Adult Class
Job
Lesson 7
Job 29-31
Job has answered his friends and shown that wisdom for life is found only in God. The conventional, traditional wisdom based on observation of the world just does not apply in his case. Now Job takes a shocking and bold step. He swears an oath that presumes a response from God. Either God will activate the curses for which Job calls, or God will be forced to clear him of wrongdoing.
Job's former days-Job 29
Job is ashamed of his fall from prominence. In the past, when God was his friend, Job had a wonderful life. He took his place in the city gate, where business and government was administered. There, he was important. In the presence of Job the princes demanded silence by putting their own hands to their mouths. Job was greatly respected.
He was respected because he was righteous. His list of good deeds touches on the long-standing conventions of goodness. He helped the poor and cared for the widow and the orphan, being merciful to the most unfortunate of society. When the stranger was called into court, Job stood as his advocate, ensuring justice for the friendless and even punishing the vicious. Job was a good man.
Because of all these acts of righteousness, Job considered himself secure. He was like a tree planted near a source of good water (compare Psalm 1:1-3). The circumstances might buffet him slightly, but his security was based on depth of his relationship with God. There was no reason to suspect that his life might be anything but strong and vigorous to the end.
In fact, Job was a source of blessing to others. People cherished his favor. His acknowledgement was a source of great pleasure. People deferred to him and made him their chief. This was Job's life before his calamity, and he is mourning the loss of all this.
It is natural to grieve the loss of all kinds of things: health, wealth, status, family. People who deny their grief or refuse to work through it create huge problems for themselves later. Job has poured out his heart to his friends and to God. Now he takes up a very formally constructed lament.
Job's lament-Job 30
The lament divides into three parts. The first part (30:1-15) revolves around the idea of disgrace. When Job smiled, people loved it! Now that he is in terrible pain, they “smile” at him in mockery, deriding him. There is something in human beings that loves to torment those who have been powerful and have been brought low-even though the formerly great may have done nothing to the tormentor.
Job knows these people. They are worthless and always have been. They come from despicable ancestry, yet they look down on him! These people were outcasts from society. Everywhere they went they were shouted at, run out of town and accused of thievery or worse. They are people who possess no honor and have no name to be respected. These are the people who now mock Job and spit on him. They enjoy tormenting him now that he has been brought low.
The second part of the lament (30:16-23) deals with Job's accusation against God. Job is in pain always, as if God had grabbed him by the neck and bound him tightly. Job has been disgraced and humiliated, as if a strong man had picked him up and thrown him into the mud-the filth that collected in every ancient street.
Job calls out to God, yet God is silent. Then suddenly God is active-as an enemy of Job! It is as if Job has been caught by a great whirlwind, tossed out of control. He is certain that he is headed for death.
The third part of the lament (30:24-31) deals with the very real grief and sorrow suffered by Job. He calls for help, yet God answers by renewing His attacks against Job. Job declares that he has treated people better than God is treating him-a thing that was considered impossible. Job discusses his constant pain, the discoloration and fragmentation of his skin, and his animal-like moans of pain. No thought can dwell in his mind except thoughts of sadness and loss. He is in extreme agony of mind and body.
Job's oath of innocence-Job 31
This chapter is a formal call for God to execute justice. Either Job must be made to suffer the curses for which he calls, or he must be declared innocent. God's silence on the subject will be considered an acquittal, since Job has tied his punishment to specific sins.
In fact, Job lists 14 specific, heinous, sins of the ancient world, according to commentator John Hartley. Job affirms his innocence in every one of these and offers his own comments on the terrible nature of these sins. His oath is laced with comments aside (verses 6, 18, 30) that strengthen his position. Job knows right from wrong and has been diligent to pursue the right.
He plainly says that he has acted in an upright fashion precisely because he fears God (compare Nehemiah 5:15 for a similar sentiment)! If he has acted in all these ways and maintained his righteousness, it seems clear that there is no reason for him to have suffered in this extreme manner.
With the end of the lament, Job ceases his comments. The matter has been explored and now it is up to God to answer him or acquit him. This is the culmination of a demand Job made in 13:22. To this point, God has not spoken, so Job has taken the matter into his own hands. It is daring to confront God in this manner, but Job feels desperate and he has little to lose.