>>”If this righteous man was basically given the “And who are you to question me?” treatment, then shouldn’t we be a bit more cautious on these questions?”
>Apples and Oranges!
How so?
>Job had questioned God’s motives,
Which is still questioning God.
>while we, on the other hand, are being obedient in studying his ages and appointed times as he commanded us to do.
Reference Please. Also, see 2 pet 3:8
— http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20pet%203:8&version=31
>If you do not understand his times, how can you do the job that he has set forth for you to do?
Oh, I agree. But also we must understand what God is communicating, right? When Jesus said that the time of harvest had come and the fields were ready, did that indicate to his deciples that they should go into the fields and literally reap?
>How can you watch for his coming on the day that he told us he would come, if you don’t examine the evidence he gave us, and declare it to be irrelevant?
But “No man knoweth the hour” right? I’m not saying we shouldn’t be aware, but I am saying that we need to act intelligently.
The total misunderstanding of the real meaning of this phrase is exactly what I'm getting at.
To a Jew living in Jerusalem at the time that the Lord uttered thoae words, they had a well known and very specific meaning, which is almost the exact opposite of what present day Christians take it to mean. - It was the traditional understanding, dating back to the time of Abraham, or earlier, To fixing the precise moment of the new moon. In this case, as is later illustrated by Paul in 1Cor 15, and 1Thess 5, it is referring to the new moon that marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, or "the Feast of Trumpets."
This is why we must delve into the minute details of each and every sentence of God's word, and there is no subject therein that is unimportant. I this case the modern, ignorant assumed meaning has turned the real meaning on its head.