few years

September 9, 2017

The attack of the king of the south (Dan 11:7-11:9)

“In those times,

A branch from her roots

Shall rise up

In his place.

He shall come

Against the army.

He shall enter the fortress

Of the king of the north.

He shall take action

Against them.

He shall prevail.

He shall carry off

To Egypt

Even their gods,

With their idols,

With their precious vessels

Of silver,

Of gold,

As spoils of war.

For some years,

He shall refrain

From attacking

The king of the north.

Then the latter

Shall invade

The realm

Of the king of the south.

But he shall return

To his own land.”

The southern King Ptolemy III (247-221 BCE) attacked the northern King Seleucus II (246-225 BCE). Ptolemy III would enter the fortress of the king of the north, as he would be successful. He would take their spoils and booty back to Egypt, including the idols of their gods, as well as their precious silver and gold vessels. There were a few years of peace, but then the northern King Seleucus II attacked the south unsuccessfully and returned home.

July 11, 2015

Job cries out to earth (Job 16:18-16:22)

“O earth!

Do not cover my blood!

Let my outcry find no resting place.

Even now,

In fact,

My witness is in heaven.

He that vouches for me is on high.

My friends scorn me.

My eye pours out tears to God.

That he would maintain the right of a mortal with God,

As one does for a neighbor.

When a few years have come,

I shall go the way

From which I shall not return.”

Job wanted the earth not to cover his blood. He wanted the cry of his innocent blood to reach heaven. He wanted his outcries not to be buried and lost. He still believed that he had a witness in heaven that would vouch for him. His friends still scorned him as he cried with tears to God. He still wanted to be treated like a mortal in the sight of God, the way that mortals treat their neighbors. Within a few years, he would have his final exit. He seems to be pleading with God to still listen to him despite his condition.