Amazing Insights Into the Book of Job

We are digging into the book of Job. Today it's time for the line of fire with your host activist and author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and president of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH. That's 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown friends.

Thanks for joining us on this thoroughly Thursday just a heads up I will not be taking calls today, but we are digging into the book of Job with the release now of my commentary on the book of Job want to dig into it dig into the Hebrew have some real exegetical fund meeting.

Opening up the Scriptures together on the modifiers. I trust you will be enriched by the broadcast. If you have ordered your copy of the book they are being signed and numbered and sent out. You may have received yours ready if not in the days ahead.

Look forward to receiving it and you know it. It it thrills me as as as many books as I've written it thrills me each time a new book is published, but some throw him even more because they been worked longer periods of time. You know what I'm saying. You can imagine, as as a mother.

If the whole process of conception, pregnancy and delivery was like a month versus nine months from feel a lot different or nine months versus two years feel a difference in this one from time I started on to finished it was many ears after because I was working a lot of other projects and and and sometimes I was working on his day and night, day and night, day and night for month after month after month after month and other times it was lesson and then there'd be a break of several years where I was working on the Siebel were cousins but on and off over that year. And some of it gets real real intensity so it thrills me. It blesses me.

You have no idea how much joy I get signing one of these when I see who or that there is your name and or Bob or Linda and signing it just it gives me great joy in and putting the Scripture reference in there, so thanks for your interest in the book of Job cuts a little background that that's interesting. So I had taught a class at Southern Evangelical seminary on the book of Job and was about 10 years ago now. I had loves the book of Job from early on, you know, the narrative parts and credible in the poetic dialogue.

You know who's right and who's wrong what's going on just enthralled by the over the years and try to figure out understand it and then taught classes that related to Job over the years and taught about the book of Job in detail at other times over the years had some really really interesting and enlightening feedback from students that help shape my understanding of certain key passages and things like that always stay with it accumulated time a lot of commentaries and books on Job so I can learn from others as well. So I taught this class on Job had a great time. Great students great biblical and theological and philosophical discussion we had in and I cannot construct irenic. I gotta write a commentary in the book of Job is so I reached out a few different publishers I'd written a commentary.

Jeremiah was on the van in the revised edition of the expositor's Bible commentary. I reached out to a couple publishers and said hey do you have any major commentary series right now where Job is not yet been assigned as it could be that there might be a major commentary series and the commentary may come out several volumes and several thousand pages in a scholarly work on it over 20 years seal here. Oh, so-and-so's work at a commentary in such a such but it literally may be 20 years before the thing is finished and and is finally published academic work can be very serious and painstaking in an end, and time-consuming. Anyway, check with a couple publishers and old. We would love for you to do it but that's ready assigned and that we don't have an opening here so I did.

I pray that the plan really feel like I'm supposed to do this so I reached out to Hendrickson publishers find scholarly publishers and I said I've got this bird to do commentary on Job but at. It will be standalone because because they didn't have a commentary series and and they bought into it. You have to understand that generally speaking, the commentaries that sell the most are part of a series so you have the expositor's Bible commentary series or you have the Word Biblical commentary you ever international critical commentary or Tyndale commentary or new international commentary or or rigorous exegetical commentary or anchor Bible yet no sale anchor Bible or Herman there. Whenever the commentary series is so you get volumes in that series as they come out and independent commentaries are little bit harder sulcus just standing by itself, but I knew that that this was somehow supposed to do an edited Hendrickson really bought into it and the team there bought into it so it is been a joy to work on this with them and they're thrilled with the response to the book so far, be because as they said to me this is the thing that's interesting their books or their academic publisher.

So it's very common. The vast majority of their officers will be seminary professors and the like people involved in academic work.

It it is, the first to have someone like me, a national radio host and then preaching insert Lord settings, etc. and in academic as well so we tailored the book for this audience said all of you who listen while you watch this broadcast all of you who read other books and articles would be able have something that's accessible yet with good good academic and scholarly foundations and then in the back was the one with the even deeper get to the Hebrews, more we we have key key essays on some of the key verses in in in the book and then perhaps in the future, God willing, I will be able to publish the full academic work. Maybe expand this and those that just like the real technical sinner will maybe do maybe will be a series that opens up we will do it for that week. We shall see.

But this is the one that we want to get out for all of you. So just some interesting back story it there's there's a lot more but just wanted to share that.

So we we made the commentary that would would be for you are listed as in our viewers and and and and listen the calls that I get on through the Jewish Thursday the calls that I get on front you asked great questions and and often penetrating comments and so if you weigh in on YouTube and I get to look at some of the comments are really really insightful, so I I believe you will be enriched as you read this, so let's write a few things but let's let certain generated Genesis Job 1 of the records of the whole book today, but I want to throw out a few highlights for service a man in the lender boots, whose name was Job, the where was boots. We don't know for sure there's very little reference in Scripture to it. We don't know for sure, but some have suggested in either right so this would be a southern location south east but their speculation about that. We have notes where the address where it could be don't know for sure but the man's name was Joe EO in Heber. That man was blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil instead of blameless.

I translate full of integrity that would suck the smoothness. He was full of integrity, but it's so important to understand that that's the route that she was there because Job's integrity is a major theme through the book right.

Let me comment a few things about this. What's the meaning of Job well it's it's not necessarily an Israelite name. In other words, it's not like his key Yahoo Hezekiah or Ellie Yahoo. These Yahoo names is assured for Yahweh God's name at the end we it's it's not a name like that right it's it's not a name that contains a divine element speaking about God in a certain weight is meant to be the name of a non-Israelite, or someone that lived before the nation of Israel existed.

So the narrative we normally place back around patriarchal times when the story actually took place right so the way life is described in things like that. It seems to be so that would be fitting in the days of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, this is as a non-Israelite with the book is written for Israelite readers reflecting Torah theology and biblical theology that would you read the book against that grid. The book itself is written later.

It's not the oldest book of the Bible. People often said that we have strong evidence that is not the case but the fact of the matter is that it is written for biblically literate readers know it's it's written for people that understand the Sinai covenant.

It's written for people that understand the words of the prophets and and are familiar with wisdom, teaching and things like that. It's written for them and then they interpret the story against that grid right so what does Job mean we don't know for sure. Some say that it relates to names. We have attested Akkadian Babylonian Syrian form IU I'll bus up like that. Where is the father which father protects the name of God. We don't know right or description of God should say here's what we do know it comes from the same root, from whence we get all you gave which is enemy right EO of his name and the word enemy all gave and in the book. At one point Joe Bass have I become your enemy. So EO asked.how have I become your old gave in the particular form of art you can't prove this, but it's it is suggested that the form could be a passive form right the way the valves are there, could indicate a passive form like she core is is a drunk, so this is someone who drinks and they become drunk so could it be that EO is one who has become God's enemy. One was become the enemy and and that is the name that that he is called here in this narrative.

That's how he is referred to to paint a picture of what's going on is very interesting.

We don't know for sure is very interesting.

We do see, though, is that there is a cosmic drama going on that and here's the here's the big battle.

This was going on behind the scenes. Satan also Thanh the adversary slide around written Job one into the adversary is basically sticking up his nose at Pat. Yeah right.

When God says what you been doing wherever you been out to around oh yeah like what I see here. Everything looks pretty good to me and other words it's a wicked world. It's a sinful world. It's an ungodly world is a world in rebellion like what I see that is the backdrop that's the understanding on which God then says, have you considered my servant Job was speaking with a pastor with an incredible testimony of grace in his life, his wife's life.

Their 19-year-old son killed in a car accident.

Their emphasis would be what he went to heaven was 10 years ago when the sun went to heaven. I was talking to this pastor is think of it.

Job 1 God puts his trust in a man that he's going to come through.

Test a certain way and it's going to be to the glory got think of that Job stood out from everybody on the planet. Have you considered my servant Job there's nobody like him on earth. In other words, Satan is not under your domain.

He's not doing things your way. He's not beating is not marching to the beat of your drama sees different and then Saints could challenge at all yeah really right sure you go ahead take everything he has and the crew should you face in other words, nobody really loves God out of pure motor. Nobody really serves God the pure motives people serve God because it's good for them because it works well for them because they benefit from it. You take away the benefits and the curse God. That's what human beings are in God's is not Job course God's nature is not going to take everything from Job. It's my instruments for Satan that's how the same holds that cosmic battle that God is going to demonstrate people on this planet love him no matter what God not because of the benefits and hence story here on the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown. Your voice is more cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown looking to thoroughly use this is Michael Brown whited with you as we open up the book of Job today.

Not taking your calls digging into the book of Job. So thrilled and excited to be holding this commentary beautifully produced volume again, if you haven't ordered your sign number copy yet were still doing those sending those out. Just go to Esther Brown.org ask at your Brown.org and get as many copies as you like. If you like for holiday gifts.

But if you want to sign them. Just tell me who am signing up to.

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All right, so we have this cosmic drama going on in the heavens, which Job knows nothing on the earth as friends know nothing.

All they know is this man was the greatest man in the East this man who was famed for his righteousness for his compassion for his pursuit of justice was to countermand Job was how he lived. Read Job 31 you find me somebody that lives like that. It is unreal the ethics by which you lived in the fear of God by which he lived. So this man of legendary righteousness who was super abundantly blessed as you would expect, especially under Sinai covenant mentality. Can the book written outside of Sinai covenant is of Job and his friends are not Israelites that's what we understand, but it's written with that mentality that it would be as if they were living under the Sinai covenant and an righteousness would be blessed materially.

In many other ways. All they know, friends, and Job is that this man who was once incredibly blessed is now lost everything overnight lost all of his wealth lost his 10 children lost his health and and everything lost his reputation.

It just is nothing out. Sitting in ash heap with a piece of pottery scratching himself as friends come in the morning with him. Seven they say nothing and as this pastor said to me, men who suffered personal tragedy. He said there Job's friends were doing great until they open their mass. There they sat for seven days and warned sometimes in the midst of great tragedy that's that's what you do to someone with people you love on them. The little by little, you put an arm around them, encourage, and strength comes back in the Navy some words to speak it in the midst of it, there's no magic word, but Job speaks up first in the third chapter is a curse God never cursed God, but he curses the day was born EE. He's so undone. He wishes that his day could be removed from history that it never happened. He was never born in this and end this way. He would not be suffering the anguish she was suffering and remember above that the emotional loss of of all his children and the shock of losing all of his possessions and end that the agony of his of his physical condition was was that the deeper issue of wait a second. This is not something's wrong stuff that was supposed to be would be is if you love God, and served more your life and put your trust in the blood of Jesus, and you dine you find yourself in how it's like that this nothing was supposed to happen, something's wrong here, what's what. The world is going on now some have tried to find a way out of that symbology Sedro Bridget was walking and for years that's confirmed by Job 325. He was walking in fear. He opened the door the Douglas of the most supportable book's support of the book and and and why does God then have to give Satan permission to attack and why does God say to the adversary in the second chapter you're moving me to destroy him without cause.

Was God the same. Yeah, you better believe it that full open the door through fear and not only so it is a biblical teaching that that the fears of the wicked are realized that the fears of the righteous. Everybody has fears at some point you know you're not married I'm never going to get married, you're married, your your woman never to be able have children and pregnant sums can be wrong to baby Charles born causing a live because the kids you walk away from God. This was Adina Carrick. This could happen that's can happen. The bankrupt can fail in ministry, moral failure is going on that's going to get caught up a storm and diet really has fears that the fears of the righteous and not realize because we ultimately fear God, and those things have no power to fears the wicked that come to pass this whole thing will Job often fear all that does is create a theology of fear. Although I fear this is going to happen. Plus, that there's the text is not saying that when Job was concerned. This is kids may have made smoke wrong about God and in the midst were there feast and forgotten God spoke spoke wrongly was in a fear-based thing. That was a father who cared was a decedent that's mentioned to make Job look good.

Well Job's problem was that he married the wrong woman you see in that Josh, what what we should make a special chapter for Job's other comforters and with all that the stupid silly things are being said, you see, you know that was a problem but why did God bless Job with that wife with 10 children wanted God blessed Job with that same life with 10 more children later on one the replacer. Why was she part of the blessing and the restoration and I've seen these ridiculous excuses well and Job wanted the Lord gave the Lord took away that he was blaspheming God when he said that I heard a word, phrase, preacher said he was blaspheming God when he said that because in point of fact, you know, God doesn't take away he is commended for saying that. All right he is commended the author of Job to him and we have no idea who wrote Job by the all or several authors were to leverage one, but we are going to who was anyone so the part of the mystery of the books that this incredible book that most amazing book ever written. Certain ways. Remember who wrote it, not even a hint but anyway anyway.

The idea that Job classroom to the Lord gave the Lord took away the author of Job commands him for for what he said it and from the viewpoint of an Old Testament saint dressing about the devil of the adversary stealing is not even an option. Your mind, God gives God takes away I been blessed with a lot now I don't have anything.

Obviously, God gave them God took away that was a word of faith, he spoke and ultimately it's a word of submission and trust in God. Anyway, people just to have to figure something out is what will happen to what the book of Job is saying is an extreme extreme form is the matter what happens you still trust God and you still trust his goodness with the friends did and judge Job as guilty friends judge, Job is guilty because that's what their theology had to dictate because otherwise this might happen to one of us. So you have to Put up this wall and still being compassionate.

Now we gotta protect ourselves Job judge. God is guilty because he knew based on the nature of God.

He should not be suffering those things which was true. But rather than trust God through it you choose God in the midst of the lesson of Ross's don't judge the person. Don't judge God going through difficult times. Don't change your view of God.

To give an example. Let's say that you, you knew me. For decades, all right we grew up together as a family friend and you had this beautiful state beautiful property in a beautiful home and and you were gone away from months and and you needed someone to oversee the property and oversee the house in your absence and make sure that was proper take care of landscapers maintain things properly and that there is proper security of the house and all this I said you bet I'll stay up went the stance they dressed me like a vacation for from a and and you come back after months and you see that the trees are smashed, you see that the house the windows are smashed.

Meet you. You see, just, I mean it's like a bomb went off on the properties.

What in the world happened with your first reaction be what it might do our property. Why did he do that which you first reaction be what happened is he okay was you.

Trust me all those years you know I didn't solicit trash this property destroy this house and Rob of millions of dollars were the stair that was going to do that. The University will happen if you look at all know what happened was Mike and that would be your first thought right so rather than looking differently at God must be something wrong with God through this one. On the other hand Joe. Joe must be wicked know the better thinkers we now understand what happened with Joe we love you and we trust God stand together and get through this and let's trust the matter what we see them and what were experiencing put our trust in the goodness of God so that's with the friends didn't do. They had one other alternative. And I want you looking Job, the fifth chapter. These words of Eliphaz who is the oldest of the friends. Presumably, the wisest and you start speaking. The fourth chapter the fifth chapter verse 17 says this behold Happy's lawyer Hannah Hannah know what week we got treelike translation up there, which is great but since I have own translation, Joe Reed, I don't believe tree of life of their Chi in this way, those that are watching can can see the woman here. My Job 517 book truly happy is the man whom God reproves to do not reject the discipline of Shaddai three causes pain. But then binds up. He smites within his hands heal.

He will deliver you from six troubles and seven the horrible touch during famine. He will redeem you from death during war for the power of the sword scored to the Tonya will be hidden will have no fear when destruction comes, you will laugh at destruction and famine.

He will have nothing to fear from wild animals for your covenant will be with the rocks of the field and the animals of the field will be at peace with you, and you will know that all is well with your household when inspector Bolger financing missing. Know that your offspring will be many. Their descendents would be like the grass of the earth will come to the grave and vigor, but sheaves of grain in their season. Look, we have investigated this and it is so listen to it and you you apply it to your self.

Great word :-) yeah, that was his only have office saying that's what happened, was that as long as the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH paradigm is Dr. Michael Brown friends to this, especially diving into the book of Job yet is like the baby with an eight-year gestation.

Thrilled to be holding onto this commentary and it's it's a beautifully produced book you will see it's worth every dime.

When when you get it again if you haven't ordered your copy yet from us signed and numbered from the first printing only.

That's when we do it, and then a special audio message which you find incredibly eye-opening and will give you insights into the whole book of Job and some bigger theological issues how to Job speak rightly about God you can do that on our website Esther to run as Kate your brown.orc okay so in the book of Job you have this dynamic chapters 1 and two are in narrative form beginning chapter 3. That style of the Hebrew changes its poetry, its poetic dialogue and that continues to beginning of the 42nd chapter and then it goes from there back to narrative back to pros. So this is unique in terms of all the books of the Bible that you like bookends on either side of the narrative, the beginning and the end and then in the middle of it.

The poetic dialogue here. You have Job going back and forth with his friend so third chapter, Job speaks then Eliphaz the oldest of the friend speaks chapters 4 and five. Then Job chapters 6 and seven in the next to the friends bill that chapter 8 then Job goes in chapters 9 and 10, then so far.

Chapter 11 then back to Job. This is extended 12 1314 then Eliphaz chapter 15 then Job 16 and it goes on like that. A second cycle completely and then in the third cycle Job speaks. Chapter 22 then it's it's Eliphaz but then it starts to break down. There's there's Job and there's always something short from Bill that nothing from.

So far, and there are scholars you think, well, something got lost here is not properly edit it in something dropped out, but my understanding is this is how God has preserved it for us, that it shows the breaking down of the friends positions that they did they become like broken records and affect the more you read, they have to reinforce their Orthodox theology.

The wicked are punished, the righteous are blessed the liquor to punish the righteous was because they got Job sitting in front of him because Joe is getting more more defiant and because this man whom they once revered is now lost everything it you must be wicked. There is something wrong with you.

Job this is what begins to unfold.

So as you read more and more not without exception, Eliphaz has word of encouragement.

Chapter 22 and so on, but not without exception, but it gets to a point where it that the main thing there since the wicked suffer.

The wicked suffer the last thing that Job needs to be hearing). I so the dialogue is on chapter 28 is called to him to wisdom's amazing passage about wisdom those the words of Job or those the words of the editor of the book, the author of the book then inserts that kind of a poetic refrain then Job finishes speaking the 31st Reese's everything you please just cause and basically says luck. Let me be destroyed if I have not live righteously not live by Mike convictions. If I've not cared for those and let me be destroyed comes to that conclusion.

And and and that's chapter 31 and then Ellie, who Shelley is not mentioned of Eliphaz build on so far mentioned in the third chapter, but then the second chapters speak after the third chapter, Job speaks Ellie festering chapter 4 slick whose Ellie and then is gone easy speaks speaks a whole lot 3233 34 3526.

The seven is out gone and God speaks so Ellie use this enigmatic figure and it's amazing scholars are massively divided as is that what is good guy Rebecca. To this day when I step students in Christ for the Nations when I taught there maybe 387 when I was a full-time the branch the school of Stony Brook Long Island B campus in Dallas and the small grants that we had for a few years of 391 when I would teach 83, 87, I would have the students do a paper on Joe. Specifically, Ellie, who and every year they were equally divided half the class thought he was amazing in and spoke for God and half the class thought he was like, full of himself and jerking you arrogant young person every year, every year at and when you're in commentaries, they tend to be divided like that, and you've even had some commentators that at one point in their lives. That one thing than decades later revisited thought something else to me that's part of the plan of God. This ambiguity into Ellie who is but what's fascinating is that his name we open us up in great depth of the commentary. What's fascinating is that his name Ellie who is identical, virtually identical in spelling to Ellie Yahoo Elijah except for about basically right so you have Ellie, who Ellie Yahoo. So, in English it's Ellie who Elijah this on two different people, but in Hebrews, Ellie, who in Eliahu right and it was his professor Robert Gorgas, who talked about that in his famous work on Job and then some of my students when I was teaching Maasai Biblical Institute school and I laden and Marilyn from 87 to 93 of teacher graduate level class and some of the students three independently all came to the same conclusion that he was an Elijah type of figure may you prepared the way for the Lord that he was here and then he was gone like a John the Baptist right prepares the way the Lord's here and then is gone and in fact there was more that happen when the students came in just a little class of five students and three of them doing papers into her auditing the class and three doing papers basically independently wrote the same paper and end of a bunch of other things happen that were just absolutely fascinating and amazing but he just goes he's there is gone is not mentioned at the end and then God speaks in the world and subsumes that he's taken out of the way an Elijah in the world and of the whole bit. The similarities and yet there's no question is no question that I like Ellie I don't like Ellie who that that's that's part of the ambiguity there. How do we read him.

How do we understand so I see it I understand that he is an Elijah type of figure that he prepares the way for the coming of the Lord. An Elijah/Johnny Mercer configured he prepares the way for the coming of the Lord. Okay and and prepares this way and then God comes and speaks, but he does so in showing the limitations of human wisdom. In other words, he has some good things to say and some constructive insights and is upset with the friends for condemning Job. They didn't have an answer from his and his he's upset with Joel for make himself more righteous than God right to justify himself therefore sums wrong with God so he's upset with both, and he makes some good points but then he also in a sense runs out of things to say. Even those extolling garden. Sounds like okay enough so Ellie who to me represents the limitations of human wisdom. There are insights, but it falls short and ultimately prepares the way for God to speak and interestingly, God never answers Job's questions. He never says I want you to know what was happening behind the scenes and there is this malevolent being named Casa Tom, the adversary at will call the adversary and he was challenging me that there's no one on the earth. That really loves God with pure motives, and the only reason the people serve God is because they can benefit from it and I want to prove that that's not the case in an Job you are the man and because of that I trust in you that you were different than anybody on the earth, and I trust you that that you would demonstrate something different and thereby silence the adversary and this would be done in front of the whole heavenly realm. The whole heavenly realm could watch and see what was happening in this would be to the glory of God and ultimately Job will come to know me better and ultimately Job you be blessed and this is why it happened. He doesn't ever tell them what happened behind the scenes.

Instead, he begins to ask Job questions about where were you when I'm made the universe hung the earth on nothing total. Wave stop here you ever seen a wild goat give birth sort, you know can explain this with eagle soaring as goes through nature of Prof. Bart Ehrman, who I debated what 19 years ago on the problem of suffering. Ohio State University's position is that Job was afraid that it Joel Kaplan have an audience with God. I just have it out with stuff I could just I just make my case and everything would be okay and and and be proven right in and but God is still take don't intimidate me. Don't like the salmon audience, but I know it's I could have enjoyed intimidate recording Prof. Herman. That's exactly what God does the bully still intimidates Job you could read the text like. Or you could read it were God gives a majestic panoramic display of who he is of his wisdom of his goodness. Even small things in creation, even with some wilderness area that nobody ever goes and sees some isolated island somewhere in his reign. There and and and it and and and the trees flourish in the animal life there flourishes like that's the nature of God to produce flourishing ally Ethan Julian, that's who he isn't. Job's like I shouldn't said what I said then goggles on. Then he begins to speak about behemoth and Leviathan on what oh what what you hippopotamus and crocodile your time you got guys lost everything. Losses 10 kids whole world crushed not to consider the hippopotamus in the crocodile that it is the more going on will, there's a big debate about that and I write about allotment commentary, but in short short. I understand that these were earthly creatures could been hippo crocodile possibly may be creatures that are now extinct that were perhaps even more terrifying appearance to be dinosaurs or if you have young earth creationist beat dinosaurs right but of the night would work, as these are things that people knew about right, but my understanding is that they were earthly creatures. Perhaps now extinct, but that were also connected with demonic powers you might have.

Like in Native American like the spirit of the wolf to get the animal in the spirit of fitness associated with something else will and ancient world you see itself is associated with chaos and chaos garden you have these different animals that also associate with demonic beings. And I believe that's that's the bigger picture that God is painting of his mastery is it and that since there is a hint of a spiritual realm which would certainly recognized and known. Not knowing denied the spiritual realm is to state and have the full insight of what was happening in this particular battle between God and Satan. But my understanding is that these animals and again I I I go through all the various views. Explain why I see this the way I do and why agree with other scholars to do that these these creatures represent also that the fierceness of of demonic power. The fierceness of the world of chaos and darkness got this. I have complete mastery over them. I have complete mastery over them. Job you have no idea what you are talking about so so there's a reason God speaks about these is not just a Job. I know you lost everything but let me tell you about how big and strong I am and how I made the world. I made these creatures know it's a lot deeper than a lot deeper than gloriously deeper than that.

And then from there Joe humbles himself of the amazing verse for seven or Chapter 42 and God rebukes the friends for not speaking right doesn't say speak right. Hence the subtitle to my book show faith, or sides.

Hopefully, your point is helpful. Job on the special edition of his early in the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown welcome to our last segment to them through the use Thursday as we dive together in the book of Job. Obviously it's been weeks, months, plunging diving into the depths of this amazing extraordinary book but sought to give you some key insights some overview some points along the way that I trust will be of help and interest to you and I'm not taking your calls today, but I want to draw your attention to controversy over the end of the book of Job's again just explained why my commentaries formatted.

There is about 330 pages devoted to introduction, commentary, translation, and then what is it oh 400 something pages devoted to theological reflections. Many are there 123-456-7899 theological reflections, the last of which deals with a happy ending of Job, and then exegetical essay. So these we we going deeper into the Hebrew for those that want to dig further so the meaning of in all this Job did not sin with his lips and Job 210.

What exactly does that mean there's a lot of fastening, turn it in the chaos monsters and Job we touched on them earlier in the show of the meaning of whole thought, Todd and Job 10 three there's a Hebrew word there that we focus on interesting significance and then some of the key verses Job 1315 did this Job say though he slay me at will. I trust him say something different would be to make of that passage, I believe of some real helpful insight there and then a Job 1925 to 27.

I know that my Redeemer lives, is he talking about and and is he speaking of a resurrection. There and then Job 24, 18 to 25 but it's not as well-known a section of the book was tremendously controversial. So we have a section on that and then Job 42 six Job means 20 when he set III recondition a reply recants her Panter repudiate everything I've said or I repent in dust and ashes are on dust and ashes are because I'm dust and ashes. So we we dig into Aldo's right. But here's is all folks all in the theological essays. One was who was the adversary so we understand that the adversary is Satan the devil motion. So it's a no-brainer.

Will scholars actually debate that was that the same creature that we later know as the devil or not. Job wanted to swim an essay on that and then Job and the new atheists would Job say to them, and how we relate to their arguments against the existence of God and then challenging God as an act of faith, something reopened up some fascinating Jewish traditions. When RT Kendall was writing an endorsement for the book is a great accompanist theologian. He asked what I mean by the faith to challenge God. I explained that Job had enough faith in God to know that something was wrong with the way things were happening, and therefore, even though he felt God was behind it.

He felt he had to challenge God's actions because of his faith in terms of who God should be. It's fascinating. Some have described this Job running from God to God, we open that up and then Job in Jesus we are there similarities. Both righteous sufferers both suffering in a way that brings benefit and help to others.

Just think of would Job 1 through an end the comfort and strength that's brought to others through the centuries and the lessons I learned from it. Yet their distinct differences that Job is not perfect and Jesus was and that this is the death of Jesus on the cross you choose death on the cross was vicarious and substitutionary similarities and differences, and then his suffering reward for righteousness is that the more righteous you are, the more you suffer as I contradict other aspects of what Scripture teach so we we tackle that and then the danger of holding to a too rigid orthodoxy.

In other words, I have to be so for everything has to go just like this, like this, like this, like this is with dozens going to mess up my whole theological world, or if you don't fit in my category because I believe if you righteous you can be blessed can go at this like this, like this. If it doesn't fit. Then I I got a judge, you are right, rather than letting my theology be challenged at all. Sometimes we can be so rigid that we like God's heart and so rigid that we recognize that not everything always falls into neat and tidy little categories and then Job the problem of suffering does the book of Job really address the problem of suffering is it a real theodicy, which is the problem of God and suffering, God is good and powerful and all-knowing, all good all powerful, all-knowing and all loving already create a world in which there is such suffering is that the book of Job really address that issue us a categorically it does then how would Job comfort agave suffer Job say to someone on the other side of this. What would Job site. We know what he wouldn't say for sure, he wouldn't say where is your face Robbie see you send this where you going some wrong with you. Obviously Job met say and do that. What would Job say Siu tackle that and then the happy ending of Job and NS. This role in the land since the end of the book. Why would anyone be troubled by the happy ending of Job and remember what happens. God not only restores all his possessions but doubles them right so if before he was worth 10 billion is now worth 20 billion God literally doubles everything here and he lost 10 children.

God gives them to new children as will Simpson's three daughters and daughters.

The most beautiful in the land and all his friends that have been estranged family members extended family. They all come back to comfort and console. So there's the restoration fellowship and of course divine favor and biggest of all which offices earlier in chapter 42-ite to God.

I heard you by the hearing of the year, but now I see as I know you away experience your way and before relationship with you.

I didn't have before something rich and wonderful and deep. But here's the problem. Some have with the the end of the book the one hand used in children to get attention. Is that how it works will the fact he didn't get 20 children is is is the book of Job telling us know it doesn't just work like that because when you lose children, you've lost them as a loss for life that is always a whole there's always something missing in his get 20 back is such a some simple equations together as a loss and there's going to be a pain in a part of him missing for the rest of his life and there's a Hensel of the afterlife can be dogmatic about this, but there's a hint of the afterlife that it does get double children because there are 10 waiting on the other side will be with him forever to join the other 10 but the other issue. This is the bigger problem is that some theologians and scholars, especially in the post-Holocaust era feel that the happy ending undoes the whole message of the book because the initial assumption is you you do well, you honor the Lord righteous and and you'll be blessed in your wicket will be cursed and set simple as whether friends can't find the right category for Joe seem to be a righteous man was blessed but now always look like a wicked man was cursed. So what is it so it many are frustrated because like well this just confirms a thing in the end it's like there's the health and wealth gospel disconfirmed in the end, and it's just that it oversimplifies things in what what about when you you end with tragedy. What about when the person is never healed. What about you never get out of the wheelchair. What about when the finances never recovering and you live in poverty.

What about when the families never restores what what about when it seems the life out of these were Kirsten blessed. What about living a slot in the Holocaust and other human tragedies and acts of human violence will live by that business. Have a happy ending.

Happy ending but that is the whole message that ultimately in God.

There is a happy that either in this world or the world to come. We will see the full manifestation of the goodness of God.

Either we will see the restoration out of the trial either. We will see the Ritz recovery from from bankruptcy to a place we can be generous and helpful to others, or you will see that marriage restore that family restored. You will see that that healing come if you don't in this world than forever and ever and ever experience the fullness of blessed.

You may live through hardship in this world you may be imprisoned for the gospel. You may have family members killed for the gospel. You may have a lifelong chronic illness you may have all kinds of hardship in your life just is always a hard life, but if you honor the Lord love the Lord and your sins have been forgiven through the blood of the cross, if not in this world and in the world to come. You will see the fullness of blessing.

And even in this world in the midst of suffering and pain. God can use it in a redemptive way. Even in this world in the midst of hardship and difficulties. There can be blessing. There can be grace there can be favor in your suffering and pain can also be used by God to bring you closer to him and also be used by God to allow you to minister to others, even if the sickness and pain themselves or an attack from the enemy, as in the book of Joel, so the happy ending is important to know as Paul wrote in first is Susan Roman say that I consider the sufferings of this present age is not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The happy ending. Is there that that Jesus says you may more now but you will be comfort in the meek will inherit the earth and and hope does spring eternal because one day will see him face-to-face and be with him forever and be like him or we don't send anymore and we don't want evil anymore. We just love God and are loved by God forever and ever with unspeakable joy, indescribable joy and peace and grace and that being our portion and no pain, no hardship in the poverty and oppression of difficulty in those terms.

Forever.

So what we don't receive in this age gone same. We will receive in the age to come, but even in this age. In many ways will see breakthroughs and restorations and manifestations of the kingdom. Happy ending is there for recent difference. Don't forget if you haven't ordered your copy after the first sign on the message God… Right now in the South should have asked