Job 15-17
In Job 15 we venture into the second cycle of dialogue between Job and his friends, so we are back to Eliphaz. I do not need to point out all of the arguments, because in reality, Job's friends continue with the same attacks, you are human, you have sinned, you have been punished, so repent and all will be made well.
Here, in particular, Eliphaz seems concerned to defend religion and the conventional understanding of who and what God is. He charges Job with an attempt to create a "new understanding" of God that the old and wise do not agree with. Who is Job that he can just turn religion on its head? This is an age old practice that does not change.
Eliphaz then goes on to speak of the reality of the wicked, those who do not listen to God. If Job does not want to end up like them, he better amend his ways.
Now Job is just getting frustrated. In Job 16, he points out that now his friends, who had gathered to comfort him, now just assail him. Is this his lot in life? Will no one offer any consolation to him? He seeks to get them to walk in his shoes so that they will understand why he feels the way his does. Yet they will not.
So Job turns to another who might comfort and console him, Job turns to heaven. Job offers a prayer in Job 17, a prayer that might read as a psalm. Job knows that only God can truly understand what he is going through. It is a radical thing that he is doing. Perhaps this is why his friends don't get it.
Psalm 83-84
The song in Psalm 83 Israel reaches up to God, seeking assistance as the nations rally against them. It is hard to pinpoint a historical moment in time when such an alliance rose up against Israel. The use of Assyria does not really help, since its use sometimes represents an overwhelming enemy not necessarily Assyria. Either way, Israel seeks the protection of God, a protection promised in the covenant.
The song recounts the work of God when at other times Israel was threatened by alliances and powerful nations. God lead them to victory against the Midians, the Moabites and the Ammonites and now Israel seeks this assistance in its present struggles.
The joy of worship is the theme of Psalm 84. It is likely that this psalm is recited following a pilgrimage to the temple, as it speaks of the longing of one seeking the presence of God and the joy of the encounter. God is the Lord of Hosts, God loves creation and cares for it, God is the the God of Israel. There is plenty to worship!
Backlogged Posts
1 Chronicles 15-16
The author continues in his edits as the Ark is finally brought into Jerusalem. According to 1 Chronicles 15 it would seem that the Levites were not involved in the process and instead of putting it on a cart, it should have been carried. So David calls the Levites together and makes a plan to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. In addition, he adds singers and musicians to the ranks of Levites. Whereas David dances in front of the Ark clothed in just an ephod in Samuel, Chronicles leaves this out and his wife Michal is still upset.
Now that the Ark is in Jerusalem proper worship must be established, which the author sets out to do in 1 Chronicles 16. If the Chronicles are post-Exilic work, then the establishment of such things as music and singing is important to be set in the context of the early worship under David which is why the author is making particular pains to demonstrate the role the musicians have in the proper worship. The Psalm that makes up the middle of the chapter is a compilation of three post-exilic psalms 96, 105 and 106. Some language is changed to better reflect an earlier time but for the most part they stand on their own.
2 Corinthians 13
Well, this is it, the end. No more arguments, no more rhetoric. Paul just throws down the gauntlet. He is coming, get ready. In the Jewish tradition, two or three witness are needed to testify against another for wrongdoing. Since this will be his third visit, he will see and testify against the Corinthians if necessary. He challenges them to get ready, to prepare themselves.
But Paul has faith, he has faith that Christ resides in each of them, if they could only realize this. This is what he is hoping to find in them, the Risen Christ, shining in their lives, the proof of the truth of Paul's ministry.
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