Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me. If I hold my head highThis phrase reflects Job's struggle with pride and dignity amidst suffering. In the Hebrew context, "holding one's head high" signifies maintaining dignity and self-respect. Job feels that even when he attempts to maintain his dignity, he is met with further adversity. This reflects the broader theme of the Book of Job, where human pride is often challenged by divine sovereignty. The phrase invites readers to consider the balance between human dignity and humility before God. You hunt me like a lion
The imagery of a lion is powerful and evocative, symbolizing strength, ferocity, and relentless pursuit. In ancient Near Eastern culture, lions were often seen as symbols of both royal power and divine judgment. Job feels pursued by God with the same intensity and inevitability as a lion hunts its prey. This metaphor underscores the intensity of Job's suffering and his perception of God's overwhelming power. It challenges readers to reflect on the nature of divine testing and the feeling of being overwhelmed by circumstances beyond one's control. and again display Your power against me
Here, Job acknowledges the repeated demonstrations of God's power in his life, which he perceives as adversarial. The Hebrew root for "display" suggests a public showing or manifestation, indicating that Job feels his trials are not only personal but also a demonstration of divine power. This phrase highlights the tension between God's omnipotence and human vulnerability. It encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate purpose, even when His actions seem incomprehensible or harsh. The repetition of trials in Job's life serves as a reminder of the refining process that suffering can bring, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of God's character and purposes. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning God's justice. 2. GodThe Almighty Creator, who is sovereign over all creation. In the context of Job, God allows Job's faith to be tested by suffering. 3. SufferingThe intense physical, emotional, and spiritual trials that Job endures, which serve as a backdrop for his dialogues and laments. 4. LionA metaphor used by Job to describe the relentless and powerful nature of his suffering, as if God is pursuing him like a predator. 5. PowerThe divine power of God, which Job feels is being used against him in his suffering, highlighting the tension between divine sovereignty and human suffering. Teaching Points Understanding SufferingJob's lament highlights the struggle to understand why God allows suffering. Believers are encouraged to seek God even when His ways are not clear. God's SovereigntyDespite feeling hunted, Job acknowledges God's power. Christians are reminded of God's ultimate control and are encouraged to trust His purposes. Metaphors of SufferingThe use of the lion metaphor illustrates the intensity of Job's trials. Believers can use biblical metaphors to express their own experiences and emotions in prayer. Faith Amidst TrialsJob's experience teaches that maintaining faith during trials is challenging but essential. Christians are called to hold onto their faith, even when circumstances are dire. The Role of LamentJob's honest expression of his feelings is a model for believers to bring their complaints and questions to God, trusting that He hears and understands. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Job's description of being hunted like a lion reflect his understanding of God's role in his suffering? 2. In what ways can the metaphor of a lion help us articulate our own experiences of feeling overwhelmed or pursued by trials? 3. How can we reconcile the idea of God's sovereignty with the presence of suffering in our lives, as seen in Job's account? 4. What can we learn from Job about the importance of lament and honest communication with God during difficult times? 5. How do other biblical passages, such as 1 Peter 5:8, provide additional insight into the imagery of a lion and its implications for our spiritual lives? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 22This psalm, often associated with suffering and lament, echoes the feeling of being pursued and overwhelmed by adversaries, similar to Job's description of being hunted like a lion. 1 Peter 5:8This verse warns believers to be vigilant because the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. It provides a New Testament perspective on the imagery of a lion, emphasizing spiritual vigilance. Isaiah 38Hezekiah's prayer during his illness reflects a similar struggle with understanding God's role in personal suffering and the plea for deliverance. People JobPlaces UzTopics Awesome, Cause, Display, Exalt, Fierce, Held, Hold, Hunt, Huntest, Increaseth, Itself, Lift, Lifted, Lion, Marvellous, Myself, Power, Powerful, Pride, Riseth, Shewest, Showest, Stalk, Thyself, Turnest, Wonderful, WondersDictionary of Bible Themes Job 10:16 4666 lion
8340 self-respect Job 10:2-22 8615 prayer, doubts Job 10:15-17 8800 prejudice Library The Sweet Uses of Adversity
Now, I propose to address myself to the two classes of persons who are making use of this question. First, I shall speak to the tried saint; and then I shall speak to the seeking sinner, who has been seeking peace and pardon through Christ, but who has not as yet found it, but, on the contrary, has been buffeted by the law, and driven away from the mercy-seat in despair. I. First, then, to THE CHILD OF GOD. I have--I know I have--in this great assembly, some who have come to Job's position. They …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859St Gregory the Great (Ad 540-604)
PART I Gregory was born at Rome, of a noble and wealthy family, in the year 540. In his youth he engaged in public business, and he rose to be proctor of Rome, which was one of the chief offices under the government. In this office he was much beloved and respected by the people. But about the age of thirty-five, a great change took place in his life. He resolved to forsake the pursuit of worldly honours, and spent all his wealth in founding seven monasteries. He gave up his family house at Rome …
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation Whether God Works in Every Agent?
Objection 1: It would seem that God does not work in every agent. For we must not attribute any insufficiency to God. If therefore God works in every agent, He works sufficiently in each one. Hence it would be superfluous for the created agent to work at all. Objection 2: Further, the same work cannot proceed at the same time from two sources; as neither can one and the same movement belong to two movable things. Therefore if the creature's operation is from God operating in the creature, it cannot …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether the Damned are in Material Darkness?
Objection 1: It would seem that the damned are not in material darkness. For commenting on Job 10:22, "But everlasting horror dwelleth," Gregory says (Moral. ix): "Although that fire will give no light for comfort, yet, that it may torment the more it does give light for a purpose, for by the light of its flame the wicked will see their followers whom they have drawn thither from the world." Therefore the darkness there is not material. Objection 2: Further, the damned see their own punishment, for …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether the Fire of Hell is of the Same Species as Ours?
Objection 1: It would seem that this fire is not of the same species as the corporeal fire which we see. For Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xx, 16): "In my opinion no man knows of what kind is the everlasting fire, unless the Spirit of God has revealed it to anyone." But all or nearly all know the nature of this fire of ours. Therefore that fire is not of the same species as this. Objection 2: Further, Gregory commenting on Job 10:26, "A fire that is not kindled shall devour him," says (Moral. xv): …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica That a Man Ought not to Reckon Himself Worthy of Consolation, but More Worthy of Chastisement
O Lord, I am not worthy of Thy consolation, nor of any spiritual visitation; and therefore Thou dealest justly with me, when Thou leavest me poor and desolate. For if I were able to pour forth tears like the sea, still should I not be worthy of Thy consolation. Therefore am I nothing worthy save to be scourged and punished, because I have grievously and many a time offended Thee, and in many things have greatly sinned. Therefore, true account being taken, I am not worthy even of the least of Thy …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ The Sad Case of a Relapse into Known and Deliberate Sin, after Solemn Acts Op Dedication to God and Some Progress Made in Religion.
1. Unthought of relapses may happen.--2. And bring the soul into a miserable case.--3. Yet the case is not desperate.--4. The backslider urged immediately to return, by deep humiliation before God for so aggravated an offence.--5. By renewed regards to the divine mercy in Christ.--6. By an open profession of repentance, where the crime hath given public offence.--7. Falls to be reviewed for future caution.--8. The chapter concludes with a prayer for the use of one who hath fallen into gross sins, …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul The Fourth Continental Journey.
1842-3. In the journey which now lay before them, John and Martha Yeardley were about to explore a part of Europe hitherto untried,--the province of Languedoc, conspicuous in past ages for its superior enlightenment, but now, owing to the temporary mastery of error, wrapt in ignorance and gloom. In this mission, the opportunities which they found for reviving and gathering together the scattered embers of truth, were nearly confined to social intercourse; in seeking occasions for which, they availed …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel Whether Christ Went Down into the Hell of the Lost?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ went down into the hell of the lost, because it is said by the mouth of Divine Wisdom (Ecclus. 24:45): "I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth." But the hell of the lost is computed among the lower parts of the earth according to Ps. 62:10: "They shall go into the lower parts of the earth." Therefore Christ who is the Wisdom of God, went down even into the hell of the lost. Objection 2: Further, Peter says (Acts 2:24) that "God hath raised up Christ, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica In the Work of the Redemption of Man, not Only the Mercy, but Also the Justice, of God is Displayed.
In the work of the Redemption of man, not only the mercy, but also the justice, of God is displayed. 15. Man therefore was lawfully delivered up, but mercifully set free. Yet mercy was shown in such a way that a kind of justice was not lacking even in his liberation, since, as was most fitting for man's recovery, it was part of the mercy of the liberator to employ justice rather than power against man's enemy. For what could man, the slave of sin, fast bound by the devil, do of himself to recover …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 13.) Differently to be admonished are the whole and the sick. For the whole are to be admonished that they employ the health of the body to the health of the soul: lest, if they turn the grace of granted soundness to the use of iniquity, they be made worse by the gift, and afterwards merit the severer punishments, in that they fear not now to use amiss the more bountiful gifts of God. The whole are to be admonished that they despise not the opportunity of winning health for ever. …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life The Beginning of Justification. In what Sense Progressive.
1. Men either idolatrous, profane, hypocritical, or regenerate. 1. Idolaters void of righteousness, full of unrighteousness, and hence in the sight of God altogether wretched and undone. 2. Still a great difference in the characters of men. This difference manifested. 1. In the gifts of God. 2. In the distinction between honorable and base. 3. In the blessings of he present life. 3. All human virtue, how praiseworthy soever it may appear, is corrupted. 1. By impurity of heart. 2. By the absence of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Job 10:16 NIVJob 10:16 NLTJob 10:16 ESVJob 10:16 NASBJob 10:16 KJV
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