Job in depth study 17

Dear Readers,

Today we will be talking about Job 39:9-12

9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?









First of all, I would like to make it clear, we are not talking about actual unicorns. They are actually bulls or oxen. But I will admit, having a pet unicorn would be nice. Anyway, God is asking if the ox would serve Job, not just serve but watch over him as baby, or even his children.

10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?


I don't use words like "furrow" very often, but that is the ditch that is made by a plow. So, God is asking if Job could strap or yoke (the large wooden brace upon an ox's shoulders) the ox so that it can work. Or could Job lead the ox in its work.


11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labor to him?


"Wilt" derived from "will" a conscious effort, choice of agency. Putting trust in this beast, because of its physical strength. Letting it labor in Job's stead.


12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?



Again, that funny word "wilt". Believe the ox, like the ox said something. Oh, the ox said it would bring the grain into the house and barn.

I like having a pondering parable mind. I shall liken Christ to the Unicorn. Something/someone that we consider magically powerful, rare and majestic. The first question is, will the Unicorn serve Job. Will Christ look after him, then as Jehovah. Indeed, God, and Christ, looked over him from the moment of his birth.


Then, can Job put labors upon Christ. Can he knowingly do things that would make His burden greater. Or will he be a representative, going before Christ's face and preparing the way.


Then, can Job trust Christ, put his faith in Him, because of the wonders and works He will do, or would it rather be because of what love Christ has for him. Since Job was pleading for death, God could be asking him, if he would be willing to trust completely in God and Christ to finish the work, and bring peace and happiness to him, and those of the posterity of Adam.


Then directly asking: "Wild thou believe him[?]"  God and Christ are telling him that everything is going to be okay. That They are watching over him, and his personal descendents, his seed, his children. Even though they were slain. Indeed, not just them, but all the fruits of his labor, will God and Christ bring into the storehouse, bring them home. Lay them up in store that he may have them again.


Can you trust in Christ? Can you put your faith in Him, that everything is going to be okay? Indeed, He has said that He will take care of us. Love us. Watch over us. Even "suffer the little children to come unto [Him]" May we all love Christ, and put our trust in Him.


Love,
Elder Smithson

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 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