Job In Depth Study part 11

Dear Readers,

Today we will be studying Job 38:28-30. We had just started mentioning about plants and how they correlate to the weather and the purpose of it. Shall we dive in then.

 28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

What? I thought we were going to be talking about plants. Well, how do plants get watered. By the weather, so we are still going to talk about the weather and all its fun. 

Lets assume that the answer to the first question is Yes for a moment. The rain as a creator of life, a beginning, so who created it. God, and His servants. Same with the drops of dew. All of which water the soil. 

For fun, lets assume that the answer to that first question is No. If the rain was never created, then it would not exist. Kind of a dead end. 

 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

Same line of thought, not necessarily though that there is a "mother" or "father" of water and ice, but that it was created. That it comes from a likeness of itself. Hoary frost is thin ice with holes. I don't know exactly what that relates to it, but it is good to know. 

 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

As for this, I know that with the water system, there are underground rivers and reservoirs. That is why digging a well works and allows one to get water and survive. I also think of when Moses smote the rock in the wilderness and a fountain of water sprang forth. I know that Christ is compared to the well of living water, or at least His words. So Christ's words are hidden with a stone. Or on a stone like a tablet. Like the Ten commandments.

Now, "the face of the deep is frozen". When I think of a frozen face, personally, I think of that story parents tell their children when they make funny faces. It will get stuck that way. So, for kicks, lets say that is what this means. If you are doing bad things, then it will become a habit and you will get stuck in that, frozen in your sins. Or, if you do righteous, your face might be stuck in a smile.

More likely though would be the reference to the "deep". Like deep doctrine, or the depths of knowledge. So this deep is frozen, unchanging, always there, waiting to be thawed moved, used, or possibly like an ice sculpture carved. Also, the "face" or possibly the surface is frozen, but what lie underneath might flow and amazing to those who make it that far. Like studying the scriptures. When you first start reading, it can be a little dry, or even difficult to understand what they are saying. But as you become familiar with the word usage and with the principles and concepts they begin unfolding and being expounded unto your mind.

I hope that this gets you thinking. Until next time!

Love,
Elder Smithson

In Depth Study of Job Part 10

 Dear Readers,

I would like to cover Job 38:25-27 today. As a refresher, God has been teaching Job about the creation, currently about the weather, and how He created it. 

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

First of all, asking who again. Diffidently God, but still has the possibility of His spirit children, including Job. "divided a watercourse" that sounds like a path for the water to run. Always goes for the path of least resistance. Going down. I think of that scene from Jurassic Park when Dr. Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum, tries to explain chaos theory with the drops of water on Dr. Sattler's hand, played by Laura Dern. What appears like chaos to us, has a course placed for it, just we do not understand it. Like Dr. Malcolm explained, there are factors that are involved, God knows them, a few ones that I can think of is, how flat is her hand, how steady, those tiny wrinkles in her skin, how many drops of water, and where they are dropped. 

"or", signifying a change of thought. "a way for the lightning" Scientists, as far as I know, have determined that the lightning goes up and down. Just the part that goes up is invisible or something like that. There is a way the electricity works. We may not know for sure, but yet God knows, teaches us what we can handle, and then we apply it. Now we have computers, lights, vehicles, all kinds of things all essentially running on lightning. 

 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

For this cause or purpose, did God create the water course or lightning. For it to rain on the earth, where there is no one to water, or dig irrigation ditches. This brings a new spin onto that first part, the dividing of the watercourse. Now I think of the water cycle. The course of transfer and changes that it goes through. Streams into rivers, rivers into oceans, evaporates all along the way, forming clouds that then water the earth by mist or rain, starting the cycle over again. 

Diffidently a division of dry land from the water, for the water is used upon it. 

Also, a fun note, that I am not sure of, is that lightning, when it strikes the ground, introduces more nitrogen into the soil. I am not sure if that is because of the lightning itself, or because it jump-starts the bacteria contained therein. 

I also like the reference to "where no man is" and "wherein there is no man". Where was man when the earth was created? Nowhere, for he was not created yet. Just in the spirit. 

 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

Lastly, for this cause to, water, the desolate or barren ground. Then, God makes a reference to what He created on the third day, plants. This is why the there needs to be rain and moisture on the dry, or not so dry, ground. To bring forth plants. Plants are useful to everything, to create oxygen, feed animals and even people. It is this next step that was in preparation for life, but not quite yet. 

I hope that you enjoyed this. I covered some scientific subjects that honestly I barely know anything about, so please take that with a grain of salt. I am just trying to apply what knowledge I currently have, but I hope that you learned something. 

Love,

Elder Smithson

In Depth Job Study Part 9

Dear Readers,

I am going to keep this short today. We were talking about ice and snow, as part of the creation of weather on the second day. We are just covering Job 38:24. This is God tying it together with the creation of light.

 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

I don't even pretend to fully comprehend what this means. But what I can gather is it is talking about light. And that light moves the wind upon the earth. There have already been days, so the earth is rotating, night and day. And we know that that rotation causes some global wind currents. That is about all I can speculate about. 

What is most important is simply the teaching system that God displays here. That after you cover one subject, and move onto another, you relate it back to the first. That way solidifying and building upon the foundation that you already created. This is why the missionary lessons are so important. Yes, we are allowed to change the order of the lessons to fit people's needs, but there is an order for a reason. 

For our first lesson, for example, we teach the Restoration. The first principle of which is that God is a loving Heavenly Father. Building upon a same ground that: There is a God, He loves us, we are His children. Also, we can go as in depth as saying that He has a body of flesh and bones. 

Then the next point is the Gospel Blesses Families. That God loves us so much that He sends us to families, to help grow and that we may experience. As a family holds together, it receives strength from God, especially if they are obeying the Gospel and living correct principles. Thus always referring back to God, who is our merciful Father. 

This system continually builds upon itself until finally the person understands the basics of what we "Mormons" believe. This allows them to then learn and build upon that foundation at church or from the scriptures, which both, the leaders and the prophets of ancient times, bear witness of. 

I hope that you enjoyed this simple example.

Love,
Elder Smithson

In Depth Job Study Part 8

Dear Readers,

Today we will be covering Job 38:22-23. We just talked about light, and even a metaphor that God uses to talk and teach while going over the creation. Then we get to these verses.

 22 Hast thou entered into the ^atreasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

First of all, what did God create the second day. He created dry land, and separated the waters in the firmament. That is weather and that kind of thing. So now God talks about the weather.

When I think of treasure of the snow, I think of the beauty of a snowflake. This seems to be treasure to me. But it is also a Storehouse. Water stored so that it is not rampant upon the land.
 
Or the treasure of the hail. We had a nice hail storm here in Glasgow a few months ago. That was intense, and kept going for quite a while. 

 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

For this purpose, did God create or "reserve" hail. To battle, to fight against in a day of battle to trouble. The 7th plague of Egypt was Hail of Fire. Then, also in the old testament, God hailed large rocks upon Israel's adversaries. But considering how big ice hail itself can become, I could diffidently believe that He could use it to defend or even chastise His people.

I hope this makes sense.

Love,
Elder Smithson

In Depth Job Study Part 7

Dear Readers,

Today we will be talking about Job 38:19-21. If you remember, we just figured out that most of what we had been talking about was Pre-mortal and Pre-creation stuff. The earth has been formed.

If you can remember, I brought this up before, but what did God create on the first day, after He created the heavens and the earth?

Light, and He separated it from the darkness.

 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

Not quite the complete questions, but this makes sense that God would be talking about this next. Dwelleth, is like saying a dwelling or a home. Where, in this case light, resides. Then darkness as well. Light has its home with God and Christ. The light of Christ. Darkness's place is to flee from it. Light cleaveth unto light, but darkness departs. Like a shadow from the sun. Or like a dark room, when you turn on the light. 

 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

This is a little tricky. Kind of two questions. First one: basically saying that we should cast out the darkness and take in light. Send it to the boundaries of its home/where it belongs, out of the light. The second one: "that", such an awesome word. For this cause that you may know how to get rid of the darkness. Now, not only is God teaching about the creation, but what we can learn from the creation. How to apply it. First God builds a foundation. Then He purifies it. So, after we have a foundation in Christ, or faith in Him, then we should work on casting out the darkness and become more like Him. That sounds like repentance to me. 

 21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

I like the way this is put. "Knowest thou it..." First it looks like God is asking if he/Job knows about the creation and about Christ's Gospel, which includes faith and repentance. Then, as you look at it, the question is not if Job knows it. Because Job bore his witness of it already while talking with his so called "friends". The question is actually, why he knows it. Asking if Job discovered this truth because he was told it, because he experimented upon what he was told, or if he was "then born". Having been there from the beginning. 

The answer I have for this question, for myself is I know this to be true, because the Holy Ghost has born record of it to me. Not only that, but I have experimented upon those words, and have received the blessings from it. Though some of those blessings come through time. Now I feel old by saying, "because the number of [my] days is great". Not the greatest by any means, but more so than some, enough anyway to be able to bear record of it. 

So exciting to continue studying, for God does not just teach us one thing at a time, but whatever we are ready and prepared for. So, until next time...

Love,

Elder Smithson

In Depth Study of Job Part 6

Dear Readers,

Today we will be studying Job 38:16-18. As a reminder, we have been talking about the Pre-existence, mostly about how Lucifer fell, and possibly about the creation of the world.

 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

Huh... We go from talking about light to the sea? Oh wait, what did God create on the second day. He separated the waters from the land and made the firmament or atmosphere. So this makes sense, but are we quite there yet. 

The springs of the sea, that could be rivers flowing into it. Or the depth of the sea could be the literal deepness of it. 

 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

The next one is interesting though. Talking about death, and its gates. Now this is a reference to the veil. The veil we pass through in birth and death. What does that have to do with the sea? First of all, there was the reference to the sea being like a womb in Job 38:8. So maybe this is birth and death. Another scripture that comes to mind is Revelations 20:13  

 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and ^adeath and^bhell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

This is in reference to the end, the judgment, when Christ comes again. Makes sense that the beginning would be similar to the end. 

 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

Anyway, verse 18 then talks about the earth. The breadth or length of it. Basically the expanse of it. So this sea, this beginning leads to an end. It compasses everything. So maybe the earth is not really the earth, but the world and the purpose of all. Thus the statement God makes, "declare if thou knowest [IT ALL]". It all not just means every part of the earth, from the deepness of the seas to the tallest mountains, but literally everything. Every part and being in and of this life. 

Whew Doggy this is some deep stuff. Now the question is, where are we in this Plan of Salvation over view? Maybe we will find out on the next few verses. Stay tuned. 

Love,

Elder Smithson

Job In Depth Study Part 5

Dear Readers,

I shall go through Job 38:14-15 today. Kind of a reminder: In part 4 we talked about the fall of Lucifer. God Asking questions as He teaches, as usual, but here He simply tells. Still, He makes the comparison of light.

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

First of all, what is "It"? The last question, verse 13 made reference to earth. So maybe Earth becomes a seal or a emblem/symbol of authority. Like a king's seal on a letter. Or it could be a seal as binding together. Sealing those who will come to this earth to receive bodies. 

But, the question in verse 13 also makes a reference to an "it". That is referring to the morning or the dayspring. So, the morning, the beginning of the works, that is a seal binding us together, showing the authority of God upon us from day to day, and possibly, showing the veil or way for us to progress and be together for all eternity. 

"As clay", so not literal, but earth like. Then there is "They". Who is they? Verse 15 here identifies them. Not the wicked. So it must be the righteous. The 2/3 of God's faithful children that would come down and receive a body. "They" are the ones standing together "as a garment". A garment is put on something, so they might have been on the recently formed earth, waiting for their chance to come closer to being like their Father. Or, possibly, symbolically like a garment, being knit together, receiving strength from one another. 

 15 And from the wicked their light is ^awithholden, and the high^barm shall be broken.

Here it tells that the "wicked" who are separated from the righteous, by that fall, do not receive their light. That same light that they receive from God and Christ. They are left in darkness. 

The next part, "the high arm". usually in the scriptures it talks about how you must trust in God to be your arm, and trust not in the arm of flesh. I get two meanings from this. One, that either the "high arm" is an arm lifting itself high, exalting itself, like what Satan did. Saying that he would become the Most High. (Isaiah 14:12-15 and 2 Nephi 24:12-15) Thus his arm shall be broken. He will have no strength and be cast down. Or, this could indeed be a reference to God's holy arm. As a "broken heart" (scripturally, not romantically) is humility, being filled with love and compassion. Maybe it is God showing love and compassion unto the righteous ones, because they are the "their" that God is talking about. Either way, it is a true statement. 

Still, we must study on to find out if this is indeed part of God's creating the light, or if we are still talking about the pre-creation period of time. Until next time. 

Love,

Elder Smithson

In Depth Study of Job Part 4

Dear Readers,

I think I will cover Job 38:12-13 today. We left off with God teaching the plan of salvation, but not sure if he was still talking about pre-mortality, or was now on to the creation. Maybe this will help, or maybe not. You decide.

 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

 

"Hast thou", have you/Job "commanded". This is usually in reference to authority. God commands the people. Generals command the soldiers. That kind of thing. "The morning", the beginning of the work, or beginning of the day. Is this the first day of the creation? "Since thy days". After the beginning of Job's days or life.

 

Kind of interesting, like two questions. The first asking if Job had authority since he was born. Still not quite knowing authority over what, at least not for sure. Going back to what God is trying to teach him initially, that he is a child of God. Then the answer would be yes, as a child of God he has had authority from the beginning of his life. If it was the beginning, the creation, then God is asking if he was in authority in helping create the world, which might be yes still.

 

What was the first thing that God created? Hint, He said something. "Let there be light!" and there was light, and then it was divided from the darkness. That sounds like a morning. The day coming up and the darkness fleeing before it.

 

"and", including/also/in consequence to. Such a fun word "and". Dayspring, the beginning of the day, in which things grow and blossom, springing forth of works. "To know his place" to know one's position, or purpose, or ability. The reason for the day, the reason and purpose of the works.

 

 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

 

"That" another fun word. The reason, or what is caused by this action. "ends of the earth", implying an earth or a world that has ends. Possibly the number of the Spirits, for they are all numbered unto God. "That" for this cause, "the wicked might be shaken out of it". What wicked? God has not yet created people on the earth. Still not sure if He has created the earth. So what people? Possibly Lucifer and his angels being cast out of heaven.

 

So, was Lucifer and his angels the darkness that was separated from the light? Thus the light was created, pure and clean or the rest of God's spirit children.

 

Still, so hard to tell. I guess we will have to continue studying.

 

Love,

Elder Smithson

 

P.S. if you have impute or comments, I would love to hear them. You can also contact me on Facebook. Elder Jacob Smithson.

In depth Study of Job, Part 3

Dear Readers,

This is the third installment of my in depth study. Today I will be covering Job 38:8-11. This is packed with symbolism, and it depends on figuring out when/what God is referring to. As a gentle reminder, part 2 talked about the pre-existence, Next step in the Plan of Salvation is the creation, but are we there yet?

 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

If this is the creation, we know from Genesis verses 1 and 2 that "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth... The earth with without form, and void... And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" So this might be reference to the creation of the waters upon the earth. The earth being covered with water, "broken forth" upon it. 

Or, what also comes to mind for me, is Noah, and when the waters flooded the earth. 

 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

When I read this, putting it with the idea of the initial creation, possibly before the 7 days. Gravity pulling the heavier elements inward. Solids closer to the center, then liquids, or the water upon the face, then gases. Basic organization caused by one act, introducing gravity. 

Then I also think about what it would look like from space. How beautiful the earth looks, like described in Rocket Man, "like a ripe, little, blueberry" Then wrapped with cloud, like a baby's blanket to cloth. In the Old Testament it talks about how God dwells in clouds and thick darkness, when the Children of Israel saw it while God stood upon mount Sinai and conversed with Moses, as well as when God's presence moved into Kind Solomon's temple. So this could also be God's presence and grace upon the newly formed earth. 

 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

God mixed it all, brought some elements to the surface, liquefied or solidified others, and began creating the diversity. A door can hold back something, keep something out, or open and allow admittance through. Interesting comparison. 

 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Then sums it up by saying what God said at that moment. "Hitherto shalt thou come, but not further" Is he talking to the sea, or to the earth?  A temporary ceasing of the changes. 

But what if all of this was still part of pre-mortality. What if the "sea" was a sea of spirit children ready to go and do. God robed them with His glory, gave them commandments, limitations, and punishments for disobedience, and then said, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but not further" in reference to, you can become this close to me, you can become this like me, but you cannot come further because you do not have a body. Your waves are stayed, you are stuck, unless the door is opened and you receive a body. 

For this would express the great purpose of life, to become like our Heavenly Father. To gain a body like Him and then to learn and grow. Think, Ponder, and Pray. 

Once again, the answer to God's question, "Who" could be Himself, or could be us, or even Jehovah. 

As we continue we shall see which interpretation God is currently referring to, but that does not mean that either interpretation is wrong. 

Love,

Elder Smithson

In Depth Study of Job part 2

Dear Reader,

Time for part 2 of my Job study. I am not sure how many there will be, but in chapter 38 alone there are 41 verses. I think I will cover verses 4-7 of chapter 38 today. They all seem to be talking about the same thing.

 4 Where wast thou when I ^alaid the ^bfoundations of the ^cearth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

First of all, God is using the most amazing teaching method ever, asking questions. Questions make the person, in this case Job, have to think and find out answers for themselves. God asks him, Where? To me this implies that there is indeed a place "where" Job, and indeed all of us were, when God laid the foundations of the earth. 

There was a Pre-mortal life. I know it, and we were there in a counsel in heaven. This is why God then adds, "Declare, if thou hast understanding." If we know, truly know, that we were there, not just there, but the answers to any and all of these questions, then we must declare it. That is part of the reason I am a missionary now. 

 5 Who hath ^alaid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

"Who", implying there was someone, laid or determined the measures of what? The Earth. So in the counsel in heaven, we helped plan the earth, how big it would be and everything. This may seem like I am reading quite a bit into it, but think about it. God said that He laid the foundations of it, so there was foundation, but then He asks, "Who". Obviously this could be God, but "Who" could also refer to several people. All of this referring back, trying to tell Job the answer to the first question, "who" is he. A child of God. 

I will admit, I am still not sure what the "line" is that was stretched upon the earth, so pray and find out for yourself. 

 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the ^acorner stone thereof;

Foundations and a corner stone. That sounds like a house. Is the earth it self a house for us? Makes sense to me. Again God asks "Who". 

7 When the morning stars ^asang together, and all the ^bsons of God shouted for ^cjoy?

"When", implying that there was a time. All the sons, or children, of God shouted for Joy! The plans were made, the foundations set, all for what, for us to receive bodies like our Heavenly Father. To be more like him. Is that not something to be joyous about?

Finally, to help simplify this more. God was teaching Job who he was by starting from the beginning of what we missionaries call, lesson two or the Plan of Salvation. Helping him to understand that there was a Pre-existence and that we are literally the children of God. If you have any questions or comments, Please leave them. I would love to talk more about the Plan of Salvation. In the mean time, I will be slowly covering it with this study. 

Love,

Elder Smithson

In depth Study of Job 38-41

This is my first post, how exciting. I am doing an in depth study of Job, specifically the questions that God asks him in chapters 38-41.

Kind of a precursor, for those who do not know who Job is. He is a character in the Old Testament. God allowed Satan to destroy his home, kill his family with destruction, and caused boils to come upon his skin. All this to prove that Job would hold out faithful to the end. Job had three friends who came to talk with him, with the intent to help and comfort him. Yet they, knowing that God blesses the good, assumed that he was doing something wrong because of all of these bad things that were happening to him. Which was not the case. So Job shared with them his testimony, several times. Finally God spoke to him from the "whirlwind", in my opinion, not so much rebuking, but rather to teach him what he lacks.

 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

God is asking Job, what is his name or rather asking Job if he knows who he himself is. A child of God. Darkeneth counsel means to me that he is trying to counsel and share, but it is partly hidden because he does not quite "know" what it is he is talking about. Job testified about the resurrection and returning to God, but he did not quite know about the Premortal life, which is a major part as to why we want to return to God's presence,  or what exactly resurrection is, as an example. 

 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Gird up thy loins is a reference to hard work. That now there is some hard work to do. This is because God is "demanding" something of Job. He is demanding that Job answers His questions. Ultimately, we must understand that in all things, we have to answer to God. Remember that always, that is the advice I leave with you today. 

I hope you enjoyed my first Post! 

Love,

Elder Smithson