DBG - June 10 - Job 18-21

In this chapter Bildad accuses Job for the second time.

vs. 1-4 – Bildad rebukes Job for refusing to hear their words and fighting against what they saw as the truth.

vs. 5-21 – Bildad continues that common theme of the fate of the wicked.  The wicked must necessarily fall in this life.  It is pointed out that much of what he says is true, but his application of it to Job’s case is where he is wrong.  Job was righteous, though they could not reconcile this with his present suffering. 

In this chapter Job responds to Bildad.

vs. 1-6 – Job counters Bildad’s attack by showing its futility.  Job had not caused his own suffering because of wickedness.  His present state was caused by God, which he could not understand why.

vs. 7-12 – Job again accuses God as the source of his troubles.  God did not answer his prayers and was treating him like an enemy. 

vs. 13-24 – Job describes his miserable state.  He is friendless and alienated from all allies.  He is a pariah to the world.  His health is wrecked.  Why were his friends joining God in attacking him?

vs. 25-27 – Here is a marvelous outburst of hope in the midst of Job’s despair.  All may go against him on this earth, but one day he would stand justified before God.  It is a great prophecy of the work of Christ, who would defeat death and become the redeemer Job longed for.

vs. 28-29 – Job concludes with a warning based on his sudden display of positivity in the previous verses.  His friends should beware their persecution of an innocent lest God avenge him against them.  It is difficult to determine how much of this newfound confidence is a product of his faith or his tendency toward self-righteousness.

In this chapter Zophar accuses Job for the second time.

vs. 1-3 – Zophar is moved to swift reply because of Job’s counterattack.  He believes it is ludicrous that Job would claim the moral high ground in these conversations.  Had they not tried to make Job see the error of his ways?  Why should they then beware divine retribution when God was clearly punishing Job?

vs. 4-29 – Zophar begins yet another discussion of the history and fate of the wicked.  No ounce of pity, for which Job had requested in 19:21, is to be found in his attempt to make Job fit into the mold of the wicked and their punishment.  He and his friends are so sure in their pronouncements that they never consider the possibility that Job could have been right. 

In this chapter Job responds to Zophar.

vs. 1-6 – Job requests that his friends actually listen to his defense before coming to their conclusions.  He had not sought their advice or aid, nor that of any man.  His complaint was against God.  He is confident that he will be proven right in time.

vs. 7-26 – Job counters the argument that has continually been made about the wicked suffering.  He could point to many examples of wicked that prospered and seemed to have avoided God’s wrath.  Did that mean God was powerless against them?  Absolutely not, as they were nothing before Him.  Whether they prospered on earth or not, the grave and what lay beyond awaited them all.  The wicked would face their reward, just not on this earth.  Psalm 73 deals with this topic. 

vs. 27-34 – Job concludes with the observation that all the wicked end the same in death.  It does not matter if they prospered or if they suffered in this life.  Ultimately, the grave took them all.  God did punish the wicked because, as Paul writes in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death.”  Therefore, Job surmises, it is illogical and unhelpful for his friends to base their arguments on case of the wicked in this life.  So much of what they had said was untrue, unsound, and unfounded.  Most of all, it was all unhelpful.

One that is starkly missing thus far in Job is revelation.  So far, almost every argument has been based on personal experience or observation.  These are faulty at best, especially when dealing with the God Who transcends all understanding.  This illustrates the importance of divine revelation, when God declares the absolute truth.  This is why the Bible is so important.  It is the sum of the knowledge God has revealed to us.  It is the whole truth He knows we need, and much of it could not be known unless He revealed it.  Trust in God’s truth and not your own opinion whenever possible. 

Our hymn today is by Charles Wesley and first appeared in 1742.  “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” shows the fulfillment of Job’s hope in the coming Christ.

I know that my Redeemer lives,
And ever prays for me;
A token of His love He gives,
A pledge of liberty.

I find him lifting up my head,
He brings salvation near,
His presence makes me free indeed,
And He will soon appear.

He wills that I should holy be,
What can withstand His will?
The counsel of His grace in me
He surely shall fulfill.

Jesus, I hang upon Thy Word;
I steadfastly believe
Thou wilt return and claim me, Lord
And to Thyself receive,

Joyful in hope, my spirit soars
To meet Thee from above,
Thy goodness thankfully adores;
And sure I taste Thy love.

Thy love I soon expect to find,
In all its depth and height;
To comprehend the eternal mind,
And grasp the Infinite.

When God is Mine and I am His,
Of paradise possessed,
I taste unutterable bliss,
And everlasting rest.

The bliss of those that fully dwell,
Fully in Thee believe,
’Tis more than angel tongues can tell,
Or angel minds conceive.

Thou only knowst, who didst obtain,
And die to make it known;
The great salvation now explain,
And perfect us in one!