These chapters continue the conversation between Job and his friends. It doesn't get easier to talk about his circumstance and it's getting worse for Job.
Back and Forth
Job still asks God questions. He assumes in some instances that there is sin in his life. Deeper into the chapter he says that he knows that he is innocent. He goes back and forth trying to figure out why is he suffering in this way. I think that many people who suffer look for the reasons why and tries to solve the issues.I believe this is what Job is doing with his friends and before God in this prayer.
Another example where I see Job swing back and forth is when he says to God, do not declare me guilty, but tell me the charges you have against me. He is asking God to condemn him in his guilt but let him know what he is doing wrong. Then he asks God several questions like, "Do you have eyes of flesh?" I'm guessing that he is wondering if God is like a strong man who is probing deep into Job's heart to determine his sin. But God is not a man. God's hand shaped Job and can destroy him. God molded him like clay and can turn him to dust. God pours him out like milk and curdles him like cheese.
Innocent or Guilty?
Even if Job is innocent, he can't lift his head due to the shame he carries. I'm guessing there were those who looked on his suffering and condemned him. His so-called friends were doing this. Having sores all over your body is not a pretty sight. I am sure he was scorned by those who wouldn't understand his circumstance. He tells God, rather than this suffering, he would rather go to the land of deepest night and utter darkness and disorder. He wants to be where the light is like darkness. I'm guessing here that no one would be able to cast a condemning look in this kind of darkness and if they did, Job would not see it.
Zophar responds to Job by saying that Job's talk is idle and in essence somebody needs to rebuke him. How can Job say that Job's beliefs are flawless and that he is pure? He challenges Job and asks him can he fathom the mysteries and limits of God? If God decided to bound Job in prison, he could not oppose God. God knows the deceiver but the witless can't even recognize wisdom. But if Job got rid of his sin and devoted his heart to God, then he can stand firm without fear. Job's life will be brighter than noonday and darkness will be like the morning.
Job has a Mind
Job responds but sounds offended by his friends. He tells them that he has a mind and he is not inferior to them. Everybody knows the stuff that Zophar says. Here is where Job suffers. He says, he is a laughingstock even though he also says he is righteous and blameless.
Job says that if life is easy, then you have contempt for those who are experiencing misfortune, like him. I like this comparison: The tongue tastes food but doesn't the ear test words?
Who is God to Job?
Wisdom, power, counsel and understanding belong to God. If he chooses to hold the water back, there is drought, but if he lets them loose, the land would be devastated. Strength and insight are his. He is the revealer of the deep things hidden in utter darkness and he brings them to light. He can even take reason from leaders; make them wander in a trackless waste. We see this in the story of Nebuchadnezzar.
Job desires to speak with God and argue his case. His friends are smearing him with lies. He calls them all physicians and says they are worthless. He says that if they remain silent, that would demonstrate wisdom. (Ouch!) Then he asks them to listen to his case. They cannot speak on the behalf of God.
Back and Forth
Job still asks God questions. He assumes in some instances that there is sin in his life. Deeper into the chapter he says that he knows that he is innocent. He goes back and forth trying to figure out why is he suffering in this way. I think that many people who suffer look for the reasons why and tries to solve the issues.I believe this is what Job is doing with his friends and before God in this prayer.
Another example where I see Job swing back and forth is when he says to God, do not declare me guilty, but tell me the charges you have against me. He is asking God to condemn him in his guilt but let him know what he is doing wrong. Then he asks God several questions like, "Do you have eyes of flesh?" I'm guessing that he is wondering if God is like a strong man who is probing deep into Job's heart to determine his sin. But God is not a man. God's hand shaped Job and can destroy him. God molded him like clay and can turn him to dust. God pours him out like milk and curdles him like cheese.
Innocent or Guilty?
Even if Job is innocent, he can't lift his head due to the shame he carries. I'm guessing there were those who looked on his suffering and condemned him. His so-called friends were doing this. Having sores all over your body is not a pretty sight. I am sure he was scorned by those who wouldn't understand his circumstance. He tells God, rather than this suffering, he would rather go to the land of deepest night and utter darkness and disorder. He wants to be where the light is like darkness. I'm guessing here that no one would be able to cast a condemning look in this kind of darkness and if they did, Job would not see it.
Zophar responds to Job by saying that Job's talk is idle and in essence somebody needs to rebuke him. How can Job say that Job's beliefs are flawless and that he is pure? He challenges Job and asks him can he fathom the mysteries and limits of God? If God decided to bound Job in prison, he could not oppose God. God knows the deceiver but the witless can't even recognize wisdom. But if Job got rid of his sin and devoted his heart to God, then he can stand firm without fear. Job's life will be brighter than noonday and darkness will be like the morning.
Job has a Mind
Job responds but sounds offended by his friends. He tells them that he has a mind and he is not inferior to them. Everybody knows the stuff that Zophar says. Here is where Job suffers. He says, he is a laughingstock even though he also says he is righteous and blameless.
Job says that if life is easy, then you have contempt for those who are experiencing misfortune, like him. I like this comparison: The tongue tastes food but doesn't the ear test words?
Who is God to Job?
Wisdom, power, counsel and understanding belong to God. If he chooses to hold the water back, there is drought, but if he lets them loose, the land would be devastated. Strength and insight are his. He is the revealer of the deep things hidden in utter darkness and he brings them to light. He can even take reason from leaders; make them wander in a trackless waste. We see this in the story of Nebuchadnezzar.
Job desires to speak with God and argue his case. His friends are smearing him with lies. He calls them all physicians and says they are worthless. He says that if they remain silent, that would demonstrate wisdom. (Ouch!) Then he asks them to listen to his case. They cannot speak on the behalf of God.
You speak wickedly on God's behalf. What if you could stand before him and he judged you? What if he examined you? He would hold you accountable for showing partiality. Your proverbs are ashes, Job says.
Then Job gives his famous quote that I hear so often. Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. Job is dedicated to God's unmovable words, power and His love. It is beautiful to see. His commitment outshines most of what I see today.
Then Job says if God removes the terror that comes with knowing him, then I would stand before him and plead my case. Job understood not necessarily his innocence, but God's forgiveness. Job was that sure that God forgave him from all of the wrong things that he had done. Even his friends admit that Job encouraged other people. He did good things. But they keep accusing him of hiding some dark sin.
My Thoughts
Job's friends are not very friendly. They don't offer Job encouragement either. They think they are doing good by telling him to dig beneath his "good" nature and there he will see where his sin exists. He needs to root it out and then his life will get better. However, they really don't offer any proof of this. They have intellectualized Job's circumstances and assumed he must be guilty. But Job effectively stands his ground. He is innocent and he wants to talk to God about it. The story goes on and it gets darker from here.
Then Job says if God removes the terror that comes with knowing him, then I would stand before him and plead my case. Job understood not necessarily his innocence, but God's forgiveness. Job was that sure that God forgave him from all of the wrong things that he had done. Even his friends admit that Job encouraged other people. He did good things. But they keep accusing him of hiding some dark sin.
My Thoughts
Job's friends are not very friendly. They don't offer Job encouragement either. They think they are doing good by telling him to dig beneath his "good" nature and there he will see where his sin exists. He needs to root it out and then his life will get better. However, they really don't offer any proof of this. They have intellectualized Job's circumstances and assumed he must be guilty. But Job effectively stands his ground. He is innocent and he wants to talk to God about it. The story goes on and it gets darker from here.
That's it for today.
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