1 Sam. 9:3 “And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost…”
Old Testament
He has calmed the sea with his might, and by his wisdom the whale has been overthrown. And the barriers of heaven fear him, and by a command he has slain the apostate dragon. (Book of Job chapter 26:12 – 13 – english translation of the Greek, Septuagint Bible)
Medieval Dragon-slayer
The film “Noah” had its premiere over the world (not everywhere, though ) a few days ago, and also in Sweden.
Who knows? Maybe Shem and Japheth change their mind before they reach their seats…
Anyhow, three versions of Noah now makes some impression upon me. The Coran version, the Bible version and the version in this actual movie, made by Darren Aronofsky. The Bible, which I believe gives the true picture, have left us with quite a short story, a few chapters, where there are not so few riddles.
In contrast with the Coran, where Noah is presented as “an obvious warner” (chapter 71) , the Bible first presents him with these words: “And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah, saying, ‘This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed’.” ( Genesis 5:28 – 29) It seems as the Coran have done more than even the Bible to shape the common idea about Noah as “a warner”, who went around and told people about the flood, and that they must prepare for it. There is something to it.
After the terrible calamity having fallen upon Job, and after he’s been heard uttering terrible, dark words, Eliphaz say something. Chapter 4 and 5 in the Book of Job contents Eliphaz first word in answer to Job. Eliphaz have a revelation:
” Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice..” (Book of Job 4:12 – 16)
Eliphaz knew that even angels must sometimes be told something, by their Creator:
“Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly” (Book of Job 4:18)
How right isn’t he, Eliphaz, after all ! Even the apostle Paul made some reference to his words:
“He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.” (Book of Job 5:13, compare 1 Cor. 3:19)
How skilled a theologian, he is, this Eliphaz ! He will end up the winner in this discussion, don’t you think so? Yes.
After having been smitten by Satan, who acts by the permission of the Most High, (Book of Job, chapter 1 and 2) Job have some reason to lament. This he does by describing a kind of seven-fold darkness, in the third chapter of the Book of Job:
“Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. ” (Book of Job chapter 3: 3 – 7)
So he lamented, prayed and pondered initially, while his three friends listened. Where not the prophets of old, the prophets of the Bible, sometimes, in similar manner, caused to lament, to thoroughly study the “seven-fold darkness” that suddenly fell upon them ?
Haven’t you read Jeremiah, or Zephaniah, the prophet of Christ: ” The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.” Book of Zephaniah chapter 1:14-16) ?
The Book of Job (after all it’s a Book that tells us something about that GOD COMES in time !) speaks about darkness.
What is the meaning of darkness? It is somehow the theme of the Book of Job. It is what he and his three friends start to discuss. Is this darkness testifying against this servant of the Lord – Job – or is it not.
Who can follow them through that discussion?
