Job 22-24

Eliphaz pipes up again and more directly accuses Job of sinning, now bringing up examples.  Eliphaz reasons that there would be no point in God putting Job through all this suffering if Job were a righteous man.  Therefore, there's only one conclusion to make.

"Is not your wickedness great?
       Are not your sins endless?"

Eliphaz accuses Job of ignoring the poor while Job was a powerful and rich man.  He urges Job to ""[s]ubmit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you."  He promises Job that if he returns to the Almighty he will be restored.

Job maintains that he is innocent, and that if he could present his case, he would come out victorious.  Yet he also says he cannot find God.  He has looked in the North, East, South, West - yet cannot find Him.  He maintains firmly that he "has not departed from the commands of His lips."  Of course, Job also confesses that he is terrified.  God stands alone, and He seems to do whatever he pleases.  Job's response to this situation is a stronger fear of the Lord.

He continues to assert that the world is not fair, and suffering is not necessarily linked to evil.  He brings up two types of examples.  First, he laments about mankind, providing examples of innocent people (the poor) who seem to suffer and yet "God charges no one with wrongdoing."  Then he provides examples of evil people (thieves, murderers, adulterers) who seem to be successful in life.  Though Job adds that they actually have no assurance of life, and will be "cut off like heads of grain."

Job knows his observations are true.  He challenges his listeners "[i]f this is not so, who can prove me false and reduce my words to nothing?"  I like the NASB version, which I think makes it more clear"

"who can prove me a liar, and make my speech worthless?"

as if daring anyone to challenge him.

Job 20-21

Zophar then feels compelled to reply.  He re-emphasizes that the joy of an evil one is only temporary, and the God will punish the evil one for all he has done.  I presume Zophar is still appalled that Job thinks he has done nothing wrong, instead of admitting that he is being punished by God for the evil that he has done.

Job replies that it does not seem so simple.  There are wicked people who deny God completely and yet live rich, prosperous lives, dying in peace. Unlike all his friends, Job does not see the correlation between wickedness and suffering.

It seems random, yet Job continues to acknowledgment God's sovereignty.


"Can anyone teach knowledge to God,
       since he judges even the highest?

 23 One man dies in full vigor,
       completely secure and at ease,

 24 his body [f] well nourished,
       his bones rich with marrow.

 25 Another man dies in bitterness of soul,
       never having enjoyed anything good.

 26 Side by side they lie in the dust,
       and worms cover them both.

Job 17-19

Job continues to lament his existence. He laments that no one understands him, and that his friends have all turned against him.  He thinks they don't understand, and that they are wrong.

Bildad continues to uphold the idea that all this suffering would only happen to an evil man.  He thinks Job is rambling nonsense and he asks Job to be sensible. He goes on to describe someone who is afflicted with all sorts of suffering, and ends by saying "surely such is the dwelling of an evil man; such is the place of one who knows not God" again implying Job is suffering because of his sins.

Job replies "If it is true that I have gone astray,  my error remains my concern alone." Job continues to lament and wonder why God has not answered him.  He describes the length of his suffering, yet ends with faith, stating "I know that my Redeemer [g] lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God."

What amazing faith.  His life sounds awful - can you imagine what it would be like if EVERYONE hated you.  You knew you had done nothing wrong but not one single person believed you.  Not even your spouse.  Everyone, your closest friends, kept telling you that it was your fault that you were suffering.

I really have amazing respect for Job.

Job 14-16

Job 14 continued as Job complained to God about how God "fixed" His eyes on and made judgment on the insignificant human kind. Men are so short-lived, like a flower that springs up and withers away. Even for a tree there is hope, because it will spout again after being cut down. No such hope for men. They would be "overpowered" by God and would feel nothing but pain of their own bodies...

Chapter 15 of Job contains Eliphaz reply to Job. He is no longer sympathetic to Job. He accuses Job of trying to argue for his innocence; he is pretty mean to Job - saying that Job thinks too highly of his wisdom. Eliphaz reiterated that men are bound to sin, and they will be doomed. "They conceive trouble and give birth to evil."

Job's reply in Ch. 16: his friends were not very helpful in all their long-winded speeches and judgmental comments! Job uses the analogy of God being a lion who "tears in his anger and gnashes his teeth", attacking him and turning him over to evil people. The chapter concludes with Job's summary of his suffering as he still claims his innocence: "my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure."

Not easy chapters to read..............!!

Job 11-13

Zophar, another friend, then speaks up.  He, also, believes that Job is being punished for his sins and cannot believe that Job thinks he is righteous.  Zophar thinks that man cannot fathom God's wisdom, and surely God has not forgotten the sins that Job committed in the past.  Zophar indicates that if Job just "put away the sin that is in your hand" and "devote your heart to Him" then "life will be brighter" because "there is hope."  Essentially, Zophar is also implying that Job has sinned.

Job answers by telling his friends that they are WRONG! He says to his friends "you smear me with LIES!!!!" (emphasis added).  Job believes he is blameless, and desires to make a case before God.  He asks for only two things from God.

1) Withdraw His hand from Job and stop "frightening" him with His terrors [stop the torture!]
2) Allow Job to make his case before God.  He wants to know what he did wrong.

Amazing, through all of this, Job continues to hope in God.  He says

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely [p] defend my ways to his face."

Job 8-10

Now Job's other friend, Bildad, starts talking to Job.  He says that his children must have sinned and deserved to be punished.  Job again pleads his innocence and says it's impossible to prove it because he can't go to court against God.  He mentions how innocent people die in plagues (well, worse, he claims that God laughs at the death of the innocent), and how innocent and wicked people are the same to God.  Now Job is left wondering why he was even born. =(

Job 5-7

These chapters take me longer to read because of the way it's written.  Sometimes it's a monologue, sometimes a dialogue, and the speech is littered with proverbs and rhetorical questions.  The back and forth dialogue with Eliphaz and Job continues.  Eliphaz suggests that Job present his case to God, but also assumes that Job did something wrong to deserve his punishment.  Job is trying to get Eliphaz to see it from his point of view, and also trying to justify his right to complain.  Then he tells points out the Eliphaz hasn't helped him out because Eliphaz is afraid.  The Job cries out to God and says he would rather die than to continue suffering.