Job fires back. “I’m as good as you are, better even” (vs 1-2). But that doesn’t seem to do Job any good at all. He is still in deep trouble. People have nothing but contempt for him.
We rarely get ourselves out of trouble by claiming that we are better than others—or even by being better than others.
Read More sovereignty, authorityIn the second half of Chapter 38 God continues to question Job. In mercy God is helping Job see how little he understands about the created order. It is important to see that none of these questions is directly addressing Job’s complaint. None of them is touching on either Job’s suffering or God’s justice.
Read More sovereignty, involvement, sustainOnly now does the Lord begin to weave together the loose strands in this book. Of the absolute highest significance is the fact that God controls “Leviathan” (v. 1). Although English translations differ, the word symbolically refers to a great demon/god/power.[1] This being cannot be controlled by humans; it is too powerful to be subdued by the human race.
Read More sovereignty, understanding, Leviathan
Something is different in this psalm: the psalmist’s enemies have turned tail and run. They stumbled on God and fell on their faces! The psalmist is jubilant—foot-on-chest-winner jubilation.
Woohoo we cry: finally, God, you have crushed the enemies!
Read More sovereignty
The wisdom writers help us to address the fact that God’s sovereignty is both a comforting and mysterious concept.
A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?
Read More obedience, sovereignty, stuff happens