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