 I would place [it] as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
Job 31:37 And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:
Job 31:38 If at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together;
Job 31:39 and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking [aught] from [him]:
Job 31:40 then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.
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Continues: Fragments from the Book of Job #5: chapters 32-37
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