Kingdom Come

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints…

Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied…Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 1)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times…for you who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God…

Being born again…by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (I Peter 1)

Get it? Christianity is NOT a “new” religion separate from Judaism or Abraham’s monotheistic “many nations.” It is exactly the same faith in God’s word when he told the Adams that the Seed of the Woman would, at some point in the future, destroy the power of sin and death.

Archeology has uncovered documents recording complex subject matters dating approximately a thousand years before Noah’s flood. We can be certain that God’s rulers prior to the flood such as Adam, Enoch, Noah also most certainly  kept records of God’s word “which liveth and abideth forever” as he spoke – sound energy becoming reality – “Let there be…”

Job’s address as the land of” Uz” (Job 1:1), named for one of Shem’s grandsons, his herding lifestyle in what soon became a heavily urbanized area, his experience with the pre-urbanized raiding Chaldeans, and his long lifespan estimated at about 200 years dates him as living during the formative stages of post-flood civilization prior to Moses’ compilation of Genesis. He was not an Israelite, but a Hebrew like Abram who lived 175 years during this same time frame.

Job is the archetype of every psychologically tormented individual who questions the nature of God and his relationship to humanity. He asks the questions every single individual needs to find out. “Are you there? Do I matter to you? Can you get me out of this mess I’m in from breaking fundamental laws of human nature (AKA sin)? Is there value in what I’ve done in this life after death?”

Job proves to us that the way of salvation in ancient times was exactly the same as that known to us under the terms of our formalized experience of religion in modern times – conviction of sin, repentance and asking forgiveness.

“I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust.” (Job 7:17-21)

Job’s majestic poem reaches far beyond the feeble efforts of the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Norse tale of Beowulf and teaches a much more fundamental truth than the lame lesson usually drawn from it of how to respond to suffering.

What percentage of the ancient population was literate do you think? Envision a live production just like the Epic of Gilgamesh or The Odyssey or Beowulf or  Shakespeare’s productions, passed down in the millennia before we had television. Put some life into it! To help, I’m functioning as the choragos in Greek plays with the italicized headings to the narration, and I’ve left out all the clutter of the chapter and verse references.

Bildad advises Job to find an end to his suffering by consulting the sages from the classical civilization – exemplified by ancient Egypt – preceding their post-apocalyptic dark age. (Obviously, this could only be done through their writings carried through the flood.)

Prepare thyself to the search of their fathers / authorities, instructors…Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Job meditates on Eliphaz’s pitiless advise

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers [referencing Enoch’s writings on the fallen angels] do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

Then Job remembers how the wicked angels got righteous Enoch to intercede for them.

[Hmmmm] Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer – but! [instead] – I would make supplication [have an advocate plead on my behalf] to my judge. [After all,] If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice…For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman / adjudicator,  betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both [to pronounce unbiased judgment in the conflict].”

Not fair! There should be a jury of my peers! 

Hast thou [God] eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth? Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days? 

Enter El-i-hu, “He (hu) is my (i) God (El)”

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram:  [unequivocally establishes he is human] against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job...

Elihu reminds Job that God DOES understand the human condition because he is IN man via his spirit.

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said [pointing his finger in outrage]…there IS a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding…The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Oh you want an arbitrator, do you? Let’s do it!

If thou canst answer ME, set thy words in order before ME, stand up [like a man, you wuss!]. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 

But I’m taking God’s side – Prosecuting Attorney!

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, [with lower lip pouting, mocking whiney voice] “I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me”…[Changes to thundering tone of voice] Behold, in this thou art not just!: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man…

Elihu mockingly throws Job’s words back at him

For God speaketh once, yea twice [euphemism for multiple], yet man perceiveth it not…

But where were YOU when his prophets – like Shem – spoke for him?!

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his [God’s] uprightness: Then he [God] is gracious unto him, and saith,

• Deliver him from going down to the pit: [salvation!]
• I have found a ransom. [redemption!]
• His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: [born again!] 
• he shall return to the days of his youth [resurrection!]: 
• He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: he will render unto man his [God’s] righteousness. [restoration!]

He looketh upon men, and if any say, [unlike anything you’ve said so far, Job!]  I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 

You are treading on thin ice, Job.

Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end [given time to rethink / repent] because…he addeth rebellion unto his sin…multiplieth his words against God. 

Enter God.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding…

Significantly – most significantly! – God responds to Job’s queries by directing Job’s attention to his attribute / name of Creator beginning in chapter 38. Notice how it parallels the account of creation in Genesis 1. 

• Who shut up the sea with doors…And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
• Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
• Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?
• Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
• Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?…
• Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it…
• Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Job is put in his place. Anyone who is going to enter into a relationship with Almighty God has to start by acknowledging his infinite power to Create and Recreate a world that was made for us that is not only Being but Becoming as humanity develops the ability to take dominion through unity with the Creator. 

Then Job answered the LORD, and said, “I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 

• I know that thou canst do every thing”
  • even deliver me from my own evil
  • and keep me from falling,
  • and to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24)…
• Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-7)

Job had previously “known about” God, but now he “knows God.” Job’s personal experience brought him into a personal relationship with “the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:25)

So it must be with every person who would be in a righteous relationship with God.

The known world proves the existence, power and nature of a Creator, in whom we then choose, or not, to place our faith for the unknowable and uncontrollable aspects of our own lives. The opposite of faith is rebellious determined blindness against a Creator’s evident power and authority.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3)

Our faith in God starts with accepting that he is the Creator and Lord of all, develops through listening to his messengers like Eli-hu / My God-he is],  but must progress beyond that to a personal repentance of our resistance to, and a conversion to submission to his authority, which is the only possible right-eous relationship we can have with him.