Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Chapter twenty-two is Eliphaz firing back. He said all humanity is as nothing to the Lord, not even worthy of attention (true, but God CHOOSES otherwise). All three of Job’s good friends think he’s hiding iniquity and THAT is why he is in this situation (false). Here, Eliphaz starts listing possible things Job has done. Kind of a ‘I’ll start talking and you stop me when we get to your sin’. Interestingly, there is a brief mention in verse 15 that MIGHT be referencing the flood in Noah’s day – if true that would place Job AFTER the flood narrative.

Chapter twenty-three finds Job defending the righteousness of God’s judgments while simultaneously declaring that HE was being unjustly treated. Job desperately wants a one on one with God (available to us all through Jesus). He wanted to tell God what was going on and straighten God’s thinking about Job and his situation (a BAD idea and very self-centred thinking). Job does want to plead his case (Jesus is OUR mediator). He wanted to argue about it and prove the truth of his viewpoint (good luck with that). Job maintains his innocence and again blames God for all of it while not cursing Him. Job wishes he had never been born or died before bad anything started.

Chapter twenty-four is Job’s complaints – directed vaguely at God – for all the violence and oppression that exists on the Earth. He is not seeing God stopping the behaviour. He is not seeing judgment coming on the wicked. What is the point of it all, he wonders.

Chapter twenty-five is a short retort by Bildad about how of course the Earth is covered in violence and badness. How could humanity possibly be righteous? No one can be totally pure in the sight of God.

Chapter twenty-six is Job mostly agreeing with that. He knows how small and insignificant humanity is. How frail they are sitting on the Earth which was suspended in space (verse 7). How they rely on the majesty and power of God for their very existence.

Chapter twenty-seven is Job’s declaration that he would not back down. He was not at fault, therefore it must be God’s fault (not true). He has gotten bitter about it (a choice of his emotions and mind). He still looks to God as his creator and did not deny Him or curse Him. But his viewpoint has become that God is unjust (not true) and that Job was being treated unfairly (Thankfully, we don’t get what we deserve. The Lord is MERCIFUL whether WE can see it or not.). Job is determined to maintain his innocence and was willing to go to the grave proclaiming it. Job was right that his iniquity hadn’t caused this. Job was wrong to impute that to God and maintain self-righteousness.

Chapter twenty-eight is a departure from the argument. Suddenly Job sees the need for wisdom. And he states that wisdom is elusive. Hard to find. Almost impossible to hold onto. This is not true and not how God sees wisdom (James 1:5; Proverbs 9:10).

Summary

Key Players: God, Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, Elihu.

Key Verse(s): Job 22:1-3; 23:2-7; 24:18-24; 25:2-4; 26:2-4; 27:13-23; 28:20-28