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Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our American Wisdom Series studies:
#1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Drake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "studies". These studies contain knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.
May the Holy Spirit be your only guiding light. Sincerely, John Rhine

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/

You can view it at the season`s web site (address above) as originally published
or here, as now edited by people at
The American Wisdom Series

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

Job is telling Zophar and the other two that, no doubt you are the only wise people and when you die, wisdom will be gone. Job did not like the last statement that Zophar made in the close of the last chapter.

Job 12:3 "But I have understanding as well as you: I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?"

These are little common "things" that you hear every day, like "repent"; I know these things Job says. They are not new to me for I know them just you know them.

Job 12:4 "I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and He answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn."

Job is implying here that he has a problem, and all you can do is hold me up for scorn and blame me for things I am not guilty of.

Job 12:5 "He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease."

Job is telling them that there has always been contempt for the misfortunate ones. It is like the chicken in the barnyard. When one chicken gets a little blood on him, the rest of the chickens picks that one to death. It is the same way with men and women, they wait until someone is in trouble and then the rest of the bunch finds enjoyment in picking him to death spiritually, to where there is no room for the person to get back on his feet. What starts as rumors in the minds of these neighbors, develops as fact in their minds, when the whole thing is nothing but lies.

We are to stop listening to men to solve our problem, and take it directly to God, for He is the only one that cares for our souls, and knows the true source of our problems.

Job 12:6 "The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly."

What is said here is that it appears that God blesses all those that break his law.

Job 12:7 "But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:"

However Job is telling us to stop and take a look at nature, for the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air can teach us much. We can take the nature of the chicken to see how creatures turn on the weak and less fortunate of their kind.

Job 12:8 "Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee."

Job 12:9 "Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?"

Job is saying, you don't need to tell me that God has created this in nature, I know it.

Job 12:10 "In Whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind."

Job knows how great God is and no one needs to tell him. Though Job was bitter at the state of affairs that he was in, he never turned against God and cursed Him.

Job 12:12 "With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding."

Job 12:13 "With Him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding."

Job 12:14 "Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening."

What ever God intends to do with a man or woman, that is exactly what will happen to them. God can tare someone down or He can build them up; make them rich or poor.

Job 12:15 "Behold, he withholdeth the wathers, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth."

God can cause it to rain and bring on a flood, or God can shut up the sky and cause a drought and famine.

Job 12:16 "With Him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are His."

All wisdom is of God, and even the deceiver was created by God. Satan is the deceiver, and in time God will even send the deceiver to his death and destruction. God allows Satan to do what ever he does, except now following the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, you do not have to stand by and take what Satan is trying to give to the world. You can order Satan and all his evil realm out of your life, but it is up to you to make the move.

Job 12:17 "He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools."

God can take counselors that should speak words of wisdom, and He can mix up their thoughts to where their words are nothing but foolishness. He can make the wisdom of judges look like fools. Remember Job is a type of the elect in the end times, so stop and look at some of the words counselors are giving out today. Judges decisions have moved to a point of foolishness, which is obvious when you see some of the decisions coming from their benches today.

Job 12:18 "He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle."

What this is saying is that when a king puts a bond on you, he also has the right to free you from the bonds that he has put you under.

This word "princes" should read "priests". God can even take the priest's office from a people, and bring down those that think they are mighty in the land. Many of the priest's in the world today are spoiled, and have no idea of what the plan of God is. They place the work of their own tradition, as well as non-Christians teachings over the Word of God. These false priests simply do not care what God had to say to them. Today many are unaware that what they are saying from their pulpits was/is the work of non-Christians [non-believers].

Job 12:20 "He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged."

God has the ability to make those that are trusted and in high places to spout out dumb things. This is saying that God can control any matter to force it to conform to His plan.

Job 12:21 "He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty."

God controls those in charge, and allows their decisions to be weakened or have strength. God sets governments up, and He can take them down.

Job 12:22 "He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death."

This is saying that there are many hidden mysteries in God's plan, and He can withhold them from a person, or He can bring them to light if it pleases Him. Do you know God's plan, and all those hidden mysteries? Knowledge is suppose to increase in the end times, and all of the mysteries of God can be known to those who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear God's Word. You can only come to that understanding by studying God's Word to know why the things that are happening today, are as they are.

Job 12:23 "He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again."

God controls the nations of the earth today, and what they do is done to conform to the plan of God. The trouble in Ireland, in Bosnia, and in Iraq as well as other places, are all in the planned control of Almighty God. God controls the nations that bind themselves to each other in trade and other agreements, and go to war against each other. If you are a child of God, a believer that studies God's Word, you should be aware of what is happening in our generation today. There should be no surprise as to what is taking place in Jerusalem and the middle east today, for the prophets as well as Christ Himself told us to watch Jerusalem for these things to happen, and when we see them happening, then fle from that city.

Job 12:24 "He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way."

The "chief of the people" are the presidents of the nations. God causes the presidents, kings and the rulers of all nations of the earth to become so confused that they simply cannot tell right from wrong, good from bad, or good decisions from foolish and destructive ones. God causes them to overlook the important things and focus their attention on trash and confusion. This has become the way of our people today; what is called news, is nothing but a bunch of nonsense, and fools speaking their minds.

Job 12:25 "They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man."

When you see all this confusion in the world, Job is saying that we should know that God has His reasons for allowing it to happen. God is allowing Satan's children, the Kenites to interfere in Christian's lives today. Most Christians have no knowledge as to what to expect tomorrow, for they have placed their hopes in are a bunch of fairy-tales, like the rapture theory. They have become used to listening to lies and false hopes, while God's people should be sharper than that. The next chapter is the finish of Job's speech to Zophar.