Read the Passage: Job 27-31

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Job 27-31

Integrity Maintained (27:1–23)

While the text reports that Job’s companions had initially sat in silence with him for seven days (cf. Job 2:13), it is not clear how long it took for the three cycles of debates, recorded in Job 3–26, to unfold. Whatever the chronology may have been, the anger of Job’s companions had surely increased, as had Job’s exasperation with his “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2). The five chapters that follow the cycles of speeches record Job’s summary defense. In chapter 27 Job maintained his innocence, as he wrote that he’d avoided both wickedness and deceit (cf. Job 27:4). Furthermore, Job affirmed his own integrity (cf. Job 27:5) and claimed to have a clear conscience (cf. Job 27:6). In Job 27:7–12 Job identified the key issue about which he and his friends disagreed to be whether or not wickedness always leads to suffering, with righteousness always resulting in blessing.

Job told his friends, “I will teach you about the hand of God” (Job 27:12). This is exactly what Job does in Job 27:13–23. Earlier in this book, on account of their belief that all suffering is caused by wickedness, each of Job’s friends had repeatedly asserted that his suffering was evidence of his sin (cf. Job 4:7–9; 8:3–6; 11:13–20). In response, Job had pointed out that on occasion the opposite is true—that is, sometimes the wicked prosper (cf. Job 21:1–16). Now, in Job 27:13–23, Job adopts a wider perspective, as he says that if the wicked prosper in the near-term, it is so that they can be judged in the long-run. Here Job notes that, for the wicked, this includes their families (cf. Job 27:14–15), their possessions (cf. Job 27:16–18), their houses (cf. Job 27:19–22), and their reputations (cf. Job 27:23). Indeed, blessings and curses must be viewed from God’s divine perspective.

Wisdom Valued (28:1–28)

Job 28 seems to be a commentary, of sorts, concerning Job’s own explanation about the eventual judgment of the wicked in Job 27:13–23. In short, here in Job 28, Job teaches about the importance of wisdom—a virtue he had just used to address his friends’ errant arguments related to his suffering. Job’s discourse on wisdom has three sections. First, in Job 28:1–11, Job speaks about gold and silver, and man’s ingenious abilities to search the earth to obtain them. Second, in Job 28:12–19, in contrast to precious metals, Job speaks about man’s inability to obtain wisdom by labor, as well as man’s failure to recognize the incomparable value of wisdom. Third, in Job 28:20–28, Job reveals the fact that wisdom can only be received from God. In concluding his discourse, Job teaches, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).

Biography Reviewed (29:1–31:40)

While Job 27–28 seems to be primarily addressed to Job’s friends, Job 29–31 is mainly directed toward God. In this passage Job reviews his past life (cf. Job 29), describes his present condition (cf. Job 30), and maintains his innocence (cf. Job 31). As he spoke about his past life, Job reminisced about God’s blessings being upon him (cf. Job 29:2–6), the respect he received in the community (cf. Job 29:7–11), his care for the poor and helpless (cf. Job 29:12–20), and the counsel he gave to all who asked (cf. Job 29:21–25). Yet, in contrast to this, Job described his present condition as entailing being mocked by fools and vile men (cf. Job 30:1–8), being taunted, spit upon, and terrorized (cf. Job 20:9–15), being in constant pain and discomfort (cf. Job 30:16–19), being ignored and opposed by God (cf. Job 30:20–23), and being on the verge of death (cf. Job 30:24–31).

Despite mourning over the loss of the blessings of his previous life, and while accepting the realities of his present condition, Job still maintained that his suffering was not the direct result of some hidden, heinous, personal sin. While Job has repeatedly asserted his innocence throughout this book, Job 31 contains Job’s strongest claim of being without guilt. In this chapter Job asserts that he is innocent in regard to his inner thoughts (cf. Job 31:1–4), acting in truth (cf. Job 31:5–6), covetousness (cf. Job 31:7–8), marriage (cf. Job 31:9–12), justice (cf. Job 31:13–15), compassion (cf. Job 31:16–23), materialism (cf. Job 31:24–25), false religion (cf. Job 31:26–28), love of others (cf. Job 31:29–32), secret sins (cf. Job 31:33–34), and even business practices (cf. Job 31:38–40). In Job 31:35–37, Job again asserts his desire to have an audience with God in order to discuss his sufferings.

Application Questions:

1. When you are unjustly accused, what is a proper reaction and response? Is it ever right to not defend yourself when slandered?
2. Given that Job’s friends were miserable counselors, how can we best comfort those who are suffering?
3. Why does God allow wicked people to prosper, while the righteous suffer, even if only temporarily?
4. What does it mean to fear the Lord? How can the fear of God be the beginning of wisdom (cf. Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10; 15:33)?
5. By proclaiming his innocence in Job 31, was Job asserting that he was completely blameless and without sin?