Job 20 and 21: The Wicked Prosper

October 30, 2023Posted inJob
In these two chapters we have the second interchange between Zophar and Job, and the third interchange in the second round between Job and his friends. Both speeches differ somewhat from the earlier speeches in the book. Zophar, for the first time among the friends, indirectly accuses Job of specific sin—oppression of the poor. Job’s…

Job 18 and 19: I Know that My Redeemer Lives

October 24, 2023Posted inJob
In Chapter 18 Bildad continues with the same theme that he, Eliphaz and Zophar had been developing all along—the judgment of God that comes on the wicked. And in chapter 19 Job replies in the same manner as before—that unconfessed sin was not the explanation for his suffering. In fact, in chapter 19 he goes…

Job 16 and 17: O Earth, Do Not Cover My Blood

October 16, 2023Posted inJob
Chapters 15 to 17 in the book of Job record the second interchange between Eliphaz and Job. In chapter 15 Eliphaz is much more severe with Job than he had been in his first speech. After listening to Job’s protestations of innocence and complaints against God, he became convinced that Job had sinned and even…

Job 13:20 to 14:22: Contending with God

October 5, 2023Posted inJob
Job’s answer to the first speech of Zophar, the third of his friends, is found in chapters 12–14. This speech has two main parts. In the first part (12:6–13:19) Job describes for the benefit of his friends some of the destructive and mysterious ways of God. His point is that the wisdom of God (12:13f)…