Pre-Sermon Passage Orientation
Job 38-39
Head:
God asks Job a series of rhetorical questions. The setting arises after Job and his friends spend many chapters debating Job's innocence and the nature of discipline and blessing. Although Job's intial response to his circumstances was one of faith and acceptance, over the course of his dialogues, he shows more and more annoyance and self righteousness. Chapters 38-39 stand alone however in that God could ask any person the questions with the same impact as Job. In preparing for the sermon and study, read God's questions and try to answer them.
Heart:
The current section is a powerful monologue. It seems anyone who imagines the Creator of the universe asking them a series of questions naturally finds themselves in a position or reverence and worship. As you prepare for the weekend, read the passages with different inflections. Imagine God asking with the thundrous boom of righteousness. Imagine Him asking as a soft spoken wise sage. Try to hear the passage as if God was sarcastic or dramatic or excited. There are no markings to direct readers as to how God spoke, but in imagining different "voices," the text impacts us in different ways.
Hands:
The only explicit directions in the passage tell Job to "tighten your belt and inform me." This weeks passage stores up application. It builds a proper foundation for all action. In some ways, immediate action is the opposite of what Job should do in this situation. He is called to stop just doing something and saying something, and to listen and learn from God, to take himself out of the center of the picture and place God in the spotlight.
Habits:
This passage relates the BIGGNESS of God and the littleness of people. What about your daily routines reflects this reality? When is the last time you contemplated the relationship between God and yourself?