Dear Readers,
Today I will talk about Job 40:1-5.
1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,
2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
So, God is letting Job know, that some of what he was saying was against/contending with God's word. And now Job must speak.
3 ¶Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Here Job starts off saying, "Behold" look at me, look at all that You have taught me and said. "I am vile". I have sinned against Thee, I am unclean before Thee. I think this question is more towards himself. "what shall I answer thee?" What would any of us answer God after receiving such a sermon? What answer would be satisfactory? God knows the answers, so what would be the consequence of getting them wrong? So Job would lay his hand upon his mouth. Stopping his own speech least he brings himself under more condemnation.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
Job, in the presence of Deity, has spoken, indeed but is not willing to answer His current question, "shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?" Job even knows the answer to two of God's questions, but, will not even attempt to proceed further.
I have proceeded further, in an attempt to understand the scriptures. Indeed, faced in the very presence of God or His voice from the whirlwind, I do not believe I could speculate. Thus is why, we must commune with God, and allow his goodness to leave impressions upon us. That we may know His will.
Love,
Elder Smithson
Monday, March 17, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Job In Depth Study 20
Dear Readers,
Today I will talk about Job 39:26-30. Finishing up Job 39.
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
I think that for most people, including myself, the eagle is the sign of freedom. So do free people, people with agency, choose to follow God, or Job, and make their home and abode "on hight"?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
Being built upon the rock of Christ, a sure foundation (Helaman 5:12) is the only way for the righteous to prosper.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
Having the eternal perspective. Seeing the end game, the goal, and the purpose of all.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
Those who follow her, the righteous, are nourished. This last part has two meanings for me. First, where the carcass, the nourishment, the victory ground is, there are the righteous reaping the benefits. Or, martyrs. People who have died for a cause, the cause of God.
I know that this is all scatter brained, but it is both wonderful and interesting to see that the last parable that God uses for this chapter is directing people, look to Christ, look to God, do righteousness, and you will be free. Choose to be free!
Love,
Elder Smithson
Today I will talk about Job 39:26-30. Finishing up Job 39.
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
I think that for most people, including myself, the eagle is the sign of freedom. So do free people, people with agency, choose to follow God, or Job, and make their home and abode "on hight"?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
Being built upon the rock of Christ, a sure foundation (Helaman 5:12) is the only way for the righteous to prosper.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
Having the eternal perspective. Seeing the end game, the goal, and the purpose of all.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
Those who follow her, the righteous, are nourished. This last part has two meanings for me. First, where the carcass, the nourishment, the victory ground is, there are the righteous reaping the benefits. Or, martyrs. People who have died for a cause, the cause of God.
I know that this is all scatter brained, but it is both wonderful and interesting to see that the last parable that God uses for this chapter is directing people, look to Christ, look to God, do righteousness, and you will be free. Choose to be free!
Love,
Elder Smithson
Monday, March 3, 2014
Job in depth study 19
Dear Readers,
Today we will be talking about Job 39:19-25. What I like here is that God lead up to it by talking about how the ostrich hates the horse and it's rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
I love this. God gives the horse it's strength. Through nourishment, training by experience. Then clothing it's neck with thunder. I like thinking of the old war horses, that would be clothed with armor, like the armor of God. Also, the stampede of hooves beating the earth as they run can sound like thunder. Fast like lightning. Kind of like that football movie, Windrunner. Where the Native American gentleman rides the horse off a cliff and they disappear in a lightning strike. So random and yet so cool.
20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
Good old memories. I remember going blow gun hunting with my father. Shooting those darts, mostly at targets, but occasionally lizards, birds, and you guessed it, grasshoppers. They really are skittish, flying around, trying to escape, running into things in their panic. Mostly opposite of A Bugs Life.
Some horses, especially if they are not trained, are equally skittish and afraid. But when they are trained, they are loyal, excellent beasts. Indeed, a few weeks ago Elder Yeske and I were exploring some ruins on a ranch. Suddenly a bunch of horses charged at Elder Yeske. I got pictures. Indeed their "pant" can be ferocious and yet kind. Indeed gloryfull.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
Horses pawing the ground. Rejoicing in his strength, the strength he has received from God, and he goes forth into the battle.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
We are all in a battle. A battle between good an evil. How can we be brave like this horse, without God on our side. How can we stand, when arrows of the adversary fly by, or the shine of the world and temptation blinds us from our true purpose.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
The sound of the trumpet. It reminds me of the second verse of Hymn 60 Battle Hymn of the Republic: "[God] is sounding forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat."
The trumpet of war has sounded, though there may be voices saying the battle is over, that there is no need to fight. Or even, God has lost. We must not let our guard down, we must not give in, we must trust in God.
25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
He hears the captains call. He heeds the prophet's voice. This is not a time of peace, but a continue war, until the Great Jehovah shall say, "The work is done."
May we give ear to the Prophet's voice. May we heed our captains and our leaders. May we smell the battle and know it is there. We may not always see it, but if we know it is there, we can continue fighting for what is right.
Love,
Elder Smithson
Today we will be talking about Job 39:19-25. What I like here is that God lead up to it by talking about how the ostrich hates the horse and it's rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
I love this. God gives the horse it's strength. Through nourishment, training by experience. Then clothing it's neck with thunder. I like thinking of the old war horses, that would be clothed with armor, like the armor of God. Also, the stampede of hooves beating the earth as they run can sound like thunder. Fast like lightning. Kind of like that football movie, Windrunner. Where the Native American gentleman rides the horse off a cliff and they disappear in a lightning strike. So random and yet so cool.
20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
Good old memories. I remember going blow gun hunting with my father. Shooting those darts, mostly at targets, but occasionally lizards, birds, and you guessed it, grasshoppers. They really are skittish, flying around, trying to escape, running into things in their panic. Mostly opposite of A Bugs Life.
Some horses, especially if they are not trained, are equally skittish and afraid. But when they are trained, they are loyal, excellent beasts. Indeed, a few weeks ago Elder Yeske and I were exploring some ruins on a ranch. Suddenly a bunch of horses charged at Elder Yeske. I got pictures. Indeed their "pant" can be ferocious and yet kind. Indeed gloryfull.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
Horses pawing the ground. Rejoicing in his strength, the strength he has received from God, and he goes forth into the battle.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
We are all in a battle. A battle between good an evil. How can we be brave like this horse, without God on our side. How can we stand, when arrows of the adversary fly by, or the shine of the world and temptation blinds us from our true purpose.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
The sound of the trumpet. It reminds me of the second verse of Hymn 60 Battle Hymn of the Republic: "[God] is sounding forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat."
The trumpet of war has sounded, though there may be voices saying the battle is over, that there is no need to fight. Or even, God has lost. We must not let our guard down, we must not give in, we must trust in God.
25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
He hears the captains call. He heeds the prophet's voice. This is not a time of peace, but a continue war, until the Great Jehovah shall say, "The work is done."
May we give ear to the Prophet's voice. May we heed our captains and our leaders. May we smell the battle and know it is there. We may not always see it, but if we know it is there, we can continue fighting for what is right.
Love,
Elder Smithson
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