Job 13:13-14

13 Hold your peace [charash], let me alone, that I may speak [dabar], and let come [`abar] on me what will.

14 Wherefore do I take [nasa'] my flesh [basar] in my teeth [shen], and put [suwm] my life [nephesh] in mine hand [kaph]? KJV-Interlinear

13 'Be silent before me so that I may speak; Then let come on me what may. 14 'Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? NASB

Maxims, parables, and proverbs can be bodies of truth, and when applied to life, serve as a great teaching aid for life. That is how I started yesterday's study.

The studies necessary for life must be done from the viewpoint of truth, not lies. A person cannot live a life based on sayings, unless those sayings are founded in truth.

Likewise, some sayings may apply to this temporal world and are good for functioning in this world, but remember that your life here is only temporary. Your real life, the majority of your entire life, will be spent in eternity, not now.

The Bible uses parables, and proverbs, and such, as a means of teaching principles of doctrine. Why? Because, unless people have a foundation of doctrine in their soul, their learning abilities with respect to spiritual phenomena are severely limited. Doctrine is foolishness to the carnal soul. The soul, which is out of fellowship.

When people do not want to hear what you have to say, then what do they do? They mumble and grumble and shake their heads in disagreement.

And this is what is happening with Jobs friends. Here Job insists that he has something important to say, and he is determined to say his piece regardless of the repercussions.

God may well extend his suffering. God may hear his plea and remove his suffering. Likeiwse, those people who are present, may begin to agree with him or they may not. No matter. Job is more interested in having his say, in a manner in which he feels he is right. If people disagree with him, then that is their business.

But he is not going to roll over and, as he puts it, 'Should I take my flesh in my teeth?' This last comment is in the form of a question, and indicates that he is not going to roll over and give up his opinion simply because everyone is in opposition to him.

Job is willing to roll the dice and let them fall where they may. Job has greater confidence in God and Gods wisdom, than in that of his friends.

Job also understands one more point of doctrine. His life, though it came from God, and God can take him out of this would at a moments notice, is in his very own hands.

Psa. 119:109

109 My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Thy law. NASB

Jesus Christ controls history, but each person controls his or her own destiny through the decisions they make in life.

None of us can define our eternal state, apart from the Lake of Fire or Heaven. Those are our only two options. Religion comes along the tries to convince people that there are other choices, but a decision against God, is a decision against the truth of what really awaits us all.

There are two opinions in this universe. Gods, and everything else. Gods opinion is truth. Anything and everything else, which in effect rejects Gods opinion, is a lie. This includes all interpretations of life, all theories, all philosophies, and all beliefs.

Many beliefs are founded on parables, proverbs, and maxims, which were handed down from generation to generation throughout history. When separated from the spiritual life, these things apply only to the temporal side of life and may bring some semblance of order to ones life, but they will never cure mans two greatest problems, sin and death.

The parables and proverbs when they are unrelated to the spiritual life, eventually become substitutes for truth, and thus distractions or just another type of 'religion' to live by.

Parables, proverbs, and maxims, which are related to Bible doctrine, become incorporated within the soul of the believer, and thus become an integral part of his life.

Parables, proverbs, and maxims, which are unrelated to Bible doctrine, and are nothing more than worldly sayings, become convenient external sayings meant to imitate wisdom.

And what did Job have to say about their memorable sayings? They are nothing more than worthless ashes, or inscriptions in mortar. They are useless for this life, and at the moment of death, vanish from the individual, lost forever.

Now is the time to post a prayer.