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Proverbs 2 opens with a simple phrase: “My son.” Not with wisdom. Not with understanding. Not with an explanation. It begins with a call. A call spoken before knowledge is received. From there, Proverbs speaks of listening, inclining the heart, calling out, and searching. These words seem to describe a posture of receiving what is being spoken. Then Proverbs says: “Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:5) Before knowledge i

Today, I begin reading Proverbs. Right at the opening, these words are placed before the reader: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 (Proverbs 1:7) Proverbs is often called a book of wisdom. So one might expect it to begin with a discussion of wisdom and knowledge. Yet what is spoken first is not knowledge itself. It is: “The fear of the Lord.” Before speaking about knowledge, Proverbs speaks about where one stands. Before acquiring knowledge

Job — Final Reflection Job continued to ask questions. Why is there suffering? Why does God remain silent? Why do the righteous suffer? His friends gave explanations. Sin. Retribution. The righteousness of God. Each of them spoke about God. Job also spoke. Of his own righteousness. Of suffering. Of a reality he could not understand. Of a silent God. Elihu declared: God has already been speaking. But in the end, the Lord Himself speaks. From within the storm. The Lord does not

Job Chapter 42 At last, Job responds. “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear. But now, my eyes have seen You.” For a long time, Job continued questioning. He sought the reason for suffering. He demanded explanations. He spoke of his own righteousness. His friends also continued speaking. Righteousness. Retribution. Explanations about God. But in the end, what remained was not explanation. It was the Lord Himself. Job says, “I had heard of You.” As knowledge. As underst

Job Chapter 41 The Lord speaks about Leviathan. A great creature of the sea. A being beyond human control. Filled with power, bringing fear to those who see it. The Lord asks: “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?” “Can you make it submit to you?” People want to understand. They want to control. They want to manage. They want to hold everything within their own hands. But the Lord reveals a being that human beings cannot control. Leviathan does not obey humanity. It ca

Job Chapter 40 The Lord speaks to Job. “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?” For the first time, Job falls silent. “I am insignificant. How can I answer You?” Job had continued questioning throughout his suffering. He spoke of his own righteousness. He sought explanations. He demanded answers from God. But now, before the voice of the Lord, Job stands still. The Lord asks further: “Will you condemn Me to justify yourself? Will you declare Me guilty so tha

Job Chapter 39 The Lord continues to speak. Yet, the reason for suffering is still not explained. Instead, the Lord speaks about living creatures. Mountain goats. Deer. Wild donkeys. Wild oxen. Ostriches. Horses. Eagles. Each of them lives beyond human control. Life moves beyond human understanding. The Lord asks: “Do you know?” “Can you see?” “Can you rule over these?” People try to understand the world. They try to explain it. They try to control it. But the Lord reveals a

Job Chapter 38 At last, the Lord speaks. From within the storm. Job had continued to ask: Why is there suffering? Why does God not answer? Why do the righteous suffer? His friends continued to explain: Sin. Retribution. The righteousness of God. Elihu had declared: God has already been speaking. But now, the Lord Himself speaks. “Who is this that darkens counsel with words without knowledge?” The Lord does not answer Job’s questions with explanations. He does not explain the

Job Chapter 37 At last, Elihu speaks about the storm. Thunder. Lightning. Raging winds. Freezing cold. Before the power of nature, human beings stand still. Elihu says: “Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” People move restlessly, trying to understand. They seek explanations. They hurry toward answers. But Elihu says, “Stand still.” The works of God are beyond human understanding. People try to stand before God only after understanding ev

Job Chapter 36 Elihu continues to speak. “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God's behalf.” Elihu declares: God is great. God is righteous. God speaks through suffering. Suffering is not merely punishment. At times, God uses suffering to open human ears. Then Elihu turns his gaze to the storm. Clouds. Rain. Thunder. Lightning. In the power of nature, he sees the greatness of God's work. People encounter things they cannot unders