Job, Who Never Knew Why

A group of us at my local congregation are doing the Digging Deep in God's Word study by Cindy Colley, found here:  Persecution for Righteousness' Sake.     It was my month to "facilitate" our discussion, so I actually have typed notes for the list of questions asked in the book. :)   I am copying them below for anyone who might benefit.  For what it's worth, I strongly recommend using Cindy's studies as a way to stay accountable to studying God's word and as a way to grow in how we think about Scripture and about God's plan for man.  While I may see some things differently than she does from time to time, it is a wonderful guide for my study and helps to keep me focused when things get crazy. :)  You can jump into the study at any time, whether or not you have been participating previously.  She also has other years' studies on her site at thecolleyhouse.org, and each has a different focus.  If you have questions or would like to participate, please let me know! 

• 2:10 – Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?
• 3:11-12 – Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? Why did the knees receive me?  Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
• 3:16 – Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, Like infants who never saw light?
• 3:20 – Why is light given to him who is in misery?
• 3:23 – Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?
• 6:5-6 – Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, or does the ox low over its fodder? Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
• 6:11-13 – What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze? Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me?
• 6:22-23- Did I ever say, “Bring something to me? Or, Offer a bribe for me from your wealth? Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?”
• 6:25 (b)- 26 – But what does your arguing prove? Do you intend to rebuke my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
• 6:30 – Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?
• 7:1 – Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
• 7:4 (b) When shall I arise, and the night be ended?
• 7:12 – Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, that You set a guard over me?
• 7:17-21 (a) – What is man, that You should exalt him, That you should set Your heart on him, That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment? How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva? Have I sinned?  What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity?
• 9:2 – But how can a man be righteous before God?
• 9:4 – Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
• 9:12 – If He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, ‘What are you doing?’
• 9:14 – How then can I answer Him, And choose my words to reason with Him?
• 9:19-…who will appoint my day in court?
• 9:24- …if it is not He, who else could it be?
• 9:29 – If I am condemned, Why then do I labor in vain?
• 10:3 – 7 0 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, That You should despise the work of Your hands, And smile on the counsel of the wicked? Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees? Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a might man, That You should seek for my iniquity and search out my sin, Although You knowt hat I am not wicked, And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?
• 10:9 …And will You turn me into dust again?
• 10:10-11 – Did you not pour me out like milk, And curdle me like cheese, Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews?
• 10:18 – Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
• 10:20 – Are not my days few?
• 12:11 – Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?
• 13:7 – 9 (to his “friends”) – Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?  Will you show partiality for Him?  Will you contend for God? Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
• 13: 11 – (to his “friends”) – Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you?
• 13:14 – (to his “friends”) – Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?
• 13:19 – Who is he who will contend with me?
• 13:23-25- How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.  Why do you hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble?
• 14:3-4 – And do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
• 14:10 – But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last, and where is he?
• 14:14 – If a man dies, shall he live again?
• 17:2 - Are not mockers with me? And does not my eye dwell on their provocation? …Who is he who will shake hands with me?
• 17:15-16 – Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it? Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in the dust?
• 19:2 – How long will you torment my soul, And break me in pieces with words?
• 19:22 – Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?
• 21:4 – As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?
• 21:7 – Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?
• 21:15  - Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?
• 21:17 – How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in his anger?
• 21:21 – For what does he care about his household after him, When the number of his months is cut in half?
• 21:22 – Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?
• 21:29 – Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?
• 21:34 – How then can you comfort me with your empty words, since falsehood remains in your answers?
• 23:6 – Would He contend with me in His great power?
• 23:13 – But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
• 24:1 – Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?
• 24:25 – Now if it is not so, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech worth nothing?
• 26:2 (to friends) – How have you helped him who is without power?  How have you saved the arm that has no strength?
• 26:3 (to Bildad) – How have you counseled one who has no wisdom, and how have you declared sound advice to many?
• 26:14 ( to Bildad) - …the thunder of His power who can understand?
• 27:8 – For what is the hope of the hypocrite, Though he may gain much, if God takes away his life?
• 27:9-10 – Will God hear his cry When trouble comes upon him?  Will he delight himself in the Almighty?  Will he always call on God?
• 27:12 – Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?
• 28:12 – But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
• 28:20 – From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
• 30:2 – Indeed what profit is the strength of their hands to me?
• 30:25 – Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my sould grieved for the poor?
• 31:1 - 4 – Why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?  Is it not destruction for the wicked, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?  Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?
• 31:14-15 – What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
• 31:31 – Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?
• 40:4 – Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You?