Job 9:1-10

Previously, in Job, we got the "behind the scenes" look in Job 1-2.

Job 3 is Job's first monologue where he laments his situation.

Job 4-5 is Eliphaz's first monologue where his argument is mainly, God blesses the good people and won't mistreat the innocent. The hidden message: Job you must have sinned.

Job 6-7 is Job's reply which contains the disappointment in his friend for the implication of his words. Job acknowledges the finite and transient nature of his life but wonders what God is up to.

Job 8 is Bildad's first monologue where he picks up Eliphaz's argument but is explicit about the connection between sin and suffering.

Job 9 is Job's reaction.

Will look at his speech from verses 1-10 only though the speech runs through chapter 10.

Then Job replied:
Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can a mortal be righteous before God?

In Job's response to Eliphaz, he was much hotter under the collar. This time, Job is a bit more restrained. He acknowledges the "logic" of what Bildad says. Indeed, can anyone of us truly stand before a holy God? The answer is obviously no.

Though one wished to dispute with him,
he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.

Nonetheless, Job would like to have an audience with God but he knows he would stand no chance. And Job is quite realistic about where he stands before God ...

His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.
He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
he seals off the light of the stars.
He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.

Job is upset with God yet he doesn't lose sight of the fact that God is God and he isn't. He is keenly aware that the creator of the universe is very powerful and with a mere word the features of the physical world could be altered.

As a someone who loves the sciences and grew up with the NASA space program and astronomy shows on PBS, I love the next part ...

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

Since I don't read Hebrew, I wonder how literal are these translations? I suppose the translators might have inferred these constellations from the text?

I wonder if Job had in mind "Ursa Major?"



Image source: http://stardate.org/nightsky/constellations/ursa_major.html

Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations. If I pointed to it today and Job was with me, would he say, yup, that is what I had in mind when I said that?



Image source: http://stardate.org/nightsky/constellations/orion.html

One of the most famous star clusters is the Pleiades ...



Image source: http://stardate.org/resources/gallery/gallery_detail.php?id=32

I find it heart warming and compelling that Job who lived thousands of years ago would look at the sky with awe and wonder at the same things I do today. Though separated by time and cultures, our common humanity is seen in this bit of astronomy. And it takes the breath away and Job says ...

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

I hear you Job. Amen.