Posts from 2018
Job 31 – Job’s Final Defense Part 3: “Job’s Six Final Appeals”
The end of verse 40 brings weight to the significance of this chapter, “The words of Job are ended.” This is Job’s last appeal that he was righteous and just before all of his trials. It’s a specific list of six areas he pursued righteousness in what he described more generally at a higher level in Job 29: (1) He fought lust and avoided adultery (vv. 1-12), (2) he was a just employer (vv. 13-15), (3) he cared for the…
Job 30 – Job’s Final Defense Part 2: “Now They Laugh At Me”
Job just finished giving a defense for how he used authority as a chief-leader in righteousness to the benefit of the people under his care. His position of influence is now gone. First, in verses 1-15 Job talks about how senseless men who weren’t even worthy for hire have afflicted him. These men have made songs to mock Job (v. 9). They spit at the sight of Job (v. 10). Job’s relational suffering extended well beyond Elliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Job exclaims,…
Job 29 – Job’s Final Defense Part 1: “A Greater King in Jesus Christ”
After responding to Bildad’s third statement, Job speaks again to summarize his defense. First, he longs for the days that are gone (vv. 1-6). Second, he describes how he pursued godly authority (vv. 7-20). Third, he remembers how the people responded to his good use of authority (vv. 21-25). First, he begins with a longing for the days when God watched over him (v. 2), when God’s lamp shone upon Job’s head, and Job walked by God’s light through darkness…
Job 28 – Job Continues His Reply to Bildad’s 3rd Statement: “Where Is Wisdom?”
Job said, “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for God that they refine. Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore. Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness. Man opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they sing to and…
Job 27 – Job Continues His Reply to Bildad’s 3rd Statement: “I Will Maintain My Integrity”
Job took up his discourse again saying that the living God has taken away his right, and made his soul bitter. As long as he has breath and the spirit of God is in his nostrils, his lips will not speak falsehood or deceit. Far be it from Job to say Bildad is right; till Job dies he will not put away his integrity. Job says, “I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does…
Job 26 – Job Answers Bildad’s 3rd Statement: “God’s Majesty Is Unsearcheable”
Job rebukes Bildad. His point is that Bildad hasn’t helped the powerless, saved the weak, counseled the fool, nor declared sound knowledge. In verse 4 Job exposes Bildad’s weakness: “self-contradiction”. If the doctrine of God’s holiness and righteousness means that sinful people are unable to speak and live righteously, then who is it who has helped Bildad to utter his self-perceived righteous breath/words? The dead tremble under the waters. Sheol (the grave/afterlife) is naked before God, and Abbadon (place of…
Job 25 – (3) Bildad Answered: “Man Can’t be Righteous/Pure”
Bildad answered Job saying that dominion and fear are with God. God makes peace in His high heaven. Is there any number of His armies? Upon whom does His light not arise? How then can man be in the right before God? How can He who is born of woman be pure? Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in His eyes; how much less man, who is a maggot, the son of man,…