A Follow Up Regarding The Firmament ...

As a follow up to my last post about the firmament I wanted to post some supporting scripture for the TRUE cosmological model according to the Bible. I will be taking this text from the book of Job and will attempt to break it down and make it clearly understandable while keeping this a short and sweet read.

If you remember from my previous post, the word firmament means a solid thing. In fact, the Lexham English Bible, which is a very literal translation of the original text uses the words "vaulted dome" rather than firmament. So with the firmament being created by God and the understanding that the firmament is a solid structure, Job 37:18 makes a lot more sense when we read it.

With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror? Job 37:18 (NKJV)

The words strong and like a metal mirror don't come to mind when we think of the sky according to what we are taught. However, this wasn't a foreign concept to the writer of scripture because they understood the cosmos far better than we do. Remember, the Holy Spirit moved upon men to write the scripture. If STRONG METAL MIRROR wasn't a good description of the sky, the Holy Spirit certainly had the intellect to describe better.

Job 38:4 shines further light on the creation of the Earth when God Himself asks Job the following:

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Job 38:4 (NKJV)

Foundations are used to stabilize an object ... not set it into a multitude of movements in various direction and various speeds. This is further solidified by verses 6 and 7 in the same chapter.

To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:6-7 (NKJV)

The foundations of the Earth are FASTENED (held fast) and they have a CORNERSTONE making them very stable! We will find more supporting evidence through the book of Job as well as the rest of the Bible, but this post focuses on Job. We read in Job 38:14 about how the Earth took shape during creation.

It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment. Job 38:14 (NKJV)

Let that sink in ... like clay under a seal. I'll just leave this picture here as a visual aid.

We will read in Job 38:18 the following:

Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

Job 38:14 (NKJV)

This is an interesting term to use regarding measurement. If Earth were a sphere, the word circumference would have been used here. It is used later in scripture multiple times referring to spherical or cylindrical objects. Again, the Holy Spirit doesn't lack in intelligence or vocabulary. The writers of scripture were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write exactly what God wanted them to write, exactly how He wanted them to write it. The term breadth is used when measuring from one END of an object to the opposite END. Where is the end of a sphere?

At no point is our "help" required to translate what they "didn't have the knowledge" to say "back then". Especially when we are choosing a completely different word with a completely different meaning. To make a statement like that, you have to throw out the entire INSPIRED aspect of scripture or believe that the God you serve had a limited vocabulary.

There are more references found in Job, but I believe this is a good start. The other references are for a different post to elaborate further on the biblical account of our Earth. I feel like there is enough information here to mull over for some time. I encourage you to pray, read, study, and then repeat. Please ask any questions either here or in the Facebook Group. I am happy to answer any questions that you may have.

God bless you and your family!