The discussions continue into round 2

Job 11

Chapter Introduction

It seems that the intensity of Job’s friends' advice is ratcheting up. Zophar thinks Job is a hypocrite and a liar.  He is very forward with his judgment.  Is he bolder in his presentation, or is this an indication that he was closer to Job and felt capable of saying these difficult things? 

This is the first of Zophar’s two speeches.  He offers little comfort and virtually no compassion.

Job 11:1-6

Proverbs and other wisdom literature teach that many words indicate a fool. Zophar uses this to criticize Job’s many words, rebuking him and calling him a fool.  The empty talk is false boasting.  For Zophar, all this talk about being blameless and righteous is too much. He accused Job of claiming pure doctrine and being clean in God’s eyes, yet Job didn’t make those claims.

Zophar desired that God would come and speak.  The Lord’s words would reveal His wisdom to Job.  It appears he wanted Job to understand God as he did.  Since God didn’t speak, Zophar spoke for Him, letting Job know that he got less than he deserved.   

Job 11:7-9

Zophar scolds Job as though his words as though he claimed to know the deep things of God or the limits of the Almighty.  Zophar portrays these things as unattainable: higher than the heaven, deeper than the grave, longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

Zophar wasn’t wrong.  He knew nothing more than Job about these things.

Job 11:10-12

Zophar insisted that Job give up, tell the truth, and repent from his sins.  No one can hinder God.  He sees the hearts of men, knows their wickedness, and can’t look past it or ignore it. 

Zophar then uses a proverb to encourage Job to repent.  The empty-headed is a senseless man.  The word means hollowed out.  This man will never be wise.  Never is portrayed as the day when a donkey’s colt is born of a man.  What a strange analogy!  We call this an adynation.  It’s an impossible scenario, a form of hyperbole to make a point. 

As strange as this sounds, imagine what they’d say if they heard us say, “When Pigs fly.” Or “When Hell freezes over?”  The Bible has other adynatons. For example, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Job 11:13-20

Zophar assured Job that restoration would follow repentance. 

1. If Job prepared his heart and submitted to God.
2. If Job were to put away his iniquity and not let wickedness to abide in his life.
3. Then Job could:
   1. Lift up his face without spot.
   2. Be steadfast without fear
   3. Have life as bright as the sun.
   4. Be secure and have hope
   5. Find rest because he would be safe
   6. Find himself in a place without fear.

In keeping with Zophar retribution doctrine, those who sin and harbor wickedness will fail.  They won’t escape God’s eye or judgment.  They will sacrifice hope and life.  He believes this describes Job’s current situation.

Discussion Points

1. Is a multitude of words the indication of a fool?  Can it indicate desperation or frustration?
2. How do we value a friend’s opinion in comparison to the Lord’s? 
3. Did Job mock God as Zophar accused? 
4. Did Job claim his doctrine was pure?  Isn’t Zophar claiming pure doctrine?
5. Is Zophar’s doctrine displayed by the “If… If.. then…” of verses 13-20 sound?
6. Some consider Zophar a religious dogmatist who thinks he knows all about God’s ways and exactly how the Lord moves in any circumstance.  Do you agree?  Is this possible?

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 12

Chapter Introduction

Job answers his friends.  It’s thought-provoking that those closest to Job have become his greatest critics.   There is a providence of God that guides and governs all things.  The afflicted endeavors to understand this governance.  There is wisdom in this.  The one who stands by, looking into this situation, should not be over-critical and or over-wise in presuming to possess that wisdom.

Job 12:1-3

Job sarcastically told his friends that wisdom would die with them. They offered nothing to Job that he did not know.  They provided the conventional wisdom that everyone else knew.  Job claimed understanding that wasn’t inferior to them.

Do friends talk this way?  Are they critical of their friend when they are down? 

Job 12:4-6

The treatment Job received usually came at the hands of enemies.  Job received it from “friends.”  Even though he’s been just and blameless, his friends mock, ridicule, and despise him.  Those at ease target those who are in trouble.  This could easily be rendered, “The suffering is despised by those who live on easy street!”   

Job portrays himself as a lamp – his life is despised by others, as though they came with their arguments and truth to beat the suffering with.  If it is truth, and some of it is, is it not truth without love?  Isn’t this compassionless truth delivered in a brutal fashion?

The NIV is a clearer translation of the idea:

Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune

as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

The rules of his friends are not always true.  The wicked often go unpunished.  Job offers his examples in verse six. 

I have seen everything in my days of vanity:

There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness,

And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness. (Ecclesiastes 7:15)

There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.  (Ecclesiastes 8:14)

Job 12:7-12

God’s control over the earth is well known.  He is sovereign and reigns supreme.  The beasts, birds, and fish testify to this, along with all the earth.  God holds the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind in His hand.

Job reminded them that discernment was normal and expected.  Normal people can tell right from wrong (God’s law written on our hearts).  The condescending application of their system just didn’t apply to Job’s situation.  If they believed Job, their system didn’t work, so they called him a liar and held to their beliefs. 

Job 12:13-25

Is it possible for man to know and understand the what and why of everything God does?  If we had that kind of understanding or even thought that we did, would we not be claiming to be all-knowing as God is?  Job provides a list of mysterious things that God does.  These are things that one would struggle to understand and define. 

Job acknowledges God’s wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding, but he focuses on a destructive list of God’s work. He breaks, imprisons, withholds, plunders, overthrows, takes away, pours out contempt, disarms, uncovers, destroys, and takes away.  Job sees the Lord, who leaves some in a pathless wilderness, groping in the dark, looking for answers.

Faith comes from belief, and belief is born of love. God first loved us, even while we were sinners. We believe He is who He said He is and will do all He said He would.  God’s faithfulness, righteousness, and justice do not rely on our understanding.  Doesn’t our faith mean we believe God is working for our best and His glory, whether we understand it or not?

Discussion Points

1. Are you the greatest critic of those you are closest to?  Is this normal, right, productive?
2. Even if Job’s friends are right, or even partially correct, have they helped or harmed?  Haven’t they added insult to injury?
3. Job seems to portray his friends as having their dogmatic stick of truth to beat the person is suffering.  Isn’t a compassionless application of truth brutal?
4. Rather than remain teachable and support their friend, they held their system of belief, called Job a liar, and beat him with their truth.  Do we imagine we’ve learned all we need to know for all situations of life?
5. Does God always work within a systematic and definable set of rules?  Does this preclude faith?

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 13

Chapter Introduction

Job continued his answer to his three friends. Does faith require the duty to remain unwavering in our rejoicing in the Lord and persevere through present sufferings?

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)   

Job 13:1-12

Job maintains that he was as wise as his friends. He had eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to understand. He wasn’t inferior to them in any way. So, he took a minute to teach them a couple of things.

Job desired to reason with God, to bring his dispute before the Almighty, and make his case.  This thought is humbled and submitted to the Lord by the end.

He called his friends forgers of lies, and God would ultimately agree with Job.  They speak presumptuously about God’s purpose, will, and intentions.  They spoke as though their understanding was perfect.  They thought they were helping, but the proof is in the outcome.  As physicians, they had failed. The patient was not healed or comforted in any way.  They might claim to be wise physicians, but their patients would testify otherwise.

Note: Physicians of that day were known to use herbs, drugs, and incantations, and they often looked and operated like magicians. 

Job said they would have been wiser to just remain silent.  Job then told them why.  They spoke out of turn about the Lord, presuming to know God’s ways.  For them to show partiality to God was to violate the laws God put on their hearts (though they were probably not yet written).  Would a just God think it okay to show partiality to him?  Did God need Job’s friends to defend Him, explain Him, or justify His actions?

If God were to allow a similar action to Job’s friends, how would they react?  Job predicted God would rebuke them for their poor advice and portrayal of God.  The Lord would establish a healthy fear in them before the end of the book.  They would all be more careful about how they portrayed the Lord.

Knowledge was often conveyed and preserved with proverbs and maxims.  The platitudes of Job’s friends were likened to ashes.  In that day water was mixed with ashes to form a kind of ink.  It was used for temporary writing and easily erased so the writing surface could be re-used.  This was not the kind of thing used for memorable and timeless truths. 

Similarly, the defenses of clay are likely a reference to clay tablets that could be written on, then quickly and easily erased.  Again, these would not be used to record valuable truth.

Job’s point was that the friends offered nothing worth preserving, nothing of value, no comfort or hope.  If it were all erased and they remained silent, nothing was lost.

Job 13:20-28

Job commanded the silence of his friends. This would be a show of respect for him in his suffering. After he spoke, what happened happened. Job rhetorically asked through the idioms why he risked his life. This appears to refer to his taking a stance before God. There was a risk God would kill him, but Job believed he would be vindicated.

Verse 15 is ambiguous, offering two understandings.  There is the textual tradition or the reading tradition:

• Reading—Most translations follow this with the idea that even if God slays him, Job will still trust in the Lord.
• Written text – the alternate may fit the context better.  It would read, “If He slays me, I have no hope.” 

Job believed he would be vindicated in the hearing.  He risks his life in challenging God to give him this legal hearing.  If God killed him, he would be without hope.  This is another way of saying that his only hope is in the Lord. 

Even so, Job would defend himself. He believed the Lord brought him to that place in his life and that the Lord alone was his salvation. After all, it is clear the hypocrite could not stand before Him.

Job asked his friends to listen and understand. He sought to convince them and gain their support rather than contend (have a legal dispute) with them. 

Where else would Job go?  Where could he go?  He had walked with God for a long time and thought he knew Him well.  He’s discovering God in a new way.  He’s learning in his suffering. 

Job 13:20-28

Job asked that God would grant him two things.  He asked many questions about the two themes.

1. He asked God to remove his suffering
2. He requested God to explain why he had suffered.

Job was convinced it was God that was terrorizing him.  He saw himself as a frightened leave unable to sustain itself in the wind.  Or dry stubble, unable to escape God’s hand. 

Job speculated that God’s charge against him might stem from the iniquity of his youth since he knew of nothing else.  Had God dredged up some old offense he had forgotten about?

Job felt captured, like an enemy in stocks under close observation.  The rotten thing of verse 28 speaks of an internal rottenness of the bones.

Discussion Points

1. Would a just God think it okay to show partiality to him?
2. Did God need Job’s friends to defend Him, explain Him, or justify His actions?
3. Are our proverbs always true?  Or, generally true?
4. Job knew God alone was his salvation.  He had walked with God for a long time and thought he knew Him well, but that was being challenged.  He was learning in his suffering. 

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 14

Chapter Introduction

Job reflects on human suffering and the brevity of life.  Our days are in the hands of God.  We do not have the right to demand anything from God or call Him to account for our discomfort.  We are weak and sinful.  Our hope is found in the kindness of His mercy, love, and grace.  Seeking Him in humility.

Job 14:1-6

There are shades of Ecclesiastes here.  Job seems to say that it is all meaningless.  Men are evil, their days are numbered.  We are born with a sinful nature and are bound to sin.  Once a law is broken, a man is forever a lawbreaker.  They could not return to being clean. 

Job asked if God could not just look away since life is so brief.  Job aked to be left alone to have rest before he died.  He wanted to finish his day.

Job 14:7-12

Even a tree that is brought to the ground has the chance for new life.  Job contrasts this idea to man who is laid in the grave.  He has the sense that he doesn’t rise again.  Yet, in Job 19:25-27, it appears Job has the sense of an afterlife.

In verse 12, he says they will not awake till the heavens are no more.  Is he implying there is a day coming, but it is after heaven and earth pass away?  Man will not rise up until after the final days.

Job 14:13-17

This is an incredible section of scripture.  Job has a sense of being hidden away for a future day, a day after which the wrath that is due mankind has passed away.  Job longed for a day when God would remember him.  Job waited and longed for the day when his change would come.  The word “change” is related to the word used to describe the tree growing again from the stump. 

Job foresaw a day when God would call and he would answer.  He knew the Lord desired the work of His hands.  Men were created in God’s image and the Lord loved man and desired fellowship with him.  He hoped that day was a day when the Lord no longer had to watch over his sin, that all his sin would have been sealed up and covered overe. 

Note: Important things were put in bags and sealed with clay seals to restrict access.

Job 14:18-22

That day of change must have seemed so far off or been too much of an unknown.  Job returned to his current situation of hopelessness. 

Discussion Points

1. What does seeking God in humility look like in your life?
2. In v. 4, Job seemed to understand the sinful nature of mankind.
3. In v. 1-6, Job feels hemmed in by life, bound to suffer, even though life is short.  Does God owe some goodness to balance the brevity of life or suffering?
4. How does this section compare to Job 19:25-27?

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 15

Chapter Introduction

Eliphaz takes another turn at trying to get Job to understand.  Eliphaz comes on even stronger than previously.  This time, there doesn’t seem to be any intention of helping Job, if there ever was.  Job’s “friend” offers his theory about Job and charges him with foolishly justifying himself. 

Even if we imagine that the intentions of Job’s friends were good and their hearts were in the right place, they still seem to be doing the work of Satan more than supporting their friend. 

1. If the friends didn’t understand or couldn’t explain Job’s plight, what happened to him could happen to them!
2. It’s pride that drives a man to argue to be right rather than admit they might be wrong and grasp the truth that is right before them.

We know the fear of the Lord was important to Job, but Eliphaz concluded from Job’s words that he had cast off fear.  Eliphaz reiterates that Job must have sinned to refute Job’s claim that the wicked aren’t always punished. 

Job 15:1-6

Eliphaz hits the road running by accusing Job of empty and destructive words.  The east wind was a destructive desert wind. Eliphaz sees no value in Job’s words.  His thoughts and opinions were just unprofitable talk and worthless speeches.  Why did he feel this way?  Did Job’s situation make his words invaluable?  Do we place a higher value on the words of the wealthy, healthy, and famous?

The fear of the Lord was important to Job.  We see this in 1:1 and 1:9.  Eliphaz accused Job of casting off fear.  This was likely hurtful to Job more than other things Eliphaz said.  To “cast off” was to break away from the accepted truth.  This was primarily directed to Jobs' idea that sometimes the unjust and wicked don’t suffer; they get by just fine.  The idea that God’s people never suffer and suffering proves you aren’t in good standing with God doesn’t hold true.  Eliphaz said Job was speaking from sin and not wisdom. 

The serpent had a crafty tongue in Genesis 3:1.  Eliphaz accused Job of the same and that his tongue condemned him.

Job 15:7-13

Eliphaz offers a set of rhetorical (and a little sarcastic) questions to silence and humble Job.  Yet, Job never claimed all knowledge and wisdom.  His friends have claimed to have the traditional wisdom and are offended that Job would question it.  Eliphaz consistently refuses to believe Job when he claims he knows no reason why this has happened.

Eliphaz sees his counsel and words as a gift from God for Job – the consolations of God.  He asked if God’s consolation was too small.  He accused Job’s heart carrying him away and his eyes glaring in anger, turning him against God.

Job 15:14-16

Eliphaz’s question, which is more of a statement in v. 14, is valid.  He reiterates the ideas that came from the voice in his vision in 4:17-19.  If God can’t trust the created servants in the heavens (angels), then how much less could he trust man? 

Job 15:17-26

Eliphaz spoke again of his traditional wisdom and told Job to listen.  Eliphaz decleares that it is the wicked man who writhes in pain all day because he is wicked.    He argues that the wicked don’t escape judgment as Job declared. 

He described the downfall from prosperity in a manner close to Job’s situation.  Eliphaz said all those things happened because the man stretched out his hand against God.  Eliphaz’s traditional wisdom is that Job opposed God and acted defiantly, and God responded.  Case closed.

Job 15:27-35

Obesity was considered a sign of God’s blessing and favor.  The fat was representative of the choice cuts and only the wealthy could afford that kind of food.  Job was a wealthy man and all he had was stripped away. 

Job consistently upheld his blamelessness.  Eliphaz accused him of trusting in something futile.

The designs of the wicked will not come to fruition.  They will be like the grapevine that has the unripe grapes stripped away before they mature.  They will be like the olive tree that casts is blossoms away before they can bring forth fruit. 

According to Eliphaz, hypocrites will end up barren because they are the unjust who take bribes, those who conceive trouble, birth futility, and prepare to birth deceit.

Discussion Points

1. Did Job condemn himself by his own words?
2. Eliphaz holds the council of the older men in high regard but dismisses Job’s thoughts.  Did they dismiss Job because of his circumstances?  Did they believe themselves wiser since they weren’t suffering?
   1. Do the opinions of the wealthy, healthy, famous, and powerful carry more weight than the poor, meek, or humble?
3. Is Eliphaz offended that Job disagreed with his counsel?  Or is he scolding Job for his words after he presumes God is offended?
4. There seemed to be knowledge that God couldn’t trust His holy ones; these created servants in heaven.  This reference indicates some knowledge of rebellion in the heavens.  Where did this knowledge come from?
5. How much value should we place on traditional teaching?

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 16

Chapter Introduction

Job rejects Eliphaz’s assertions and charges him with heaping up words.  Job draws no comfort from friends who accuse and bring charges.  He draws his comfort from God in heaven, who knows the truth and will soon clear his name. 

For a believer today, Jesus is our best friend who pleads for us and brings comfort.

Job 16:1-5

Job’s three friends have shown no skill of compassion to comfort.  They’ve beat him with accusations and blame.  The job called them miserable comforters, and who would argue?

Job replied directly to Eliphaz by returning his criticisms.  While Eliphaz said Job brought his misery on himself, Job turned it around on them.  His friends had done nothing to bring comfort and further misery.  Job argued that if the roles were reversed, Job would bring them comfort.  The words of his mouth would bring relief. 

Job 16:6-14

Eliphaz insisted on Job’s silence.  Whether he spoke or was quiet, he suffered.  His own words did nothing to relieve his grief.  He felt God wasn’t listening.  In fact, he felt that God was against him.  Job’s worn out from suffering but maintains his innocence.  He insisted that God had no reason to afflict him.  The affliction, then, is witness against him (v. 8).  Job’s friends continue to blame him, believing that his suffering is an indication of sin.

Job uses the language of lamentation, creating the picture of a wild animal relentlessly attacking him.  He was convinced that God hated him in v. 9.  He portrayed God as his adversary, coming very close to making God sound like Satan.

Job spoke of the wicked, whom Eliphaz insisted were judged as the very ones God used to afflict him. He refuted Eliphaz’s theory about the wicked.  They gape, strike, and gather against him (v.10-11).  Job is partially right in this assessment.

Job felt like a target being repeatedly pierced with arrows, taking shot after shot with no means of defending himself. The warrior referenced in v. 14 is normally used to speak of God as the warrior who protects us and fights our battles. Here, Job sees God, the warrior, coming at him.

Job 16:15-17

Wearing sackcloth was the conventional sign of mourning.  It was like wearing a feed bag.  Job wasn’t just wearing sackcloth in mourning. He had worn it so long that it was as if it were sown to his skin. It’s a picture of Job’s permanent state of mourning.  This is the only reference in scripture of sackcloth being sewn, but the sewing is more of a metaphor for mourning being permanently sewn to him. 

Note: the first use of sackcloth in the Bible was when Jacob (Israel) was mourning for the loss of Joseph.

The sackcloth and dust were an external display of what was going on inside Job.  In addition, his eyes were dark or saw only darkness and gloom.  This is like the opposite of rose-colored glasses – Job looked at the world through the shadow of death glasses.

Job maintained his innocence.  His prayer was pure, there was no violence to be found in him.

Job 16:16-22

Job asked that his blood not be covered.  That it would cry out and seek vindication.  This brings to mind the blood of Abel crying out against Cain.  Job had no thought that there was an accuser in heaven. 

Note: Satan claimed in 1:7 that he moved freely upon the earth, walking back and forth upon it.  This was Satan claiming possession of God’s creation.  God’s people had chosen to worship him instead of their Creator.  This prompted God to offer evidence to the contrary.  Job was that evidence.  Job was proof that a remnant loved God, not because of what they have or the comfort of life, but because of who He is.

Job asked that heaven and earth be his witnesses against his friends, who mocked him and scoffed.  He saw a day when his case would be heard before God as a man pleads for his neighbor, and none of what was happening was due to his guilt. 

Job longed for a true friend to stand with him and cry out to God on his behalf. He longed for Jesus without knowing it.

Yet he turns to God as his witness, his advocate, and intercessor.  This sounds very messianic. 

Discussion Points

1. Is a miserable comforter better than none?
2. When our beliefs conflict with those of godly friends, do we choose God over them without consideration? Shouldn’t we attempt to reconcile the differences, listen, and be teachable?  Maybe we learn, maybe they learn something.
3. Job could never have imagined that he was God’s witness against the accuser of men.  Job was evidence of faithfulness and proof that men would worship Him because they loved Him. 

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 17

Chapter Introduction

Again, we hear Job longing for relief.  He sees that death is his only hope.  Wherever we walk, in every situation and season of life, we are but one heartbeat and breath from death.  We must always be ready.  Until then, we must persevere as He’s called us.

Job 17:1-5

With a broken spirit, the days get longer and more hopeless.  Death appears to be the only relief from suffering.  Job’s friends offered only accusations and mocking, adding to his affliction. 

Job prayed that God would come forward and prove his innocence before his friends.  He’s convinced God has removed their ability to see and understand.  Therefore, they wouldn’t prevail.  They would be proven wrong. 

Those who betray their friends for some advantage will see the effects on their children.

Job 17:6-9

Job was humiliated before people.  He had become a Proverb.  We still speak of these proverbs today.  We talk about:

• The patience of Job.
• The suffering of Job.

He was despised and detested because people assumed he was guilty.  He was physically deteriorating. 

Job thought his friends ought to have been shocked and appalled rather than accusatory and mocking.  Yet, he held to his innocence.  For a brief moment he saw that because of his innocense he would grow stronger and persevere.

Job 17:10-16

Job’s friends are invited back to try again, but he doubts they are any wiser than before.  He is convinced life is behind him.  He finds no purpose or hope in his future. 

Even the His friends look past this darkness in Job to speak of light as if it were near.  With the grave before him and seemingly his only relief, he wonders if his hope for vindicaiton will die with him. 

Discussion Points

1. Wherever we walk, in every situation and season of life, we are but one heartbeat and breath from death.  We must always be ready.  Until then, we must persevere as He’s called us.
2. Those who betray a friend for their advantage would let their children faint with hunger (v.5).  Do we see this play out in our culture?  Is the betrayal an indication of a bigger heart issue?
3. How do we speak to someone who has lost hope and has lost the anchor to their faith?  How do we speak without portraying darkness as light, life when death is near, or optimism without any evidence?

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 18

Chapter Introduction

Bildad accepted Job’s invitation to bring a new understanding, so he took another turn, focusing on the understanding that the wicked are punished.  Bildad was clearly offended by Job’s comments toward the group of friends.  He’s angry while scolding Job for responding angrily.  It’s as though Bildad is telling Job, “You don’t know what you don’t know.”  It’s as if he was saying Job was wicked without knowing it.  He implies that Job’s sin has led to confusion.

Bildad brings a picture of the devastating end for the wicked.  His picture parallels Job’s situation.  Is Bildad trying to frighten Job to repentance?  Is this possible? 

Job 18:1-4

Bildad previously preached repentance, which led to restoration. Now, he is more concerned about defending himself against Job’s attacks. Job called his friends worthless physicians and miserable comforters. Bildad dismissed Job’s scolding as foolish words—just words offered without understanding.

In 16:9, Job said God tore him in his wrath.  Bildad turned this thought back on Job.  He told Job that he tore himself, bringing this grief upon himself by his refusal to confess his sin. 

Job 18:5-11

Bildad speaks of the life of the wicked as an argument that they will always be punished.  This responds to Job’s assertion that they often live happy lives without repercussions.  Bildad conveys conventional wisdom:

The light of the righteous rejoices,

But the lamp of the wicked will be put out. (Proverbs 13:9)

For there will be no prospect for the evil man;

The lamp of the wicked will be put out. (Proverbs 24:20)

However, his descriptions of the details serve to describe Job’s life to show Job that he is wicked. 

In verses 8-10, Bildad speaks of six traps as an example of what will happen to the wicked.  Their ways will lead them to the trap that results in a life of fear and terror.  It’s as though the trap will chase after them and finally catch up.

Job 18:12-16

The further Bildad gets into his sermon, the more it sounds like he describes Job’s life and situation.  Starved of strength in the vicinity of destruction would be consistent with Job’s account.

The skin falling off may describe a specific disease of that time. However, the “firstborn of death” may refer to the Ugiritic idea of Mot being the deity of death.  The god of plague (Resheph) may be the son referred to.  Resheph is also equated to Nergal, the Mesopotamian ruler of the netherworld.

The tent was a kind of status symbol.  To have your tent enlarged was to be blessed and wealthy.  Bildad pictures the wicked being uprooted from their tent.  He is removed and paraded before the king of terrors, which is probably another picture of Mot.  Fire and brimstone are scattered on his dwelling.  This is the picture of judgment from God.

In 14:7, Job pictured a tree cut down to the stump but able to sprout new life.  Bildad portrays this tree as dried up and dead to the roots. 

Job 18:17-21

Bildad certainly wasn’t attempting to cheer up Job.  The wicked would be driven into the darkness.  Not only would they be destroyed, but all of their family.  None of the offspring of the wicked would be allowed to live.  This is Bildad using his belief to explain what has happened to Job. 

He cannot believe that Job would deny it.

Discussion Points

1. Is Bildad trying to frighten Job to repentance?  Is this possible?
2. Death, the terrors, and traps everywhere portray a frightening life of no rest or relief.
3. Bildad explains Job’s circumstance by stating that the wicked will be destroyed along with their offspring.
4. “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Mark 8:34)
5. Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.  (John 9:1-3)

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024l

Job 19

Chapter Introduction

Job answers Bildad’s accusations of wickedness by explaining the idealistic and majestic faith that was so important to him.  One gets the sense that Job knew his God was big, but he couldn’t explain what had happened.  He refused to let his faith him but was having doubts.

Job 19:1-6

Job made it clear that his friends were adding to his torment.  They had not offered any support or comfort.  Torment and brokenness ought not to be delivered by friends.  The “ten times” is an Old Testament representation of completion.  That had accomplished complete humiliation of Job.

Job pointed out that their conscience did not bother them at all.  They multiplied his torment and had not helped in any way.  Even if he had sinned in some wickedness, they had not soothed him or helped him heal.  Job’s sin was between him and God, yet they got into Job’s business and claimed to know better than he.

They pled Job’s disgrace as proof of their case.  Job pled his disgrace as proof that God had wronged him and acted unjustly.  Both were wrong.

Job 19:7-12

Job is God’s evidence that some on the earth loved Him regardless of circumstances.  Satan had not deceived all of God’s image-bearers.  Job was frustrated that he had not heard from God.  The God he had always loved and relied on was now silent.  He cried out for Justice but got no response.  It is God’s mercy and grace that withheld the justice he begged for. 

Satan accused God of placing a fence of protection around Job.  Now, Job accused God of putting a fence around him to prevent his escape from injustice. 

In verse 9, Job speaks of his crown and his glory.  Maybe part of the problem is that Job saw what he lost as “my glory’ when it was God’s all along. 

Job 19:13-20

There are fourteen “my” references in this section.  Job was estranged from his previous life.  Those close to him forgot, ignored, and treated him like a stranger.  His servants no longer respected him as their master.  Children didn’t respect him as an elder.

Job 19:21-22

What true friend would not be broken by such a plea?  How could these men refuse comfort and understanding for so broken of a man?  Job asked them if they were satisfied with the damage to his life, character, and being.

Job 19:23-29

Job wished for an accounting of his claim to innocence so he might be vindicated even after he died.  Bildad claimed the memory of the wicked would perish.  Job was sure he would be remembered because of his innocence.  He believed in a redeemer, one that would buy him back from this place.  He didn’t just hope for a redeemer but knew and was sure he would stand.  That word stand could be found in a court where one would stand as a witness on behalf of another.   Job knew that his redeemer would bring restoration and/or resurrection.  Job knew he would stand before God. 

How can his skin be destroyed, yet he will see God in his flesh?  How is this possible?  It certainly sounds like a bodily resurrection.  Job had an eternal longing for this day.  It would be the day he found out the name of his redeemer, Jesus.

While Job pictured his friends plotting their persecution toward him, he warned them that when his redeemer came, he would also bring justice.  He warned them that they would be judged for their words against him, as well as their lack of compassion and comfort.

Discussion Points

1. Our inability to explain our spiritual circumstances doesn’t equate to a failure of God or our faith in Him.
2. Bildad pled Job’s disgrace as proof of his wickedness.  Job pled his disgrace as proof that God had wronged him and acted unjustly.  Both were wrong.
3. Job cried for justice from God.  It is God’s mercy and grace that withheld justice.
4. If we ever arrive at a place where we accuse God of being unjust, we need to step back and re-analyze the facts.

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024

Job 20

Chapter Introduction

Zophar speaks again.  Verses 21 and 22 did not affect him.  He wants to make the case that the wicked may prosper for a time but will always result in endless sorrow. 

It’s common for men to confuse the dictates of passion with the dictates of reason.  This causes them to express themselves as though they were authoritative.

Job 20:1-3

Zophar is likely responding to Job’s rebuke for having to answer their accusations and lack of comfort and understanding.  This is Zophar’s second and final speech. 

Job 20:4-11

Zophar educates Job on the way of the wicked.  Though they might succeed, the Lord will bring them down.  Though they may be haughty for a season, it will quickly end.  Any joy the hypocrite might find is but for a moment.  Zophar speaks this as though Job was clueless about these truths.

We’ve all had vivid dreams that were gone once we woke up.  This is how Zophar sees the life of the wicked.  They will quickly be forgotten as though they never were. 

The children of the wicked will have to make amends to the poor.  The idea seems to be that the wicked stole his wealth from them, and the children will have to make it right.  The bones full of vigor could be the wicked man or even the children.  That vigor is pictured as going to the grave.

Job 20:12-19

Zophar makes the point that evil is sweet, easy to consume, and hold in one's mouth, yet it turns the stomach. Once wickedness is swallowed, it will destroy man.  He won’t get any enjoyment for what he worked for.  He won’t eat of the fruits of his labor. He will give it back (restore). 

Zophar presumably means the wicked will have to give back to the poor any wealth they had gained.  He goes on to provide a specific accusation of oppressing and forsaking the poor by violently seizing their homes.  While this was aimed at the wicked, it was pointed toward Job.

Job 20:20-29

Zophar described the insatiable desire of the wicked.  He consumes wickedness and is consumed by wickedness.  Whatever well-being he once had will falter and pass away.

Job had said he was under attack from God but held to his innocence. Zophar agreed that Job was being attacked. However, according to Zophar, the cause of the attack was the wickedness that Job had consumed in his life. 

The treasure stored up for the wicked is total darkness.  Flood and fire will sweep it all away as heaven reveals his iniquity.    This is the heritage of the wicked man.  According to Zophar, this is Job’s heritage and the answer to his suffering.

Once again, although Zophaar’s claims about evil seem correct, they are incorrectly directed at Job. 

Discussion Points

1. It’s common for men to confuse the dictates of passion with the dictates of reason.  This causes them to express themselves as though they were authoritative.  Zophar accuses Job of this passion, yet Zophar seems to suffer from the same.
2. Are Zophar’s claims about evil correct?  Do they apply to Job?  Do these assertions apply today?

©2017 DOUG FORD; REVISED & UPDATED 2024