MARKSWATSON.COM

Contents On This Page

- Job Part 41
- Encouragement
- Job Part 40
- Job Part 39
- Visitation
- Job Part 38
- Religion Watch
- Job Part 37

Job Part XLI

Job begins his retort to Zophar's speech with both an entreaty that Zophar and has friends listen to his words and follows with a bit of dry humor and says they can continue to mock him when he is done, until then, suffer that he may speak.

As for me, is my complaint to man?
And why should I not be impatient?
Mark me, and be astonished,
And lay your hand upon your mouth.
Even when I remember I am troubled,
And horror taketh hold on my flesh.
(Job 21:4-6 ASV)

Job here I think tries to correct a misconception in the minds of his comforters. He is not nearly as concerned with their opinion of him as they seem to think, his argument and complaint is not with them, but with God. He needed comfort and support from his friends and instead he got sermonized by men who clearly did not really know or understand God. They have engaged in this debate that to Job was irrelevant, because his controversy was not with these so called friends, whose comfort they offered Job was like laying on a bed of nails.

Job is upset and why should he not be troubled by all that has befallen him. We should keep in mind that Job has on other occasions appealed directly to God to argue his case before him. This appears to be another occasion (vs 4).

Job then goes on to say (paraphrasing), look at me? are you not astonished!? How could we modernize and make it more colorful and down to earth for today? 'Come on man, look at my face... I look like something out of horror flick and could scare away all the neighborhood kids just by walking down the street!' (see Job 30:8-11).

His friends should have put their hands over their mouth in silent astonishment rather than their constant needling of him.

Job says that even as he remembers these things he is afraid when he thinks of all the evil that has befallen him. It still scares him; his kids dead, his wealth gone, he now sitting in the city dump scraping his skin with shards of a broken pot.

Wherefore do the wicked live,
Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
Their seed is established with them in their sight,
And their offspring before their eyes.
Their houses are safe from fear,
Neither is the rod of God upon them.
(Job 21:7-9 ASV)

Job here returns to his old argument and rebuts the fanciful theology of Zophar, stating clearly that what happens to the wicked is clearly not what Zophar and his friends say it is. He has seen the wicked do pretty well, their household and bloodlines established - they are secure and God does not punish nor chastise them; completely contrary to Zophar's 'make up your own facts' theology. What Zophar and his friends have said simply did not line up with reality.

Their bull gendereth, and faileth not;
  Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
They send forth their little ones like a flock,
And their children dance.
They sing to the timbrel and harp,
 And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity,
And in a moment they go down to Sheol.
And they say unto God, Depart from us;
For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
(Job 21:10-14 ASV)

Job here recounts in poetical language just how good the wicked live. This idea of them wasting away is simply not reflected in any reality except in the 'creative theology' that resides in the minds of Job's friends. But Job hits an important point in verse 14 and it's one we should talk about just a bit.

The point he makes is that all the good times, prosperity and partying, they make the soul of the wicked man hardened and contemptuous of God. In that passage they tell God to depart, 'get lost' - they say to the Almighty, we don't want to know anything about you! Such is the wicked boast of many a rich and powerful man who made their bank account and belly swell as a result of the evil dealings.

Christ dealt with this issue in his ministry and a relevant passage on this can be found below.

And he said unto them,
Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness:
for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance
of the things which he possesseth.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying,
The ground of a certain rich man brought
forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying,
What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns,
and build greater; and there will I bestow
all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul,
Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years;
take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him,
Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee;
and the things which thou hast prepared,
whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.
(Luk 12:15-21 ASV)

What this man did was complete folly. The Greek word for 'foolish' (vs 20) is G878 in Strong's Greek.

This is where Christ enlightens us, that the man's soul now is required of him and he may have had a lot of money in the Roman bank account of his day, but he was not rich towards God.

So the man in Job 21:14 is expressing this same folly that Christ spoke of in Luke. Job was close to the truth of the matter that his friends were either too blind or too puffed up with spiritual arrogance to see.

Yet Peter also speaks about such people in his second letter. He sums it up with this verse.

the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly
out of temptation, and to keep
the unrighteous under punishment
 unto the day of judgment;
(2Pe 2:9 ASV)

In short, the Lord is giving the wicked man the rope he will need to hang himself, the wood needed to build the scaffold, and the shovel required to dig his own spiritual grave.

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand:
The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out?
That their calamity cometh upon them?
 That God distributeth sorrows in his anger?
That they are as stubble before the wind,
And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Ye say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children.
Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:
Let his own eyes see his destruction,
And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
(Job 21:15-20 ASV)

In verse 15, the wicked man continues his mockery of God and demonstrates their contempt for him.

In verse 16, the phrase 'prosperity is not in their hand' probably means that while they have good things, often all the good things this life has to offer, it is not theirs really, it's God's to give and take at his discretion. Job separates himself from such men and their ways; their counsel are things he wants nothing to do with.

Job follows by appearing to answer Bildad's question on the light of the wicked being put out (Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the spark of his fire shall not shine  - Job 18:5). He asks how often their candle is put out and their destruction come? How often does this really happen?. This is the real question Job is asking here.

The rest of the passage is not as clear as it might seem, but it appears that what Job is doing is anticipating an argument from his friends and answering a previous contention that God will visit the sins of the evil man upon his posterity. They may argue that maybe what Job puts forward is true, if so then they would argue that the sins of the fathers will visit the children (Exodus 20:5). This doctrine is also being debated by Job, but let us remember that this book was almost certainly written long before the Book of Exodus and the Mosaic Law.

We shall continue our look a Job next week, God willing!!!

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Encouragement

Grace and peace to each of you. In these difficult times I always want to make sure that I do my best to encourage each of you who comes by the site. I know how hard life can be and this walk of faith can at times be difficult and the last thing I want to be is one of those sites that harp on the negative, the disasters and casting a dark light on everything, as is the habit of some. 

We can often become discouraged and confused when things don't turn out the way we wanted or hoped. In such times we need to remember the proverb.

Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart,
And lean not upon thine own understanding:
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he will direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes;
Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
It will be health to thy navel,
And marrow to thy bones.
(Pro 3:5-8 ASV)

In times when we don't understand why something is happening to us, this is what we need to do. Trust in the Lord - with all of our hearts. It's what David  had to do before he rose to the throne and it's what Job had to do. Both had to have at sometime, felt almost betrayed and abandoned by the God in whom they trusted. But each hung in there - through thick and thin and kept faith with God. Job was restored and doubly blessed and David did ascend to the throne, according to God's promise. But they had to wade through a proverbial swamp full of crocodiles and walk through the valley of the shadow of death first. But they kept moving forward did not look back and kept faith with God, despite the dangers.

What? You think its has been easy doing this blog? It's not has hard as it used to be, but there are times it has been exceptionally difficult. But I had my orders from the Lord and I carried them out. I say this to each of you so that you won't get discouraged when the harsh realities of life come crashing in your front door. A major illness in the family, a death, the loss of a job, a major expense you simply cannot pay for, you get very sick or maybe you have to do time for a crime you never even thought about committing - these things happen, they can happen to anyone.

But your job is to not give into despair and bitterness. We must never rail against God and put the blame on him for the troubles in our life. Chances are there is something here God wants to teach you and you won't realize what the lesson is until it's over. It's often that way with me. I had to learn some things the hard way and as the last big trial was ending the Lord just spoke to me and let me know that if I had learned one key lesson, the trial would come to an end. It did. There is no chance I will forget that lesson as I think I will have to go through a 'remedial' course in the school of hard knocks if I ever do.

Such a lesson does not appeal to me!

The key for each of us who serves the Lord is this - we all have to go through trials. There is no way around it. So if it happens to you, don't be shocked or dismayed. It goes with God's plan.

fear thou not, for I am with thee;
be not dismayed, for I am thy God;
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea,
I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Behold, all they that are incensed
against thee shall be put to shame and confounded:
they that strive with thee shall be as nothing,
and shall perish. Thou shalt seek them,
and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee:
they that war against thee shall be as nothing,
and as a thing of nought. For I, Jehovah thy God,
will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee,
Fear not; I will help thee.
(Isa 41:10-13 ASV)

Things gone awry? Feel like a hundred boulders just landed right on top of you? Brothers we have a God who loves us and will take care of us if we fully put our trust in him. You got enemies? The passage above makes it plain that they won't be around long. Just hang tough, God see's what they are doing. He has not forgotten about you or their deeds. Let them finish digging their own graves - they may be only 5-and-a half feet down - let them get that extra 6 inches of digging completed. Save the manual laborers the sweat needed to do it. Your God is indeed looking out for you. But you must - absolutely MUST put your trust in him and do what he tells you.

So no matter what you are going through, keep faith with God. Don't get discouraged and don't, whatever you do throw in the towel on your faith. That is exactly what the devil wants you to do. Invariably, he is targeting your faith - the key ingredient in our salvation.

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Job Part XL

We continue here with the last two verses of Job's response to Bildad.

Job Part XXXIX

Visitation

There are some themes I particularly like writing about. And there are those I don't. This is one I don't like to very much. But none of us who knows God should ever ignore this one. Today, we are going to talk about the time of visitation. When God visits a nation or a people who have been wayward. I have quoted this passage before, but I think it meet it is used again.

Then he cried in mine ears with a loud voice,
saying, Cause ye them that have charge
over the city to draw near,
every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
And behold, six men came from the way
of the upper gate, which lieth toward the north,
every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand;
and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen,
with a writer's inkhorn by his side. And they went in,
and stood beside the brazen altar.
And the glory of the God of Israel
was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was,
to the threshold of the house:
and he called to the man clothed in linen,
who had the writer's inkhorn by his side.
And Jehovah said unto him,
Go through the midst of the city,
through the midst of Jerusalem,
and set a mark upon the foreheads
of the men that sigh and that cry over
all the abominations that are done
in the midst thereof. And to the others
he said in my hearing, Go ye through
the city after him, and smite:
let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;
slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin,
and little children and women;
but come not near any man upon whom is the mark:
and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began
at the old men that were before the house.
 And he said unto them, Defile the house,
and fill the courts with the slain:
go ye forth. And they went forth,
and smote in the city. And it came to pass,
while they were smiting, and I was left,
that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said,
Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou destroy
all the residue of Israel in thy
pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem? Then said he unto me,
The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great,
and the land is full of blood, and the city
full of wresting of judgment: for they say,
Jehovah hath forsaken the land,
and Jehovah seeth not. And as for me also,
mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity,
but I will bring their way upon their head.
And behold, the man clothed in linen,
 who had the inkhorn by his side,
 reported the matter, saying,
I have done as thou
hast commanded me.
(Eze 9:1-11 ASV)

This is the whole chapter and I think we all have read this passage in the past and it gave us all some pause; something to step back and very seriously consider. The basic theme is Israel had sinned and done so grievously. God was having no more of it and was exceedingly angry. He was going to put a stop to it and this was it. We don't know who these men were who carried out the commandment of the Lord. They may have been angels - that is what I think, though some commentators think they may have been some of Nebuchadnezzar's generals; those mentioned in Jer 39:3.

What follows is the inevitable result of sin and rebellion. God finally brings in judgment. Not chastisement, not rebuke but judgment. Judgment usually has some aspect of finality about it.

God did not show mercy in the above passage. Those days were over. Those who were appointed to carry out this punishment were forbidden to show any of it (9:5). God can visit his people and he can visit nations and peoples and this kind of visitation can destroy a kingdom or even empire. Think about Belshazzar and what happened when God judged that empire. God did not wait around to accomplish his aim. The hand wrote on the wall and hours later it was fulfilled (Dan 5:30).

Israel was rebuked by Christ Jesus for not knowing the hour of her visitation.

For the days shall come upon thee,
when thine enemies shall cast up
a bank about thee, and compass thee round,
and keep thee in on every side,
and shall dash thee to the ground,
and thy children within thee;
and they shall not leave in thee
one stone upon another;
because thou knewest
not the time of thy visitation.
(Luk 19:43-44 ASV)

Christ was right there among them, the Messiah they had waited for and yet they despised him, hated him and eventually murdered him. They also had John the Baptist who proclaimed the coming of the Lord, beheaded. Let us keep in mind that what Christ was saying about Jerusalem, deeply moved him, he was not happy about this at all as he wept over the city and its spiritual state (Luke 19:41), The hour of visitation is nothing that we should yearn for or be happy about. But we should be aware in woeful anticipation that one day, if there is no repentance and the sins continue, it will arrive.

When? That is always the question people ask. It will happen when God commands it, not when we think it should happen. Our job as saints is to make sure that we are accounted like those above whom the Lord spared and marked out for protection in that day. How did Peter put it?

Beloved, I beseech you
as sojourners and pilgrims,
to abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul;
 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles;
that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers,
they may by your good works,
which they behold, glorify God
in the day of visitation.
(1Pe 2:11-12 ASV)

Now we don't know for sure what visitation Peter is referring to, but I think it has a general meaning. Any kind of divine visitation where God checks up on and 'weighs' the actions of the sons of men, individuals, the Church, nations or the world in general.

We as Christians should always be ready for any kind of divine visitation, personal, collective or national.

But when is the visitation for America coming? I do not know. The Lord has not shared that information with me, but I do think he is still very much in the 'get them to repent' mode of dealing with the nation and world. God is not done yet with America. The problem as I see it is that America, much of it is done with God. By that I mean truly honoring and obeying him and doing those things that please him. In some quarters there seems to be an open defiance of him and his ways.

Yet God is not blind to much of the good that is still here in the Nation. Despite all of our sins and evils, Americans are still some of the most charitable people on earth. God see's both the good and the bad in every one of us.

Many of you can't wait to get this over and move into the Kingdom of heaven. Some of you are a bit impatient for God to deal with the world and its sins. I say this to each of you who feel this way - wait, chill out and don't get ahead of God. All things will happen at their appointed time. God's time, not ours. He has an overall plan for the last days and America's fate and day of destiny will be determined by God, not our impatience. God has his own plan and his own reasons for doing things the way he does them. It's not my way and it's not your way. It's his way and we must never forget that God is sovereign.

Yea, since the day was I am he;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand:
I will work, and who can hinder it?
(Isa 43:13 ASV)

This is God's affair and this is God's justice, not yours or mine. We too must each stand before him and give account, as all the sons of men must do. We must learn to fully submit to God's eternal wisdom and love of righteousness and justice. God has a plan of which we humans only play a part in. Remember there is another aspect to this whole end-time drama. There are the angels; those who remained loyal and those who turned on the Lord that also must be factored in. There are probably other aspects to this that we simply have no way of being privy to. Don't think God has explained everything to us. I can assure you he has not. We only, as Paul phrased it, see through a mirror darkly and only to the degree God allows.

But for the world? Those who know not God? Those who defied and mocked him and those whom he sent?

And what will ye do in the day of visitation,
and in the desolation which shall come from far?
to whom will ye flee for help?
and where will ye leave your glory?
They shall only bow down under the prisoners,
and shall fall under the slain.
For all this his anger
is not turned away,
but his hand
is stretched out still.
(Isa 10:3-4 ASV)

The day of visitation is a day of horror and anguish. So let us be aware of the lateness of the hour and not be caught unawares as many probably will be.

Moreover, let us not sit on pins and needles waiting for the end time drama to play itself out to the end. We should keep busy with whatever God has for us to do. As I said the other day, God does not like idleness. We have all heard the saying about the devil finding work for idle hands.

So let us do as we are commanded 'occupy' till the Lord comes, live our lives in quiet humility, living a life righteous and holy; full of honor and truth. The day of visitation will come and when it does, most of us will wish we had not been around to witness it, so many troubles that day will bring.

And Jehovah, the God of their fathers,
sent to them by his messengers,
rising up early and sending,
because he had compassion on his people,
and on his dwelling-place: but they mocked
the messengers of God, and despised his words,
and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Jehovah
arose against his people,
till there was no remedy.
(2Ch 36:15-16 ASV)

But let we who serve our God always remember this aspect of God's character. God is a no non-sense God and he has a no non-sense attitude about unrepentant sin and evil - individually or collectively.

Loving though he is, he simply will not abide evil.


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Job Part XXXVIII

Religion Watch

Where Much Of the Church Got It Wrong.

What was Christ's mission? This, I think is a fundamental question for the Church in our times. 

Well, what it was not was to help the elite make a new world order, it was not to save the planet from greenhouse gases, or build a better war machine to fight some 'evil empire'. His mission was to save souls from the power of sin and the devil and from the eternal fire (prepared for the devil and his fallen host of angels) that awaits those who refuse to turn from the evil of their ways, and choose to follow in the devil's footsteps. The Church's mission is to preach and live the everlasting gospel so that men would not fall under judgment and the wrath of our God to whom every soul; every man woman and child, rich or poor, black or white will give full account on judgment day. This was Christ's purpose, so that men may know God (John 17:3), who he is and what he is really all about and to redirect men from the path of evil and sin, to righteousness and justice, in Christ Jesus.

I think this where the Church got it wrong and continues to get it wrong today. It tries to be popular and worldly when we are called out of this world and its wicked ways. This is where I think so much of the Church has lost touch with God. Much of it I think, has ceased to be of any use to him for the purposes he empowered it. I am not going to pick on any particular denomination. It's the whole western system of 'Church' that in my view, has failed God and his purpose for the Church in more ways than one.

I think ultimately for many in Church leadership, it's a question of faith. Do they really believe and have faith - active faith in God or are they stuck in a rut and can't get out because the pay is too good? Are they really Christ's? For some, they have paved a road with excellent intentions, but it leads nowhere but to the lake of fire, unless it is built on the firm foundation of Christ Jesus and him crucified and risen from the dead.

But what I see is a very subtle and powerful move by the devil to get control of all organized religion. I think what is happening to many church's around the world is just part of the picture. The powerful men in our world; the billionaires, the power-brokers who live behind the scenes who wield tremendous influence around the world need to 'co-opt' religion for any plan for a new order or any global reorganization to succeed.

What about Persecution? What about the persecution of the Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's) all over the world. The USCIRF has done a report on this recently. Here is part of what they said.

Overview of Global Persecution

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been banned in several countries, and individual Witnesses imprisoned for alleged “extremism” or their conscientious objection to military service. The majority of these countries belonged to the former Soviet Union (FSU), with the notable exceptions of Eritrea, Singapore, and South Korea. In April 2017, for example, the Russian government banned Jehovah’s Witnesses as an “extremist organization,” placing them in a similar category as terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and Al-Qaeda.

Russia was not the only country in the FSU to explicitly or implicitly target this community, or even the first to do so. In fact, in July 2007, Tajikistan placed Jehovah’s Witnesses’ publications on its list of prohibited literature, one year before it banned the community entirely as an “extremist organization.” In Turkmenistan, although not technically banned, Jehovah’s Witnesses have not been granted registration and are therefore unable to operate legally, and the government has arrested and imprisoned many Witnesses for their conscientious objection to military service. The situation in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan is somewhat better; in these countries, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been able to legally register and operate, albeit only in select cities. Yet authorities and societies in these countries still tend to view the community with suspicion—as “non-traditional,” foreign, or even a threat—and Witnesses still experience legal and social persecution. - (USCIRF) Issue Update: The Global Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses

There is also a piece out of Human Rights Watch, which can be easily found. Is this is a sign of things to come. The answer is - I think so, particularly in certain parts of the world.

Think SCO, a subject I have spend some time on here. SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) is often ignored, but it is a very important regional alliance. One key goal of the SCO is to fight what they call the three evils. Those 'evils' are terrorism, separatism and religious extremism. In some places, people whose religion are not or cannot be registered with the state are, for all intents and purposes, labeled as 'extremists'. This is kind of what many of the problems in Xinjiang are all about. So yes, it's about all non-state sponsored versus state sponsored/approved religions. In Russia, the JW's are banned as an 'extremist' organization. Note how this falls right in line with the SCO and their three evils?

I think it is all part of a stratagem, get control of religions - put as many religious leaders in service to or in 'debt' to the state or on their payroll and then when the time is right, use certain religious leaders to root out and deal with those who are 'not approved' by the state.

You can read a lot about persecution in this part of the world by heading over to Forum18. They have some very informative stories.

(begin excerpt from Form18) The authorities carried out at least 86 house searches – usually involving armed officials - between late October and mid-December 2020 across 16 regions of Russia. Raids, investigations, and criminal prosecutions continue against Jehovah's Witnesses and Muslims suspected of carrying on the activities of banned "extremist" organisations, with some raids including torture.

The most recent known raids on Jehovah's Witness homes were in Tambov Region in late December 2020, and in the Udmurt Republic on 21 January 2021. Three Muslims who met with others to study Islam with the writings of Said Nursi are known to be under criminal investigation in Tatarstan and Dagestan.

Eight Jehovah's Witnesses and one Muslim Nursi reader are serving labour camp terms as "extremists".

Many other Jehovah's Witnesses are currently serving suspended sentences. Three have been convicted since the start of 2021. Receiving a suspended sentence means a convicted person must live under restrictions specified by the judge, regularly register with probation authorities, and avoid conviction for any other offence during the probationary period or risk being sent to prison. - RUSSIA: "The policy of expelling 'extremists and terrorists'" by Forum18

It's not just Russia. Kazakhstan as well has troubles along these lines. They too are members of SCO.

My point here is this. The some of the world's governments and elite feel they need to manage and control religion. This is not just about Christianity, it's about all religions that they view as a potential threat, and to authoritarian  governments, anything they do not fully control or can destroy at will is viewed as a potential threat. They can't control these people and if they start to meet secretly they will have a hard time destroying them. The answer to me looks like what we see today.

Let us all remember that satan is the Prince of this world and he has nothing... absolutely nothing in Christ (John 14:30; 16:30). It is he that runs the kingdoms of this world, east and west, left and right, north and south.

We as genuine Christians have a hard job ahead of us and some difficulties. We must be prepared for them.

This country (the US) with all of its myriad of problems and issues, still believes in and pushes for religious liberty. Let us pray continually that this never changes.

FYI - for those who will ask or wonder - no, I am not a Jehovah's Witness. I merely believe that all men should be able to worship, witness and and assemble themselves regardless of their faith in peace; Muslim, Protestant, Buddhist, Catholic and Native religions without any persecution, surveillance, harassment or undue administrative and legal burdens designed to prevent non-violent religious activities.

Just know this, those of you who may not be sympathetic to the plight of the JW's or others religious groups, if they can outlaw, harass or otherwise criminalize someone else's religion, one day they can come and do the same thing to your religion.

Keep your eye on the SCO and for those of you who don't know much about it, there are several articles that can be found as well as a map that shows you who is a member. Wikipedia's piece is good, though a bit long and detailed. I think it's one of those really big geopolitical changes that is hiding in plain sight, though many people have probably never heard of it before.

The world is changing and the Church had better open its eyes and stay awake in these troubling and difficult times.

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Job Part XXXVII

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite,
and said, How long will ye hunt for words?
Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
Wherefore are we counted as beasts,
And are become unclean in your sight?
Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger,
Shall the earth be forsaken for thee?
Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?
(Job 18:1-4 ASV)

Bildad shoots back his response to Job's speech. But this time, he is even more scathing than before. First he attacks Job because he is long winded. He has talked and talked and Bildad here seems to imply he waited patiently for Job to end in order to issue his retort. He seems to imply that Job was just rambling and that his words were not well considered. He chides Job for accounting his comforters as being mere animals, without intelligence and in his rage, having lost respect for them. This may have been a reference to Job's words in 12:7. The phrase, tearest thyself in thine anger is one that seems to imply that Bildad was accusing Job of acting like a madman and Bildad was making it clear that the world did not revolve around Job and that he was being self-centered as he vented his sorrow and anger, and seemingly railing at everyone. In short he is asking if (in his view) the whole spiritual and moral order of the world should be overturned to suit Job. Bildad's words are scathing... but he is not finished yet.

Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out,
And the spark of his fire shall not shine.
The light shall be dark in his tent,
And his lamp above him shall be put out.
The steps of his strength shall be straitened,
 And his own counsel shall cast him down.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
And he walketh upon the toils.
A gin shall take him by the heel,
And a snare shall lay hold on him.
A noose is hid for him in the ground,
And a trap for him in the way.
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side,
And shall chase him at his heels.
His strength shall be hunger-bitten,
And calamity shall be ready at his side.
The members of his body shall be devoured,
Yea, the first-born of death shall devour his members.
He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusteth;
 And he shall be brought to the king of terrors.
There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his:
Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
His roots shall be dried up beneath,
And above shall his branch be cut off.
His remembrance shall perish from the earth,
And he shall have no name in the street.
He shall be driven from light into darkness,
And chased out of the world.
He shall have neither son
nor son's son among his people,
Nor any remaining where he sojourned.
They that come after shall be astonished at his day,
As they that went before were affrighted.
Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
And this is the place of him that knoweth not God.
(Job 18:5-21 ASV)

Bildad here begins to use symbols from hunting and laying traps to describe the fate of the wicked. This whole passage does not contain any new information on the simplistic theology of these comforters but gives us an insight into their thinking and their anger at Job. But it does show a kind of progress of the fate of the wicked and its stages, which are outlined in stages in the Cambridge Bible Commentary for Schools and Churches for these verses. 

Thus summarizes the theology of Bildad with regards to the wicked, of whom his words are not so cleverly disguised to point at Job.

Bildad's words are nothing new. Again, it's basically the same theology that he and his friends were propounding with Job since the beginning of the discourse which in essence says - your fate looks too much like that of the wicked for us to ignore it, you must have some gross and secret sin that God is now punishing you for...confess and repent!

We will continue our look at Job next week, God willing!

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