CCII - Job Wants a Fair Trial

Chapters 22-31

The conversation between Job and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar has deteriorated into more of an argument than a conversation.  Job is openly at odds with all three of them, and considers their words to be worthless and empty.  He has accused them of cruelty and condescension. His speeches reveal that Job considers himself wiser and more Godly than they are.  The speeches we will look at today have a continuing theme from the standpoint of his three friends, but Job seems to more frequently plead for God to hear him out.  I will go through these chapters quickly, giving the main emphases.

Chapter 22  -  Eliphaz’s Last Speech

Eliphaz begins to talk about the fact that God has nothing to gain by man’s behavior, good or bad.  After expressing these thoughts, he finally gets around to telling Job to make peace with God.  Confess, repent, and stop behaving so sinfully.  {This is bound to rub Job the wrong way, as he has been trying to convince these three men that he is not aware of any wrong-doing he has committed.  Eliphaz is grossly over-simplifying the problem, further frustrating Job.}

Chapter 23-24  -  Job Replies to Eliphaz

Job again expresses his desire to speak to God face-to-face.  He has done everything within his power to convince God to meet with him, but he claims that God eludes him (vss 8-9).  Job pleads with God to tell him why He refuses to meet.  Then in chapter 23 Job begins to talk about wicked people, and why they do the things they do.  But ultimately, the wicked and the righteous will go down the same path, which is death.  Job, more so than in previous speeches, seems to drift into a soliloquy, but is suddenly interrupted by Bildad.

Chapter 25  -  Bildad Interrupts

This is a short chapter because Bildad didn’t really have much to say.  He simply reiterates how wonderful and powerful God is, but does not say anything that hasn’t been said before.

Chapter 26 – Job Responds to Bildad

Job elaborates even more on the devastating power of God, saying it more eloquently and completely than Bildad.  {I think Job was telling Bildad what he should have said.  Remember, Job was more intelligent and more knowledgeable of spiritual matters.}

Chapter 27 -  Job Continues with His Final Speech

Job acknowledges that he has suffered many troubles.  He assumes that God was the source of these troubles, but he still trusts God.  He still seeks audience with God, confidant that he can convince God of his innocence.  {I don’t want to pick on Job, but he is in error right here.  He wants his day in court to convince God that there has been a mistake made.  The error in his thinking is that if he credits God with having afflicted him, then he is suggesting that he can convince God that God Himself has made a mistake.  God does not make mistakes.  But in defense of Job, he is sick, tired, sleep-deprived, grief-ridden, and in constant pain.  All of these things together, especially sleep-deprivation, can influence our thinking, rendering us confused and given to irrational thoughts and words.

Chapter 28  -  A Poem About Wisdom

This chapter is good reading.  In it Job speaks of many wonderful things in God’s creation, (Verse 6 NIV speaks of “lapis lazuli”, which is precious stones inside rocks).  Then the rest of this chapter Jobs speaks about wisdom, which is more wonderful than everything else, but elusive.  Wisdom cannot be found in all the traditional hiding places.  Verse 28 – “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding”.

{I realize this post includes a lot of reading, but I want to finish Job’s final speech, which goes through chapter 31.}

Chapter 29 – Job’s Past Life

This chapter is rather sad.  Job reflects life before Satan had his way with him.  He spoke of how respected he was.  For example, when he spoke in the city gate, all men would silence themselves to hear what Job had to say on any subject.  And he was always the last to speak.  {This was a show of respect, giving he wisest the last word.}

Chapter 30-31 – Job Describes His Present Situation in Contrast

As opposed the distinguished status he enjoyed before, now he is but a laughing stock.  Even children disrespect him openly.  He mentions that even the fathers of these children were so far beneath Job that he had refused to hire them as laborers.  In closing his final speech, Job reflects back on his life and how he lived it.  He was proud that he did not yield to normal practices of living on the edge of God’s expectations, but rather staying in the center, always shunning anything that hinted of compromise.

Next post  -  Elihu Comes on the Scene