Text: Job 29

And Job again took up his discourse, and said:

2 “Oh, that I were as in the months of old,

as in the days when God watched over me,

3 when his lamp shone upon my head,

and by his light I walked through darkness,

4 as I was in my prime,

when the friendship of God was upon my tent,

5 when the Almighty was yet with me,

when my children were all around me,

6 when my steps were washed with butter,

and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7 When I went out to the gate of the city,

when I prepared my seat in the square,

21 “Men listened to me and waited

and kept silence for my counsel.

22 After I spoke they did not speak again,

and my word dropped upon them.

23 They waited for me as for the rain,

and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.

24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence,

and the light of my face they did not cast down.

25 I chose their way and sat as chief,

and I lived like a king among his troops,

like one who comforts mourners.

WHEN THE ALMIGHTY WAS YET WITH ME

Job continued his adamant claim that he was upright enough, a reason for him not to

He yearned for the return of his prosperous and happy times before the calamity

As a result, he was respected by his peers. Even the nobles fell silent when hearing

He expected to continue with God’s blessing on him up to his death. He said,

‘Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest,

and I shall multiply my days as the sand,

19 my roots spread out to the waters,

with the dew all night on my branches,

20 my glory fresh with me,

and my bow ever new in my hand.’[v.17-20]

But, the unexpected testings happened. He lost all.

When everything was okay, the unexpected and inevitable happened to all. What does

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Text: Job 28

And where is the place of understanding?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living

and concealed from the birds of the air.

22 Abaddon and Death say,

‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

23 “God understands the way to it,

and he

24 For he looks to the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the heavens.

25 When he gave to the wind its weight

and apportioned the waters by measure,

26 when he made a decree for the rain

and a way for the lightning of the thunder,

27 then he saw it and declared it;

he established it, and searched it out.

28 And he said to man,

‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

-Job 28:20-28 ESV

WHERE SHALL WISDOM BE FOUND?

This chapter extols God’s wisdom, demonstrated in His sovereign skill and knowledge

These observations and statements of Job were slight to his friends who thought they

There is no argument that sin results in suffering. Yet in other cases, it is

All unanswerable questions do lead to God, don’t they? God is the beginning.

Thus Job said,

’23 God understands the way to it,

and he knows its place.

24 For he looks to the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the heavens.

25 When he gave to the wind its weight

and apportioned the waters by measure,

26 when he made a decree for the rain

and a way for the lightning of the thunder,

27 then he saw it and declared it;

he established it, and searched it out.’[v.23-27]

‘‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”[v.28]

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Text: Job 27

2 “As God lives, who has taken away my right,

and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,

3 as long as my breath is in me,

and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,

4 my lips will not speak falsehood,

and my tongue will not utter deceit.

5 Far be it from me to say that you are right;

till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go;

my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

-Job 27:1-6 ESV

I HOLDFAST MY RIGHTEOUSNESS

‘as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.’

This was the reason why he won't accept that his friends were right. [see v.5] On

What his friends had been telling him, he knew for certain. [v.11,12] Job reversed

His friends were pressing him to feel guilty. As if they were saying to Job,

Job has asked the essential question,

‘For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off

when God takes away his life?’[v.8]

Later, Jesus somewhat has an allusion to this, when he said,

"What should it profit a man if he gained the whole world and loses his own

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Text: Job 26

Then Job answered and said:

2 “How you have helped him who has no power!

How you have saved the arm that has no strength!

3 How you have counseled him who has no wisdom,

and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

4 With whose help have you uttered words,

and whose breath has come out from you?

5 The dead tremble

under the waters and their inhabitants.

6 Sheol is naked before God,

and Abaddon has no covering.

7 He stretches out the north over the void

and hangs the earth on nothing.

8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,

and the cloud is not split open under them.

9 He covers the face of the full moon

and spreads over it his cloud.

10 He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters

at the boundary between light and darkness.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble

and are astounded at his rebuke.

12 By his power he stilled the sea;

by his understanding he shattered Rahab.

13 By his wind the heavens were made fair;

his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,

and how small a whisper do we hear of him!

But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

-Job 26:1-14 ESV

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

Tired of their vindictive words, Job, with pointed sarcasm, thanked Bildad for his

How you have saved the arm that has no strength!

3 How you have counseled him who has no wisdom,

and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

4 With whose help have you uttered words,

and whose breath has come out from you?’[v.2-4]

Job then expressed that he knew as much about the power of God in the universe as

‘ Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,

and how small a whisper do we hear of him!

But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (v. 14)!

We believe that God is sovereign. But, our problem is our search for an

‘As a father shows compassion to his children, so the

For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”[Psa 103:13,14]

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Text: Job 25

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 “Dominion and fear are with God;

he makes peace in his high heaven.

3 Is there any number to his armies?

Upon whom does his light not arise?

4 How then can man be in the right before God?

How can he who is born of woman be pure?

5 Behold, even the moon is not bright,

and the stars are not pure in his eyes;

6 how much less man, who is a maggot,

and the son of man, who is a worm!”

-Job 25:1-6 ESV

DOMINION AND FEAR ARE WITH GOD

In this brief chapter, Bildad took an effort to bring Job to repentance. He began

Calling Job a maggot could be an insult to Job, having full of sores. Job did not claim

‘how much less man, who is a maggot,

and the son of man, who is a worm!”[v.5]

Bildad accused Job without sensitivity of his own failings before God. Most probably,

Unlike us, God is inscrutable in His ways and thoughts. [Isa 55:8,9]. He is always

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Text: Job 24:1-25

and why do those who know him never see his days?

2 Some move landmarks;

they seize flocks and pasture them.

3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless;

they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

4 They thrust the poor off the road;

the poor of the earth all hide themselves.

5 Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert

the poor go out to their toil, seeking game;

the wasteland yields food for their children.

6 They gather their fodder in the field,

and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.

7 They lie all night naked, without clothing,

and have no covering in the cold.

8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains

and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.

9 (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast,

and they take a pledge against the poor.)

10 They go about naked, without clothing;

hungry, they carry the sheaves;

11 among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil;

they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.

12 From out of the city the dying groan,

and the soul of the wounded cries for help;

yet God charges no one with wrong.

-Job 24:1-12 ESV

Notedly, Job’s friends did strongly claim that these wicked people will quickly be swept

God neither slumber nor sleep. As the psalmist declared,

‘Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.’[Psa 121:4]

In other words, God is working when it seems He is silent and inactive. When

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Text: Job 23:1-17

Then Job answered and said:

2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;

my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.

3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would lay my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know what he would answer me

and understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?

No; he would pay attention to me.

7 There an upright man could argue with him,

and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,

and backward, but I do not perceive him;

9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;

he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.

10 But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

11 My foot has held fast to his steps;

I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;

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

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

What he desires, that he does.

14 For he will complete what he appoints for me,

and many such things are in his mind.

15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence;

when I consider, I am in dread of him.

16 God has made my heart faint;

the Almighty has terrified me;

17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,

nor because thick darkness covers my face.

-Job 23:1-17 ESV

HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE

Job expressed his efforts to find God. Even with how dire his situation was, he

‘Oh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would lay my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.’[v.3,4]

He was full of confidence to present and win his case but God was silent. He said,

‘ I would lay my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know what he would answer me

and understand what he would say to me.’[v.4,5]

In v.8-9, Job had been searching for God..forward..backward..everywhere but to no

‘But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

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. [v.10-12]

Definitely, Job argued his innocence. But, he lamented that God, in His sovereignty, hasn’t

‘Therefore I am terrified at his presence;

when I consider, I am in dread of him.

16 God has made my heart faint;

the Almighty has terrified me;

17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,

nor because thick darkness covers my face.[v.15-17]

Clearly, Job had been trying to hang on to God despite the pieces of evidence being to

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.’[Psa 61:2]

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Text: Job 22:1-30

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “Can a man be profitable to God?

Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right,

or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you

and enters into judgment with you?

5 Is not your evil abundant?

There is no end to your iniquities.

6 For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing

and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 You have given no water to the weary to drink,

and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 The man with power possessed the land,

and the favored man lived in it.

9 You have sent widows away empty,

and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.

10 Therefore snares are all around you,

and sudden terror overwhelms you,

11 or darkness, so that you cannot see,

and a flood of water covers you.

-Job 22:1-11 ESV

IS NOT GOD HIGH IN THE HEAVENS?

In this response of Eliphaz, he started the futility of Job to plead his case

‘“Can a man be profitable to God?

Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right,

or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you

and enters into judgment with you?[v.2-4]

He strongly believed that God was afflicting Job, although he was pious, but

‘Is not your evil abundant?

There is no end to your iniquities.[v.5]

and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 You have given no water to the weary to drink,

and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 The man with power possessed the land,’

and the favored man lived in it.

9 You have sent widows away empty,

and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.[v.6-9]

There was no group of people he did not mistreat, his brothers…the weary…the hungry…

‘“Is not God high in the heavens?

See the highest stars, how lofty they are!

But you say, ‘What does God know?

Can he judge through the deep darkness?[v.12-13]

He urged Job to return to God. [v.21-24] in order to get the desirable results of

“Agree with God, and be at peace;

thereby good will come to you.[v.21]

‘Eliphaz’s error was one who was preaching to somebody who already knew God. Job knew God.

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God’s Word for Today

Text: Job 21:1-34

Then Job answered and said:

2 “Keep listening to my words,

and let this be your comfort.

3 Bear with me, and I will speak,

and after I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint against man?

Why should I not be impatient?

5 Look at me and be appalled,

and lay your hand over your mouth.

6 When I remember, I am dismayed,

and shuddering seizes my flesh.

7 Why do the wicked live,

reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

8 Their offspring are established in their presence,

and their descendants before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear,

and no rod of God is upon them.

10 Their bull breeds without fail;

their cow calves and does not miscarry.

11 They send out their little boys like a flock,

and their children dance.

12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre

and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.

13 They spend their days in prosperity,

and in peace they go down to Sheol.

-Job 21:1-13 ESV

WHY DO THE WICKED LIVE?

Again, Job in his defence, had argued with wit against Zophar and the others' view.

However, Job differed. Based upon his observations, he built his case that the wicked

The problem of evil has been felt and wrestled with since the earliest times of Job

‘Keep listening to my words,

and let this be your comfort.

Bear with me, and I will speak,

and after I have spoken, mock on.’[v.2,3]

Like Asaph, Job expressed his dismay, saying;

‘When I remember, I am dismayed,

and shuddering seizes my flesh.

Why do the wicked live,

reach old age, and grow mighty in power?[v.6,7]

They prosper in life. Their livestock increase and enjoy life until they go down to

‘They say to God, ‘Depart from us!

We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?

And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’[v.14,15]

Upon seeing these things, he chided his friends, saying;

‘“Behold, I know your thoughts

and your schemes to wrong me.

For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince?

Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’[v.27,28]

How then will you comfort me with empty nothings?

There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”[v.34]

Yes, the wicked prosper here in this world at the expense of the righteous. God

‘Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;

the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.’[ Psa 76:10]

He allowed Pharaoh to oppress the Jews so that the ten plagues displayed the glory

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Text: Job 20:1-29

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me,

because of my haste within me.

3 I hear censure that insults me,

and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.

4 Do you not know this from of old,

since man was placed on earth,

5 that the exulting of the wicked is short,

and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

6 Though his height mount up to the heavens,

and his head reach to the clouds,

7 he will perish forever like his own dung;

those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found;

he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

9 The eye that saw him will see him no more,

nor will his place any more behold him.

10 His children will seek the favor of the poor,

and his hands will give back his wealth.

THE JOY OF THE GODLESS IS FOR A MOMENT

Upon hearing Job, Zophar was itching with inward rage to rebuke him;

‘2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me,

because of my haste within me.

3 I hear censure that insults me,

and out of my understanding a spirit answers me. (v.2,3).

His hasty and nasty reply was intended to hurt Job by reminding him that the wicked

‘4 Do you not know this from of old,

since man was placed on earth,

that the exulting of the wicked is short,

and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

This is where Zophar is suggesting that Job's evil was. The wealth he once had were

he has seized a house that he did not build.’[v.19]

And it will not save him, and his early death will be a fitting punishment (see v.8-11).

Zophar insisted that the wicked fed on evil or sin, savoring it in their mouths as

The wicked joy is really for the here and now. Hereafter, there are just sorrows.

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