About this episode
Job continues his reply to Bildad - in particular - and to his other friends generally. Job's argument in the first six verses is that the accusations of the three friends are just wind - words without any substance. The words of these men are the product of their evil minds and if Job were to agree with the point of view which has been made he would have to stop his respect for his God. From verses 7-17 Job contrasts the pitiful position of humanity with a tree which if it is cut down has a hope of reviving if the scent of water comes to it. Humanity seems to come and go and pass away for ever. But following through the analogy Job makes only exposure to the water of God's Word can bring hope, the raising up through resurrection to live again. God's call and offer is the only worthwhile portion in this life. Verses 18-22 say that even though Job understood this he laments his current deplorable state. The patriarch accepts that it is the
LORD's right to do whatever He chooses and it's our responsibility to accept this and hope that through life we can learn and grow closer to our Maker.
The short prophecy of Habakkuk was written around BC 720 when Nineveh was the Assyrian capital city. The previous prophecy of Nahum told of God's judgments on that cruel and oppressive power. The prophet Habakkuk was a patriotic prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah which was to be extensively punished by the cruel Assyrians. In chapter 1 verse 1 the prophet describes his situation. In verses 2-4 the prophet expresses his complaint to the LORD that the violence within the nation of Judah appears to continue without any divine intervention. Verses 5-11 tell of the Almighty's answer to Habakkuk saying that Yahweh will punish guilty Judah by raising the Assyrian to punish the nation. The power, ferocity and speed of the Assyrian is outlined in these verses. In verses 12-17 the prophet makes his second complaint to the Almighty. Yahweh's prophet says surely God cannot use an evil nation like the Assyrian to judge Judah whose relative righteousness is greater than that of their ruthless enemy. This complaint will be answered by the Almighty in chapters 2 and 3. The practices and insatiable appetite for bloodshed and destruction are described by the prophet.
In his second chapter Peter continues the theme that closed chapter 1 i.e. human flesh is temporary and momentarily beautiful but in essence worthless, aside from its aesthetic beauty, and the hope of eternal life is that the Word of God can develop within us a character that our Father will choose to perpetuate. Verses 1-10 describe the building of an edifice to the Almighty God from stones He has chosen and enlivened by His satisfying Word which when consumed produces an intense thirst and desire. The foundation stone on which the house is built is our Lord Jesus Christ - Paul elaborates on this same theme in 1 Corinthians 3verses10-17 (note the similar introduction of Paul to Peter's
