Job 9:30

Even if I bathed in liquid snow,

   And purified my palms with lye,

This is one of my favorite verses except I am really not sure I know what it means. What is liquid snow?

“Liquid snow” was also “soap”, “snow water”, “snow”, or “nitre”. I assumed “nitre” was some kind of soap, but the dictionary says niter which is potassium nitrate which is a strong oxidizer and is used to make medicine among other things. I kept the less confusing and still unknown liquid snow for fun. “Bathed” was also “washed”, but no confusion there.

“Purified” was also “make pure” and “cleanse” or “make clean”. I am not sure purified was better than make clean, but I had to pick something. “Lye” was also “washing soda”, “soap”. “Palms” was also (you guessed it) “hands”.

This verse obviously does not complete a thought and is only an entry to the passage. The idea is that even if we were to get ourselves as clean as we possible could, it does no good in terms of salvation. Again, it points to the need we have for a savior. I feel I have made this verse more poetic than most with the broadest range of possibilities in shades of meaning. I believe it takes an open heart to hear the truth in God’s Word and no matter how elegant or simple, without the aid of the Holy Spirit, its just a story.  I believe it is the Word of God and is His plan for our salvation through His efforts. And that is what I pray for all who read it.

(Written 9/29, Posted 10/9, Job 202)