Job
Where is Wisdom Found
“Where is wisdom found?†is Job’s key question (vv. 12, 20). To answer his own question he states that it can not be found among the living (vv. 13-14). Job asked this question because he was weary of the cliches and platitudes that his three friends were giving …
Job Complains to God
In this chapter we find Job approaching God from four different ways:He challenged God (vv. 1-7) – Since he could not find someone to represent him, he decides to become his own defense attorney. He decides to vent his complaint, even if it kills him.He reminds God (vv. 8-12) – H …
Job Asks if Humans Will Live Again
In this passage, Job turns from the confidence that he could win his court case against God to a complaint about life’s futility and death’s certainty. He says that life is brief and full of trouble (v. 1). There is nothing any truer than that; trouble is the common denomin…
Job Concludes His Self Defense
Have you coveted wealth or been proud of what you possess (vv. 24-28)? How do you respond to the suffering of an enemy (vv. 29-30) or the needs of a stranger (vv. 31-34)? Job states that he is ready for God to listen and answer him (vv. 35-37). He was so confident of his innocence …
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
In his third speech, Elihu attempted to refute Job’s argument that righteousness avails nothing. Job had claimed to have done no wrong and that he was righteous before God, but that had made no difference (vv. 1-3). In other words, he would have been just as well off, had he …
Job Complains to God
When people suffer so much that their “spirit is broken†they often lose their “fight’ and want life to end (vv. 1-2). It seems this may have been the way Job felt as he sensed that death may be very near. His friends were against him and would not go to c …
Zophar’s Second Speech
Zophar is the last man to speak in this round. I suppose today we would say that Zophar has the scientific mind. He thinks you pour life into the test tube and it will always come out a certain way. Ignoring Job’s plea for pity, Zophar merely reacts against what he considers…
Job Wished He Could Die
This chapter records the first great outpouring of complaint by Job, and not one of his visitors, that broke the seven days of silence. As he spoke, it was not with a casual greeting to his friends or small talk. His former positive manner has turned to bitterness, his pati …
Why is Life so Hard?
In this chapter Job talks to God about the seeming futility of his life. He questions as to why God should keep him alive. What is all this suffering accomplishing? Job says, “If I am a great sinner, either pardon my sins or take my life. Either way I will find some pe …
God’s Control Over His Creation
God asked Job several questions about the animal kingdom in order to demonstrate how limited Job’s knowledge was. God was not seeking answers from Job. Instead He was getting Job to recognize and submit to God’s power and sovereignty. Only then could he hear what God …