Job 21:17

How seldom do the lamps of the wicked go out,

   Or calamity come upon them,

      As God apportions punishment in His anger,

 

I went out of order this morning, but it would not have mattered if I hadn’t pointed it out. Our cat is crying all the time these days to go outside and all I can hear now are the dogs behind us barking their heads off. I love dogs, but I don’t want to hear them. The cat is probably not happy either.

“Seldom’ was once ‘often’, ‘lamp’ was once ‘candle’, and ‘Go out’ was also ‘gutter’, ‘fail’, ‘get snuffed out’, and ‘get put out’. ‘Wicked’ was also ‘sinners’ or ‘bad’ people.

‘Calamity’ was also ‘destruction’ with the occasionally modified or ‘due’ or ‘deserve’.

‘Apportions’ was also ‘distribute’, ‘allot’, and ‘metes’. ‘Punishment’ was also ‘pains’, ‘fate’, ‘sorrows’, ‘lot’, and ‘shares’. ‘Anger’ was also ‘wrath’ and ‘rage’.

My wife and I discussed the lesson that I am supposed to be learning at work. I tend to be dense at times, and this is one of them. Whatever it is will probably be great considering the pain I am going through to get there. But I am not being punished for my sins. I am being challenged to grow closer to God. Hopefully I pick it up pretty soon.

I did not like the use of the word rage. I do not see God losing His temper. I used to all the time as a kid. People would poke at me just to see me go off. I developed patience to some degree to get past that. I probably need to get more discipline in my life at this stage, but that has never been my strong suit across the board.

This verse does not have any question marks as it is part of a larger question within the passage. I want to answer the question by saying as often as it does for the good people, but I am not yet ready to look at the bigger picture. My goal is to take the step and let God handle the outcome. I need to follow Him in the step and not my own guidance. I have several paths to follow where I am waiting for the next step. I have become more patient in my driving, so maybe it will start to spill over into the work realm next.

Happy 250th!

Written 5/12/26, Posted 7/4/26, Job 503/~1070