WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.880 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.980 --> 00:00:04.340 Day three hundred and seventeen. 00:00:04.554 --> 00:00:05.634 Immersed in Job. 00:00:07.704 --> 00:00:11.544 The story of Job begins by telling us he was blameless, 00:00:12.084 --> 00:00:13.944 a man of complete integrity. 00:00:14.934 --> 00:00:17.574 He feared God and stayed away from evil. 00:00:18.894 --> 00:00:22.854 Job is exactly the kind of person, the Book of Proverbs and visions when it 00:00:22.854 --> 00:00:24.834 calls for its readers to embrace wisdom. 00:00:26.214 --> 00:00:30.204 According to Israel's wisdom tradition, such characters should lead to 00:00:30.204 --> 00:00:32.184 success and prosperity in life. 00:00:32.934 --> 00:00:37.974 And when we first meet Job, he is indeed prosperous and wealthy, surrounded by a 00:00:37.974 --> 00:00:40.794 large family and respected for his wisdom. 00:00:41.904 --> 00:00:46.134 But a sudden series of catastrophes takes everything away, and he's left 00:00:46.134 --> 00:00:51.444 in poverty, disfigured by disease, and disgraced in the eyes of the community. 00:00:52.554 --> 00:00:55.584 The book then presents an extended dialogue between Job 00:00:55.944 --> 00:00:59.184 and three of his friends who come to comfort and console him. 00:01:00.264 --> 00:01:04.164 But as it turns out, they have come mostly to confront him with his 00:01:04.164 --> 00:01:08.784 guilt, which they believe caused his troubles in their unbending. 00:01:08.784 --> 00:01:13.464 Moral universe, goodness is always rewarded, and wrongdoing 00:01:13.614 --> 00:01:15.114 is invariably punished. 00:01:15.864 --> 00:01:20.619 So if Job has gone from prosperity to suffering, There must certainly be some 00:01:20.619 --> 00:01:26.979 great sin or failure in his life for his part job, relentlessly protests 00:01:27.039 --> 00:01:31.239 that he's innocent, that the Almighty has apparently made some mistake in 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:36.159 allowing these tragedies into job's life in the strength of his moral certainty. 00:01:36.639 --> 00:01:40.749 Job demands to meet with God and present his case directly. 00:01:42.009 --> 00:01:45.189 The reader learns at the start of a book that there's more to the story 00:01:45.194 --> 00:01:47.139 than any of the players on earth know. 00:01:47.904 --> 00:01:51.954 But the drama of Job's, arguments with his friends and his extended complaint 00:01:51.954 --> 00:01:56.304 to God has to play itself out since the secret remains unknown to them. 00:01:57.534 --> 00:02:02.364 The Book of Job is a daring exploration of the deepest questions regarding our 00:02:02.369 --> 00:02:05.064 faith in God and his role in the world. 00:02:05.964 --> 00:02:09.624 According to the Bible, wisdom is the ability to understand 00:02:09.624 --> 00:02:11.634 the order God gave to the world. 00:02:12.384 --> 00:02:15.564 But what happens when that ability is stretched to its limits? 00:02:16.329 --> 00:02:19.209 What are we to do when our explanations fail? 00:02:19.929 --> 00:02:23.139 What if the order in the world itself seems to be fractured? 00:02:24.489 --> 00:02:28.899 The Book of Job is made up of a series of long poetic dialogues that are 00:02:28.899 --> 00:02:31.419 bookended by brief explanatory narratives. 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:35.559 The poetic dialogues are marked by powerful imagery 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:37.899 and elegant serious tones. 00:02:38.799 --> 00:02:42.309 There are three rounds of these speeches between Job and his three friends. 00:02:42.909 --> 00:02:46.329 And all are contained within Job's overall protest, which 00:02:46.329 --> 00:02:48.009 is really directed toward God. 00:02:49.059 --> 00:02:53.199 The discussion is not merely theoretical or abstract, but rather 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:57.069 is set in an ongoing drama with job's, unexplained catastrophes 00:02:57.459 --> 00:03:00.189 squarely at the center as readers. 00:03:00.194 --> 00:03:04.239 We will see this drama worked out as the conflict continues throughout the 00:03:04.239 --> 00:03:09.309 course of the book, but Job wearies of listening to others, speaking for God. 00:03:09.849 --> 00:03:12.129 He wants to confront God in person. 00:03:13.254 --> 00:03:14.064 Then it happens. 00:03:14.754 --> 00:03:16.824 There is no more talking about God. 00:03:17.244 --> 00:03:18.654 A theophany occurs. 00:03:19.044 --> 00:03:20.424 God appears. 00:03:21.114 --> 00:03:23.034 Now the questioning is reversed. 00:03:23.634 --> 00:03:28.854 In a series of magnificent poems, God declares his creative power and 00:03:28.854 --> 00:03:31.014 mastery over the entire creation. 00:03:31.794 --> 00:03:34.434 God questions, job on things he knows nothing about. 00:03:34.854 --> 00:03:39.444 And job's, protests now appear to be small and uninformed the 00:03:39.444 --> 00:03:41.874 question, am I being treated justly? 00:03:42.444 --> 00:03:46.644 Takes on new meaning in relation to the larger context of God's intimate 00:03:46.644 --> 00:03:48.804 knowledge and oversight of all things. 00:03:49.644 --> 00:03:54.324 The Book of Job teaches us that any good understanding of the mystery of our lives 00:03:54.714 --> 00:03:59.964 begins with the knowledge that God alone is the creator and sustainer of the world. 00:04:01.164 --> 00:04:03.564 We learn much at the end of Job's drama. 00:04:04.284 --> 00:04:08.604 Those who claim to speak for God confidently attributing guilt to those who 00:04:08.609 --> 00:04:11.454 suffer, are shown to be gravely mistaken. 00:04:12.444 --> 00:04:17.664 God is always free unbound by any human formulation about what he 00:04:17.664 --> 00:04:19.854 must do in a particular situation. 00:04:20.784 --> 00:04:26.784 He is above and beyond us doing things We know nothing about Job's. 00:04:26.784 --> 00:04:31.044 Suffering has not been because of his sin and his honest protests 00:04:31.044 --> 00:04:34.614 about his innocence are shown to have been legitimate and 00:04:34.614 --> 00:04:36.354 even in his complaints to God. 00:04:36.834 --> 00:04:38.874 Job has been rooted in faith. 00:04:39.849 --> 00:04:43.269 He never lost his trust, that only God could intervene to 00:04:43.269 --> 00:04:45.429 justify him and make things right. 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:51.249 This profound wisdom drama concludes with God freely changing 00:04:51.249 --> 00:04:53.319 job's, circumstances once again. 00:04:54.219 --> 00:04:55.599 But the lesson has been learned. 00:04:55.959 --> 00:05:01.179 We are to find no easy comfort or blame in our formulas about God. 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:04.689 The creator alone sees all things. 00:05:05.619 --> 00:05:07.359 Our lives are to be lived in faith. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:12.369 Trusting the God who is good to set all things right in the end. 00:05:19.629 --> 00:05:20.769 The Book of Job 00:05:22.809 --> 00:05:26.649 there once was a man named Job who lived in the land of us. 00:05:27.429 --> 00:05:30.699 He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. 00:05:31.449 --> 00:05:34.119 He feared God and stayed away from evil. 00:05:34.899 --> 00:05:37.509 He had seven sons and three daughters. 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:46.149 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 teams of oxen and 500 female donkeys. 00:05:46.809 --> 00:05:48.459 He also had many servants. 00:05:49.029 --> 00:05:53.049 He was in fact the richest person in that entire area. 00:05:54.609 --> 00:05:58.689 Job's sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they 00:05:58.689 --> 00:06:01.449 would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 00:06:02.274 --> 00:06:05.874 When these celebrations ended, sometimes after several days 00:06:06.294 --> 00:06:08.334 job would purify his children. 00:06:08.934 --> 00:06:12.204 He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering 00:06:12.204 --> 00:06:14.304 for each of them, for job. 00:06:14.304 --> 00:06:17.934 Said to himself, perhaps my children have sinned and have 00:06:17.934 --> 00:06:19.404 cursed God in their hearts. 00:06:20.094 --> 00:06:22.164 This was Job's regular practice. 00:06:23.944 --> 00:06:28.224 One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord 00:06:28.704 --> 00:06:31.344 and the accuser, Satan came with them. 00:06:32.754 --> 00:06:33.894 Where have you come from? 00:06:34.284 --> 00:06:35.514 The Lord asked Satan. 00:06:36.024 --> 00:06:37.404 Satan answered the Lord. 00:06:37.944 --> 00:06:41.484 I have been patrolling the earth watching everything that's going on. 00:06:42.594 --> 00:06:46.584 Then the Lord asked Satan, have you noticed my servant job? 00:06:47.124 --> 00:06:49.494 He is the finest man in all the earth. 00:06:49.974 --> 00:06:53.004 He is blameless a man of complete integrity. 00:06:53.514 --> 00:06:56.274 He fears God and stays away from evil. 00:06:57.384 --> 00:06:58.854 Satan replied to the Lord. 00:06:59.454 --> 00:07:02.724 Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 00:07:03.444 --> 00:07:08.454 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. 00:07:09.054 --> 00:07:11.724 You have made him prosper in everything he does. 00:07:12.114 --> 00:07:17.664 Look how rich he is, but reach out and take away everything he has and 00:07:17.664 --> 00:07:20.154 he will surely curse you to your face. 00:07:21.444 --> 00:07:22.044 All right. 00:07:22.524 --> 00:07:23.484 You may test him. 00:07:23.964 --> 00:07:28.644 The Lord said to Satan, do whatever you want with everything he possesses. 00:07:29.169 --> 00:07:31.149 But don't harm him physically. 00:07:32.229 --> 00:07:34.269 So Satan left the Lord's presence. 00:07:35.859 --> 00:07:39.489 One day when Job's, sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother's 00:07:39.489 --> 00:07:42.399 house, A messenger arrived at job's home. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:47.739 With this news y oxen were plowing with the donkeys feeding beside them. 00:07:48.069 --> 00:07:53.439 When the Sabeans raided us, they stole all the animals and killed all the farm hands. 00:07:54.099 --> 00:07:56.349 I am the only one who escaped to tell you. 00:07:57.429 --> 00:08:01.419 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news. 00:08:02.049 --> 00:08:05.499 The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your 00:08:05.499 --> 00:08:07.149 sheep and all the shepherds. 00:08:07.569 --> 00:08:12.999 I am the only one who escaped to tell you while he was still speaking a 00:08:12.999 --> 00:08:14.939 third messenger arrived with this news. 00:08:16.359 --> 00:08:20.679 Three bands of Aldean Raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. 00:08:21.129 --> 00:08:23.379 I am the only one who escaped to tell you. 00:08:24.504 --> 00:08:28.884 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news. 00:08:29.694 --> 00:08:32.874 Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother's home. 00:08:33.504 --> 00:08:38.124 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. 00:08:38.844 --> 00:08:41.944 The house collapsed and all your children are dead. 00:08:43.254 --> 00:08:49.944 I am the only one who escaped to tell you job stood up and tore his robe in grief. 00:08:50.934 --> 00:08:53.964 Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 00:08:54.534 --> 00:09:00.264 He said, I came naked from my mother's womb and I will be naked when I leave. 00:09:01.224 --> 00:09:05.034 The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away. 00:09:05.964 --> 00:09:07.554 Praise the name of the Lord. 00:09:09.054 --> 00:09:13.074 In all of this, job did not sin by blaming God. 00:09:14.874 --> 00:09:18.204 One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present 00:09:18.204 --> 00:09:19.524 themselves before the Lord. 00:09:19.974 --> 00:09:22.584 And the accuser, Satan came with them. 00:09:23.634 --> 00:09:24.744 Where have you come from? 00:09:25.374 --> 00:09:26.544 The Lord asked Satan. 00:09:27.294 --> 00:09:28.524 Satan answered the Lord. 00:09:29.064 --> 00:09:32.634 I have been patrolling the earth watching everything that's going on. 00:09:33.774 --> 00:09:37.554 Then the Lord asked Satan, have you noticed my servant job? 00:09:38.064 --> 00:09:40.584 He is the finest man in all the earth. 00:09:41.124 --> 00:09:44.094 He is blameless a man of complete integrity. 00:09:44.634 --> 00:09:47.334 He fears God and stays away from evil. 00:09:47.934 --> 00:09:51.534 And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged 00:09:51.534 --> 00:09:53.424 me to harm him without cause. 00:09:54.384 --> 00:09:57.654 Satan replied to the Lord, skin for Skin. 00:09:58.314 --> 00:10:02.634 A man will give up everything he has to save his life, but reach out 00:10:02.634 --> 00:10:06.414 and take away his health and he will sure surely curse you to your face. 00:10:07.884 --> 00:10:08.514 All right. 00:10:09.204 --> 00:10:10.524 Do with him as you please. 00:10:10.974 --> 00:10:14.034 The Lord said to Satan, but spare his life. 00:10:15.144 --> 00:10:18.834 So Satan left the Lord's presence and he struck job with 00:10:18.834 --> 00:10:20.784 terrible boils from head to foot. 00:10:21.954 --> 00:10:24.714 Job, scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery. 00:10:24.719 --> 00:10:29.154 As he sat among the ashes, his wife said to him, are you still 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.044 trying to maintain your integrity? 00:10:31.554 --> 00:10:37.674 Curse God and die, but Job replied, you talk like a foolish woman. 00:10:38.274 --> 00:10:42.054 Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad. 00:10:43.284 --> 00:10:46.194 So in all this job said nothing wrong. 00:10:48.144 --> 00:10:52.164 When three of job's friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they 00:10:52.164 --> 00:10:56.094 got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. 00:10:56.814 --> 00:10:58.074 Their names were Alfa. 00:10:58.074 --> 00:11:01.554 The Timon night Bill, dad, the shoe height, and Zohar. 00:11:01.674 --> 00:11:02.244 The Neite. 00:11:03.624 --> 00:11:07.464 When they saw job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. 00:11:08.214 --> 00:11:09.264 Wailing loudly. 00:11:09.564 --> 00:11:12.624 They tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their 00:11:12.624 --> 00:11:14.124 heads to show their grief. 00:11:14.934 --> 00:11:17.934 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. 00:11:18.684 --> 00:11:20.814 No one said a word to job for. 00:11:20.814 --> 00:11:28.224 They saw that his suffering was too great for words at last job spoke, 00:11:28.734 --> 00:11:30.624 and he cursed the day of his birth. 00:11:31.314 --> 00:11:36.534 He said, let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived. 00:11:37.269 --> 00:11:39.639 Let that day be turned to darkness. 00:11:40.089 --> 00:11:44.979 Let it be lost even to God on high and let no light shine on it. 00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:49.659 Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own. 00:11:50.469 --> 00:11:54.729 Let a black cloud overshadow it and let the darkness terrify it. 00:11:55.599 --> 00:11:59.799 Let that night be blotted off the calendar never again to be counted 00:11:59.829 --> 00:12:03.879 among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months. 00:12:04.749 --> 00:12:06.189 Let that night be childless. 00:12:06.804 --> 00:12:08.394 Let it have no joy. 00:12:09.324 --> 00:12:12.744 Let those who are experts at cursing whose cursing could 00:12:12.744 --> 00:12:15.954 rouse leviathan curse that day. 00:12:16.764 --> 00:12:19.044 Let its morning stars, remain dark. 00:12:19.674 --> 00:12:24.834 Let it hope for light, but in vain, may it never see the morning light 00:12:25.914 --> 00:12:30.084 curse that day for failing to shut my mother's womb, for letting me 00:12:30.084 --> 00:12:32.184 be born to see all this trouble. 00:12:33.324 --> 00:12:35.004 Why wasn't I born dead? 00:12:35.619 --> 00:12:38.409 Why didn't I die as I came from the womb? 00:12:39.129 --> 00:12:41.319 Why was I laid on my mother's lap? 00:12:41.859 --> 00:12:44.049 Why did she nurse me at her breasts? 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:47.919 Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. 00:12:48.429 --> 00:12:52.629 I would be asleep and at rest, I would rest with the world's 00:12:52.634 --> 00:12:57.339 kings and prime ministers whose great buildings now lie in ruins. 00:12:58.059 --> 00:13:02.889 I would rest with princes rich in gold, whose palaces were filled with silver. 00:13:04.089 --> 00:13:07.419 Why wasn't I buried like a stillborn child? 00:13:07.839 --> 00:13:12.099 Like a baby who never lives to see the light for in death? 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:16.269 The wicked cause no trouble and the weary are at rest. 00:13:17.049 --> 00:13:21.309 Even captives are at ease in death with no guards to curse them. 00:13:22.269 --> 00:13:27.189 Rich and poor are both there and the slave is free from his master. 00:13:28.449 --> 00:13:32.889 Oh, why give light to those in misery and life to those who are bitter? 00:13:33.624 --> 00:13:36.144 They long for death and it won't come. 00:13:36.774 --> 00:13:40.224 They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure. 00:13:40.944 --> 00:13:45.804 They're filled with joy when they finally die and rejoice when they find the grave. 00:13:46.884 --> 00:13:49.704 Why is life given to those with no future? 00:13:50.244 --> 00:13:55.524 Those God has surrounded with difficulties I cannot eat for sighing. 00:13:56.244 --> 00:13:58.494 My groans pour out like water. 00:13:59.094 --> 00:13:59.214 I. 00:13:59.394 --> 00:14:01.974 What I always feared has happened to me. 00:14:02.304 --> 00:14:04.464 What I dreaded has come true. 00:14:05.244 --> 00:14:07.644 I have no peace, no quietness. 00:14:08.394 --> 00:14:09.444 I have no rest. 00:14:10.134 --> 00:14:11.424 Only trouble comes. 00:14:13.404 --> 00:14:16.254 This concludes today's Immerse Reading experience. 00:14:16.404 --> 00:14:17.604 Thank you for joining us.