28:1-2<\/strong>\u2014Think about how gold and silver are mined out of the earth<\/p>\n 28:3-4<\/strong>\u2014man uses lamps to go into deep, dark places to find precious metals which are mined out of the ground. Far from where anyone is, they hang from ropes and swing to and fro as they go about their work.<\/p>\n 28:5<\/strong>\u2014the earth provides bread (food) but far beneath the dirt comes things formed as by fire<\/p>\n 28:6<\/strong>\u2014deep in the earth is where precious stones and metals are found<\/p>\n 28:7<\/strong>\u2014birds of prey haven\u2019t seen these places where these precious things are found. (some birds have exceptional eyesight so this is impressive).<\/p>\n 28:8<\/strong>\u2014the powerful and renounced beasts don\u2019t go to those places. Not even the lion.<\/p>\n 28:9-11<\/strong>\u2014Man goes to great lengths and is able to do impressive things to find those precious things deep underground. Tough rock, overturning mountains, stuff that isn\u2019t easy even with today\u2019s technology. (completing core drills is tough work with modern tools). Digging holes, working with rock, etc. Man is able to bring hidden things into the light because of these efforts.<\/p>\n 28:12<\/strong>\u2014but\u2026where is the place wisdom and understanding are found??<\/p>\n 28:13<\/strong>\u2014it\u2019s so valuable, people don\u2019t even know what it\u2019s worth. It is priceless. (remember the commercials that would list a few of the costs of things and the last item would be\u2026priceless)<\/p>\n 28:14<\/strong>\u2014the oceans and seas (which are deep and dark and we have no way of getting to or even seeing the bottom of), they openly admit it\u2019s not there with them.<\/p>\n 28:15-19<\/strong>\u2014gold and silver, gold of Ophir, stones, (don\u2019t even try mentioning coral or crystal, they don\u2019t stand a chance), topaz of Ethiopia\u2014NONE<\/strong> of it can buy wisdom.<\/p>\n 28:20<\/strong>\u2014I\u2019ll ask again, where do you find wisdom?<\/p>\n 28:21<\/strong>\u2014hidden more than precious metals (from the eyes of all living)<\/p>\n 28:22<\/strong>\u2014Abaddon and death (things humans can\u2019t see at all) have only caught a rumor<\/u><\/em><\/strong> of it.<\/p>\n 28:23<\/strong>\u2014God knows where it is<\/p>\n 28:24-26<\/strong>\u2014when God looks everywhere and sees everything and made the earth with its measurements\u2026<\/p>\n 28:27<\/strong>\u2014God established it. Wisdom is with him.<\/p>\n 28:28<\/strong>\u2014the fear of the Lord is wisdom and turning from evil is understanding. (Proverbs 1:7<\/strong>) turn from evil, which is understanding. This comes first. Wisdom comes later and takes more time and effort since it involves STAYING AWAY<\/u><\/strong> from evil. It\u2019s a progression. It may not be easy but you can instantly repent and turn away from evil. Wisdom is built up as fearing God becomes a PRACTICE<\/strong>, a habit, a lifestyle. God has revealed the source of understanding and wisdom. It can\u2019t be searched out by man or found on his own apart from God. It comes from God.<\/p>\n ***<\/strong>A point Job may be making is that we can\u2019t find the wisdom (of which God is the source) by using man\u2019s methods. Our best ways of finding hard to reach things deep in the earth will never allow us to find the wisdom of God. It simply can\u2019t be obtained by any method of man. The part man has in finding wisdom is knowing where it truly comes from, God, and going to God for it. Have you ever thought you wanted to get in shape and then start frequenting the gym? Maybe you would feel bad being out of shape with some of those fit people working out. You know a personal trainer would make things happen in a way you couldn\u2019t yourself but we still want to do it ourselves. Another way of looking at it is the desire to become pure and right with God and THEN go back to attending services. It\u2019s putting the cart ahead of the horse.***<\/strong><\/p>\n 29:1<\/strong>\u2014again, it\u2019s possible some time passed between chapters 28 and 29<\/p>\n 29:2-5<\/strong>\u2014Job reminisces fondly of the good \u2018ol days that he wishes would come back.<\/p>\n 29:2-5<\/strong>\u2014each verse Job mentions being connected to God in different ways. God watched over him, guided him through troubles, and was his friend. He remembers his children.<\/p>\n 29:6<\/strong>\u2014the rock poured out streams of oil, which would seem like the description of something very rare or difficult. Maybe Job is talking about things going well despite difficulties or odds being against him. Psalm 78:15-16<\/strong>, God made waters come out of the rocks.<\/p>\n 29:7<\/strong>\u2014Job has a seat in the square. He is important<\/p>\n 29:8-10<\/strong>\u2014people made way for Job, they stood up, refrained from speaking, showed respect regardless of position or age.<\/p>\n ***<\/strong>People who would normally address others to pass on laws or important things are silent before Job. Contrast with how Job\u2019s friends have no respect for him and accuse him.***<\/strong><\/p>\n 29:11<\/strong>\u2014people approved of the things Job did and said<\/p>\n 29:12<\/strong>\u2014people approved of Job for defending the poor and helpless<\/p>\n 29:13<\/strong>\u2014people who couldn\u2019t help themselves blessed Job for helping them<\/p>\n 29:14<\/strong>\u2014righteousness and justice were continually with Job. They were identifiers of his ways.<\/p>\n 29:15<\/strong>\u2014Job supplied what was lacking and equipped people with what they needed but didn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n 29:16<\/strong>\u2014Job is impartial. He helps people he doesn\u2019t even know, people whose success couldn\u2019t benefit him at all. This is far from the oppression his friends accuse him of.<\/p>\n 29:17<\/strong>\u2014Job delivered justice by protecting the people from the unrighteous<\/p>\n 29:18-20<\/strong>\u2014things were really good. It looked to Job like he would continue to prosper and live out his days in the midst of what God had blessed him with. He wasn\u2019t merely living for himself as we can see in the previous verses. He was continually renewed and strengthened.<\/p>\n 29:21<\/strong>\u2014contrast how men treated Job before with how his friends are now.<\/p>\n 29:22<\/strong>\u2014Job\u2019s word was final<\/p>\n 29:23<\/strong>\u2014They were so eager for Job to do what he did<\/p>\n 29:24<\/strong>\u2014Job was encouraging<\/p>\n 29:25<\/strong>\u2014Job was on top of the world<\/p>\n Job\u2019s reminiscing tells us that being in a position of power, being wealthy and seemingly on top of the world doesn\u2019t have to be selfish and evil like it\u2019s portrayed in our culture of today. Our cultural attitudes toward wealth and power are much like Job\u2019s friends\u2019 attitudes. Money doesn\u2019t have morals. It isn\u2019t good or bad by itself. It doesn\u2019t make someone good or bad. It makes them more of what they already are. You CAN<\/strong> be wealthy and upright. There are plenty of examples in scripture of God blessing people with wealth.<\/p>\n 30:1<\/strong>\u2014things are bad now. People younger than me laugh at me. Normally I wouldn\u2019t even let their fathers hang around the dogs that watch after my sheep.<\/p>\n 30:2<\/strong>\u2014people who don\u2019t add value anywhere are worthless<\/p>\n 30:3-8<\/strong>\u2014Job describes these worthless people. They wander about in search of food. They find the lowliest forms of food to eat: leaves, roots of a broom tree, saltwort, wild greens, salt marsh herbs. Nobody wants them around. If they come near other humans people shout at them and drive them away. Their shelter is bushes and nettles.<\/p>\n 30:9<\/strong>\u2014AND NOW<\/strong>\u2026they are all laughing at ME<\/u><\/strong>! I\u2019m what they joke and sing about in their mocking.<\/p>\n 30:10<\/strong>\u2014They keep away from me. They spit at the mere sight of me.<\/p>\n 30:11<\/strong>\u2014God has allowed the tragedy to strike me and people no longer have any respect for me. Job has lost respect along with everything else. A big deal considering what he described in chapter 29.<\/p>\n 30:12<\/strong>\u2014where I should find my most trusted people, the riff-raff are found, insulting me.<\/p>\n 30:13<\/strong>\u2014these people are in full support of my calamity. They don\u2019t need any help with you guys around.<\/p>\n 30:14<\/strong>\u2014they come by the hoards<\/p>\n 30:15<\/strong>\u2014my honor is pursued as by the wind. There\u2019s no stopping everyone who wants to cut me down.<\/p>\n 30:16<\/strong>\u2014my life is poured out because of my situation. Days of affliction.<\/p>\n 30:17<\/strong>\u2014my pain is unceasing (referring to physical pain). From sores probably.<\/p>\n 30:18<\/strong>\u2014Job\u2019s probably lost weight. His clothes don\u2019t fit him anymore.<\/p>\n 30:23<\/strong>\u2014it seems like the only logical end to all of this is Job\u2019s death. His friends keep saying to turn back to the Lord. Job doesn\u2019t feel he\u2019s in the wrong so he probably thinks it wouldn\u2019t help. It\u2019s bad advice, it doesn\u2019t apply to him.<\/p>\n 30:24<\/strong>\u2014what can I do but cry out for help? It\u2019s the only thing I can<\/em><\/strong> do<\/p>\n 30:25-26<\/strong>\u2014I comforted people who were suffering, but where is my comfort now?<\/p>\n 30:27<\/strong>\u2014I have no rest. I only have days of trouble<\/p>\n 30:29<\/strong>\u2014I can only be away from people in the wilderness areas with wild animals<\/p>\n 30:30<\/strong>\u2014more of the troubles of Job\u2019s sores<\/p>\n 30:31<\/strong>\u2014there is no cheer left. All is sadness<\/p>\n 31:1<\/strong>\u2014Job\u2019s integrity is such that he won\u2019t even look lustfully at a woman.<\/p>\n 31:2<\/strong>\u2014Job cares most about his standing with God and lives in such a way to please him.<\/p>\n 31:4<\/strong>\u2014doesn\u2019t God know I\u2019ve lived pure and righteously? How can he bring the calamity of the unrighteous on me?<\/p>\n 31:5-8<\/strong>\u2014If I have been in the wrong and turned aside and been impure in any way, then I\u2019ll work and let someone else reap the rewards.<\/p>\n 31:9-10<\/strong>\u2014I haven\u2019t been enticed nor planned to commit adultery. If I have let my wife labor in vain.<\/p>\n 31:12<\/strong>\u2014that kind of sin would consume all of my riches and send me to destruction.<\/p>\n 31:13-14<\/strong>\u2014Job knows he answers to God. He is not a liar. He doesn\u2019t have some excuse prepared should God call him to account for being \u201cunjust\u201d. He knows he is righteous and has defended his servants.<\/p>\n 31:15<\/strong>\u2014after all, God made all of us<\/p>\n 31:16<\/strong>\u2014I helped the poor and widows<\/p>\n 31:17<\/strong>\u2014I shared my food with the fatherless<\/p>\n 31:18<\/strong>\u2014since I was a kid I helped people without fathers and widows. It\u2019s been a way of life for me since the beginning.<\/p>\n 31:19-20<\/strong>\u2014I gave clothes to people who needed it.<\/p>\n 31:21<\/strong>\u2014Job knows he has influence to a degree that an unrighteous person could have used unjustly to their advantage. Job has not done this. Injustice and oppression, the two things his friends continually charge him with.<\/p>\n 31:22-23<\/strong>\u2014Let my arm be broken if I was guilty of this stuff. I feared God so I remained pure. I couldn\u2019t face God with those impurities in my hands.<\/p>\n Job knows he can\u2019t stand before God with these sins on his hands<\/p>\n 31:24-25<\/strong>\u2014Job had great wealth but didn\u2019t put it before God<\/p>\n 31:26-27<\/strong>\u2014Job wasn\u2019t an idolater. He didn\u2019t follow after man-made religions<\/p>\n 31:29-30<\/strong>\u2014Job didn\u2019t rejoice at the downfall of his enemies<\/p>\n 31:31<\/strong>\u2014Job fed everyone<\/p>\n 31:32<\/strong>\u2014travelers stayed with Job, not out in the street<\/p>\n 31:33-34<\/strong>\u2014I didn\u2019t hide my transgressions for fear of what people would say. Job feared God rather than men.<\/p>\n 31:35<\/strong>\u2014I stand fully behind all of my words<\/p>\n 31:36-37<\/strong>\u2014I am fully confident to deliver an account of my life to God<\/p>\n ***<\/strong>This is the confidence we strive to obtain and keep as we examine our lives, knowing at any moment we could give an account of it to God.***<\/strong><\/p>\n 31:38-40<\/strong>\u2014if I have been unjust or self-serving, let weeds and thorns replace the crops I\u2019ve planted.<\/p>\n ***<\/strong>This chapter is Job\u2019s final appeal and declaration of innocence. He refutes the accusations his friends have put against him with examples of how he lived his life. It was Job\u2019s actions which speak for themselves, not any words he might use to try to convince anyone. Job didn\u2019t just turn over a new leaf either (although there is much good in doing that). He has continually lived a life of righteousness for as long as he can remember. He has made it a point to help those who aren\u2019t able to help themselves or don\u2019t have a voice or influence. He has protected and encouraged the weak. Many examples of his righteous living are given in this chapter. He is also ready to give an account of his life before God, something we should have on our minds each day.***<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJob\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Class 8, Chapters 28-31 Chapter 28, Job 28:1-2\u2014Think about how gold and silver are mined out of the earth 28:3-4\u2014man uses lamps to go into deep, dark places to find precious metals which are mined out of the ground. Far from where anyone is, they hang from ropes and swing to and fro as they…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6604,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6661","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41864,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/how-to-live-in-a-hostile-world-a-study-of-i-peter\/a-special-people\/","url_meta":{"origin":6661,"position":0},"title":"A Special People","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A Special People Text: I Peter 2:4-12 Study Questions: Who is a living stone? How can a stone be living? How can one stone have different effects on people? Does I Peter 1:8 mean that some have no choice in regard to obedience? For what purpose were Christians chosen? How\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34138,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/hebrew-poetry\/double-meaning\/","url_meta":{"origin":6661,"position":1},"title":"Double Meaning","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Double Meaning A statement can be applied to two different things at the same time and both be true. What is man that you take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"poetry\"","block_context":{"text":"poetry","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/tag\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3426,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/the-revelation-given-to-john\/the-throne-in-heaven\/","url_meta":{"origin":6661,"position":2},"title":"The Throne in Heaven","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 16, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"The Throne in Heaven Revelation 4 After the letters were dictated, John was invited by Jesus, the one whose voice was like a trumpet (Revelation 1:10-11), to enter heaven and see some of the future. The description is very similar to the beginning of Ezekiel's visions (Ezekiel 1:1). John's spirit\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1148,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/the-lord-your-god-is-an-awesome-god\/the-eternal-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":6661,"position":3},"title":"The Eternal God (Awesome God)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"The Eternal God Text: Romans 11:25-36 Imagine going back in time to the early days of this country and trying to explain the marvels of our time to someone who lived back then. Could you explain how we get around in automobiles? \u201cWell, cars are kind of like carriages, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23847,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-isaiah\/the-house-of-god-versus-the-house-of-judah\/","url_meta":{"origin":6661,"position":4},"title":"The House of God versus the House of Judah","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The House of God versus the House of Judah Text:\u00a0Isaiah 2 The Mountain of the House of God - Isaiah 2:1-4 This same prophecy is found, almost word-for-word, in Micah 4:1-3. The prophecy speaks of a time called \"the last days.\" In Daniel's prophecy of the church, he states that\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6673,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/job\/god-speaks-with-job\/","url_meta":{"origin":6661,"position":5},"title":"God Speaks with Job","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Class 11, Chapters 38 to 40 Chapter 38, God 38:2\u2014darkens counsel\u2014could be discouraging counsel or confuses 38:4-18\u2014God asks Job many rhetorical questions about Job\u2019s knowledge of things only God can know. This might sound harsh\u2014question after question when Job is probably scared\u2014but Job justified himself rather than God (32:2). Job\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6661\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Chapter 29, Job<\/h2>\n
Point to consider<\/h3>\n
Chapter 30, Job<\/h2>\n
Chapter 31, Job<\/h2>\n