Psalms 11-14

Psalms 11-14

Chapter 11: The Lord Tests the Righteous

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

This Psalm records well-intentioned, but faithless advice of David’s friends when he was a fugitive from King Saul. David lifts his eyes to the Lord to find faith in a time of testing. He knew the safest place to stand was with trust in God.

In the years before he took the throne of Israel, David lived the life of a fugitive. He was constantly hunted by King Saul, and lived in constant danger. In such a time, his friends advised him, “…Flee as a bird to your mountain...” (Psalms 11:1), I think tha his friends meant well, but they were nevertheless wrong.

David responds to them and asks; “…how say ye… Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, [and] …make ready their arrow…” (Psalms 11:2)

David goes on to say that; “… the Lord’s throne in in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” (Psalms 11:4)

Now this doesn't make much sense until we read the Inspired Version of the King James Version (as re-translated by Joseph Smith)

                “…sitting upon God’s throne in heaven, his eyes shall pierce the wicked.” (Psalms 11:4, Joseph Smith Translation of the King James Bible)

David would not listen to the advice of his friends and flee, because if he put his trust in the Lord he would be ok.

Chapter 12: Flattering Lips and Tongues

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

“Sheminith-  Is a musical term, a similar direction is found in the title of Psalms 6:1 and in 1 Chronicles 15:21. Although we don’t know for sure, it seems that Sheminith denotes a certain air known as the eighth, or a certain key in which the psalm was to be sung.”

                “HELP, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth… they speak vanity… with flattering lips and with a double heart…the tongue that speakth proud things.”  (Psalms 12:1-3)

                David opens this Psalm with a plea of HELP from the Lord. David explains that the “godly” or “good” man cease to exist. However, David says that the “…words of the Lord are pure… O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalms 12:6-7)

                David knew that the wicked existed, they had double hearts and double minds. They manifested good, but in reality worked in wickedness. Even though the wicked spoke with vanity and flattering lips, their words would not last forever. However, the words of the Lord are pure and shall endure forever.

Chapter 13: Rejoice in Salvation

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

“Who is the chief Musician? - Some believe that it is the Lord God Himself, others believe he was a leader of a choir or choirs in the time of David.”

                “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? ...how long wilt thou hid thy face from me?” (Psalms 13:1)

                David, like many others felt that God was abandoning him. How often has one of God’s children knelt down in tears, begging God to answer their prayers… only to feel like they are talking to themselves? It happens. Often times it happens for our own good, so that we can gain/learn something on our own. This is why we live, to learn and grow… so that when we die and return to our celestial home we can have the gained knowledge to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

                David knew deep down that God was their and that he still trusted Him to answer; “…I have trusted thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” (Psalms 13:5). I strongly believe that David is talking about the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ we can be saved and have Eternal Salvation.

Chapter 14: The Fool Says: There is NO God!

To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

                “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” (Psalms 14:1) 

                David makes a very clear point, those who say that there is NO God, are FOOLS! He goes on to say that those same people, who say there is no God; “…are corrupt, [and] they have done abominable works…” (Psalm 14:1)

                Essentially we learn that those who believe God does not exist have become corrupt and have done evil works. David then goes on to say that “The Lord looked down from heaven…to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.” (Psalms 14:2)

                The Lord said that all together His children had become corrupt, filthy and workers of iniquity with no knowledge. (see verses 3 & 4). The Lord sought to restore his gospel (like He does, everytime the generation becomes filthy). When the day of Restoration comes; “…Jacob shall rejic, and Israel shall be glad” (Psalms 14:7)

Psalms 9-10

Psalms 9-10

Chapter 9: The Righteous in Zion; The Wicked in Hell.

To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben, A Psalm of David.

                “Muth-labben - What this phrase means is somewhat disputed, but it likely indicates either what the motivation for writing the Psalm was (in which case it probably means "the death of Labben" or "the death of the son" or "the death of the fool") OR how the psalm was to be sung (in which case it probably denotes a specific musical instrument to be used for accompaniment, or an existing song whose tune was to be used.

Some (as in the New King James Version) associate the title with the phrase’The Death of the Son’, and apply that title as the ancient Chaldee version does: ‘Concerning the death of the Champion who went out between the camps,’ referring to Goliath. Perhaps David wrote this Psalm remembering the victory over Goliath from the advantage of many years since that triumph.”

David tells about the judgement of the Lord and how he shall judge the world in righteousness…

                “…the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgement.” (Psalms 9:7)

David also mentions that those who trust in the Lord will have his help…

                “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of troube.” (Psalms 9:9)

David goes on to say that “…they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Psalms 9:10)

                Those who put their trust in God will not be forsaken, or in other words will not be abandoned. If you put your trust in the Lord he will be a refuge for you in times of trouble. So that we can later “…rejoice in…salvation” (Psalms 9:14). However, those who forsake the Lord and put their trust in the Devil, who by the way WILL FORSAKE YOU, will be “…turned into hell…” (Psalms 9:17)

                David, in closing, asks the Lord to put the wicked people and nations “…in fear… that the nations may know themselves to be but men.” (Psalms 9:20). We can learn a lot from this, as the world falls apart around us, we can know that we are just men (human) we must obey our master, Lord and Savior.

Chapter 10: The Lord is King Forever and Ever

Because this Psalm has no title (in the middle of several Psalms that do), and because it shares some similar themes with Psalm 9, some have thought that it was originally the second half of Psalm 9. But many arguments of Bible Scholars have lead to this being really unknown.

David starts off by questioning the Lord;

                “Why standest thou afar off, Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalms 10:1)

The answer is pretty simple, usually we don’t understand the workings of the Lord, but as we are reminded in the last chapter, the Lord is a refuge for those who trust him and he will not forsake them. See Psalms 9:9-10. Sometimes we just don’t fully understand things that happen in our short life, most people live to an average age of 75? 80? In the scheme of Eternity, that is nothing!

                David goes on to mention that the evil/wicked ones are “…full of cursing…deceit and fraud…” (Psalms 10:7)

                David asks the Lord in closing of this chapter to “…forget not the humble.” (Psalms 10:12) and to “Break… the arm of the wicked and evil man…” (Psalms 10:15). One thing we can know for sure is that the wicked will never prevail, those who trust in the Lord will be lifted up in the last day and given refuge.

Psalms 7-8

Psalms 7-8

Chapter 7: God is Angry with the Wicked

Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

“Shiggaion - From the verb shagah, "to reel about through drink."  The plural form, shigionoth, is found in Habakkuk 3:1. The word denotes a lyrical poem composed under strong mental emotion; a song of impassioned imagination accompanied with suitable music; aka a dithyrambicode.”

The New King James version translates the Hebrew word “Shiggaion” as meditation.  The specific occasion is not easily connected with an event recorded in the historical books of the Old Testament; it may be a reference to either Shimei’s accusations against David in 2 Samuel 16:5 or to Saul’s slanders against David. More likely this Cush, a Benjaminite was simply another partisan of Saul against David.

                “O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me” (Psalms 7:1)

When David was under attack from Cush the Benjamite, the only one he could trust was God. No one else was around (whom he could trust). But with the trust in God, was all he needed. David knew that he was not perfect, but he was asking deliverance from what he believed to be worse… his enemies.

                “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalms 7:11)

                David knew that God was a JUST GOD. He would judge accordingly. Those who do wickedness in the eyes of the Lord have the wrath and anger of God upon them.

Chapter 8: What is Man? Nothing!

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.

“Gittith – A Stringed Instrument of music” 

“O Lord our God, how excellent is thy name in all the earth…” (Psalms 8:1)

David understand how excellent the Lord really is, and how He is known throughout all the world. David then tells God that when he considers the creations of the world and the stars, and moon… he asks…

“What is man…” (Psalms 8:4). David is trying to put man in contrast with the Lord, it amazes David that we were given such great responsibility to have dominion over His creations. He sort of asks, what is man? When compared to God? The answer is that, YES we were created in His image, but we are still beneath him and his Excellency.

Psalms 5-6

Psalms 5-6

Chapter 5: The Lord Hates “Workers of Iniquity”

To the Chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.

“Nehiloth - is the general term for perforated wind-instruments of all kinds (flutes for example)”

“Give ear unto my words… Hearken unto my voice… My voice shalt thou hear in the morning…” (Psalms 5:1-3). In the first three verses, David is desperately asking for God’s attention. David uses a Hebrew method of repeating his words (in this case, 3 times).

                David goes on with his prayer and tells God, the obvious. “…thou art not a God that hath please in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” (Psalms 5:4)

David meditates on the righteous character of God. What we do before God, matter. God does not like worker’s of iniquity and will not have them in his presence.

                “…there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness… they flatter with their tongue.” (Psalms 5:9)

Here, David points out that those who are wicked will flatter you with their speech, but in reality, he focuses on what the wicked say as evidence of their wickedness. Jesus taught something similar in Matthew 12:41; “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” In other words our righteousness or wickedness will sooner or later show up in our speech. The true intentions of our heart, good or bad will slip in our words.

Chapter 6: David Cries Mercy to God

To the chief Musician on Heginoth upon Sheminith (eight stringed Harp), A Psalm of David.

“Neginoth – Hebrew for Stringed Instruments”

“Sheminith-  Is a musical term, a similar direction is found in the title of Psalms 12:1 and in 1 Chronicles 15:21. Although we don’t know for sure, it seem that Sheminith denotes a certain air known as the eighth, or a certain key in which the psalm was to be sung.”

Psalm 6 is known as the first of seven penitential psalms - songs of confession and humility before God. It was a custom in the early church to sing these psalms on Ash Wednesday, the Wednesday before Easter.

“O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger… Have mercy upon me… for I am weak… heal me for my bones are vexed (worried/troubled).” (Psalms 6:1-2)

We don't know what sin David was praying about, but because of his sin David sensed he was under the condemnation from God. Here hecalls out for God to kindle his anger with him and hear his plea.

                In the Book of Mormon we have a similar story in a book called “Ether”, here the Lord tells us that “…if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble… for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27; The Book of Mormon)

                David knew that he must present to the Lord that he was weak and NEEDED the Lord to help him. In letters to the Corinthians, Paul explains that; “…my strength is made perfect in weakness… therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

                Paul, like David knew what the Lord had taught to Moroni and later to Ether in the Book of Mormon; that God gives men weakness so that they can be humbled. With this humility they can take joy in the unpleasant things of life, knowing that with this weakness they can be made strong!

                David ends in this chapter by asking God to vex his enemies, that they might be ashamed of their wickedness.

Psalms 3-4

Psalms 3-4

Chapter 3: Salvation is of God

                This is the first Psalm with a title: “A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.” 

                Most of the Psalms (by chapter) have a Title. These titles are part of the Canon and therefore are part of the scriptures. They are not just added in later, they were (or so we know) part of the original text from whence they were translated. 

“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me…” (Psalms 3:1) At the writing of this Psalm David was in a great deal of trouble. His own son led what seemed to be a successful rebellion against him. Many of his previous friends and associates forsook him and joined the ranks of those who “troubled” him (2 Samuel 15:13).

                “…tho, O Lord, art a shield for me…” (Psalms 3:3)

                David’s situation was so bad that men around him felt he was beyond God’s help. Though many said there was no help for him from God, David knew that God was his shield.  

                “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people…” (Psalms 3:6)

With God sustaining him, David could stand against anyone.

                “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people” (Psalms 3:8)

David understood that salvation came only through God. No one or thing can give you your salvation. To be saved, one must go through the Lord Himself.

 Chapter 4: Put Your Trust in God

To the Chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.

“Neginoth – Hebrew for Stringed Instruments”

 “Hear me… O God of my righteousness” (Psalms 4:1)

                There is passion in David’s cry. He doesn’t want to just ramble on to himself. He wants to make sure that his words reach the heavens for God to hear. David knew that his righteousness came from God, and not from himself.

                “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still” (Psalms 4:4) 

                I think that David was reminding himself to NOT sin. However, I also believe that this is a reminder for everyone to not sin. One thing I find interesting is how it mentions communing with your heart and being still. Here David is talking about prayer. Prayer should be done with a open heart and reverence (being still). God does not need anyone to scream, he can hear you and a quiet, reverant place is where the Spirit of the Lord can be found.

                “I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalms 4:8)

                I like to think of this as a reminder for us, to say our bed-time prayers. If we say our prayers before we go to sleep (and always for that matter), the Lord will help us to be a rest, peace and with safety. 

Psalms 1-2

Psalms 1-2

Chapter 1: The Godly/Ungodly

                “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:6)

The godly and the ungodly are compared in this Psalm. The first verse of this Psalm tells us;
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…” (Psalm 1:1) Blessed translates the Hebrew word “esher,” which has the idea of happiness or contentment. Esher comes from the Hebrew word ashar, which in its root means “to be straight” or “to be right.” Blessed is the man speaks of the happiness, the blessedness, the contentment in the life of the man or woman who is right or “straight” with God. The righteous man will be a blessed man, a happy man.

                So what does the “blessed man” do?

He “…delight(s) in the law of the Lord…” (Job 1:2), meaning he follows every law and by so doing, shows his faith and love for God. Throughout the Psalms, the phrase law of the Lord is used to describe God’s entire word, not only the “law” portion of the first five books of the Bible. The righteous man delights in the word of God!

                So what happens to the “ungodly man”?

                The ungodly men (and women) are like the “…chaff (The husks of corn or other seed separated by threshing) which the wind driveth away.” (Job 1:4) 

Essentially the ungodly are like the seeds that where threshed and then driven away by the wind. This makes them completely useless and out of control. This takes us back the first quoted verse… the Lord knows the way of the righteous, and he BLESSES THE BLESSED MEN!

Chapter 2: The Heathen and The Annointed

                “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling… Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Job 2:11-12)

Like many Psalms, the theme of Psalm 2 is emphasized in the final verse. We can defy God and perish, or surrender to Him and be blessed. The Psalm itself does not identify its author, but Acts 4:25-26 tells us that David was the author.

“Why do the heathen rage… The kings of the earth set themselves, against the Lord…” (Psalms 2:1-2)

Nations have no reason to rage against God, and they have no benefit in raging against Him. Their opposition against God is nothing but a vain thing. Yet, throughout all history we have seen kings, tyrants, dictators and presidents take on God without any fear! History has also told us that this NEVER works out! God and his faithful will always triumph!

                “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision (mockery)” (Job 2:4)

                God looks at the way man plots against Him and He laughs. God isn't afraid or confused or about man. God laughs at it. Again, evil never triumphs. God knows the outcome and rest assured, in the end of it all, good triumphs over evil.

                God (or the author of this Psalm) send out a warning to the leaders of the world…  “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Job 2:10-11)

                Can we see this today? Certainly. The world is slowly rejecting God, Jesus and their teachings. Worse, they show no regard of the consequences that they are bestowing upon themselves and the people, for whom they “lead”.

Summary of Job

Summary of Job

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):  

We can learn a very simple, yet important lesson from the story of Job… bad things happen. I personally believe that EVERYTHING has a reason, bad or good. We learn from Job that EVERYTHING was taken from him, including a close encounter with his own life through sickness! Yet, Job prevailed and pushed through the challenges that God presented him… and because of it he became a stronger and more powerful man.

Sometimes we have Mountains to Climb, and every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.

Sometimes we are burdened by challenges or trials in our lives. More often than not, we feel like we can not carry the weight of these trials. But every trial or challenge that is presented to us, is unique to the individual and its end purpose is designed for that specific individual. When presented with a trial, you must ask yourself; WHY? What do I NEED to gain from this experience? There is a purpose for everything and in the end; for “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…” (Romans 8:28). If you are struggling, just know that you are NOT ALONE! Keep your head up and everything will work for the good!

Chapter by Chapter:

Job 1-2: Job, a Just and Perfect Man/Job is Smitten with Boils
Job 3-4: Job Curses his Birthday/Eliphaz Critizes Job
Job 5-6: Happy is the Man that God Corrects/The Right Words
Job 7-8: What is our time on earth?/Our time on earth is short
Job 9-10: Man cannot contend with God/Why are we born?

Job 11-12: By searching we can find God/The soul’s of all things are in God’s hands
Job 13-14: I will trust the Lord/Shall man live again?
Job 15-16: The wicked do not believe/The witness is in heaven 
Job 17-18: The body returns to dust/The wicked know not God
Job 19-20: In the flesh we will see God/The inheritance of Good and Evil
Job 21-22: The Wicked Sometimes Prosper in this Life/Eliphaz Accuses Job of Sinning
Job 23-24: After Trials, We are Refined/The Wicked Often Go Unpunished
Job 25-27: The Lowly State of Man/God and His Power are Great/Terrors of Death
Job 28-29: Wisdom Can Not be Bought/Job and His Former Prosperity
Job 30-31: Job Weeps for Those in Trouble/Job Invites Judgement from God
Job 32-33: Great Men are Not Always Wise/God Speak to Men in Dreams
Job 34-35: God Cannot Be Unjust/Men Should Trust in God
Job 36-37: The Wicked Die without Knowledge/God Controls Nature and Science
Job 38-39: Nature and God/Man Knows Nothing
Job 40-42: The Arm of God/All Things are God (The Body of God)

Summary of Job:

The book of Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible, although we don’t know exactly how old the book is, there is no doubt that it is ancient. Some scholars believe that Job, is mentioned early on in the Bible in the book of Genesis as “Jobab” (Genesis 10:29), one of the sons of Joktan, which would put Job in the year between Noah and Abraham. In the opening chapter of the Book of Job, we learn that he is from the land of Uz, well there was a man named Huz (Uz?), who was Abraham’s nephew (see Genesis 22:21), perhaps the land of Uz was named after him?

Eliphaz (Job 2:11) was the son of Esau (Genesis 34:10-11); this son of Esau had another son named Teman (Genesis 36:10-11), and the descendants of Teman were known for their wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7). Bildad is called a Shuhite (Job 2:11), and Shuah was a son of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 35:2).

Here is how the story of Job goes…

Job was a wealthy man living in a land called Uz with his large family and extensive flocks. He is “…perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed (abstained from) evil” (Job1:1). One day Satan appears before God in heaven. God boasts to Satan about Job’s goodness, but Satan argues that Job is only good because God has blessed him abundantly. Satan challenges God that, if given permission to punish the man, Job will turn and curse God. God allows Satan to try Job and test this bold claim, but he forbids Satan to take Job’s life in the process.

In one day, Job receives four messages. Each message brought separate news that his livestock, servants, and ten children have all died due to invaders or natural catastrophes. Job rents (tears) his clothes and shaves his head, but he still blesses God in his prayers. Satan, presumably upset that his plan was thwarted appears in heaven again, and God grants him another chance to test Job. This time, Job is afflicted with horrible skin sores. His wife encourages him to curse God and to give up and die, but Job refuses, struggling to accept his circumstances.

Three of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to visit him, sitting with Job in silence for seven days out of respect for his mourning. On the seventh day, Job speaks, beginning a conversation in which each of the four men shares their thoughts on Job’s afflictions, in long, poetic and berating way.

                Job’s friends accuse him of being a sinner and not accepting the consequences of his sins. They don’t ever believe that Job had actual done nothing wrong to receive this kind of treatment. Because of this; Job curses the day he was born, comparing life and death to light and darkness. He wishes that his birth had been shrouded in darkness and longs to have never been born, feeling that light, or life, only intensifies his misery.

Job, slowly gets more and more upset with his so called friends that he calls them “…forgers of lies… physicians of no value.” (Job 13:4)

After trying to assert his blameless/innocent character, Job ponders man’s relationship to God. He wonders why God judges people by their actions if God can just as easily alter or forgive their behavior.

Job’s friends are offended that he attacks their wisdom. They still believe that Job actually deserves what has happened to him. Job continues to stay strong with his values and never loses his confidence of righteousness. Everyone however can only take so much berating, which proves true with Job, he grows sarcastic, impatient, and afraid. He cries about the injustice that God lets wicked people prosper while he and countless other innocent people suffer. Job wants to confront God and complain, but he cannot physically find God to do it.

Towards the end of Job Elihu, randomly shows up to add to the conversation. The young Elihu believes that Job has spent too much time and energy justifying himself rather than God. Elihu explains that God communicates with humans by two ways; visions and physical pain. Elihu elaborates by saying that physical suffering provides the sufferer with an opportunity to realize God’s love and forgiveness when he is well again.

Finally at the very end of the story, God shows up and interups Elihu. God calls for Job to be brave and answer His questions, which turn out to be rhetorical.  God describes many detailed aspects of his creation, praising especially his creation of two large beasts, the Behemoth and Leviathan. This was to prove how little man was compared to the power and wisdom of God.

Job admits that he is not perfect and that his knowledge and wisdom is nothing compared to the knowledge, wisdom and power of God. This answer pleases God, yet God gets upset with Job;s friends. Job, even after having been berated by his friends comes to their rescue and makes a case for them, God forgives them.

 God returns Job’s health, providing him with twice as much property as before, new children, and an extremely long life. Job comes out victorious, because he kept with God the entire time!

Job 40-42

Job 40-42

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

                I think we learn a lot about the importance of mankind and the relationship we have with the Almighty (God). We learn that God is all powerful and that we should not contend with him. Even when times are tough, the Lord will bless us greatly. In the case of Job he blessed him with double of what he had, as reward for being good and prevailing through the tough trials. We must also endure through the tough trials, so that we can come out ahead and the Lord will bless us for it.

Chapter 40: The Arm of God

                God asks Job; “Shall he that condendeth with the Almighty instruct him? (Job 20:2). Job needed not to contend with God and try to instruct him, God will instruct Job.

                Job responds; “…I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth” (Job 40:4)

                Job knew his place and knew that he must not contend with God.  Job only changed his tone from blaming God to humbling himself before him, but not because circumstances had changed. Job was still in misery and had lost virtually everything. The tone changed because while he once felt that God had forsaken him, now he felt and knew that God was with Him. 

 “Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee…” (Job 40:15)

God gave Job a remarkable survey of the wonders of creation in Job 38-39, including a look at many remarkable animals and their ways. Now lastly, God gives Job a look at two remarkable creatures: Behemoth (Job 40:15-24) and Leviathan (Job 41).

**We don’t know much about behemoth, except that some identities range from dinosaur to crocodile to a mythological creature. Most think God had in mind what we would call the hippopotamus, one of the largest, strongest, and most dangerous land creatures in the world.

Nevertheless and extremely powerful animal.**

“…his strength in in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly” (Job 40:16)

God is essentially telling Job that if he can’t full understand or contend with a creature that God has created, then how will he contend with God (the Maker) Himself?

 Chapter 41: All Things are God (The Body of God)

After the discussion of Behemoth in Job 40:15-24, God now called Job to consider another fearful monster, Leviathan (sea monster or what some scholars believe to be a very large whale). This creature was first mentioned in Job 3:8; in that verse, Job considered how sailors and fishermen would curse the threatening Leviathan, and with the same passion he cursed the day of his birth.

                Leviathan is mentioned several places in the scriptures;

Psalm 74:12-14 refers to Leviathan as a sea serpent, and that God broke the head of the Leviathan long ago, perhaps at the creation.

Psalm 104:26 also refers to Leviathan as a sea creature.

Isaiah 27:1 speaks of the future defeat of Leviathan, also associating it with a twisted serpent that lives in the sea.

Isaiah 51:9 and Psalm 89-8-10 also speak of a serpent associated with the sea that God defeated as a demonstration of His great strength, and identifies this serpent with the name Rahab, meaning proud one.

Job 26:12-13 also refers to God’s piercing defeat of a fleeing serpent associated with the sea.

                God’s point with this description of Leviathan is to show Job just how powerless he is against this creature. If Job can not defeat this monster, how can he contend and defeat God?

                From verses 12-34 God descrbes Leviathan.

                The most prominent features mentioned;

                “…his teeth are terrible…” (Job 41:14)

                “…his neesings (sneezings) a light doth shine…” (Jib 41:18)

                “Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.” (Job 41:19)

                “Out of his nostirls goeth smokes…” (Job 41:20)

                “His breath kindeleth coals…” (Job 41:21)

                “…his neck remaineth strength…” (Job 41:22)

                “His heart is as firm as stone…” (Job 41:24) 

If mankind can’t overpower Leviathan, it can’t hope to overpower God.

Chapter 42: Job Sees God

                Job answers the Lord; “I know that… no thought can be witholden from thee” (Job 42:2)

                He continues to say; “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee” (Job 42:5)

                Job here, SEES God! He commands his friends to repent and make their standings with the Lord right, through sacrifices.

                The Lord then “…gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

                Job is reunited with his family; his brothers and sisters and then ate bread with him in his house.

                The Lord “…blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning…” (Job 42:12)

                Job lived 140 years and saw four generations of his posterity. 

Job 38-39

Job 38-39

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 38: Nature and God

The Lord speaks to Job from the whirlwind;

“Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declar, if thou had understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7)

Over the previous 35 chapters (since Job 2), God has been directly absent from the account. We read nothing of God’s direct role in comforting, speaking to, or sustaining Job in the midst of his crisis. Over that time, Job has ached repeatedly for a word from God.

Here, God responds to Job and asks him where he was when the Lord set the foundation of the world. Some scholars would say that God was using this to explain that Job was nowhere to be found, and that only God would answer this question. However, this is where I and the LDS church disagree. I believe that God was referencing our pre-earth life where we lived with God. Notice how is says that when all the sons of God “shouted for joy” – they shouted for joy because God created the Earth for us, so we could come down and have the experiences we are now having. God was reminding Job of what he had forgotten, God is his Heavenly Father and he has a heavenly home.

                From verse 8-41 God asks Job a lot of questions about the nature of man and the power of God and how God created and controls nature. 8-12 specifically references God’s work on the second day of creation (Genesis 1:6-8) when God divided the waters and separated the land from the sea.

                It mentions a lot of interesting things about the creation of the Earth;

                “…the springs of the sea…” (Job 38:16)

                “…the gates of death…” (Job 38:17)

                “…the breadth (vast expanses) of the earth…” (Job 38:18)

                “…the treasures (storehouses) of the snow…” (Job 38:22)

                “…rain on the earth…” (Job 38:27)

                “…the face of the deep…” (Job 38:30)

                “…the ordinances of heaven…” (Job 38:33)

                “…bottles of heaven…” (Job 38:37)

Chapter 39: Man Knows Nothing

“Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth?” (Job 39:1) God kept bringing the level of knowledge down for Job. He could, quite possibly, know such facts of nature from simple observation. Yet even this low level of knowledge was beyond Job, or really any man for that matter.

                God continues to go on about fairly simple truthes of science and nature, that Job nor his friends knew. God essentially makes the point that Man’s weakness and ignorance is nothing like Gods. God is mighty and his works are mighty.

Job 36-37

Job 36-37

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 36: The Wicked Die without Knowledge

“Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf” (Job 36:2) Apparently Elihu saw that his listeners were becoming uncomfortable with his condemnation. He begs for them to keep listening, and insists that he is speaking on God’s behalf.

                God is mighty and with wisdom, Elihu again promoted the ideas of God’s power and perfect justice. In His perfect justice, God punishes the wicked and works for the oppressed. Since Job often said and felt that God was ignoring him, Elihu is clearly counting Job among the wicked. In Elihu’s mind, the freedom God has for the righteous does not belong to Job because Job is not among the righteous.

                Elihu continues to berate Job and considered Job a hypocrite for continuing to deny his guilt. He felt Job was putting himself under a greater and greater outpouring of God’s wrath.

                “Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out” (Job 36:26). Elihu continues to expound on how great and power God is, insulting Job’s own knowledge and wisdom.

Chapter 37: God Controls Nature and Science

Elihu felt that Job needed a good dose of the greatness of God. So he continues to impress upon him te great power and wonders of God. Elihu explains that man hears the thunder and through that hears the voice of God. Again, insulting Job’s knowledge of the Lord, it was good advice wrongly applied to Job’s situation. This chapter to me, explains that God in his greatness controls nature and science, because he invented it!

                “By the breath of God frost is given…” (Job 37:10), we can’t take this verse literally… but I like how this shows that nature is controlled by the Lord.

Job 34-35

Job 34-35

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 34: God Cannot Be Unjust

                Elihu denounces Job for losing faith and denying God’s justice.

                “Hear my words…give ear unto me…” (Job 34:2), here it sounds like Elihu is talking down to Job and telling him to listen, because he has all the answers.

                Elihu falsely accuses Job of not understanding God’s ways, essentially telling Job that God could not be unjust.

                “If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words” (Job 34:16)

                Again, Elihu is talking down to Job. If you have understanding, then listen to me. But if Job chooses to not listen to Elihu, he is without understanding?

Elihu took Job’s agonized cries to God as Job condemning God. It was an unfair assumption; Job’s agony was deeply rooted in the sense that he did love God and respect His justice.

Elihu then continues to tell Job about what he should have said to God;

                “Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” (Job 34:31-32)

According to Elihu, Job should have accepted that he was a great sinner, repented and done no more wickedness. Well, the problem with this, is that Job did nothing wrong. If Job however had done wickedly, then yes this would have been the appropriate thing to do. We can learn from Elihu, and apply this principle in our daily lives. If you mess up, say your sorry and don’t do it anymore!

Chapter 35: Men Should Trust in God

Elihu confronts Job and asks him, if he believes himself to be more righteous than God. Elihu had just destroyed Job from the previous chapter, accusing him of adding rebellion to his sin, ignoring the wise counsel of his friends, and of speaking wrongly against God.

Elihu’s arguments and ideas were essentially the same as those of Job’s friends. Yet he thought of himself as different, and though that he could correct Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Afterall Elihu had the most wisdom! – Sarcasim implied.

                Elihu wanted Job (and his friends) to understand an idea that they had already discussed and agreed upon, the idea that God is greater than man and beyond man.

                Our wickedness hurts other men, but our righteousness can help them. Put your trust in the Lord!