Title: Human Tragedy (Job 11:7-12)
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'What is human?' This question has been the subject of numerous philosophies and religions since ancient times. And even in the Bible there is a lot of interest in these questions. Moreover, there are few things that are not directly or indirectly related to human beings. Education, etc. It is impossible to enumerate. This exemplifies a fragment of the existential aspect of human beings in terms of the question of what human beings are. If so, what kind of human figure is shown here?
Today, let's find out what human beings are described by Job's friend Zophar.
Zophar, which broke Job's heart, compares the limits of creation with the unsearchable perfection of God the Transcendent (vv. 7-9). And speaking of the sovereignty that humans cannot dare to challenge and the ability that cannot be sanctioned (10), it refers to human weakness and futility. God sees all the evil deeds of humans (11), and he says that people without understanding are ignorant and vain, like the colt of a wild donkey. Sobal's shin 觀 and 思想 are very outstanding. However, Zophar merely presented his priesthood as a basis for urging him to repent and condemn Job as a sinner.
1. Humans are vain creatures.
Among the words that Zophar denounces Job, there is a sharp part in the truth of human flaws. The first point is that human beings are 'unprecedented'. (Verse 11) Judging from the context, Zophar was referring to Job, but even so, it was pointed out that all human beings are vain.
We know well that King Solomon of Israel lamented, 'All things are in vain.' First of all, the thought of human beings is completely futile. And all human beings are always chasing vain things. And in the end, everyone quietly disappears, leaving nothing but a handful of dirt. Those who do not realize the futility of life itself fall into a great deception.
<Yehwa> I wonder how to train an elephant by catching it alive. First, we lure the elephants out of the jungle and put them in pre-made cages. Then, a strong chain is attached to the elephant's ankle, and one end is tied to a strong, thick wooden pole. After clearing the cage, the wild elephant sets out to return to the jungle. However, the chains tied to his ankles prevent him from walking for a few strokes. At first, the elephant tries with all his strength to try to be released from the chain, but he keeps failing and eventually gives up. I give up writing. Then the elephant can be trained by pulling the string at will.
In this way, resignation is an act of giving up hope and a betrayal of faith. Even if the initial pain or suffering is difficult to bear, if you wait and work with faith and hope, you will eventually be able to overcome any difficulties.
That's right. Human existence is futile, but we must overcome the folly of giving up hope by being overwhelmed by such emptiness. That is the life of faith. This is because faith is the channel of grace that overcomes human finitude and sinfulness. Jesus also said, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4).
2. Humans are ignorant beings.
Zophar also pointed out human ignorance (verse 12). Among all things, only humans have systematic knowledge. And when you look at the reality that advanced science is advancing in this century, human knowledge is truly astonishing. So there was a time when I even had the confidence that a utopia could be made by human hands.
The academic achievements and various instrumental knowledge we have accumulated throughout our lives have meaning only under clear limits, and we cannot help but remain silent on the ultimate question about life and the existence of all things. Therefore, we should bow down and listen to God's deep and mysterious wisdom. Solomon said that the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge. In other words, if you do not fear God, you cannot acquire true knowledge at all.
3. Humans are stubborn creatures.
Sobal also pointed out the stubbornness of man. “It is like the foal of a wild donkey from its birth” (verse 12). It is not easy to tame an animal, but it is not often that it is difficult to tame like a wild donkey. Even if people try to tame them with all their ingenuity, it is a wild ass that often runs away without mercy every time. So, the text compares the human being's stubbornness and stubbornness to a foal of a wild donkey. However, the joint translation translated this verse into a counter-questioning statement, 'Doesn't even a wild donkey take a path?'
Humans are more stubborn and stubborn than wild donkeys. In the natural state, all human beings are like an iron wall and a closet before God. No matter how well Tyler understands it, it is the fallen nature of human beings to 'read sutras in cow ears'. Therefore, God values the attitude of obedience to obey whatever He says rather than our special talents or achievements. The writer of Hebrews taught us fundamentally what obedience is through Jesus' suffering and death. Therefore, we must learn to obey God at the risk of death.
Saints! Human beings are full of contradictions. It is the greatest masterpiece among creations and has honor as the lord of all things, but on the other hand, the most corrupt of all things under the world is human.
This would be a natural contradiction in fallen man. As much as God's consideration for humans was great, the reality of humans who have gone astray is bound to be even more bleak. Now, we must face each other's circumstances and clear our lives of contradictions and sins. Thus, you should be able to reveal the image that God intended in the first place (Genesis 1:27).