In chapter 14 we find Job continuing his response after the three friends have confronted him. He has just proclaimed in chapter 13 that he will continue to hope in God no matter what. He has declared that he believes he will be vindicated after being wrongly accused. Satan originally wrongly accused him of being faithful to God only because of the good things that God had blessed Job with, and that when the trials came, he would curse God. Now Job's friends have been wrongly accusing Job of wrongdoing that is leading to punishment from God. Job's poetic discourse in chapter 14 is about death, and he appears to no longer be speaking to his friends, but rather to himself and to God. He reminds himself of his own frail, sinful humanity and inevitable death in contrast to God's sovereign mightiness. He pleads with God to let him die until God's wrath might pass. He wrongly is believing that God is angry with him. He does not have the insight that we have here, having not known of the scene between God and Satan that we were able to glimpse at he opening of the book. Here he longs for a resurrection from death to a new life without the misery. We find him at the end of the chapter feeling hopeless.
Chapter 15 is the beginning of the second cycle of speeches. Eliphaz does not even seem to try to show any compassion, even mocking Job. He appears to be angry with Job's response and believes that he does not fear God and remains full of unconfessed sin and pride in a false sense of integrity. Job answers in chapters 16 and 17. He tells the counselors that they are miserable comforters. He is weary with their lack of helpfulness and in tears that his friends have become his mockers. Job is still thinking that God must be against him even if he does not know why. He is utterly miserable but does believe that he has a witness in heaven that testifies for him. Praise God we have Jesus that testifies for us in heaven! He not only testifies for us, but He took our place for us that we might have His righteousness! Job pleads to God to vindicate him and prove to his counselors that he is right. He tells of his awful state he is living in with this disease. He is holding to walking in righteousness and is open to wisdom but is not finding it from these three men. His hope is still found in God, but he is still thinking of death.
Bildad speaks in chapter 18, rebuking Job in his state of great suffering, still holding to his belief that God is punishing wickedness. Job answers in chapter 19, once again tormented by the words of these men. He rehearses his suffering, still believing God is against him and wishing that his words could be preserved (which they are in this book now!), then declares that he knows his redeemer lives and will stand on the earth. We know the rest of the story, that Job is vindicated, and that ultimately the Redeemer of mankind will stand on the earth, Jesus Christ. All praise to Him! Job then warns his friends that they should be careful of falsely accusing him as they may experience punishment for it.
Zophar's second speech is found in chapter 20. He also speaks of the wicked suffering under the wrath of God. They continue to try to teach Job about the fate of the wicked, pointing the finger at him. In their opinion Job must be wicked for all of this to be happening to him. Job answers in chapter 21 that he sees wicked men prosper. He wanted them to see that though he does not understand why, it was not as simple as they believed, that wicked suffer and righteous prosper. Sometimes the wicked prosper and righteous suffer.
The third cycle of speeches begins in chapter 22 with Eliphaz again. He now says that Job must be abundantly evil. He also paints God as lofty and not concerned with personal relationships with men. He lists sins that Job must be guilty of to deserve his suffering. He rejects the idea that the wicked ever prosper and calls Job to repent of his wickedness and return to God that he might receive blessings. In the counselors' eyes, they see only a system of works and blessings, sins and punishments. They leave no room for mercy and grace. Job responds in chapters 23 and 24, not to Eliphaz but with a cry of longing to be in fellowship with God again, wanting to understand all that is going on and to feel God's love once more. He longs to be vindicated by God. He is not feeling God's presence but has not turned from His ways, and he still declares His sovereignty. He wishes he could see God's plan. Job talks about wickedness and his not understanding why he does not see it punished. He concludes that their punishment must be coming.
Chapter 25 is a short speech by Bildad restating that God is high and mighty and man, like Job, is lowly and sinful. Bildad misses that while man is depraved, he is also made in God's image and has worth and dignity. Job responds in chapter 26 with sarcasm to his friends' worthless "help." He then moves to speak of God's majesty and power. Job continues in chapter 27, defending his righteousness and refusing to accept their false accusations. He shows them that he understands as they do that God's wrath will come on the wicked. The fact that wicked suffer has nothing to do with Job's suffering though because he was a righteous man.
Chapter 28 is no longer dialogue but rather a poem on wisdom, similar to the wisdom literature of the book of Proverbs. Finding wisdom is compare to the arduous task of mining for precious stones and minerals. The men have been discoursing on Job's plight for all this time and Job comes to the conclusion that God has true wisdom and understands everything, not man. Ultimately we find great truth in verse 28, "the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding." Do not miss this! We are not going to understand why everything happens, but we will learn wisdom through reverence and obedience to God, and we can trust Him, knowing that He is all-wise. That reminds me of an old hymn, "Trust and Obey."
- When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.- Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
- Refrain:
- Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. - Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey. - But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey. - Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Chapters 29 through 31 are a monologue by Job. He reminisces of the days of God's blessing on his life. He recounts his good deeds, contrary to the false-accusations. He was indeed a virtuous man that stood up for the weak. I found these verses to be an encouragement to me to be more willing to stand in the gap for the less fortunate. Job had expected to live a long healthy life. He was revered and sought for his counsel, but no longer. Now he was mocked. In chapter 30 Job laments his losses, including his great loss of fellowship with God, still feeling that God is against him. He is in bitter distress. He gives a final appeal for vindication from false accusations in chapter 31, speaking of different areas in which he could have and did not sin and accepting the curses due if he had. He signs his name to his testimony and his words are ended. Again, I find this chapter one to encourage us to seek to strive to live a life of integrity.
This is the end of this section of the book of Job. The monologues of Elihu (chapters 32 through 37) and God Himself (chapters 38 through the beginning of 42) will come next, followed by an epilogue that finishes out chapter 42.
May working through this hard text help us to continue to seek God, the ultimate all-wise, sovereign Father, for wisdom and understanding and remember to trust Him even when we cannot understand because He is faithful.
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