Job 22:10

Therefore, snares are all around you,

   Why sudden peril terrifies you.

The concept is that you know you have done wrong and expect to be punished. This is so far from where Job is. They think he is wrong. We find out they are. Not sure how deep to dig here.

‘Snares’ was once ‘traps’.

‘Peril’ was also ‘terror’, ‘fear’, and ‘panic’. ‘Terrifies’ was also ‘overwhelms’, ‘troubles’, ‘frighten’, ‘dismay’, and ‘strikes with terror’.

It’s been a few days since I started this. The phrase ‘My heart wasn’t in it’ runs through my head. The goal is to spend this time learning about God, so I figure its best to not do it when I can’t hold that thought. My weekend was a good one about wrapping up a phase that I need to put behind me. I know God is preparing me for the next thing.

I spoke with a friend over the weekend about the concept of stop doing something and wait for God to show the one thing. We have known each other for 40 years this summer. We don’t see each other often, but as with friends who have judged each other, we continue on with no need to address the time in between. Funny how all the things I learned in English over forty years ago come flooding back, or not.

When I look at this verse, I see that the best utilization is to see snares as temptations and the peril to be sin. One of the many skills that I do not have is social awareness. I say and do things that offend others. My friends that have judged me know that I do not mean to offend but am simply unable to understand the social cues. My acquaintances, who do not yet know me, use these sins to judge me. Job’s companions did not know him, and they judged him a sinner. God knew him, and judged him upright and blameless. This is the arena in which 1 Corinthians tell us not to judge but leave it up to God. I am trying.

Written 7/27/26, Posted 10/28/26, Job 529/~1070