Reading with Ben

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Psalms.

This is episode #06 chapters 11 and 12.

Psalms Chapter 11, Those that truly fear God and serve him, are welcome to put their trust in him. The psalmist, before he gives an account of his temptation to distrust God, records his resolution to trust in Him, as that by which he was resolved to live and die. The believer, though not terrified by his enemies, may be tempted, by the fears of his friends, to desert his post, or neglect his work. They perceive his danger, but not his security; they give him counsel that savours of worldly policy, rather than of heavenly wisdom. The principles of religion are the foundations on which the faith and hope of the righteous are built. We are concerned to hold these fast against all temptations to unbelief; for believers would be undone, if they had not God to go to, God to trust in, and future bliss to hope for. The prosperity of wicked people in their wicked, evil ways, and the straits and distresses which the best men are sometimes brought into, tried David's faith.

Psalms Chapter 12, This psalm furnishes good thoughts for bad times; a man may comfort himself with such meditations and prayers. Let us see what makes the times bad, and when they may be said to be so. Ask the children of this world, What makes the times bad? they will tell you, Scarcity of money, decay of trade, and the desolations of war, make the times bad: but the Scripture lays the badness of the times on causes of another nature, 2Ti. 3:1 , &c.: perilous times shall come, for sin shall abound; and of this David complains. When piety decays times really are bad. He who made man's mouth will call him to an account for his proud, profane, dissembling, or even useless words. When the poor and needy are oppressed, then the times are very bad. God himself takes notice of the oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy. When wickedness abounds, and is countenanced by those in authority, then the times are very bad. See with what good things we are here furnished for such bad times; and we cannot tell what times we may be reserved for. 1. We have a God to go to, from whom we may ask and expect the redress of all our grievances. 2. God will certainly punish and restrain false and proud men. 3. God will work deliverance for his oppressed people. His help is given in the fittest time.

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #05 chapters 09 and 10.

Job Chapter 09, God is more powerful than our enemies and concerned for our struggles.  We can and should turn to God in the midst of our struggles.  Even while we praise God and pray to God we may still suffer.  This should not stop our desire to praise the God whose character never changes.

Job Chapter 10, Because this psalm has no title (in the midst of several psalms that do), and because it shares some similar themes with Psalm 9, some have thought that it was originally the second half of Psalm 9. There are more reasons to doubt this than to believe it; this psalm rightly stands on its own as a psalm of lament at the seeming prosperity of the wicked but ultimate confidence in the judgments of God.

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #04 chapters 07 and 08.

Job Chapter 07, The Hebrew title to this psalm reads: A Meditation of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. The New King James Version translates the Hebrew word “shiggaion” as meditation, though the word is difficult to translate and is used elsewhere only in Habakkuk 3:1. The specific occasion is not easily connected with an event recorded in the historical books of the Old Testament; it may be a veiled reference to either Shimei’s accusations against David in 2 Samuel 16:5 or to Saul’s slanders against David. More likely this Cush, a Benjamite, was simply another partisan of Saul against David. The psalm contains both David’s cry of anguish and shout of confidence in God’s deliverance.

Job Chapter 08, The title of this psalm reads, To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David. It indicates the audience of the psalm (the Chief Musician), the author of the psalm (of David) and the sound of the psalm (the instrument of Gath). In this psalm David speaks of the glory of God, and how the glory of man and his destiny reflect upon God.

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #03 chapters 05 and 06.

Job Chapter 05, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation". In Latin, it is known as "Verba mea auribus percipe Domine". The psalm is traditionally attributed to David.

Job Chapter 06, Lord in thine anger do not reprehend me, Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct; Pity me Lord for I am much deject Am very weak and faint; heal and amend me, For all my bones, that even with anguish ake, Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore And thou O Lord how long? turn Lord, restore My soul, O save me for thy goodness sake For in death no remembrance is of thee; Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #02 chapters 03 and 04.

Job Chapter 03, Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?

Job Chapter 02, He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #01 chapters 01 and 02.

Job Chapter 01, This psalm makes sure we know the difference between good people and evil people. In case you didn't get the memo, the writers of Psalms think that people who worship God are righteous, and people who don't are wicked.

Job Chapter 02, Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #22 chapters 41 and 42.

Job Chapter 41, Can Job draw Leviathan out with a fishhook? Can he put a rope in its nose? Can he play with it or put it on a leash for a children’s pet? Indeed, he couldn’t even hope to capture it; it’s so fierce that nobody dares confront it. God speaks of Leviathan’s “coat of mail” and terrifying teeth; “its sneezes flash forth light,” and it breathes fire. No weapon—sword, spear, or javelin—can pierce it. This fearless creature is king over all lesser creatures.

Job Chapter 42, Job answers the LORD and says he knows that God can do all these things; God’s purpose can’t be thwarted. He admits that he has spoken things he didn’t understand—things “too wonderful” for him. He had heard of God before, but now he has seen him. Accordingly, he “despises” himself and “repents[] in dust and ashes.”

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #20 chapters 37 and 38.

Job Chapter 39, God continues asking Job if he knows when mountain goats or deer give birth to their young. Who let the wild ass go free to roam in the mountains? Did Job give the horse its might and fearlessness in battle? Is it because of Job’s wisdom that the hawk soars and the eagle nests on the heights?

Job Chapter 40, The LORD asks Job, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?” If Job argues with God, he must give a response. Job replies that he is small; how can he answer? “I lay my hand upon my mouth,” he tells God, and will speak no more.

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #20 chapters 37 and 38.

Job Chapter 37, Elihu says that God’s thundering voice causes his heart to tremble. God unleashes lightning across the earth, and his voice roars majestically. Nobody can understand how he causes the snow and rain to fall, sending animals into their dens. He also sends whirlwinds by his breath and causes the waters to freeze. “Whether for correction […] or for love” he causes all these things to happen.

Job Chapter 38, Then, God himself addresses Job “out of the whirlwind.” He demands, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? / Gird up your loins like a man, / I will question you, and you shall declare to me.”

Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Let's continue the lecture on the book of Job.

This is episode #19 chapters 35 and 36.

Job Chapter 35, Elihu continues speaking. It’s not right, he says, for Job to assert his righteousness and to ask, “How am I better off than if I had sinned?” Elihu will answer him and his friends. He tells Job to observe the skies. Elihu says that neither Job’s transgressions nor his righteousness actually give God anything. Rather, these things affect other human beings.

Job Chapter 36, Elihu keeps talking; he still has something to say on God’s behalf. God, he says, is mighty in every way. He doesn’t sustain the wicked but gives the afflicted what they deserve. If the afflicted have sinned, God instructs them accordingly, commanding them to change their ways. If they do, they will spend the rest of their days happily; if they persist in sinning, they will die by violence.