Bible: 5 Poetic Books

Lesson 2: JOB: You Get What You Deserve! ???

Round Two: It's Getting Personal!

Round two: It’s getting personal!

Round two continues the onslaught:

Eliphaz:

15:5-6

Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.

Job's exasperation is clear in his response:

16:3

Will your long-winded speeches never end?

Job doesn't want sermons or empty talk; he's looking for help and encouragement. He doesn't find it in Eliphaz...and when Job lets him know it, another one of Job’s “friends”, Bildad, rushes in to carry on with Eliphaz’ attack:

BILDAD:

18:2

When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.

At this point he's calling Job the opposite of "sensible". In other words, "Job, you're crazy." On the one hand, he’s correct—they need to sensibly discuss the issue instead of replaying what’s happened so far. On the other hand, the reason Bildad feels this way is that he believes he knows what Job should do, so he’s just waiting for Job to listen to his wise counsel and act on it. That is clearly NOT what happens.

Job is on the defensive again:

19:2

How long will you torment me and crush me with words? Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me.

Job is nearing his pain threshold. Verses 13-19 show us the extent of his isolation; friends, relatives, guests, servants, spouse, and even children spurn him. He is as low as it gets:

Job 19

13 "He has alienated my brothers from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. 14 My kinsmen have gone away; my friends have forgotten me. 15 My guests and my maidservants count me a stranger; they look upon me as an alien. 16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth. 17 My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own brothers. 18 Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. 19 All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.

ZOPHAR

Zophar isn't finished yet. In no uncertain terms, he informs Job of the plight of the sinful man:

20:26-27

total darkness lies in wait for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him.

Job's responses are defensive once again, but in a moment of clarity, he says

21:22

Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?

God sees the big plan. We shouldn't try to second-guess his judgment, but instead must place our trust and faith in him. Everything is happening for a reason. Trust.

It's a good lesson for all of us, and it's a sign that Job is beginning to think more clearly about the situation he finds himself in.

Round three should be the last...

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