Rightly dividing the Word of truth – to use Paul’s expression – involves a seven-faceted process of reading, meditating, and studying the Bible under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. Any believer can learn to do this, and every believer should.

The science of hermeneutics addresses the question of how best to understand the Bible. This Word that is able to save and sanctify, and which we read and study daily, is fraught with deep meanings that can only be ferreted out by following protocols outlined in the Bible itself.

Job makes effective counter-arguments. He also makes an astounding prophesy: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”

The promise of Scripture is that it is able to save our soul. The Bible possesses power to do a work within us that makes all things new, and that sets us on a path of joy and rejoicing as a way of life.

Job makes effective counter-arguments. Eliphaz gets nasty. Job responds by noting that they’re not only wrong, they’re miserable comforters.

Reading the Bible is the starting-point for having the Word of Christ dwell in you richly – the joy and rejoicing of your heart.

Before we can wield the Sword of the Spirit, we need to receive it, to allow the Word of God to become firmly planted in our souls, and to begin dwelling there richly.

Job’s friends “encourage” Job by arguing that God is always just, thus accusing Job of major sin. Job counters the accusation, and also notes that they’re not exactly comforting him.