Week 6 - Job 20-24 - The Way of the Wicked

Zophar argues that, from history, that the way of the wicked does not last.  That their insatiable appetite, their greed for more, eventually makes them the target of the masses that they must exploit.  The way of the wicked is actually self-regulating.

Job 20:22

“In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress;  
the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.

But Job argues, also from history, that the wicked “grow mighty in power” and die in “old age”.  Job’s conclusion is that both the wicked and the righteous meet similar ends in this life, so judgement must follow.

Job 21:23-26

One dies in his full vigor,

    being wholly at ease and secure,

his pails full of milk

    and the marrow of his bones moist.

Another dies in bitterness of soul,

    never having tasted of prosperity.

They lie down alike in the dust,

    and the worms cover them. 

Eliphaz presumes, without evidence, that Job has taken the way of the wicked and his current calamity was caused by his actions.

Job 22:5-7

Is not your evil abundant?

    There is no end to your iniquities.

For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing

    and stripped the naked of their clothing.

You have given no water to the weary to drink,

    and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

Job responds that though he has been upright, God’s has decreed this calamity.  No one, not even a perfect Job, can chart-their-own-course.

Job 23:11-14

My foot has held fast to his steps;

    I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;

    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?

    What he desires, that he does.

For he will complete what he appoints for me,

    and many such things are in his mind.

The robber in the game of Catan is wielded by players to stymie others who have gotten ahead of them.  Zophar saw this as the cause of Job's calamities.  Eliphaz chimed in with unfounded accusations to support.  

But Job understood, as we should, that God is in control, even of calamities.

Week 5 - Job 15-19 - My Redeemer Lives!

 Eliphaz argues against Job's assertion that God will save him.

Job 15:4

"But you are doing away with the fear of God

    and hindering meditation before God."

A salvation from God, removes the fear of God.  It removes the very thing that constrains the wicked.  

After such a response, Job correctly identifies his "friends".

Job 16:2

“I have heard many such things;

    miserable comforters are you all."

He goes on to complete his case, asserting that there must be a celestial witness . . .

Job 16:19-21

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,

    and he who testifies for me is on high.

My friends scorn me;

    my eye pours out tears to God,

that he would argue the case of a man with God,

    as a son of man does with his neighbor.

 . . . a bail bond's man (who is God himself), and finally . . . 

Job 17:3

“Lay down a pledge for me with you;

    who is there who will put up security for me?

. . . a redeemer!

Job 19:23-26

“Oh that my words were written!

    Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

Oh that with an iron pen and lead

    they were engraved in the rock forever!

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

    and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

    yet in my flesh I shall see God,

In faith, Job has come to understand that he has a Redeemer (gā'al)!  That God, himself, will “at the last” “stand upon the earth” and redeem him.  Poetically Job uses the word for dust (āp̄ār) to represent the earth, for that is what Job will soon become.  And he uses the word “last” ('aḥărôn) without any reference to a day, to indicate it is not tied to history.

Week 4 - Job 10-14 - Need for Salvation

Anticipating an arbiter, Job begins to prepare his case.  If he had the chance to speak with God, he plans out what he would say.  But as he begins, his thoughts take a turn.  At first, he continues to complain about the calamity:

Job 10:8

Your hands fashioned and made me,

    and now you have destroyed me altogether.

But then he comes to understand, that all of this had a purpose.

Job 10:12-13 

You have granted me life and steadfast love,

    and your care has preserved my spirit.

Yet these things you hid in your heart;

    I know that this was your purpose.

God had a purpose and it was to love him.

Zophar, in an attempt to ridicule Job's conclusion, points out:

Job 11:5-6

But oh, that God would speak

    and open his lips to you,

and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!

    For he is manifold in understanding.

Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

The calamity does not match the guilt of Job, of which a sovereign God has complete knowledge.  Zophar goes on to Job, that the solution begins with Job, himself

Job 11:13-15

“If you prepare your heart,

    you will stretch out your hands toward him.

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,

    and let not injustice dwell in your tents.

Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;

    you will be secure and will not fear.

  But Job understands that he cannot save himself (imagine a lioness carrying a cub).

Job 13:14-15

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth

    and put my life in my hand?

Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

    yet I will argue my ways to his face.

These are the words of a man of faith!

Hebrews 11:1-3

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Job had faith for the things he could not see.  That said, it was not a blind faith.  God's nature and purpose, was evidenced by the things he could see.

Romans 1:19-20

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.