In Job 18  his friend Bildad continues to assume Job is in the wrong. Bildad goes on to describe how the wicked is confronted with disaster after disaster, which he no doubt thinks correlates with Job's situation quite well.

Job responds in Chap 19, where he continues to describes his misfortunes. Job quite clearly believes God is responsible for the disasters, as in v21 "For the hand of God has struck me!". And yet, Job does not cease to depend and cling to God. In v25, Job says " For I know that my Redeemer lives", suggesting that Job knows God's role as The Redeemer and waiting to be redeemed. He yearns for the time when he will see God at the end of his life. I think this picture of Job's heart shows that even as he describes how God is responsible for the calamities, he is not actually blaming God in the negative sense, rather he is describing his situation, perhaps with a little self-pity and not understanding God's purpose.

Job 18

Bildad: The Wicked Are Punished

 ¹ Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: ² “How long till you put an end to words?
      Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
 ³ Why are we counted as beasts,
      And regarded as stupid in your sight?
 ⁴ You who tear yourself in anger,
      Shall the earth be forsaken for you?
      Or shall the rock be removed from its place?
 ⁵ “The light of the wicked indeed goes out,
      And the flame of his fire does not shine.
 ⁶ The light is dark in his tent,
      And his lamp beside him is put out.
 ⁷ The steps of his strength are shortened,
      And his own counsel casts him down.
 ⁸ For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
      And he walks into a snare.
 ⁹ The net takes him by the heel,
      And a snare lays hold of him.
 ¹⁰ A noose is hidden for him on the ground,
      And a trap for him in the road.
 ¹¹ Terrors frighten him on every side,
      And drive him to his feet.
 ¹² His strength is starved,
      And destruction is ready at his side.
 ¹³ It devours patches of his skin;
      The firstborn of death devours his limbs.
 ¹⁴ He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent,
      And they parade him before the king of terrors.
 ¹⁵ They dwell in his tent who are none of his;
      Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.
 ¹⁶ His roots are dried out below,
      And his branch withers above.
 ¹⁷ The memory of him perishes from the earth,
      And he has no name among the renowned.^[a]
 18 He is driven from light into darkness,
      And chased out of the world.
 ¹⁹ He has neither son nor posterity among his people,
      Nor any remaining in his dwellings.
 ²⁰ Those in the west are astonished at his day,
      As those in the east are frightened.
 ²¹ Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
      And this is the place of him who does not know God.”

Job 19

Job Trusts in His Redeemer

 ¹ Then Job answered and said: ² “How long will you torment my soul,
      And break me in pieces with words?
 ³ These ten times you have reproached me;
      You are not ashamed that you have wronged me.^[a]
 4 And if indeed I have erred,
      My error remains with me.
 ⁵ If indeed you exalt yourselves against me,
      And plead my disgrace against me,
 ⁶ Know then that God has wronged me,
      And has surrounded me with His net.
 ⁷ “If I cry out concerning wrong, I am not heard.
      If I cry aloud, there is no justice.
 ⁸ He has fenced up my way, so that I cannot pass;
      And He has set darkness in my paths.
 ⁹ He has stripped me of my glory,
      And taken the crown from my head.
 ¹⁰ He breaks me down on every side,
      And I am gone;
      My hope He has uprooted like a tree.
 ¹¹ He has also kindled His wrath against me,
      And He counts me as one of His enemies.
 ¹² His troops come together
      And build up their road against me;
      They encamp all around my tent.
 ¹³ “He has removed my brothers far from me,
      And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
 ¹⁴ My relatives have failed,
      And my close friends have forgotten me.
 ¹⁵ Those who dwell in my house, and my maidservants,
      Count me as a stranger;
      I am an alien in their sight.
 ¹⁶ I call my servant, but he gives no answer;
      I beg him with my mouth.
 ¹⁷ My breath is offensive to my wife,
      And I am repulsive to the children of my own body.
 ¹⁸ Even young children despise me;
      I arise, and they speak against me.
 ¹⁹ All my close friends abhor me,
      And those whom I love have turned against me.
 ²⁰ My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh,
      And I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
 ²¹ “Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends,
      For the hand of God has struck me!
 ²² Why do you persecute me as God does,
      And are not satisfied with my flesh?
 ²³ “Oh, that my words were written!
      Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
 ²⁴ That they were engraved on a rock
      With an iron pen and lead, forever!
 ²⁵ For I know that my Redeemer lives,
      And He shall stand at last on the earth;
 ²⁶ And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
      That in my flesh I shall see God,
 ²⁷ Whom I shall see for myself,
      And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
      How my heart yearns within me!
 ²⁸ If you should say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’—
      Since the root of the matter is found in me,
 ²⁹ Be afraid of the sword for yourselves;
      For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
      That you may know there is a judgment.”

Job's Hope

The passage below again shows the great despair Job faced. What else can he look forward to than the grave? He still holds on to his innocence. He has already lost hope that his friends can be a comfort towards him.Yet he has not cursed God, something which Satan was hoping for. Also there was hope left in him v16; though Job himself may be confused by this, hence his questioning on where his hope lies. For the believers, we know for sure where or who our Hope is......Yeshua.

Job 17

1 “My spirit is broken,  My days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.

2 Are not mockers with me? And does not my eye dwell on their provocation?
3 “Now put down a pledge for me with Yourself. Who is he who will shake hands with me?
4 For You have hidden their heart from understanding; Therefore You will not exalt them.
 5 He who speaks flattery to his friends,  Even the eyes of his children will fail.
 6 “But He has made me a byword of the people, And I have become one in whose face men spit.
 7 My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow, And all my members are like shadows.
 8 Upright men are astonished at this, And the innocent stirs himself up against the hypocrite.
 9 Yet the righteous will hold to his way, And he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.
 10 “But please, come back again, all of you,[a] For I shall not find one wise man among you.
 11 My days are past, My purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.
 12 They change the night into day; ‘The light is near,’ they say, in the face of darkness.
 13 If I wait for the grave as my house, If I make my bed in the darkness,
 14 If I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ And to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my sister,’
 15 Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it?
 16 Will they go down to the gates of Sheol?  Shall we have rest together in the dust?”

Job stands his ground

Here is another volley fired by Job at his friends, not so much with malice, but rather to set the record straight.   He calls them "miserable comforters" - wouldn't we like to have friends like that? 


Job says that if his position was reversed, he would act as a comforter to his friends. Then he describes how tired he is of this situation and the debate with his friends. Once again he describes God as the one punishing him. Yet in the midst of attributing such punishments to God, and knowing his innocence, he continues to cry and plead with God. This is because Job also knows that he has an advocate in Heaven (hinting at our Lord Jesus), as he says " Surely even now my witness is in heaven, And my evidence is on high."




Job 16
Job Reproaches His Pitiless Friends
 ¹ Then Job answered and said:
 ² “I have heard many such things;
      Miserable comforters are you all!
 ³ Shall words of wind have an end?
      Or what provokes you that you answer?
 ⁴ I also could speak as you do,
      If your soul were in my soul’s place.
      I could heap up words against you,
      And shake my head at you;
 ⁵ But I would strengthen you with my mouth,
      And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.
 ⁶ “ Though I speak, my grief is not relieved;
      And if I remain silent, how am I eased?
 ⁷ But now He has worn me out;
      You have made desolate all my company.
 ⁸ You have shriveled me up,
      And it is a witness against me;
      My leanness rises up against me
      And bears witness to my face.
 ⁹ He tears me in His wrath, and hates me;
      He gnashes at me with His teeth;
      My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.
 ¹⁰ They gape at me with their mouth,
      They strike me reproachfully on the cheek,
      They gather together against me.
 ¹¹ God has delivered me to the ungodly,
      And turned me over to the hands of the wicked.
 ¹² I was at ease, but He has shattered me;
      He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces;
      He has set me up for His target,
 ¹³ His archers surround me.
      He pierces my heart^[a] and does not pity;
      He pours out my gall on the ground.
 ¹⁴ He breaks me with wound upon wound;
      He runs at me like a warrior.^[b]
 15 “I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,
      And laid my head^[c] in the dust.
 ¹⁶ My face is flushed from weeping,
      And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
 ¹⁷ Although no violence is in my hands,
      And my prayer is pure.
 ¹⁸ “O earth, do not cover my blood,
      And let my cry have no resting place!
 ¹⁹ Surely even now my witness is in heaven,
      And my evidence is on high.
 ²⁰ My friends scorn me;
      My eyes pour out tears to God.
 ²¹ Oh, that one might plead for a man with God,
      As a man pleads for his neighbor!
 ²² For when a few years are finished,
      I shall go the way of no return.

Is Job's claim of righteousness fair?

After the detailed response by Job, Eliphaz counters Jobs arguments. Remember that Job has just lost everything and was feeling pretty bad no doubt. Job went as far as cursing the fact that he was born. Amid this self-pity, he still had reverence for God and the same time knowing that he did no wrong to deserve this.

It is the last point above that his friends like Eliphaz, had the most trouble with. Only Job and God knew the things Job did and whether he did wrong or not. Job honestly thought he did no wrong that deserved such punishment. The more he tried to explain, the more his friends mistook this for self-righteousness.

In a way, his friends were quite biblical because Eliphaz essentially was saying that there is no one righteous before God - so how could Job be so bold or foolish to think that he did not anything wrong. In the passage below, Eliphaz talks about the smallness of man compared to the greatness of God, and how the evil man foolishly thinks he can challenge God, refering to Job.

Have we ever been in such situation with our brothers or sisters in Christ where instead of giving comfort, they become doctrinal, biblical and religious. What should our response be?

Job 15

Eliphaz Accuses Job of Folly

 ¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: ² “ Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
      And fill himself with the east wind?
 ³ Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
      Or by speeches with which he can do no good?
 ⁴ Yes, you cast off fear,
      And restrain prayer before God.
 ⁵ For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
      And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
 ⁶ Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
      Yes, your own lips testify against you.
 ⁷ “Are you the first man who was born?
      Or were you made before the hills?
 ⁸ Have you heard the counsel of God?
      Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
 ⁹ What do you know that we do not know?
      What do you understand that is not in us?
 ¹⁰ Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,
      Much older than your father.
 ¹¹ Are the consolations of God too small for you,
      And the word spoken gently^[a] with you?
 ¹² Why does your heart carry you away,
      And what do your eyes wink at,
 ¹³ That you turn your spirit against God,
      And let such words go out of your mouth?
 ¹⁴ “What is man, that he could be pure?
      And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
 ¹⁵ If God puts no trust in His saints,
      And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
 ¹⁶ How much less man, who is abominable and filthy,
      Who drinks iniquity like water!
 ¹⁷ “I will tell you, hear me;
      What I have seen I will declare,
 ¹⁸ What wise men have told,
      Not hiding anything received from their fathers,
 ¹⁹ To whom alone the land was given,
      And no alien passed among them:
 ²⁰ The wicked man writhes with pain all his days,
      And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.
 ²¹ Dreadful sounds are in his ears;
      In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.
 ²² He does not believe that he will return from darkness,
      For a sword is waiting for him.
 ²³ He wanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
      He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.
 ²⁴ Trouble and anguish make him afraid;
      They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.
 ²⁵ For he stretches out his hand against God,
      And acts defiantly against the Almighty,
 ²⁶ Running stubbornly against Him
      With his strong, embossed shield.
 ²⁷ “ Though he has covered his face with his fatness,
      And made his waist heavy with fat,
 ²⁸ He dwells in desolate cities,
      In houses which no one inhabits,
      Which are destined to become ruins.
 ²⁹ He will not be rich,
      Nor will his wealth continue,
      Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.
 ³⁰ He will not depart from darkness;
      The flame will dry out his branches,
      And by the breath of His mouth he will go away.
 ³¹ Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself,
      For futility will be his reward.
 ³² It will be accomplished before his time,
      And his branch will not be green.
 ³³ He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,
      And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.
 ³⁴ For the company of hypocrites will be barren,
      And fire will consume the tents of bribery.
 ³⁵ They conceive trouble and bring forth futility;
      Their womb prepares deceit.”

Job contemplates Life and Death

   In the passage below we see Job contemplates the fleeting span of human life. Interesting and poignant, some of his descriptions include man's life as " few days and full of trouble", "comes forth like a flower and withers away". Job also realised that God is the ultimate judge but on v4, since he has never heard of Jesus, and perhaps also did not get revelation from God, he concluded that no one can make an unclean thing to clean.
Job also may not have understood about life after death. He contrasted how a tree may die, but its remnant may produce offshoots, and yet when a man dies, that is the end. People today who have not known Christ may have a similar view, where they have not heard of the Good News of spending eternity with God when we submit to Jesus our Lord.

It is interesting to see Job's thoughts, how he struggles with his views of reality and also his relationship with God. But we should remember which are Job's views and that his views are not necessarily always correct as he does not have the full revelation of the Gospels.


Job 14


 ¹ “Man who is born of woman
      Is of few days and full of trouble.
 ² He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
      He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
 ³ And do You open Your eyes on such a one,
      And bring me^[a] to judgment with Yourself?
 ⁴ Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
      No one!
 ⁵ Since his days are determined,
      The number of his months is with You;
      You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
 ⁶ Look away from him that he may rest,
      Till like a hired man he finishes his day.
 ⁷ “For there is hope for a tree,
      If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
      And that its tender shoots will not cease.
 ⁸ Though its root may grow old in the earth,
      And its stump may die in the ground,
 ⁹ Yet at the scent of water it will bud
      And bring forth branches like a plant.
 ¹⁰ But man dies and is laid away;
      Indeed he breathes his last
      And where is he?
 ¹¹ As water disappears from the sea,
      And a river becomes parched and dries up,
 ¹² So man lies down and does not rise.
      Till the heavens are no more,
      They will not awake
      Nor be roused from their sleep.
 ¹³ “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
      That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
      That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
 ¹⁴ If a man dies, shall he live again?
      All the days of my hard service I will wait,
      Till my change comes.
 ¹⁵ You shall call, and I will answer You;
      You shall desire the work of Your hands.
 ¹⁶ For now You number my steps,
      But do not watch over my sin.
 ¹⁷ My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
      And You cover^[b] my iniquity.
 ¹⁸ “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,
      And as a rock is moved from its place;
 ¹⁹ As water wears away stones,
      And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
      So You destroy the hope of man.
 ²⁰ You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
      You change his countenance and send him away.
 ²¹ His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
      They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.
 ²² But his flesh will be in pain over it,
      And his soul will mourn over it.”

Job challenges his friends

   We have seen previously how Job cursed the day he was borne and gave an impression of how self-pitying he was. This was followed by some lecturing from his friends telling him that he must have done wrong to deserve such punishment and that he should repent. Then we also see that Job knew where he stood as he began to rebuke his friends. In the passage below, Job's rebuke shows his confidence in his standing before God. He does not show any weakness qualities which would have otherwise made him surrender to the accusations of his friends. Instead, Job boldly challenges their claims and even called them lies.

In the second part of this passage, as well as talking to his friends, Job was also challenging God to show him his mistakes. This is not necessarily arrogance, rather a person who knows God's standard so well that he asks God openly to show him where he has done wrong since he could not see where his errors are. The mistake that Job made however, was to assume that his misfortunes were a direct act of God.

Are we too afraid to claim the we are righteous, even our Lord's  righteousness imparted on us? Have we walked close enough with God to be confident in knowing His standards? To be able to challenge God the way Job has indicates a deep relationship between Job and God. 

Job 13

 ¹ "My eyes have seen all this,
       my ears have heard and understood it.
 ² What you know, I also know;
       I am not inferior to you.
 ³ But I desire to speak to the Almighty
       and to argue my case with God.
 ⁴ You, however, smear me with lies;
       you are worthless physicians, all of you!
 ⁵ If only you would be altogether silent!
       For you, that would be wisdom.
 ⁶ Hear now my argument;
       listen to the plea of my lips.
 ⁷ Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf?
       Will you speak deceitfully for him?
 ⁸ Will you show him partiality?
       Will you argue the case for God?
 ⁹ Would it turn out well if he examined you?
       Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?
 ¹⁰ He would surely rebuke you
       if you secretly showed partiality.
 ¹¹ Would not his splendor terrify you?
       Would not the dread of him fall on you?
 ¹² Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
       your defenses are defenses of clay.
 ¹³ "Keep silent and let me speak;
       then let come to me what may.
 ¹⁴ Why do I put myself in jeopardy
       and take my life in my hands?
 ¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
       I will surely ^[a] defend my ways to his face.
 ¹⁶ Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
       for no godless man would dare come before him!
 ¹⁷ Listen carefully to my words;
       let your ears take in what I say.
 ¹⁸ Now that I have prepared my case,
       I know I will be vindicated.
 ¹⁹ Can anyone bring charges against me?
       If so, I will be silent and die.
 ²⁰ "Only grant me these two things, O God,
       and then I will not hide from you:
 ²¹ Withdraw your hand far from me,
       and stop frightening me with your terrors.
 ²² Then summon me and I will answer,
       or let me speak, and you reply.
 ²³ How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
       Show me my offense and my sin.
 ²⁴ Why do you hide your face
       and consider me your enemy?
 ²⁵ Will you torment a windblown leaf?
       Will you chase after dry chaff?
 ²⁶ For you write down bitter things against me
       and make me inherit the sins of my youth.
 ²⁷ You fasten my feet in shackles;
       you keep close watch on all my paths
       by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
 ²⁸ "So man wastes away like something rotten,
       like a garment eaten by moths.