Job's Third Speech
Chapters 27-31
Job protests his sincerity (Chapter 27:1-10)
Job had earlier complained that his friends had so much to say that they didn't give him a chance to speak. But now, it seems, they had no further arguments and allowed him to say what he wanted.
They were either convinced at this point that Job was in the right or they gave up hope of convincing him that he was in the wrong. Job was too hard for them, and forced them to silence: great is the truth and it will prevail.
In the previous chapter Job had given a sufficient answer to Bildad's discourse; perhaps now Job paused a little to see whether Zophar would take his turn again and, as he didn't say anything Job went on and poured out all he wished to say on the matters which they had raised.
He began with a solemn defence of his integrity and declared his resolution to maintain it (v. 2-6). It is called a parable (mashal), the title of Solomon's proverbs, because it was grave and weighty, and very instructive, and he spoke as one having authority. It comes from a word that signifies to rule, or have dominion; and some think it intimates that Job now triumphed over his opponents, and spoke as one that had baffled them.
Job confirmed all he had said concerning his own integrity with a solemn oath, to prevent contradiction, and to take the blame entirely upon himself if he was lying.
He spoke highly of God, calling him the living God (which means ever living, the eternal God, that has life in himself) and appealing to Him as the sole and sovereign Judge.
Yet he complained of Him, saying that He had taken away his justice: that is, God had made him appear to be an evil person before everyone because of his troubles, and hadn't vindicated him by coming to his rescue. Job was getting weary of waiting.
Job added that God had "made his soul bitter": by acting against him, God had brought upon him sorrow and resentment. Nonetheless we see Job's confidence in the goodness both of his cause and of his God, that though God seemed to be angry with him, and to act against him for the present, yet he could cheerfully commit his cause to him.
Job declared that he would not speak wickedness, nor utter deceit: he would never lie and, as in this debate he had only spoken the truth, he would never change by speaking otherwise.
He was conscious of his own integrity, and it would be deceitful to charge himself with that of which he was innocent of. Just as we must not bear false witness against our neighbour, we must not do so against ourselves.
He would maintain this rectitude as long as he lived. Our resolutions against sin should also be for life. We may change our attitude in things doubtful and indifferent, because there are things of which we are not yet aware of. But while our breath is in us, we must never speak or practise wickedness and deceit.
Job would always maintain that he was an honest man; he would not let it go, he would not part with, the conscience, and comfort, and credit of his integrity; he was resolved to defend it to the last.
It has often happened to upright men for them to be censured and condemned as hypocrites; but they ought to hold themselves up against such censures. They should not be discouraged or think the worse of themselves for them; Paul had this experience: "Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honourably." (Hebrews 13:18).
Job looked upon the condition of a hypocrite and a wicked man to be certainly the most miserable condition that any man could be in; it was the condition in which he might wish his worst enemies to be, knowing that worse could not be wished for them.
He gave the reasons for it: the hypocrite's hopes are frustrated by God because he has made himself God's enemy. His prayer will not be heard, God will not hear his cry when trouble comes upon him, he will not delight himself in the Almighty, he will not call upon God.
The blessings of the wicked are turned into curses (Chapter 27:11-23)
Job then showed many instances of the miserable end of wicked people, in spite of their long prosperity, and the curse that attends them and is entailed upon their families.
Whereas Job's friends had held that judgements are presently and visibly brought upon wicked oppressors, that they suffer all their days, that in prosperity the destroyer comes upon them, that they shall not be rich, nor their branch green, and that their destruction shall be accomplished before their time (see Eliphaz in chapter 15, vv. 20,21,29,32), that the steps of their strength shall be straitened, that terrors shall make them afraid on every side (see Bildad in chapter 18:7,11), that he himself shall vomit up his riches, and that in the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits (see Zophar in chapter 20:15,22), Job held that, in many cases, judgements do not fall upon them quickly, but are deferred for some time, but vengeance strikes surely and severely, and that reprieves are no pardons.
There is knowledge of natural things (Chapter 28)
The subject of this chapter is very unlike the rest of this book. Job seems to have forgotten his sores, and all his sorrows, and talked like a philosopher or a virtuoso. There is a great deal both of natural and moral philosophy in this discourse.
Many wonder what was the reason why Job said all this at this time. It was certainly not just a distraction from the controversy, though it might help to clear the air a bit.
Job and his friends had been discoursing about the dispensations of God towards the wicked and the righteous men. Job had shown that some wicked men live and die in prosperity, while others are subjected to the judgements of God before death.
Zophar had wished that God would show Job the "secrets of wisdom'' (chapter 11:6). No, says Job, "secret things belong not to us, but things revealed,'' (Deuteronomy 29:29). And here he shows:
- Concerning worldly wealth, how it is sought for and pursued by men, what pains they take, what contrivances they have, and what hazards they run to get it (v. 1-11).
- Concerning wisdom (v. 12). In general, the its price is very high; its value cannot be estimated (v. 15-19). It is kept in a very secret place (v. 14,20,22). There is a wisdom which is hidden in God (v. 23-27) and there is a wisdom which is revealed to men (v. 28).
Our search into the former is useless because it is beyond our reach, into the latter is in our best interests, for it is what God desires for us: "Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding."
Job's grief for his former prosperity and honour (Chapter 29)
Continuing his parable, Job now reminisced about his past, when God had been preserving Him until tragedy struck.
He said that he had been walking through the darkness in the light of God since the days of his youth, and the Almighty was with him.
God had been with him when he brought up his family, gave him plentiful resources, and honour among the citizens of his city so that he had a seat in the street near the gate - the position given to the leaders and judges. He had been prosperous and a man of influence.
He was so important that the young men were shy of him, the aged stood up in his presence and those in the highest positions refrained from talking, as well as the nobles. They waited for him to speak.
People hung on every word he said and just to see him was something worth telling others about, because of his compassion for the disadvantaged: the poor that cried, the fatherless, the helpless, those about to perish, the widows.
He was dressed and adorned with righteous judgement: he gave assistance to the blind and the lame, he was like a father to the poor, he investigated the causes he was ignorant about, punished the wicked and confiscated what they stole.
He thought that he would live a long life and die in comfort. He was well established in the community and had all he needed for a good healthy life. He was consulted on all important matters and his word was the law.
In short, he was the overall leader, admired for his character and wisdom, and trustingly obeyed by the people around him.
Job's honour replaced by reviling (Chapter 30:1-15)
His highly honourable position had now been taken from him, and in its place he became contemptible and was despised by younger men, whose fathers he would not have used to do the meanest job in his employment.
They were totally useless, weakened by a miserable life as outcasts, living in the desert and feeding on wild plants and roots of trees. They had been driven out from the community, as thieves, they had to live in the ravines, in caves, sounding like donkeys among the bushes, and sleeping under the nettles. Sons of fools and vile men, they had been scourged from the land.
These lowly people were now trying to provoke Job with scornful criticism, speaking of him as a notable example of punishment for misdeeds. He was detested by them, they avoided coming near him, and would not hesitate to spit in his face because God had taken away Job's power and distressed him physically and mentally.
There was nothing to restrain them, and like a stormy sea they rose beside him, pushed him about, used whatever means they had to destroy him, they prevented him from movement and brought disaster upon him.
Unaided they came upon him like broad breakers, rolling along under a ruinous storm bringing terrors upon Job. They sought to destroy his honour like the wind, and his prosperity passed away like a cloud.
To suffer extreme loss, as Job did, was humiliating. But to face abuse at the hands of young good-for-nothings added insult to injury.
Job had lost his family, possessions, health, position, and good name. He was not even respected for suffering bravely. Unfortunately, young people sometimes mock and take advantage of older people and those who are limited in some way. Instead, they should realise that their own physical abilities and attributes are short-lived and that some day they may find themselves in a similar situation through no fault of their own.
Calamity instead of prosperity (Chapter 30:16-31)
Job now pictures the sorrowful condition he finds himself in because of the disasters which had come upon him. His life is running out through days of suffering, disease, pain and discomfort of body and mind. Even his clothing is uncomfortable and disfigured.
He (note the care with which he avoids mentioning God by name here) has cast Job into a mud-hole and he is now as useless and of little consequence as dust and ashes.
He cries out to God but gets no answer, and when he stands up God only looks at him but says and does nothing to help him. On the contrary, He is harsh and uses His hand against him, lifting him into the wind of opposition and shaking him in the tempest ruining any chance of recovery.
He knows that he is going to die, like all the living things. Nobody will stretch his hand to help him, a ruined man, when he cries for assistance.
What an irony that, having in his better days wept for those in trouble and been grieved for the poor, he was rewarded by evil when he expected good, and was thrown into darkness when he waited for light.
He has no peace within, and continued days of affliction is all he has to look forward to. He is darkened, but not by the sun, and cries for help standing up in the assembly. He lives in loneliness, spurned by men like the jackals and the owls.
His skin darkens and falls away and he burns with fever. There is only mourning and weeping in his music.
Job's declaration of integrity (Chapter 31)
Job had not only avoided committing adultery, but he had not even taken the first step toward that sin by looking at a woman with lust. Job said he was innocent of both outward and inward sins.
In chapter 29, Job had reviewed his good deeds. In this chapter he listed sins he had not committed:
- in his heart (Job 31:1-12),
- against his neighbours (Job 31:13-23),
- or against God (Job 31:24-34).
Job stated that depending on wealth for happiness is idolatry and denies the God of heaven. Truly, society's obsession with money and possessions today is generally a consequence of unbelief in God and in an afterlife, and the desire for the luxury, power and prestige that wealth brings.
True believers have good reasons not to pursue such things in this world. They would rather build up a treasure in heaven which cannot ever be spoilt or lost.
Finally, Job declared that he did not try to hide his sin as men often do. We cannot hide it from God. When we acknowledge and repent of our sins, we have forgiveness because the Lord Jesus Christ paid their penalty on the cross on our behalf.
R David Jones
Chapter 27
1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 "As God lives, who has taken away my justice, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
3 As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils,
4 My lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me That I should say you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.
7 "May my enemy be like the wicked, and he who rises up against me like the unrighteous.
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he may gain much, If God takes away his life?
9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call on God?
11 "I will teach you about the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Surely all of you have seen it; why then do you behave with complete nonsense?
13 "This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty:
14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those who survive him shall be buried in death, and their widows shall not weep,
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust, and piles up clothing like clay -
17 He may pile it up, but the just will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He builds his house like a moth, like a booth which a watchman makes.
19 The rich man will lie down, but not be gathered up; He opens his eyes, And he is no more.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest steals him away in the night
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.
22 It hurls against him and does not spare; he flees desperately from its power.
23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Chapter 28
1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3 Man puts an end to darkness, and searches every recess for ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from people; in places forgotten by feet they hang far away from men; they swing to and fro.
5 As for the earth, from it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones are the source of sapphires, and it contains gold dust.
7 That path no bird knows, nor has the falcon's eye seen it.
8 The proud lions have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
9 He puts his hand on the flint; he overturns the mountains at the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams from trickling; what is hidden he brings forth to light.
12 "But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, 'It is not in me'; and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15 It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewellery of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 "From where then does wisdom come? 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 Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.'
23 God understands its way, and He knows its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heavens,
25 To establish a weight for the wind, and apportion the waters by measure.
26 When He made a law for the rain, and a path for the thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.' "
Chapter 29
1 Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me;
3 When His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness;
Just as I was in the days of my prime, when the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were around me;
When my steps were bathed with cream, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 "When I went out to the gate by the city, when I took my seat in the open square,
8 The young men saw me and hid, and the aged arose and stood;
9 The princes refrained from talking, and put their hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, and plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 "Then I said, 'I shall die in my nest, and multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.'
21 "Men listened to me and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again, and my speech settled on them as dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it, and the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief; so I dwelt as a king in the army, As one who comforts mourners.
Chapter 30
1 "But now they mock at me, men younger than I, whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me? Their vigour has perished.
3 They are gaunt from want and famine, fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, and broom tree roots for their food
5 They were driven out from among men, they shouted at them as at a thief.
6 They had to live in the clefts of the valleys, in caves of the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed, under the nettles they nestled.
8 They were sons of fools, yes, sons of vile men; they were scourged from the land.
9 "And now I am their taunting song; yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me, they have cast off restraint before me.
12 At my right hand the rabble arises; they push away my feet, and they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path, they promote my calamity; they have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers; under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me; they pursue my honour as the wind, and my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 "And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; the days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night, and my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured; it binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
20 "I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me; with the strength of Your hand You oppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it; You spoil my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24 "Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins, if they cry out when He destroys it.
25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 But when I looked for good, evil came to me; and when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me.
28 I go about mourning, but not in the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals, and a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin grows black and falls from me; my bones burn with fever.
31 My harp is turned to mourning, and my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Chapter 31
1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?
2 For what is the allotment of God from above, and the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 "If I have walked with falsehood, or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way, or my heart walked after my eyes, or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then let me sow, and another eat; yes, let my harvest be rooted out.
9 "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbour's door,
10 Then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness; yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgement.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.
13 "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 "If I have kept the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself, so that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or any poor man without covering;
20 If his heart has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, when I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, and because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 "If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold, 'You are my confidence';
5 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much;
26 If I have observed the sun when it shines, or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This and would be an iniquity deserving of judgement, for I would have denied God who is above.
29 "If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for a curse on his soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?'
32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveller);
33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, and dreaded the contempt of families, so that I kept silence and did not go out of the door-
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, that my Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, and bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; like a prince I would approach Him.
38 "If my land cries out against me, and its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten its fruit without money, or caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.