-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)
The book of Job offers us insights and understanding in some areas that surpass any other sources: it’s a really good book to study deeply. Authorship of the book of Job is commonly thought to be Moses by the majority, but as with anything that old there is some debate among scholars. Job is thought to be the oldest book written in the Bible as well due to it’s linguistic and thematic antiquity, written as a stand-alone book. It also just happens to be the book that has “my” verse in it, technically verses: which would be Job 33:14-30 for those of you who are interested (it’s why I’m alive). That bit is not technically in today’s reading, so no need to look it up unless you’re really interested, or want the extra credit points.
The thing that stands out to me the most in today’s Job reading is the description of the Courts of Heaven. This picture of God is one that resonates within me, as a great and omnipotent ruler, sitting on a heavenly throne and being attended to by myriads of the “sons of God” (ie, angels or spiritual beings, heavenly creatures created by and serving God, but not human). The picture of all of these heavenly beings acting as supplicants before the Almighty, attending to Him like a group of courtiers, and seeking how best to serve and gain favor with their King is just fascinating to me. I imagine the vying to get nearer, to be favorably noticed, and to advance in the politics of the heavenly realm. I do not understand it completely, because I’m just a man, but the mental image of it strikes a chord in my heart. I actually have a theory about the members of the heavenly court, but as it is complete speculation I’ll keep it to myself. Suffice it to say that it is absolutely understandable to me that the Most High God should have thousands upon thousands of intensely powerful beings in attendance, all seeking how to please the Most High God and gain favor in His courts.
When God says “Let us make man in our image…” back in Gen 1:26, I think this court described in Job 1 is who He was talking to. I’ve heard other theories, some better than others, but I tend to lean into this explanation. Without getting too deep into physics, dimensions, or the nature of God (that’s a very deep speculative pond that we could dive into), we do know a couple things because scripture specifically tells us. Firstly, God is spirit (John 4:28). Do we fully understand that? Of course not, we’re dumb humans: but it’s safe to say that God exists at a whole different level than we do (eg; eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, etc etc). Secondly, no man has ever seen God (at least His face) directly, See for clarification Ex 33:20, John 1:18, and 1 John 4:12. Now this would seem to be contradictory at face value to some specific interactions that men have had with God at different times, until you understand the “law of agency” or “shaliah”. Basically that’s just a fancy way of saying “God interacts with His creation through designated agents”. Not exclusively mind you, but in large part.
Let me give you what (I believe) is the first example of this in scripture. If you flip over to Ex 3:2-4 the law of agency (or, shaliah) is clearly shown for the first time (although it can be implied in a number of earlier interactions in Gen) by comparing and contrasting Ex 3:2 (“And the angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of the bush“, LSB) with Ex 3:4 (“And Yahweh saw that he turned aside to look, so God called to him from the midst of the bush“, LSB). In the above example, the angel of Yahweh is addressed as Yahweh. In Jewish culture “the one who is sent” speaks with the full authority of the sender, so it’s absolutely kosher to address the angel of Yahweh as Yahweh, but it’s caused some confusion among modern non-Jewish readers because we didn’t understand the culture or the context properly. This is also exhibited in Ex 23: 20-21 when God says to listen to the angel because “My name is in him” (ie, the angel has been granted the authority to speak on God’s behalf), and repeatedly throughout the book of John when Jesus explains (about 40 times) that he has been sent, and further explains that the words he speaks are not his own. There are innumerable examples of God interacting with his creation through agents in scripture, moving on. God also interacts with His creation through dreams and visions, and in the purest form, the pouring out of the holy spirit upon flesh.
Before I dug into this, as a child I had a somewhat solitary picture of God; not the thriving, active, and busy central hub of governance that is described in scripture. Job 1 is one of many chapters that offer a description of the Courts of Heaven and their functionality. 1 Ki 22:19-22 and 2 Chron 18:18 show the prophet Micaiah having a vision of God on His throne and the entire host of heaven in attendance, deciding on earthly matters. Daniel 7:9-10 shows a vivid vision of the Ancient of Days on a flaming throne with thousands attending. Ps 82:1 states that God presides in the divine assembly. Rev 4-5 depict a throne in heaven with “myriads upon myriads” of angels and heavenly beings praising God and The Lamb (the latter for his obedience to God), and describes a scene of continuous worship and governing. Zech 3:1-5 depicts a scene reminescent of a Perry Mason courtroom, where Satan accuses Joshua the high priest before the angel of the Lord, who in turn rebukes him. Rev 20:11-12 depicts the final judgment at the great white throne, where all humanities deeds are weighed and they are rewarded accordingly. These are all great verses, look them up if you get a chance.
I love these small peeks behind the curtain, where we get little glimpses of the sovereignty of God, get small nods of understanding as to how just and truly merciful God is, and how holy He is. Here’s the thing: do you remember the story about when 1 angel (see June 16th devotional for this year) killed 185000 of the most technologically advanced troops of it’s day? There are myriads upon myriads of those beings, angels or whatever title you want to give them in the Courts of Heaven. There are at least 3 distinct types of these beings (Seraphim-Isaiah 6, Cherubim-Ez 1, and Living Creatures- described in Rev) in scripture. We have no idea as to the actual number of them, but each one has the potential ability and power to wipe out an entire army or nation. Each one of them has power and wisdom beyond our understanding. Even though they are different in form and function though, they all have one thing in common, even our Adversary who occasionally makes an appearance at the courts. Have you figured out what it is?
They are all subservient to the Most High God. Every single one of them. They are mostly described as awaiting His pleasure, to determine how they can best serve the Most High God. Innumerable beings of immense unfathomable power, all with the bended knee and bowed head to YHWH God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life. This is the same God, the ruler of the entire universe, the entire multiverse (if such a thing exists), the ruler of all things…who reached out His mighty hand to save me, a tiny insignificant nothing. Who reached out to save you, even when you were ignoring Him. It is fiercely humbling, when you consider the scope of His authority and power, that He takes the time to draw you to Him. He knows you by name, and knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows you better than you know yourself, and He still loved you enough to send His son to die for you, to cleanse your sin. Holy God above have mercy, we are completely undeserving of such high favor.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Had you ever previously considered the hierarchy and governance of the Courts of Heaven?
Did considering this and some of the other descriptive verses of the Heavenly Courts change how you perceived God?
Have you ever considered just how blessed and highly favored you are that God seeks you?
PRAYER
Father God, Most Holy Creator of all things, who gives life, breath, and all things; thank you. I am completely undeserving of the high favor you have shown me. Please forgive me when I fall short, lead me into your will, and help me to be a servant who pleases, in Jesus name, Amen.
Seek Grow Love 