Job 29-31

Job’s Final Defense

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These 3 chapters might be my favorite in the book.  I keep going back to why God chose Job.

^1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Then God allowed Satan to take his children, his home, his money, his job, his respect, and his honor.  What does God say to Satan again:

^2:3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

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Chapter 29: Job now sits and recalls his ‘yesteryear’. He remembers the days before the conversation God had with Satan (that he does not know about).  Going down memory lane is a double-edged sword.  We remember the good times, but we sadly want those days again.  However, Job really is like no other man on earth, he STILL puts God at the top of his list.

The first “loss” he missed was his relationship with God:

“How I long for the months gone by,
    for the days when God watched over me,
³ when his lamp shone on my head
    and by his light I walked through darkness!

Keep reading down the chapter.  THEN his children, THEN his job, THEN his place in the community where he was a helper to the poor.  He remembers the days when he was not like the friends that do not comfort him: he was a comfort to others: “I sat like one who comforts mourners”

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Chapter 30:  This was a contrast from the end of 29 ‘Then verse Now’

• verse 1: “But now..
• verse 9: And wow…
• verse 16: “And now

Job gives a  final “defense”.  Read closely to really feel how awful, lonely,  and physically painful Job’s life is.  He is back to pleading his case before God.  He just wants to hear from God.

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Chapter 31:  THIS is my favorite chapter so far.  We do not interpret the Bible, scripture interprets scripture.  But I believe the Bible is a personal communication between the reader and God.  One verse means nothing to me, and it may rock your world.  That is God speaking to you.  For one brief moment, Job spoke my language “If/Then” (for those who do not know me, I am a middle school teacher).  However, it is not God that says “If/then”, it is Job.  He fully submits to the Lord “If I did this…Then I deserve…” (even more calamities than have already been be put on him)

If you have time (ha!  you do!) go back and circle the “Ifs” and underline the “Thens”.  He surrenders his past and says If I have done these…Then judge me even further”

Verse 1-12 (Do I Covet) Have my eyes gone astray? (Yes, I watched the Bridgertons last week!)

Verse 13-23 (Social Injustice)  Have I put myself first ignoring the poor? (I do not want my Christmas credit card bill)

Verse 24-28 (Idolorty) Is my security in my job, my money, my “stuff”.  (Is it hot in here or am I having a heat flash) 😞

Verse 29-34 (Pride that we are better than another) “I hope they get what they deserve” Oh the humanity!  Do you know what I deserve?

• • • ²⁹ “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune
          or gloated over the trouble that came to him—
      ³⁰ I have not allowed my mouth to sin
          by invoking a curse against their life—

Job throws himself on the mercy of the court  in front of the Judge and says: “THEN…”

• ¹⁰ then may my wife grind another man’s grain, 
      and may other men sleep with her.
• ²² then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
      let it be broken off at the joint.
• ²⁸ then these also would be sins to be judged,
      for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.
• ⁴⁰ then let briers come up instead of wheat  and stinkweed instead of barley.”

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The words of Job are ended.