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Job 5:23 interpretation

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by evangelist6589, Jan 4, 2015.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Doing my Bible reading today and ran across this verse which I have no idea what it means. Anyone? My study Bible was of little help as well.

    (ESV)
    For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
    and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
    (NIV)
    For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
    and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

    How will the wild animals be at peace with me? If I walked into the land of the ANE where Job lived the lions, bears, cobras and scorpions will kill me. They will not be at peace with me.


    Thanks,


    John
     
  2. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    I've taught Job a couple of times. Let me take a stab here.

    This is a whole chapter of Eliphaz trying to convince Job that the reason he is suffering is because he has ticked God off in some manner.

    He tries to convince Job that God is punishing him for his great big sins and that if he can endure the punishment that God will make life all a big ticker tape parade, rainbow, candyland, and freedom from pain, famine, destruction, and life's trials. Eliphaz even says at the end that Job should listen to him because he has "studied" and is learned in this matter.

    Eliphaz is partially right. God does chasten his children and AS His children we should not fear the woes and troubles of this life, but bear them with God's help. But God promises no fairy tale life for anyone. We don't get slapped around for messing up and lavishly rewarded for walking in the right paths. That teaches a works-based relationship with God.

    Eliphaz would make a very good Joel Osteen.

    Specifically in verses 17-23, he says this:

    Ironic that Eliphaz says in #2 that Job will be protected from the scourge of the tongue.

    Eliphaz is chastened, HIMSELF, by God at the end (chapter 42) for having not spoken what is right about God the way that Job did.

    Eliphaz skirts around the truth, but misses it - by an inch or by a mile.....it doesn't matter.

    He missed the total truth and tried to pass that missed truth along as counsel to his ailing friend.
     
    #2 Scarlett O., Jan 4, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2015
  3. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    These must have been common words of wisdom in their time - and still are in our time.

    Eliphaz seems to say that even Job offered words like this to others.

    “Your words have raised up the one who stumbles, and you have strengthened knees giving way.
    But now it has come to you, and you are worn out; it touches you, and you are horrified.
    Is not your fear in God your confidence? Is not your hope even the integrity of your ways?
    Think now, who has perished who is innocent? Or where are the upright destroyed?” (Job 4:4–7, LEB)

    Of course our righteousness is not our own but of Christ through his blood.

    Rob
     
  4. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Scarlett has it right. You need to understand the the back and forth between Job and his friends in the light that they were convinced that Job had brought this on himself and must have been disobedient or else none of the catastrophes would have occurred.

    There is no promise there for us today that what Jobs friends said would be for us.
     
  5. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    So this basically means to be a conversation and not to be taken literallly? Poetry is not my strength, but I did purchase The Moody bible commentary for my iPad to assist. Its like the BKC not too deep, but deeper than any study Bible. In-depth commentaries on the entire Bible would run over $1000.
     
  6. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    The prevailing method of interpretation today is based upon genre.

    The book of Job is poetry of a type but probably better classified as narrative, ...or as you noted, "conversation".

    The book tells the story of the author. In the story the author includes the portions that fulfill his purpose. The ultimate purpose story is not to tell us about Job, but about God.

    In these conversations Job has with his compatriots, we learn of their view of God, their theology. It's not always correct. God rebukes them in the final chapters of the book.

    God is knowable only in part. He will always be bigger than our ideas of him.
    Our best way of knowing him is through the revelation of scripture but even that presents him as a mystery at times.

    Rob
     
  7. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Yes, Eliphaz's literal meaning is that God will not allow anything to happen to Job if Job will just stop sinning (an erroneous teaching), but he is using poetic devices to teach that (hyperbole).
     
  8. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
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    In Genesis 1:30 God looked upon all he had made and he said "it was very good." All of Creation was in harmony with God. Prior to the fall of man, all of creation was in harmony with man. The land was in harmony with Adam as it did not produce thorns and thistles. Animals were in harmony with Adam. Redemption is about restoring that harmony with God and creation. Such harmony will one day be perfectly restored (Rev. 21:1-3). However, there is a partial application that is being made now and experienced as the redeemed walk in harmony with God's revealed will.

    A man who is at peace with God and walks in God's paths the Bible promises that God will make even his enemies to be at peace with him.

    God providentially controls all things and works them for the ultimate good of His elect (Rom. 8:28). Certainly that does not mean all things will feel or look good or will have immediate positive results. But as a general rule God providentially can turn the curse of sin into a blessing for God's people, especially as they walk in his will.

    Eliphaz is simply claiming that if Job was right with God, then Job would be in that kind of covenant harmony with all of God's creation as God would be working things for him instead of against him.

    I agree with Scarlet's interpretation.
     
    #8 The Biblicist, Jan 25, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 25, 2015
  9. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Not everything said in scripture reflects God's will, false teachers teach falsehoods and their teachings are found in scripture.

    One idea about being in league with the stones of the field is a promise rocky fields will not hinder your crops. Sort of a God will bless you if you are godly message. And of course it is totally false. For example, Christ was crucified and Steven was stoned.
     
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