Beloved, I am pleased to share with you today the above theme from Job 27:1 onwards. Indeed, it will take no less than six chapters for Job to establish his own righteousness. It’s too much and it’s not enough! Would there be 100 that this would not be enough, for nothing that comes from man can make the weight in the balance of divine justice. But on the other hand, this justification is done, entirely outside of one’s own efforts. Let’s note that the fact of justifying himself implicitly amounts to Job accusing of injustice this God who strikes him wrongly (Jb 40:6-10). Moreover, he openly allows himself to reproach the Almighty who has set aside his right and who torments him for no reason (v. 2).
There is pride in this attitude. “I will stand firm my righteousness… – says Job – my heart does not reproach me for any of my days” (v. 6). But what does God’s word answer? “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1 :8-10). Besides, if our own heart does not reproach us for anything, it does not prove that we are sinless. God is infinitely more sensitive to evil than our conscience is (1 Cor 4:1-5). In the darkness, our clothes may seem clean to us, while in full sun – that of God’s light – the slightest stain will appear (Pr 4:18-19). In chapter 27, Job examines another subject, not the glory of God, but the misery of the hypocrite and his terrible end in more striking terms than his friends had done. In drawing this picture, he firmly maintains his integrity, although God had not yet done him justice and his friends had wronged him.
This portion is followed by an even more remarkable one (chapter 28) in which Job depicts man in the fiery pursuit of the rare things of this world, his incessant search for gold, silver, and precious stones of all kinds. But where is the wisdom? Man can probably make his way through the waters; he can dig a road in the rocks. In his intense desire to achieve the goal he proposes, he can not only upset the mountains and fill the valleys, but reach places that the bird of prey does not know and that the eye of the vulture has not seen. It can happen where no wild beast has ever penetrated; he digs a well in the bowels of the earth and, in search of what he values, he enters places where no beast has ever made his shelter and where the wildest would fear to follow him. But where do you have to go to find wisdom?
The finest gold cannot provide it, the most precious stones and the most beautiful works of art cannot be given in exchange; the treasures of the abyss, even pearls, are worthless in comparison. Man has no knowledge of wisdom, but it is not here on earth. Death and destruction have heard the rumor; they have learned that she is somewhere. She is not in this world, she is not in man as he is now; the greedy pursuit of present things only excludes wisdom; there are none here on earth. In death and destruction at least, there is a sad reality. “But wisdom, where does it come from? and where is the place of intelligence?” The answer comes from God himself at the end of the debate and here it is: “Behold, fear to the Lord is wisdom, and withdrawing from evil is intelligence.” It is to this conclusion that Job brings all his argument. Is this not solemn and yet the foundation of all knowledge, as evidenced by the conversion of every sinner? This is the wonderful end of this remarkable chapter.
In the following, we have Job’s final defense. If he had been able, Tsophar could have introduced his little word here, but he is completely silenced. If Bildad had little to say, Tsophar had his mouth completely closed. Thus Job’s friends are entirely refuted by their sick and suffering brother. For the moment, and indeed, as far as his friends are in question, he has the field quite free and (chap. 29) depicts in a touching way his past splendor. He continues to speak at length about the painful catastrophe that had befallen him and his family (chap. 30). In chapter 31, he protests his innocence in the most solemn way, as well as his personal purity, his fairness, the consideration he had for his servants, his care of the poor, his horror of idolatry, the absence of any spirit of vengeance that characterized him, his hospitable habits, the fact that he had never hidden any iniquity and this without fear of the Almighty. If his fields could bear witness to any fraud or acts of violence committed by him, he asked that thorns grow there, instead of wheat and tares instead of barley. I know of no more eloquent plea of its kind, except the fruit of the experience of a man who expresses not only his feelings under the weight of the most terrible adversity on god’s part, but also those that are produced in his soul when he bends under God’s hand in perfect submission to his will. But I will not dwell on this subject now, reserving for the continuation of our study the examination of the great final lesson of the book.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Job’s reply (continued): Would a culprit appeal to God?
- Afflictions, come from God
Dt 8:5 Recognize in your heart that Jehovah your God chastises you as a man chastises his child. Rt 1:20 She said to them: Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has filled me with bitterness. Ps 66:11 You brought us into the net, You put a heavy burden on our loins, Ps 102:10-11 Those who had as their abode the darkness and the shadow of death lived captive in misery and in chains, 11 Because they had revolted against the words of God, Because they had despised the counsel of the Most High.
- Wages of sin, brings no gain
Jb 15:31 If he trusts in evil, he is mistaken, for evil will be his reward. Jb 27:13 This is god’s share of the wicked, the inheritance that the Almighty intends for the ungodly. Hb 2:2 For if the word announced by angels has had its effect, and if every transgression and disobedience has received just retribution, 2 Pet 2:13 thus receiving the wages of their iniquity. They find their delights in indulging in pleasure in broad daylight; Men tarred and defiled, they delight in their deceptions, making good food with you.
- God’s judgments, general references
Ex 6:6 Therefore, say to the children of Israel: I am the Lord, I will set you free from the labors entrusted to you by the Egyptians, I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will save you with open arms and by great judgments. Ps 9:17 The Lord shows himself, he does justice, he embraces the wicked in the work of his hands. -Playing instruments. Break. Ez 25:11 I will exercise my judgments against Moab. And they will know that I am the Lord. Ez 30:14 I will devastate Pathros, I will set fire to Tsoan, and I will exercise my judgments on No.
- Punishment of sin, inevitable
Pr 11:21 Certainly, the wicked will not go unpunished, but the seed of the righteous will be saved. Jer 11:11 This is why the Lord speaks: Behold, I am going to bring upon them misfortunes from which they cannot be delivered. They will shout at me, and I will not listen to them. 1 Thess 5:3 When men say, “Peace and security!” then a sudden ruin will surprise them, as the pains of childbirth surprise the pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Hb 2:3 how shall we escape by neglecting such a great salvation, which, first announced by the Lord, has been confirmed to us by those who have heard it,
From all the above, we note that throughout Job’s affirmation, although a malefactor can haveno communion with God, no joy in God, yet such a man cansucceed in his plans, and even amass riches, live in glory, descend into his grave in peace. Yes, it could be deposited in a majestic tomb and the very clods of the valley could be sweet to it. Job did not assert that this was always the story of one who defies God’s law. But he said this is often the case; and the deep darkness in which he himself rests is not so much caused by his calamity and sickness as by the doubt imposed on him as to whether the Most High reigns with unwavering justice on this earth. How is it, he shouted time and time again, that the wicked prosper and the good are often reduced to poverty and pain? Then he describes the fate of the evil oppressor in strong language: defeat, desolation, terror, rejection of God, rejection of men. His children multiply only for the sword. The sons die and the widows remain inconsolable. His treasures, his clothes will not be for his pleasure; the innocent will enjoy its substance. His sudden death will be in shame and agony, and men will clap their hands against him and whistle him out of his place. Obviously, if Job is the speaker, he must abandon everything he has fought for so far, admitting that his friends have really argued that after all, judgment falls in this world on arrogant men: The motive for all the controversy would be lost if Job gave up this point. It is not as if the passage is running, this or that can take place, this or that can happen to the malefactor. For Eliphaz, Bildad and Tsophar never more strongly present their own point of view as this point of view is presented here. Nor can it be said that the writer is preparing for the confession that Job makes after the Almighty has spoken of the storm. When he yields, therefore, it is only to the extent that he removes his doubts about the wisdom and justice of the divine rule. But the suggestion that Job recite here the statements of his friends cannot be accepted: He thus shows his friends that he knows as well as they do, what traditional wisdom teaches, but that it turns out to be too simplistic, especially since he shows further that human science and techniques are in contrast to the human inability to find wisdom and in particular to explain suffering. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom as I walk in your ways.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Who can have wisdom? (Jb 28)
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.