These chapters cover Job’s last lines of defense he offers in rebuttal to Bildad and by extension to his other two friends as well.
Job sees himself in favorable light which appears to be a bit larger-than-real-life depiction.
Regardless of all this, Job has sunk into a type of pride from which God is about to deliver him by a most unlikely source!
Continue reading
The arguments defending individual positions continue. We begin with Job’s reply to Eliphaz. Then Bildad’s short response, followed again by Job’s long retort.
One argument of Job’s which is somewhat representative of all his arguments is that God cannot be found or approached so he can defend himself. He can see where God has been and what He has done, but cannot hear His voice which must be softer than a whisper!
Continue reading
The escalating disagreement between Job and his friends takes another turn here in chapters 20-22. Job begins to express his frustration at God, Who – in Job’s opinion – not only fails to judge the wicked, but in many instances actually blesses them in their sin.
His friends Eliphaz and Zophar agrue to the contrary and continue to insist that if Job were not in sin, or if he would humble himself and repent this obvious judgment of God over him would end.
Job and his friends are BOTH right AND wrong as we discover from other scriptures which place these arguments into a context which reveals God’s actions and intentions.
Continue reading
These are some interesting chapters from which we get some common phrases such as “gnashing teeth”, “Skin of teeth” & “I know my Redeemer lives”.
In regard to this last phrase, this original context bares little in common with its typical usage, but reveals a deeper side to Job’s thoughts on God.
Continue reading
It is revealed in these chapters that Job has moved from hurt, to confused, to frustrated only to arive now at anger. Even his words to and about God are spoken with the flash of anger in his eyes according to Eliphaz.
One can hardly blame Job OR his friends for that matter. They simply have no context for what is happening. So for now, an ongoing blame game is the basis and content of all their arguments.
A good take away from these chapters is that silence is golden and words spoken without understanding nearly always lead to sin.
Continue reading