Job 22:1

Job 22-31: The third cycle of speeches: (a) Eliphaz (Job 22); (b) Job’s reply (Job 23; 24); (c) Bildad (Job 25); (c) Job’s reply (Job 26); and (e) Job’s monologues (Job 27 — 31).

Job’s final speech in the second cycle (Job 20) had demolished the foundation of his friends’ arguments concerning retribution. At the same time there had been awakened in Job himself a profounder knowledge and keener faith, a conviction concerning divine justice that carried with it future assurance, the inevitability of God’s intervention to right his wrongs — and under the power of this conviction, Job’s turmoil lessened and his serenity returned.

Their thesis gone, it was inevitable that the three friends should be driven from the field of argument. In this final debate, we notice how they were quickly silenced. A desperate last defense by Eliphaz, filled with wild, unsupportable accusations; a reply from Job that easily refuted them; a few words (mostly heard before) mumbled by Bildad, a brief reply by Job; and Zophar… failing to come forward at all. He had twice been mauled by Job, and twice was enough. For him, finally, discretion was the better part of valor.

With Zophar’s failure to come forward, Job was left the master of the field, to wind up the debate with a series of monologues.

Job 22: A desperate last defense, filled with wild, unsupported accusations.

Job 22:6

Vv 6-11: Job’s wickedness is detailed, but without the slightest hint of proof.

“One wonders what can possibly have brought about this accusation. Job was clearly recognised as an upright man whilst he was prosperous, but now he is destitute the attitude towards him has changed. We really must recognise this fault in ourselves (I know I do). We despise people who we do not view as successful. This is very wrong, and must be stopped. The love of God, which should be in us, does not respect persons: Lev 19:15; Deu 1:17; 16:19; Pro 24:23; 28:31; Acts 10:34” (PC).

V 6: Ct with Job’s denial: Job 24:3; 31:19,20.

Job 22:7

Ct Job 31:16,17.

Job 22:9

Ct Job 29:12,13; 31:16-18.

Job 22:13

Vv 13,14: Job’s alleged words.

Job 22:22

That is, assent to our doctrine of “exact retribution”.

Job 22:24

OPHIR: See Lesson, Ophir.

Job 23:1

Job 23: “After being subjected to three trials of accusations and criticism by his friends, Job answers his antagonists by stating that God can explain his case. He recognises the fallacy of their arguments, and declares that the incontrovertible fact is that the wicked are often immune from trouble (Job 22:1-24:25). His answer is full of emotion. He complains that the extent of his sufferings is not appreciated (Job 23:22), and then expresses his earnest desire for a revelation from God. In Job 24 he more calmly presses home the fact that many wicked do prosper, and no apparent judgment come upon them. He specifies many such oppressors, thieves, murderers and so forth. The facts are indisputable and Eliphaz and Zophar make no further answer. Bildad alone gives a feeble platitudinous reply, but it is evident that he cannot match Job’s logic. So he expresses: [1] The extent of his sufferings are not appreciated: Job 23:1,2. [2] He believes God would acquit him if he were brought to trial: vv 3-12. [3] He complains that God hides Himself and continues to try Job grievously: vv 13-17” (GEM).

Job 23:2

EVEN TODAY: Implying the debate had extended over many days.

Job 23:3

IF ONLY I KNEW WHERE TO FIND HIM; IF ONLY I COULD GO TO HIS DWELLING!: “In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer is not ‘O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!’ nor even ‘O that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!’ but the first and uppermost cry is, ‘O that I knew where I might find HIM, who is my God! that I might come even to His seat!’ God’s children run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. ‘He that hath made his refuge God,’ might serve as the title of a true believer. A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the true child of God; he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job’s desire to commune with God was intensified by the failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, ‘O that I knew where I might find my God!’ Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth’s hives, where we find no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in Him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize God’s presence with us. Only let us enjoy His smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for His dear sake” (CHS).

Job 23:8

Vv 8-12: The impossibility of finding God.

Job 23:10

THE WAY THAT I TAKE: The facts concerning my innocence.

WHEN HE HAS TESTED ME: That is, when Job’s case finally comes before the bar of divine justice.

“Peter said in his first letter that trials come so that your faith — which is of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by the fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed [1Pe 1;7]. Job also realised that when his test was over he would come out refined like gold.

“To refine gold it must be heated to 1100 degrees Celsius. At this temperature it becomes 99.996% pure. The last metal to be refined from gold is silver. In our lives often the last things to be refined are the most precious things in our lives. If gold is overheated past 1100 degrees Celsius it will ruin and so the refiner must sit and watch the gold. When he can see his own image in it, he knows that his work is done. This is how we are refined too. Our faith is tried by our trials. Yet God is watching to see that the heat of our pressures do not become too hot and we break because we cannot take any more. He tries us to refine out our impurities until we reflect his perfect image. Give thanks for your trials, knowing that God is refining you and making you pure” (RP).

Job 12:1

Job 12: “Zophar’s air of superiority aroused the ire of Job, who answered with heavy sarcasm: ‘Thou are the people without doubt, and wisdom shall die with you.’ He declared that his understanding was not inferior to theirs (Job 12:1-5). He then advanced incontestable facts: [1] The wicked prosper in spite of the dogma of his friends (v 6). [2] God is both wise and omnipotent (v 7–Job 13:2)” (GEM).

Job 12:6

THE TENTS OF MARAUDERS ARE UNDISTURBED, AND THOSE WHO PROVOKE GOD ARE SECURE: This idea is developed further by Job in Job 21:7-15 — where the vanity of the wicked is emphasized and the context of this verse is extended.

Job 12:9

THE LORD: “Yahweh”, but some mss substitute “Eloah”.

Job 12:12

Vv 12,13: Men grow wise with age and experience. But God is older and more experienced than any man.

Job 12:15

The twin calamities of drought and flood: too little and too much water. God is in control of all these factors.

Job 13:1

Job 13: “From those premises (Job 12) Job proceeds to show that he has thought on the problem more deeply than his friends (Job 13:1-2), but now desires to set his own case personally set his own case before God. God is just, so that there must be an answer to his problem (Job 13:3-13). He then reverently speaks with the Almighty (Job 13:14-23), pleading for an explanation of his sufferings” (GEM).

Job 13:3

‘My obedience to God is based on reason; yours in based on fear and unquestioning submission.’

Job 13:4

The law of “exact retribution” had been proven false by Job in Job 12:11-25.

Job 13:5

If you were truly “wise”, you would remain silent while I teach you (cp Pro 17:28).

Job 13:7

They had twisted the facts to suit themselves and their predetermined theory, and claimed to be speaking God’s mind.

Job 13:8

WILL YOU ARGUE THE CASE FOR GOD?: “Herein lies the problem so many seem to have — that they do not want to accept God’s person, but instead create a ‘person’ of their own making and ascribe it to Him. We must accept God on His terms, by the revelation of Him from scripture, and not make up what we think He should be like. This is very hard for us and many fail” (RC).

Job 13:9

Do you think to hide your thoughts from God?

Job 13:13

Job now turns from man to appeal to God. He must present his case to God.

Job 13:15

THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I HOPE IN HIM: “Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not [1Pe 1:7]: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him’, is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts His servants to glorify Himself, for He is greatly glorified in the graces of His people, which are His own handiwork. When ‘tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope’ [Rom 5:3,4], the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which His vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights” (CHS).

” ‘Though He slay me, I will trust Him,’ Said the sainted Job of old; ‘Though He try me in the furnace, I shall then come forth as gold.

” ‘Though the “worms of deep affliction” Cause this body to decay, In my flesh I shall behold Him — My Redeemer — some glad day.’

“Though He slay me — can I say it When I feel the searing fire, When my fondest dreams lie shattered — Gone my hope and fond desire?

“Though He slay me, I will trust Him, For He knows just how to mold, How to melt and shape my spirit — I shall then come forth as gold!” (Mary Kimbrough).

Job 13:18

NOW THAT I HAVE PREPARED MY CASE, I KNOW I WILL BE VINDICATED: A rash statement from the lips of Job. Was he driven to this comment by the unhelpful nature of the comments of his friends?

Job 13:25

Am I worth such a great effort of destruction?

Job 13:26

THE SINS OF MY YOUTH: That is, old, forgotten, repented-of sins.

Job 13:27

MARKS ON THE SOLES OF MY FEET: Following, bounding, closing in, restricting.

Job 13:28

V 28 in NEB follows Job 14:2.

Job 14:1

Job 14: “Job expostulates with God setting forth: [1] man’s hopeless state: weak, prone to evil (vv 1-12), [2] Job’s longing for another better life after this one (vv 13-15), and [3] Job’s complaint of a present perplexity and hopelessness (vv 16-22). This ended the first trial of Job. Perhaps it was at the close of the day, and the friends retired to ponder the results of their discussion” (GEM).

MAN BORN OF WOMAN: How can man be strong, when he receives sustaining life from woman — a creature already weak and doomed to sorrow (Gen 3:16)?

Job 14:3

Why does God look so unmercifully upon so piteous a creature?

Job 14:4

“O that a clean might come out of an unclean…” (cp RV mg). If only man did not inherit by birth the impulse to sin…

While it is true that cleanness cannot come from the unclean — Haggai makes this point (Hag 2:13) — Job was incorrect to suppose that man cannot be cleansed by God. This is the work of Jesus, but was available to all by faith (Gen 15:6). However, it is righteousness that is imputed — not cleanness. Maybe Job should have used a Biblical word rather than one of his own making.

Job 14:6

SO LOOK AWAY FROM HIM: Do not look too closely to judge him.

Job 14:7

If this is all there is to life, then a tree is better than a man! The power of a plant to spring forth lies within itself (Gen 3:22), but man needs “outside help” (v 10n).

Job 14:10

New life for man is totally dependent on God: Joh 3:16; 11:25; 1Co 15:21; Joh 10:28. Man has only one chance to bear fruit.

Job 14:11

Even the great rivers (Euphrates…Nile) are subject to seasonal changes, dependent on the weather.

Job 14:12

TILL THE HEAVENS ARE NO MORE: “Till the Gentile times be fulfilled…” (JT).

Job 14:14

In AV, “again” is italicized… not in original. Poss, “If a man die, does he YET live?” Answer: NO! A change must take place first.

Job 14:15

God’s great care toward man, the work of His own hands (Job 10:8-12).

Job 14:18

Vv 18,19: Mountain slides…earthquakes…Even the strongest things fall or wear away, with repeated assaults! And a man will do the same.

Job 14:19

SO YOU DESTROY MAN’S HOPE: That is, all the things in which man (falsely) hopes: his wealth, his buildings, his plantings, his desire for lasting fame, etc.

Job 14:20

In the unequal struggle, God invariably prevails and man succumbs.

Job 15:1

Job 15-21: In this second cycle, the 3 friends merely restate their arguments from a different angle — growing more harsh. They do not mention hope for the repentant, and instead describe more fully the fate of the wicked.

Job 15: “Having gone through the first series of trials (3 accusations from his friends, as the Lord Jesus faced three trials at the hand of the Jews, and three from the Gentiles), Job now faces a second series (Job 15-21). Eliphaz opens the trial, claiming that Job’s words condemn divine law and are contrary to experience. He first alleges that (1) Job’s argument are impious: vv 1-6; then (2) claims that Job is conceited and arrogant: vv 7-16, and (3) that teaching and experience proves Job a sinner: vv 17-35.

“Eliphaz is the most argumentative of the three friends, appearing calm and reasonable in his claims. He rebukes Job for the alleged impiety of his arguments (vv 2-16), and again urges that Job only suffered as a sinner on the grounds of experience: what he had seen and learned (vv 17-35). In this speech, his tone is much severer, as he has become exasperated with Job. It is also much shorter as he runs out of arguments. His rigid theory is epitomised in the statement: ‘Remember I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?’ (Job 4:7). Of course, Job stands as a type of the Lord Yahshua, who was certainly ‘cut off out of the land of the living’ (Isa 53) though having done no sin. Thus the illustrations of Eliphaz (vv 20-35) are but thinly disguised allusions to Job, which must have cut the patriarch to the quick, and increased his sufferings. In this speech, Eliphaz claims that it is only the wicked who suffer. As such he rejects the principle of ‘sacrifice that redemption might be obtained’ ” (GEM).

A WISE MAN: That is, as Job claims to be: Job 12:3,7; 13:2.

Job 15:3

Why does God look so unmercifully upon so piteous a creature?

Job 15:4

Vv 4-6: “Eliphaz is not holding back here at all. What he says here is that Job is a liar, and he says it in a particularly unacceptable way — which Job must have had a great deal of difficulty taking. Anyone who has been accused of something that he didn’t do knows the feeling. Think, though, of the one who died for us, and who had done nothing whatsoever worthy of death. What a wonderful act of love this was” (PC).

Job 15:6

YOUR OWN MOUTH CONDEMNS YOU: This idea comes in Job’s own words in Job 9:20. See also Psa 64:8, Mat 12:37. Note also that there is a claim by those who judged that it was by his own words that Jesus was condemned — Mat 26:65.

Job 15:10

THE GRAY-HAIRED AND THE AGED ARE ON OUR SIDE: Eliphaz prob is referring to himself.

Job 15:11

“I have tried to console you, but you push it aside.” Cp Job 4:12; 5:8.

Job 15:14

Job is invited to see himself…

Job 15:18

Eliphaz rejects Job’s claim to the wisdom of antiquity (vv 7-10), then claims it for himself (vv 17-19).

Job 15:19

NO ALIEN: That is, their wisdom was uncorrupted.

Job 15:25

The wicked is defiant against God.

Job 15:27

The sensual indulgence of the wicked.

Job 15:29

NOR WILL HIS POSSESSIONS SPREAD OVER THE LAND: “Neither shall their produce bend to the earth” (RV), ie in heavy crops of grain.

Job 15:31

NOTHING IN RETURN: The wicked will be unproductive.

Job 15:33

AN OLIVE TREE: The olive is the greatest flower-bearing tree, but its flowers never come to maturity in great numbers. They are cast off, so that tree’s fatness may be turned to berries (which mature into fruit) (LB 54,55).

Job 15:35

The wicked’s iniquity is as his children: he nourishes them, and at last they turn on him.

Job 16:2

MISERABLE: “Wearisome” (RV mg). Job’s friends continue to propound same old theory. “I must reflect on how many times I too have been a miserable comforter. What is that makes us think we have the freedom to judge others according to their sins, when we are equally sinful but we can’t see it? This is clearly wrong and yet we do it all the time. Perhaps our reflections on Job’s situation and suffering at the hands of his friends will make us stop and think” (PC).

Job 16:4

I COULD MAKE FINE SPEECHES AGAINST YOU: As Eliphaz’s maxims (Job 15:20-35).

AND SHAKE MY HEAD AT YOU: Astonishment, contempt.

Job 16:7

Job is estranged from his former friends.

Job 16:8

IT HAS BECOME A WITNESS AGAINST ME: That is, “it is interpreted as a witness against me.”

Job 16:10

Job’s former friends rush to support what they perceive to be God’s judgment.

Job 16:13

MY GALL: “My life blood”.

Job 16:15

OVER MY SKIN: Or, “on my skin” (AV). Figuratively, so that it can never be removed. Cp Gen 37:34; 2Ki 6:30.

BURIED MY BROW IN THE DUST: Lit, “my horn” — sym of power, authority: 1Sa 2:1; Psa 89:17,24; 92:10; 75:4,5. Job’s power of former days is laid low.

Job 16:19

Job sees God as both a judge and a defender.

Job 17:3

PUT UP SECURITY: Lit, “to strike hands”. To agree, to vow to perform: Pro 17:18; 6:1; 11:15; 22:16. “It is interesting to note the expression ‘strike hands’ in this connection. It suggests that without any signature, the offering and acceptance of the hand would constitute a bond which no one would repudiate. We may sometimes see in English cattle markets a custom which is probably a survival of that to which the wise man refers. Two men will be haggling over the price of a beast. Finally the vendor, having made a concession, declares that he will take nothing less. He holds out his right hand, stating the price, and perhaps with quite a dramatic indication of finality. The buyer, with no show of enthusiasm, and without saying a word, strikes the outstretched hand with his own palm and the sale is effected. Surely a survival from three thousand years or more” (PrPr).

Job 17:5

Eliphaz and company should be at home teaching their families — for all the good they are doing for Job.

Job 17:9

Clean heart: Psa 51:10; 73:1. Clean hands: here; Psa 24:4. Clean feet: Joh 13:10.

Job 17:12

TURN NIGHT INTO DAY…: They ignore the reality of approaching death.

Job 18:4

“Will God change His eternal ways simply for your sake?”

Job 18:12

The wicked’s inevitable destruction.

Job 18:13

A direct allusion to Job’s disease.

Job 18:15

IN HIS TENT… OVER HIS DWELLING: Direct extinction of Job’s posterity.

BURNING SULFUR: Sodom/Gomorrah: Gen 19:24.

Job 18:16

ROOTS… BRANCHES: Every trace of his family “tree”, obliterated.

Job 19:2

HOW LONG?: In reply to the question of Job 18:2: “When?” or “How long?” (AV).

Job 19:3

TEN TIMES: That is, constantly: Gen 31:7,41; Lev 26:26; Num 14:22; Neh 4:12.

Job 19:6

You must realize that GOD has done this to me, and not my own sins.

Job 19:9

CROWN: A “crown” of righteousness.

Job 19:12

HIS TROOPS… MY TENT: A great army encamped against, and besieging, a single slender “tent”.

Job 19:20

THE SKIN OF MY TEETH: Empty gums (teeth fallen out).

Job 19:25

MY REDEEMER: Yahweh is the redeemer (Heb “goel”) of His people: Exo 6:6; Psa 19:14; 78:35; Isa 41:14; 59:20. “Goel” is translated “avenger” (Num 35:12), “revenger” (Num 35:19,27), “near-kinsman” (Rth 2:20; 3:9); “deliver” (Psa 119:154); “ransomed” (Isa 51:10); “kinfolk” (1Ki 16:11); “kinsman” (Num 5:8). The “near-kinsman” should redeem his brethren if they have fallen into slavery or servitude (Lev 25:47-55; cp Rom 6:17,18). He may also function as: (1) an avenger of blood: Josh 20:3-6; Num 35:15-28; Deu 19:6-12: cp Rom 12:19; Rev 6:10; (2) an avenger of violated rights: Rth 4:1,6,8; (3) a redeemer of the fatherless (Pro 23:10); (4) a redeemer from: (a) death, grave (Hos 13:14), (b) evil (Gen 48:16), (c) deceit and violence (Psa 72:14), and (d) enemies (Psa 106:10; 107:2).

See Phan 87 (the necessity for God to dwell in a man, so as to become a ‘kinsman’).

MY: What good is a Redeemer who does not redeem ME? What benefit is an Avenger who does not stand up for ME? The difference is absolute: it is the difference between gold ore buried in the mine, and gold coins in my pocket!

STAND: To rise up, come forward — as a witness: Deu 19:15; Psa 37:12; to interpose, as a judge: Psa 12:5.

UPON THE EARTH: “Upon the dust” (RV mg). “Dust” suggests the grave (see NIV mg): Job 17:16; 20:11; 21:26.

Job 19:26

IN (APART FROM): Or, “from” (RV) — ie “out of”… my flesh.

Job 19:27

WITH MY OWN EYES: “On my side” (RV mg; RSV) — ie as my “goel”, avenger.

AND NOT ANOTHER: “And not a stranger” (AV mg). God will not be a stranger to me any longer.

HOW MY HEART YEARNS WITHIN ME: “Though my reins be consumed within me” (AV). Or “my heart faints” (RV, RSV) at the joyous prospect: Psa 73:26; 84:2; 119:81,125.

Job 19:28

Vv 28,29: Job warns friends, “Someday the tables will be turned.”