The eruption of antisemitism on the left—dressed up as opposition to Israel’s tactics in a war started by its enemies—is the most potent form of antisemitism in America. Wall Street Journal columnist, Gerard Baker writes, “Antisemitism has a strong pedigree on the left: The equation of capitalism’s evils with the supposed avarice of Jewish financiers is a popular theme, and to it has been added the modern ‘settler colonialist’ narrative that alleges Zionist rapine in Palestine.” Baker adds that “our universities are run by leaders who are models of the left-wing ideology that dominates so much of our politics and culture. It deems the rights of certain people less worthy of protection than others, it divides the world into oppressor and oppressed. You can call for the murder of all Jews, but say sex is biological and you will be punished . . . ‘Truth’ has been deposed and replaced with the monomaniacal ideology of the ‘My Truth’ crowd.”

Elihu chides Job for his pride and his failure to grasp God’s transcendence.

One of my favorite novels is Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. In one of the central chapters of the book, one of the brothers, Ivan Karamazov, argues, “If God does not exist, everything is permitted.” The permissiveness of modern American society can scarcely be exaggerated, but it can be traced directly to the fact that modern men and women act as if God does not exist or is powerless to accomplish His will. Furthermore, the church no longer represents the central core of Western civilization. For the most part, the church has been displaced by the reign of secularist, postmodern autonomy.

Elihu counsels Job to allow God to teach him through his suffering and understand His justice and sovereignty.

Attorney, columnist and evangelical Christian David French poignantly observes that it is understood that American elections “could reset our national security strategy, but they did not change our bedrock alliances. They did not change our fundamental identity. Until now.” Donald Trump is upending the entire national security strategy of the United States. His vision is destructive and dangerous. As Wall Street Journal columnist Gerard Baker observes, “Trump’s mendacious contempt for Ukraine and . . . his cringing admiration for Russia and the ‘genius’ in the Kremlin” raise real concerns, but also signify a “new world order,” one that “will come at a steep price.”

In contrast to Job’s three friends, Elihu chastises them and Job as he answers Job’s questions.

Moral and spiritual formation is at the heart of any heathy society. From a biblical perspective, moral and spiritual formation involves at least three dimensions of the human condition that need development and shaping. God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and the encouragement and edification that comes from being with likeminded believers shape the heart (being kind, considerate, generous), the mind (being curious, open-minded, having good judgment) and the will (self-control, determination courage).

God’s Word warns against “the wisdom of this world” (1 Corinthians 1:20-25) and “things that are seen” (2 Corinthians 4:18): In other words, the dominant ideas and commitments of a world in rebellion against God. As Christians we often struggle with the best way to organize human society according to human nature. What is our vision of human nature and what is the best government to adapt to that nature? In trying to answer those questions, Western Civilization has been shaped by three primary characteristics that have characterized the last 400 years

Job presents his final appeal and rests his case with his three friends and with God.

When President Trump was running for a second term in 2024, he promised to end the Ukraine war “in 24 hours.” Of course, that did not happen, but now we are seeing how he seeks to end this atrocious war, now over 3 years old. As the Wall Street Journal editorially observed, Trump’s plan is a “tilt toward a Ukraine sellout.” As a student of history, I believe it also ignores one of the profound lessons of history from the 1930s in Europe.