[Job 28:25] To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
[Weight of the winds - controls the worldwide air mass movements that transport the waters evaporated from the oceans inland over the continents. There the waters, also carefully measured by G-d, fall to the ground to water the earth. We now know that global weights of air and water must be in critical relationship to each other, and to the earth as a whole, to maintain life on earth. No other planet in the solar system has a significant amount of either air or water, and no other planets are known to exist in the universe. Planet earth is uniquely designed for life, and its atmosphere and hydrosphere are the most important components of that design. If the weights of either air or water were much different than they are, life, as we know it could not survive.
So this passage is also significant in recognizing that air and wind have weight, a fact not obvious to the physical senses and not confirmed scientifically until about 300 years ago. The indication in this Joban passage that there is a parallel between the behavior of air and water was recognized in the late ninetieth century.
He – G-d, in the hollow of His hand, where He poises them; (Isa. 40:12). The perfect and exact knowledge G-d has of them, and of His great and diligent concern in Providence about them, He ordering and disposing of them according to His will.
Water - Hydrology, the study of water, deals with the occurrence and behavior of water in its natural state. Air and water have been the two necessities for maintaining life ever since the global atmosphere and hydrosphere were established by G-d on the second day of creation week.
The concept of the hydrological cycle and its successive phases (evaporation, atmospheric circulation, condensation, precipitation, run-off) was not discovered (or rediscovered) until recent centuries. Yet there are several significant references in Job that are remarkably consistent with modern hydrology and meteorology.]
[26] When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:[When he made a decree - for rain is his gift alone and a wonderful blessing to the earth it is. Some clouds never fall while others grow dark and heavy. The difference is with right combination of air turbulence and clouds; the complex forces generate an electrical field that produces lightning discharges. These violent electrical currents, in some complex energy exchange not yet fully understood, that cause the small water droplets to bind together with others to form larger drops. And then this remarkable series of events delivers the rain to the thirsty ground.
Lighting of the thunder - Thunder is from God, it is his voice, and the word here used is in the plural number, "voices", signifying various claps of thunder; and lightning generally accompanies it, which, though first perceived, they are both at once the eye doing its office quicker than the ear; the way of the lightning out of the thunder cloud, and attending claps of thunder; the thunder breaks the cloud and makes a path for the lightning.]
[27] Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.[His own wisdom, when He made and executed His decrees concerning rain, lightning, and thunder; He saw it in Himself, and as it appeared in the works of His hands, which He looked on and approved of, and saw that all was very good; and He declared it by His works of nature and providence; for they declare the glory of G-d, and particularly the glory of His wisdom.]
All done by the Creater's hand!
Miners vs Spiritual Miners
Job 28 This chapter is the oldest and finest piece of natural history in the world, and gives us very important information on several curious subjects.
[3] He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
Miners searches and digs through them, to get at what he is seeking; or brings stones, precious stones, to light, which lay in darkness from the beginning, and in such places which were the shadow of death, and looked dismal and horrible, and even threatened with death, to get into and fetch them out: so spiritual miners, that search into the mines of the Scriptures, should not be discouraged with darkness and difficulties that may attend their search; but should continue it, in order to find out truths that have lain in darkness, more precious than gold and silver, and the richest gems; and such who search for them in like manner as miners do shall find them, (Prov. 2:4, 5).
[4] …Dried up…gone away from men - though such a flood of waters rise apace, and flow in with great force, and threaten the miners' lives, and the ruin of their works; yet they are not discouraged, but by means of engines, pumps, and buckets, and such like things, draw up the waters, and clear the mines of them; and they are gone from the workmen, who return to their work again, and go on with their mining: and so sometimes spiritual miners are interrupted by a flood of satan's temptations, the world's persecutions, and various afflictions; but, by the assistance of the Spirit and grace of G-d, whereby a standard is lifted up against them, they get clear of them, and receive no hurt by them, but go on cheerfully in the work of the L-rd, (Isa. 59:19) (Rev. 12:15,16).
[7] … The vulture's eye hath not seen - which is next to the eagle, and some of them are of the species of it, and is a very sharp-sighted creature, even to a proverb, as well as voracious, which makes it diligent to search everywhere for its prey; and yet this creature's sharp and piercing eye never saw the path the miners make by digging into the earth, in order to get metals and minerals from it.
The spiritual miner sees the subterraneous paths in nature, made of G-d. Which are searchable of the deep things of G-d, searched into and revealed by His Spirit, as well as to the ways and paths of righteousness and holiness, of faith and truth, of the word and ordinances G-d has revealed, as His mind and will His people should walk in, the way to everlasting happiness, the way of life and salvation, the high way and way of holiness, which otherwise would not be known, and are not by carnal men.
[12] But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
But where shall wisdom be found – yet are got over through the art and skill, industry, diligence, and labor of people; so that their eyes behold every precious thing their minds desire, and they bring to light what have been laid up in darkness from the creation of the world: but, though these things may be found by search and labor, the question is, what vein is there for wisdom, or where is the place in which that may be found? By which may be meant the wisdom of G-d, as a perfection in Him; which, though displayed in some measure in the works of creation and providence, yet not completely, and especially in His dealings with the children of men; in all which there is undoubtedly the wisdom of G-d. Oh the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of G-d, how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33); particularly here may be meant the wisdom of G-d in His dealings with men, good and bad, in afflicting good men, and in suffering the wicked to prosper: this is a fact Job had fully proved, and it cannot be denied; and there is, no doubt, much of the wisdom of G-d herein, nor to be obtained by any thing in nature ever so valuable, but is the gift of G-d, the wisdom He makes men to know, in the hidden part, (Ps. 51:6).
The place of understanding - to attain to the understanding of the mysteries of Providence one only needs to study His word (2 Tim. 2:15), for, by wisdom and understanding are meant one and the same.
[13] Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
The price thereof – what is a valuable consideration for it: as for the wisdom of G-d, the order of divine Providence, the wise disposal of thing, and the reasons thereof. Are His followers willing to pay the price? It takes time and devotion to study His Word and build an intimate relationship with Him. Do we have our priorities in order?
The land of the living - in every sense is not from below, or earthly, but from above, and heavenly, but the price of it; and the sense is, that there is nothing in the whole globe that is equal to its worth, or can be proposed as a valuable consideration for it.
[14] … It is not with me – for the spiritual miners would admit it was not in them to spend hours on end unless it was a call from G-d to dig a little deeper and press on to reach understanding.
[15] … The price thereof - Having in general said that there is nothing in the whole compass of the terraqueous globe, nothing that is upon the surface of the earth, or in the bowels of it, or in the vast ocean, that is an equivalent price for G-d’s wisdom, as refine golden nuggets found in His Word.
What kind of a miner are you? Searching for wealth in material things or being a Spiritual miner?
[3] He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
Miners searches and digs through them, to get at what he is seeking; or brings stones, precious stones, to light, which lay in darkness from the beginning, and in such places which were the shadow of death, and looked dismal and horrible, and even threatened with death, to get into and fetch them out: so spiritual miners, that search into the mines of the Scriptures, should not be discouraged with darkness and difficulties that may attend their search; but should continue it, in order to find out truths that have lain in darkness, more precious than gold and silver, and the richest gems; and such who search for them in like manner as miners do shall find them, (Prov. 2:4, 5).
[4] …Dried up…gone away from men - though such a flood of waters rise apace, and flow in with great force, and threaten the miners' lives, and the ruin of their works; yet they are not discouraged, but by means of engines, pumps, and buckets, and such like things, draw up the waters, and clear the mines of them; and they are gone from the workmen, who return to their work again, and go on with their mining: and so sometimes spiritual miners are interrupted by a flood of satan's temptations, the world's persecutions, and various afflictions; but, by the assistance of the Spirit and grace of G-d, whereby a standard is lifted up against them, they get clear of them, and receive no hurt by them, but go on cheerfully in the work of the L-rd, (Isa. 59:19) (Rev. 12:15,16).
[7] … The vulture's eye hath not seen - which is next to the eagle, and some of them are of the species of it, and is a very sharp-sighted creature, even to a proverb, as well as voracious, which makes it diligent to search everywhere for its prey; and yet this creature's sharp and piercing eye never saw the path the miners make by digging into the earth, in order to get metals and minerals from it.
The spiritual miner sees the subterraneous paths in nature, made of G-d. Which are searchable of the deep things of G-d, searched into and revealed by His Spirit, as well as to the ways and paths of righteousness and holiness, of faith and truth, of the word and ordinances G-d has revealed, as His mind and will His people should walk in, the way to everlasting happiness, the way of life and salvation, the high way and way of holiness, which otherwise would not be known, and are not by carnal men.
[12] But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
But where shall wisdom be found – yet are got over through the art and skill, industry, diligence, and labor of people; so that their eyes behold every precious thing their minds desire, and they bring to light what have been laid up in darkness from the creation of the world: but, though these things may be found by search and labor, the question is, what vein is there for wisdom, or where is the place in which that may be found? By which may be meant the wisdom of G-d, as a perfection in Him; which, though displayed in some measure in the works of creation and providence, yet not completely, and especially in His dealings with the children of men; in all which there is undoubtedly the wisdom of G-d. Oh the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of G-d, how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33); particularly here may be meant the wisdom of G-d in His dealings with men, good and bad, in afflicting good men, and in suffering the wicked to prosper: this is a fact Job had fully proved, and it cannot be denied; and there is, no doubt, much of the wisdom of G-d herein, nor to be obtained by any thing in nature ever so valuable, but is the gift of G-d, the wisdom He makes men to know, in the hidden part, (Ps. 51:6).
The place of understanding - to attain to the understanding of the mysteries of Providence one only needs to study His word (2 Tim. 2:15), for, by wisdom and understanding are meant one and the same.
[13] Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
The price thereof – what is a valuable consideration for it: as for the wisdom of G-d, the order of divine Providence, the wise disposal of thing, and the reasons thereof. Are His followers willing to pay the price? It takes time and devotion to study His Word and build an intimate relationship with Him. Do we have our priorities in order?
The land of the living - in every sense is not from below, or earthly, but from above, and heavenly, but the price of it; and the sense is, that there is nothing in the whole globe that is equal to its worth, or can be proposed as a valuable consideration for it.
[14] … It is not with me – for the spiritual miners would admit it was not in them to spend hours on end unless it was a call from G-d to dig a little deeper and press on to reach understanding.
[15] … The price thereof - Having in general said that there is nothing in the whole compass of the terraqueous globe, nothing that is upon the surface of the earth, or in the bowels of it, or in the vast ocean, that is an equivalent price for G-d’s wisdom, as refine golden nuggets found in His Word.
What kind of a miner are you? Searching for wealth in material things or being a Spiritual miner?
Who's in Control
Who’s in Control
The present dogmatical systems of the government of brain-sick visionaries, and system-mad mortals, talk as confidently of the structure of the economy, and the manner and time in which it can all be solved, as if they had examined every part from the centre to the circumference; though not a soul of them has ever penetrated two miles in perpendicular depth into the bowels of the average person.
And with this scanty, defective knowledge, they pretend to build systems in the universe, and blaspheme the revelation of G-d! For they say we are no longer a Christian nation, and nothing on how we can get back to being one. Poor souls!
All these things are to them a path towards who will control the one world order. The wisdom necessary to such investigations is out of their reach; and they have not simplicity of heart to seek it where it may be found.
But greedy mortals, rummaging our money, gave mischief birth, and made that mischief bold; and double death did wretched man invade. He does not know he has its bounds assigned by the Most High that it will not drown the adjacent country; and in its ebbing the parts which are ordinarily covered with the lies are brought to view.
From all that reason and intellect by which man is distinguished from all other animals, some have forgotten the fear of the L-rd is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. One must not only have the form, but also the power of godliness: and this will lead them to worship G-d in spirit and truth, they could be truly happy: so that wisdom is another word for happiness. Now these are things which man by study and searching could never find out; they are not of an earthly origin. The spirit of a man, human understanding, may know the things of a man-those which concern him in his animal and social state: but the Spirit of G-d alone knows the things of G-d; and therefore wisdom must come by Divine revelation, which is the mode of its attainment. Wisdom finds out the thing, and understanding uses and applies the means; and then the great end is obtained.
Man knoweth not the price thereof, it is of infinite value; and is the only science which concerns both worlds. Pray that our government starts seeking out Divine revelation on how to clean up our mess and get back to being a Christian nation before it is to late.
The present dogmatical systems of the government of brain-sick visionaries, and system-mad mortals, talk as confidently of the structure of the economy, and the manner and time in which it can all be solved, as if they had examined every part from the centre to the circumference; though not a soul of them has ever penetrated two miles in perpendicular depth into the bowels of the average person.
And with this scanty, defective knowledge, they pretend to build systems in the universe, and blaspheme the revelation of G-d! For they say we are no longer a Christian nation, and nothing on how we can get back to being one. Poor souls!
All these things are to them a path towards who will control the one world order. The wisdom necessary to such investigations is out of their reach; and they have not simplicity of heart to seek it where it may be found.
But greedy mortals, rummaging our money, gave mischief birth, and made that mischief bold; and double death did wretched man invade. He does not know he has its bounds assigned by the Most High that it will not drown the adjacent country; and in its ebbing the parts which are ordinarily covered with the lies are brought to view.
From all that reason and intellect by which man is distinguished from all other animals, some have forgotten the fear of the L-rd is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. One must not only have the form, but also the power of godliness: and this will lead them to worship G-d in spirit and truth, they could be truly happy: so that wisdom is another word for happiness. Now these are things which man by study and searching could never find out; they are not of an earthly origin. The spirit of a man, human understanding, may know the things of a man-those which concern him in his animal and social state: but the Spirit of G-d alone knows the things of G-d; and therefore wisdom must come by Divine revelation, which is the mode of its attainment. Wisdom finds out the thing, and understanding uses and applies the means; and then the great end is obtained.
Man knoweth not the price thereof, it is of infinite value; and is the only science which concerns both worlds. Pray that our government starts seeking out Divine revelation on how to clean up our mess and get back to being a Christian nation before it is to late.
The Compost Pile
I see piles and more piles of compost spread all around. Our economy has been sold out from under us to create a one world order and causing this wide spread of rebuilding of our foundations and putting our priorities back in order.
The compost has a bad smell to it and it attracts the fowls of the air and the creatures of prey to abide there in. What sometimes smells bad or looks bad is not always a bad thing, for the compost will not only enrich the values of the heart but also strengthen a new beginning in one’s faith in G-d.
Before mankind had been building for personal gain not giving a second thought to the less fortunate. Materialism is what the world valued you at, so one got greedy and hungered for more and more. Not only more but bigger and better, never satisfied to live within one’s means.
Bail outs were not given to the common people to square off their mismanagements but instead it went to the conglomerate corporations for their misappropriated funds. We can not blame the government if we ourselves have not learned to spend wisely. We also have to be accountable for who we voted for, or for not voting at all. We get what we have allowed to take place.
All things are Father filtered for He is still in control. Watch therefore the signs of the seasons for we reap what we have sown, in the future that draws nigh. We can complain or we can repent and pray that all things work out in concordance to His plan.
Rebuild with a new perspective and let the compost enrich your lives as you cut back on unnecessary materialism and plant in good soil for the glory of the Kingdom. Stop spoiling your children rotten, start teaching them by being a good example; they are the next generation that could make the difference.
Which ever way the winds blows – know that G-d takes care of His own.
So be of good cheer for it can be all part of the Master’s plan.
The compost has a bad smell to it and it attracts the fowls of the air and the creatures of prey to abide there in. What sometimes smells bad or looks bad is not always a bad thing, for the compost will not only enrich the values of the heart but also strengthen a new beginning in one’s faith in G-d.
Before mankind had been building for personal gain not giving a second thought to the less fortunate. Materialism is what the world valued you at, so one got greedy and hungered for more and more. Not only more but bigger and better, never satisfied to live within one’s means.
Bail outs were not given to the common people to square off their mismanagements but instead it went to the conglomerate corporations for their misappropriated funds. We can not blame the government if we ourselves have not learned to spend wisely. We also have to be accountable for who we voted for, or for not voting at all. We get what we have allowed to take place.
All things are Father filtered for He is still in control. Watch therefore the signs of the seasons for we reap what we have sown, in the future that draws nigh. We can complain or we can repent and pray that all things work out in concordance to His plan.
Rebuild with a new perspective and let the compost enrich your lives as you cut back on unnecessary materialism and plant in good soil for the glory of the Kingdom. Stop spoiling your children rotten, start teaching them by being a good example; they are the next generation that could make the difference.
Which ever way the winds blows – know that G-d takes care of His own.
So be of good cheer for it can be all part of the Master’s plan.
A Mother's Gift
A mother is the first person that longs to cuddle her offspring in her arms. She counts her baby’s little fingers and toes. As she rubs it’s little feet and kisses the tinny, loving face. She holds the little one to her bosom, snuggling it close as it drinks in her milk. A bonding that is beyond compare, for no one else can do this but her. There is no building up the bottle so she can go about her busy day, no; it is a time to rest and to put one’s priorities first.
Mother’s gives all her love and nurturing to her children, many times she goes with out to provide for their needs. She actually gets so involve in their interest that she forgets about her own dreams and desires. But nobody notices, least of all her.
She teaches them to talk and walk, and how to feed their selves. To know the difference in right and wrong, and the consequence for chooses one makes. She becomes the taxi driver to get them to all their meetings, and hits all their school functions. She cleans the house, cooks their food, and washes their clothes – yet still had found time to play a game or read a book to them, before tucking them in their own beds at night.
Mothers seem to be the ones that take the time to teach her children about G-d, trying to lead them to have a personal relationship with Him. Sadly many times children learn about G-d, but only go on the parent’s faith and don’t develop their own. They don’t really want to know Him for then they would have to follow His instructions, and could not do their own thing, with out feeling guilty for the wrong chooses.
As young children they think mother is the best thing in the world, one who was always there to kiss their owes, and lesson to their thoughts and hurts. She was the one that would sit up with them all night when they were sick. They spoke openly of their love and shared their kisses and hugs, un-shamble. Children all reach the stage were there seems to be a generation gap – forgetting mother was once a teenager too for times and feelings have not changed so much throughout the generations. But all a sudden, mother is not as smart as they thought – after all they did not do anything important with their live but raise the children and been there for their every wimp and need.
Why is it that as they get older they no longer can say the magic three letters or show their appreciation for giving them live to the fullness of their ability? When was the last time you said I love you or given your mother a hug? Have you made her birthday,mother’s day, or grandmothers day a remember able one? Or do you just take enough time to make a phone call, after all she should know you are very busy or need time to your self.
To many times I have heard people say they wish they had done better and used voice with action when they had the chance. But they learn after the parent has pass away, how they have been so self-centered, and how much they really relied on mother, but had took her for granted.
G-d said to respect thy parents – He did not say ‘if they deserve it’ but respect because of all they had done to provide for you and your future. In the olden days G-d commanded one to provide for their parents in their golden years, and learn from their wisdom for wisdom comes in even making mistakes. Children are not seeming to learn as quickly anymore, maybe not lessoning, for they are still go to mommy for money because they can not manage their own finance because they have not learn to live within their means. Or they cannot handle their own children and always need a free babysitter – ‘how in the world can one do any shopping with two kids hanging on them’ or I hear ‘I get no sleep.’
Scripture says if they do not work they do not eat – too many excuses for not getting out there and supporting their own family, why work if welfare gives you a roof over your head and food on the table – but then they even complain about that.
In trying to give our children better than what we have – we have been enabling them not really helping them. There is such a cases as giving to much and not allowing them to stand on their own two feet, allowing them to learn from their own mistakes. We have help make them what they are today – shame on us. Good intentions are not always good for their growth.
Then the time arrives when all your chickadees are moved out of the house and their offspring has grown up and living their own lives and you find yourself wondering what your dream was and is it to late to be full filled. Your have made your children and grandchildren your life and they have flown the coop – you are left behind. Is it to late for your dreams or do you even have a dream anymore?
Today people don’t want to change their life style so parents are sent to a nursing home, and usually forgot about. I have watched them sit and stare out the window watching and waiting for family to show up, day in and day out. How fast life starts slipping by as you get older, what was once so important as cleaning the house, gardening, cooking ect, is not what is important anymore – all you got left is family or loneliness as I fill my days in research. Maybe this is the time you get to draw even closer to your Maker for you no longer have to be in the rat race.
Please take the time to reflect on your mother, or any women, for G-d has made them the weaker vessel that needs to be touched and told she is loved everyday, for she is the heart of the family and needs to be respected and appreciated.
Life is to short to be taken for granted – here today and gone tomorrow.
Mother’s gives all her love and nurturing to her children, many times she goes with out to provide for their needs. She actually gets so involve in their interest that she forgets about her own dreams and desires. But nobody notices, least of all her.
She teaches them to talk and walk, and how to feed their selves. To know the difference in right and wrong, and the consequence for chooses one makes. She becomes the taxi driver to get them to all their meetings, and hits all their school functions. She cleans the house, cooks their food, and washes their clothes – yet still had found time to play a game or read a book to them, before tucking them in their own beds at night.
Mothers seem to be the ones that take the time to teach her children about G-d, trying to lead them to have a personal relationship with Him. Sadly many times children learn about G-d, but only go on the parent’s faith and don’t develop their own. They don’t really want to know Him for then they would have to follow His instructions, and could not do their own thing, with out feeling guilty for the wrong chooses.
As young children they think mother is the best thing in the world, one who was always there to kiss their owes, and lesson to their thoughts and hurts. She was the one that would sit up with them all night when they were sick. They spoke openly of their love and shared their kisses and hugs, un-shamble. Children all reach the stage were there seems to be a generation gap – forgetting mother was once a teenager too for times and feelings have not changed so much throughout the generations. But all a sudden, mother is not as smart as they thought – after all they did not do anything important with their live but raise the children and been there for their every wimp and need.
Why is it that as they get older they no longer can say the magic three letters or show their appreciation for giving them live to the fullness of their ability? When was the last time you said I love you or given your mother a hug? Have you made her birthday,mother’s day, or grandmothers day a remember able one? Or do you just take enough time to make a phone call, after all she should know you are very busy or need time to your self.
To many times I have heard people say they wish they had done better and used voice with action when they had the chance. But they learn after the parent has pass away, how they have been so self-centered, and how much they really relied on mother, but had took her for granted.
G-d said to respect thy parents – He did not say ‘if they deserve it’ but respect because of all they had done to provide for you and your future. In the olden days G-d commanded one to provide for their parents in their golden years, and learn from their wisdom for wisdom comes in even making mistakes. Children are not seeming to learn as quickly anymore, maybe not lessoning, for they are still go to mommy for money because they can not manage their own finance because they have not learn to live within their means. Or they cannot handle their own children and always need a free babysitter – ‘how in the world can one do any shopping with two kids hanging on them’ or I hear ‘I get no sleep.’
Scripture says if they do not work they do not eat – too many excuses for not getting out there and supporting their own family, why work if welfare gives you a roof over your head and food on the table – but then they even complain about that.
In trying to give our children better than what we have – we have been enabling them not really helping them. There is such a cases as giving to much and not allowing them to stand on their own two feet, allowing them to learn from their own mistakes. We have help make them what they are today – shame on us. Good intentions are not always good for their growth.
Then the time arrives when all your chickadees are moved out of the house and their offspring has grown up and living their own lives and you find yourself wondering what your dream was and is it to late to be full filled. Your have made your children and grandchildren your life and they have flown the coop – you are left behind. Is it to late for your dreams or do you even have a dream anymore?
Today people don’t want to change their life style so parents are sent to a nursing home, and usually forgot about. I have watched them sit and stare out the window watching and waiting for family to show up, day in and day out. How fast life starts slipping by as you get older, what was once so important as cleaning the house, gardening, cooking ect, is not what is important anymore – all you got left is family or loneliness as I fill my days in research. Maybe this is the time you get to draw even closer to your Maker for you no longer have to be in the rat race.
Please take the time to reflect on your mother, or any women, for G-d has made them the weaker vessel that needs to be touched and told she is loved everyday, for she is the heart of the family and needs to be respected and appreciated.
Life is to short to be taken for granted – here today and gone tomorrow.
Anger Management
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.
His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.
He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence
He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
But it won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will
still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Remember that friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.'
Please forgive me if I have ever left a 'hole' in your fence.
Author unknown
His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.
He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence
He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
But it won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will
still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Remember that friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.'
Please forgive me if I have ever left a 'hole' in your fence.
Author unknown
Noahic Flood
[Job 26:5] Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
[Dead things are formed - This verse, as it stands in our version, seems to convey no meaning; or things without life, for such things are formed everywhere in the earth, and under the earth, as well as under the waters. Rather, The souls of the dead (Rephaim) tremble. Not only does G-d's power exist, as Bildad says (25:2), in high places (heaven), but reaches to the region of the dead. Rephaim here, and in Prov. 21:16 and Isa 14:9, is from a Hebrew root, meaning to be weak, hence deceased; in Gen. 14:5 it is applied to the Canaanite giants; perhaps in scorn, to express their weakness, in spite of their gigantic size, as compared with Jehovah. He would there have rendered the congregation of the giants, in allusion to the drowning of the sinners of the old world. And is there any thing in which the majesty of G-d appears more dreadful than in the eternal ruin of the ungodly and the groans of the inhabitants of the land of darkness? Those that will not with angels fear and worship shall for ever with devils fear and tremble; and G-d therein will be glorified.
From under the waters - Thus the place of the dead will be represented as under the waters (Ps. 18:4, 5); and the waters as under the earth (Ps. 24:2). The inhabitants of the places under the waters are those in Gehenna, the lower of the two parts into which Sheol, according to the Jews, is divided; they answer to destruction, that is, the place of the wicked, as "Rephaim" to "Hell" (Sheol). Sheol comes from a Hebrew root-"ask," because it is greedy (Prov. 27:20).
Inhabitants thereof - So the sense is, that G-d's dominion is over all men, yea, even the dead, and the worst of them, who though they would not own G-d, nor His providence, while they lived, yet now are forced to acknowledge and feel that power which they despised, and bitterly mourn under the sad effects of it in their infernal habitations.
How does truth triumph, and how brightly does it shine, when there appears no other strife between the contenders than which shall speak most highly and honorably of G-d and be most copious in showing forth His praise! It were well if all disputes might end thus, in glorifying G-d as L-rd of all, and our L-rd, with one mind and one mouth (Romans 15:6); for to that we have all attained, in that we are all agreed.]
[6] Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
[Hell is naked - There is no covering to Abaddon-the place of the destroyer, where destruction reigns, and where those dwell who is eternally separated from G-d. The ancients thought that hell or Tartarus was a vast space in the centre, or at the very bottom of the earth.
No covering – from G-d’s eyes. We may understand the grave, and those who are buried in it, that they are under the eye of G-d, though laid out of our sight, which may strengthen our belief of the resurrection of the dead. G-d knows where to find, and whence to fetch, all the scattered atoms of the consumed body.]
[7] He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
[He stretcheth out - He stretched out the heavens like a curtain (Ps. 104:2); and He still continues to keep them stretched out, and will do so till the general conflagration, when they shall be rolled together as a scroll, Rev. 6:14.
North - thus Job was saying that the north-pointing axis of the earth extended indefinitely beyond the boundaries of the earth’s surface, pointing to the polar star and orienting both the geography of the earth and the corresponding star scope of the astral heavens. The northern hemisphere or vault of heaven is included; often compared to a stretched-out canopy (Ps 104:2). Of the south the inhabitants of Idumea knew nothing; nor could they have any notion of inhabitants in that hemisphere.
Hang the earth upon nothing - suspended in the formless
Empty place - is the same word translated ‘without form’ in Gen. 1:2, referring to the formless condition of the original matter of the earth (dust of the earth) when G-d first called into existence the space/time/mass universe. The empty space is not really empty being occupied by interstellar dust and a variety of particles and radiations. But it is without form just as the primeval earth had been before the Spirit of G-d moved over it, giving it form by activating the energy of gravitation and energizing it with His own light, void of space without support, the earth is rigidly maintained in its orbit by a mysterious force we call gravity, but which could just as rationally be called nothing - or the will of G-d. What is hung upon nothing may serve us to set our feet on, and bear the weight of our bodies, but it will never serve us to set our hearts on, nor bear the weight of our souls.]
[8] He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
[He bindeth - Drives the aqueous particles together, which were raised by evaporation, so that, being condensed, they form clouds which float in the atmosphere, till, meeting with strong currents of wind, or by the agency of the electric fluid, they are farther condensed; and then, becoming too heavy to be sustained in the air, fall down in the form of rain, when, in this poetic language, the cloud is rent under them.
In His thick clouds - as if they were tied closely in a bag, till there is occasion to use them; and, notwithstanding the vast weight of water so raised and laid up, yet the cloud is not rent under them, for then they would burst and pour out as a spout; but they do, as it were, distil through the cloud, and so come drop by drop, in mercy to the earth, in small rain, or great rain, as He pleases.
[9] He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
[He holdeth back the face of His throne - Though all these are most elegant effects of an omniscient and almighty power, yet the great Agent is not personally discoverable; He dwelleth in light unapproachable, and in mercy hides Himself from the view of His creatures. G-d will have us to live by faith, not by sense; for this is agreeable to a state of trial. It will not be a fair trial if the face of G-d's throne were visible now as it will be in the great day.
Spreadeth His cloud - Rather, He encompasses or closet. G-d makes the clouds a veil to screen the glory not only of His person, but even of the exterior of His throne from profane eyes. His agency is everywhere, yet He Himself is invisible (Ps. 18:11; 104:3).]
[10] He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
[This passage reflects G-d’s promise that ‘day and night shall not cease’ and ‘neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth’ from Gen. 8:22; 9:11.
Compassed - means to be made round referring to the shape of the earth, especially to its sea level, the basic datum for earth’s geometry. The same word is used in Proverbs 8:27 and Isaiah 40:22 with the same connotation.
Bounds - We see too the care which Providence takes of the poor sinful inhabitants of the earth, who, though loathsome to His justice and lying at His mercy, are thus preserved from being overwhelmed, as they were once by the waters of a flood, and will continue to be so, because they are reserved unto fire.]
[11] The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
[11-14 suggests the unparalleled magnitude of the flood and its dual physical triggering phenomenon.
Pillars - Though obviously figurative language, it is very realistic. There were no literal pillars holding up the heavens any more than there were literal windows in heaven. Poetically for the mountains which seem to bear up the sky (Ps. 104:32). Nevertheless, when the torrents of water began to pour down for the first time in history from ‘the waters which were above the firmament’ (Gen. 1:7), it must have seemed that mighty supports restraining the floodgates of the heavenly reservoir had suddenly trembled and given way.
The Noahic flood marked a great discontinuity, both in the course of human history and in the normal operation of the natural processes that G-d had established supernaturally in the beginning. The rates of most geological processes (such as erosion, sedimentation, tectonics, and volcanism) were vastly accelerated during the year of the flood.
His reproof - (Ps 104:7). The thunder, reverberating from cliff to cliff (Hab 3:10; Nahum 1:5).]
[13] By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
[By His Spirit - The author of the constellations and of individual stars is the Father. By His Spirit, the eternal Spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, the breath of His mouth (Ps. 33:6), He has garnished the heavens, not only made them, but beautified them, has curiously bespangled them with stars by night and painted them with the light of the sun by day, G-d, having made man to look upward, as so many golden studs, beautify the canopy drawn over our heads, one may be led to admire the great Creator! If the visible heavens be so glorious, what are those that are out of sight!]
Garnished the heavens - the creation of animals, Gen. 1: 20-25.
[Crooked serpent – the dragon, satan. Pagan astronomy typified the flood trying to destroy the ark by the dragon constellation, about to devour the moon in its eclipsed crescent-shape like a boat 3:8. It is the same word that is used for leviathan (Isaiah 27:1), and probably may be meant of the crocodile, in which appears much of the power of the Creator; and why may not Job conclude with that inference, when G-d Himself does so? 41:1-34.]
[14] Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
[Part of – Job admires the depth of that which is undiscovered. This that we have said is but part of His ways, a small part. What we know of G-d is nothing in comparison with what is in G-d and what G-d is. After all the discoveries which G-d has made to us, and all the enquiries we have made after G-d, still we are much in the dark concerning Him, and must conclude, Lo, these are but parts of His ways.
His ways - the ends or extremities, the outlines, an indistinct sketch, of His eternal power and G-dhead, and how faint is the whisper that we hear of Him! The ways in which He walks and by which He makes Himself known to the children of men.
The thunder - the entire fulness, in antithesis to "whisper" (1 Cor. 13:9, 10, 12). Even the thunder of His power (that is, His powerful thunder), one of the lowest of His ways here in our own region, we cannot understand 37:4, 5. Much less can we understand the utmost force and extent of His power, the terrible efforts and operations of it, and particularly the power of His anger, Ps. 90:11.
His power - is reserved for a greater day of judgment yet to come. The Noahic flood marked a great discontinuity, both in the course of human history and in the normal operation of the natural processes that G-d had established supernaturally in the beginning. The rates of most geological process (such as erosion, and volcanism) were vastly accelerated during the year of the flood.
Who can understand - despairing to find the bottom, we must sit down at the brink, and adore the depth: O the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of G-d! It is but a little portion that we hear and know of G-d in our present state. He is infinite and incomprehensible; our understandings and capacities are weak and shallow, and the full discoveries of the Divine Glory are reserved for the future state. G-d is great, and we know Him not.
[Dead things are formed - This verse, as it stands in our version, seems to convey no meaning; or things without life, for such things are formed everywhere in the earth, and under the earth, as well as under the waters. Rather, The souls of the dead (Rephaim) tremble. Not only does G-d's power exist, as Bildad says (25:2), in high places (heaven), but reaches to the region of the dead. Rephaim here, and in Prov. 21:16 and Isa 14:9, is from a Hebrew root, meaning to be weak, hence deceased; in Gen. 14:5 it is applied to the Canaanite giants; perhaps in scorn, to express their weakness, in spite of their gigantic size, as compared with Jehovah. He would there have rendered the congregation of the giants, in allusion to the drowning of the sinners of the old world. And is there any thing in which the majesty of G-d appears more dreadful than in the eternal ruin of the ungodly and the groans of the inhabitants of the land of darkness? Those that will not with angels fear and worship shall for ever with devils fear and tremble; and G-d therein will be glorified.
From under the waters - Thus the place of the dead will be represented as under the waters (Ps. 18:4, 5); and the waters as under the earth (Ps. 24:2). The inhabitants of the places under the waters are those in Gehenna, the lower of the two parts into which Sheol, according to the Jews, is divided; they answer to destruction, that is, the place of the wicked, as "Rephaim" to "Hell" (Sheol). Sheol comes from a Hebrew root-"ask," because it is greedy (Prov. 27:20).
Inhabitants thereof - So the sense is, that G-d's dominion is over all men, yea, even the dead, and the worst of them, who though they would not own G-d, nor His providence, while they lived, yet now are forced to acknowledge and feel that power which they despised, and bitterly mourn under the sad effects of it in their infernal habitations.
How does truth triumph, and how brightly does it shine, when there appears no other strife between the contenders than which shall speak most highly and honorably of G-d and be most copious in showing forth His praise! It were well if all disputes might end thus, in glorifying G-d as L-rd of all, and our L-rd, with one mind and one mouth (Romans 15:6); for to that we have all attained, in that we are all agreed.]
[6] Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
[Hell is naked - There is no covering to Abaddon-the place of the destroyer, where destruction reigns, and where those dwell who is eternally separated from G-d. The ancients thought that hell or Tartarus was a vast space in the centre, or at the very bottom of the earth.
No covering – from G-d’s eyes. We may understand the grave, and those who are buried in it, that they are under the eye of G-d, though laid out of our sight, which may strengthen our belief of the resurrection of the dead. G-d knows where to find, and whence to fetch, all the scattered atoms of the consumed body.]
[7] He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
[He stretcheth out - He stretched out the heavens like a curtain (Ps. 104:2); and He still continues to keep them stretched out, and will do so till the general conflagration, when they shall be rolled together as a scroll, Rev. 6:14.
North - thus Job was saying that the north-pointing axis of the earth extended indefinitely beyond the boundaries of the earth’s surface, pointing to the polar star and orienting both the geography of the earth and the corresponding star scope of the astral heavens. The northern hemisphere or vault of heaven is included; often compared to a stretched-out canopy (Ps 104:2). Of the south the inhabitants of Idumea knew nothing; nor could they have any notion of inhabitants in that hemisphere.
Hang the earth upon nothing - suspended in the formless
Empty place - is the same word translated ‘without form’ in Gen. 1:2, referring to the formless condition of the original matter of the earth (dust of the earth) when G-d first called into existence the space/time/mass universe. The empty space is not really empty being occupied by interstellar dust and a variety of particles and radiations. But it is without form just as the primeval earth had been before the Spirit of G-d moved over it, giving it form by activating the energy of gravitation and energizing it with His own light, void of space without support, the earth is rigidly maintained in its orbit by a mysterious force we call gravity, but which could just as rationally be called nothing - or the will of G-d. What is hung upon nothing may serve us to set our feet on, and bear the weight of our bodies, but it will never serve us to set our hearts on, nor bear the weight of our souls.]
[8] He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
[He bindeth - Drives the aqueous particles together, which were raised by evaporation, so that, being condensed, they form clouds which float in the atmosphere, till, meeting with strong currents of wind, or by the agency of the electric fluid, they are farther condensed; and then, becoming too heavy to be sustained in the air, fall down in the form of rain, when, in this poetic language, the cloud is rent under them.
In His thick clouds - as if they were tied closely in a bag, till there is occasion to use them; and, notwithstanding the vast weight of water so raised and laid up, yet the cloud is not rent under them, for then they would burst and pour out as a spout; but they do, as it were, distil through the cloud, and so come drop by drop, in mercy to the earth, in small rain, or great rain, as He pleases.
[9] He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
[He holdeth back the face of His throne - Though all these are most elegant effects of an omniscient and almighty power, yet the great Agent is not personally discoverable; He dwelleth in light unapproachable, and in mercy hides Himself from the view of His creatures. G-d will have us to live by faith, not by sense; for this is agreeable to a state of trial. It will not be a fair trial if the face of G-d's throne were visible now as it will be in the great day.
Spreadeth His cloud - Rather, He encompasses or closet. G-d makes the clouds a veil to screen the glory not only of His person, but even of the exterior of His throne from profane eyes. His agency is everywhere, yet He Himself is invisible (Ps. 18:11; 104:3).]
[10] He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
[This passage reflects G-d’s promise that ‘day and night shall not cease’ and ‘neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth’ from Gen. 8:22; 9:11.
Compassed - means to be made round referring to the shape of the earth, especially to its sea level, the basic datum for earth’s geometry. The same word is used in Proverbs 8:27 and Isaiah 40:22 with the same connotation.
Bounds - We see too the care which Providence takes of the poor sinful inhabitants of the earth, who, though loathsome to His justice and lying at His mercy, are thus preserved from being overwhelmed, as they were once by the waters of a flood, and will continue to be so, because they are reserved unto fire.]
[11] The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
[11-14 suggests the unparalleled magnitude of the flood and its dual physical triggering phenomenon.
Pillars - Though obviously figurative language, it is very realistic. There were no literal pillars holding up the heavens any more than there were literal windows in heaven. Poetically for the mountains which seem to bear up the sky (Ps. 104:32). Nevertheless, when the torrents of water began to pour down for the first time in history from ‘the waters which were above the firmament’ (Gen. 1:7), it must have seemed that mighty supports restraining the floodgates of the heavenly reservoir had suddenly trembled and given way.
The Noahic flood marked a great discontinuity, both in the course of human history and in the normal operation of the natural processes that G-d had established supernaturally in the beginning. The rates of most geological processes (such as erosion, sedimentation, tectonics, and volcanism) were vastly accelerated during the year of the flood.
His reproof - (Ps 104:7). The thunder, reverberating from cliff to cliff (Hab 3:10; Nahum 1:5).]
[13] By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
[By His Spirit - The author of the constellations and of individual stars is the Father. By His Spirit, the eternal Spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, the breath of His mouth (Ps. 33:6), He has garnished the heavens, not only made them, but beautified them, has curiously bespangled them with stars by night and painted them with the light of the sun by day, G-d, having made man to look upward, as so many golden studs, beautify the canopy drawn over our heads, one may be led to admire the great Creator! If the visible heavens be so glorious, what are those that are out of sight!]
Garnished the heavens - the creation of animals, Gen. 1: 20-25.
[Crooked serpent – the dragon, satan. Pagan astronomy typified the flood trying to destroy the ark by the dragon constellation, about to devour the moon in its eclipsed crescent-shape like a boat 3:8. It is the same word that is used for leviathan (Isaiah 27:1), and probably may be meant of the crocodile, in which appears much of the power of the Creator; and why may not Job conclude with that inference, when G-d Himself does so? 41:1-34.]
[14] Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
[Part of – Job admires the depth of that which is undiscovered. This that we have said is but part of His ways, a small part. What we know of G-d is nothing in comparison with what is in G-d and what G-d is. After all the discoveries which G-d has made to us, and all the enquiries we have made after G-d, still we are much in the dark concerning Him, and must conclude, Lo, these are but parts of His ways.
His ways - the ends or extremities, the outlines, an indistinct sketch, of His eternal power and G-dhead, and how faint is the whisper that we hear of Him! The ways in which He walks and by which He makes Himself known to the children of men.
The thunder - the entire fulness, in antithesis to "whisper" (1 Cor. 13:9, 10, 12). Even the thunder of His power (that is, His powerful thunder), one of the lowest of His ways here in our own region, we cannot understand 37:4, 5. Much less can we understand the utmost force and extent of His power, the terrible efforts and operations of it, and particularly the power of His anger, Ps. 90:11.
His power - is reserved for a greater day of judgment yet to come. The Noahic flood marked a great discontinuity, both in the course of human history and in the normal operation of the natural processes that G-d had established supernaturally in the beginning. The rates of most geological process (such as erosion, and volcanism) were vastly accelerated during the year of the flood.
Who can understand - despairing to find the bottom, we must sit down at the brink, and adore the depth: O the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of G-d! It is but a little portion that we hear and know of G-d in our present state. He is infinite and incomprehensible; our understandings and capacities are weak and shallow, and the full discoveries of the Divine Glory are reserved for the future state. G-d is great, and we know Him not.
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