Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Study No.23                  Passage: Job 26:1-14        

Title: Job 9 – God is mysterious

A. Find Out

1. What had Bildad done, according to Job's cynicism? v.2,3

2. What point does Job make about death? v.5,6

3. List the things Job says God has done in v.7-13

4. How does he describe that list? v.14a

5. Yet what does he say about the Lord? v.14b,c

B. Think:

1. How would you describe what Job says in v.2-4?

2. What is the point being made in v.5,6?

3. And what point does he make in the rest of the chapter?

C. Comment:

  Job's cynicism is blatant! He implies he is powerless & feeble (v.2) and without wisdom (v.3) so when he asks what help Bildad has brought he is being utterly cynical. You haven't helped at all is what he is saying! ‘Wherever did you dredge up that lot' (v.4), a modern person might say. Previously he had spoken about the Lord taking away the wicked (24:22-24) and then Bildad had made such a cursory response as to almost be not worth speaking. Look, says Job, there is a great mystery in anything pertaining to God and the afterlife.

We believe, he says, there is an afterlife that is very uncertain (v.5) and this causes anguish and worry about what follows, but it doesn't do that to God because everything about death is an open book to Him (v.6). There is no mystery to God for He has made the world (v.7), and the way it works (v.8,9). He determines the boundaries of the world and the skies (v.10) and when He speaks His power stirs up everything (v.11,12a) and there is no creature that can stand before Him (v.12b,13). But from our perspective these are just the tip of the iceberg of His activities (v.14a) and when He speaks we hear but a faint whisper (v.14b) so who can possibly understand this power, this way of speaking (v.14c)? What is Job's message? Well, we can go on and on about God but really the truth is that we know so little of Him and we understand so little of His activities. Let's keep a right perspective!

D. Application:

1. We know sufficient of God to build our faith.

2. We know so little as to create awe and worship in us.

Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Study No.25                  Passage: Job 27:1-6         

Title: Job 9 - I am righteous

Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Study No.26                  Passage: Job 27:7-12       

Title: Job 9 - the hopeless godless

 A. Find Out

1. How does Job view his enemies? v.7

2. What happens to the godless? v.8

3. What happens when he gets in trouble? v.9

4. What isn't he like? v.10

5. What does Job say he will do? v.11

6. How does he appeal to his friends? v.12

B. Think:

1. Why are people Job's enemies according to v.7?

2. Why is he chiding them?

3. What do you think he is implying in this passage?

C. Comment:

Job has just made that mighty assertion of the truth – that he is righteous. In that he is denying the declarations of his ‘friends' that he has sinned. In that they have appeared as his enemies or adversaries (v.7) and he calls them wicked and unjust. If he IS referring to his friends this is a strong indictment for he goes on then to call them godless (v.8). He has hope in God and in his own righteousness but what hope would they have if they were cut off in a similar manner?

A feature of godlessness is quite obvious: an absence of relationship with the Lord, and these men never seem to call on the Lord, they appear to have no relationship with Him and so if they got into distressing circumstances would God listen to them? (v.9) Do the godless delight in the Lord? (v.10) Of course not, that is why they are godless. In their relationship with Him do they call on Him regularly? Of course not!

Look, says Job, I have such a relationship (implied) and so I will tell you about His power and His ways (v.11). You have seen this, you know the truth, you know of my relationship with the Lord, so why are you going on like this? (v.12). Yes, there is the truth. Job's life before all this had happened had been an open book. It was obvious that he was a righteous man, so all this talk of his implied sins and his godlessness is clearly rubbish!

D. Application:

1. Don't despise the righteous – especially those more pious than you!

2. Don't look to find faults. Praise God where you see righteousness.

Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Study No.27                  Passage: Job 27:13-23      

Title: Job 9 - fate of the wicked

A. Find Out

1. Of whom and what does Job now speak? v.13

2. What will happen to their families? v.14,15

3. What happens to his riches? v.16,17

4. What happens to his home? v.18,19

5. What ultimately happens to him? v.20-23

B. Think:

1. What main point is Job making in these verses?

2. Why do you think he is making them – see before.

3. Why is it more emotion than truth?

C. Comment:

We said previously that in his defence Job was subtly implying that his friends were godless adversaries and it seems as if this passage is more an emotional warning to them than anything else. He is talking about the wicked (v.13). Why? Surely because he wants to warn them against this path, but the thing about it is that, as Job himself has said previously, it isn't always like this. Often the wicked do seem to get away with it this side of death. So he ploughs on with the emotional outpouring against the wicked.

Their children will suffer because of them (v.14) and those who follow in the family will die of disease (v.15), presumably because of the hand of God on them. The wicked can pile up riches (v.16) and have heaps of clothes, yet they will be taken by others (v.17). His house will be a temporary structure and will not last (v.18). He may be wealthy one minute (v.19) but the next minute it is all gone. Disaster will come like a flood without warning (v.20) and his possessions and his very life will be snatched away. It will be like a strong wind coming (v.21) that will carry him away and with no mercy he will just be swept powerlessly before it (v.22) as it, with no thought or feeling, takes him (v.23).

These are strong words creating strong pictures of judgement which cannot be withstood. As we've noted, they don't happen to all but they do happen to some and the ‘some' will be the godless who do not have God's protection, so be warned, he says.

D. Application:

1. Judgement from God does come in this world sometimes.

2. The lesson is simply to live as to avoid this if possible,

Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Study No.28                  Passage: Job 28:1-21        

Title: Job 9 - mining for wisdom

A. Find Out

1. What things that are mined does Job now speak about? v.1-6

2. How is man's activity unique? v.7-11

3. But what question does it raise in Job's mind? v.12,20

4. Where does it not come from? v.13-16

5. What do not compare with it? v.17-19

6. What does he conclude about it? v.21

B. Think:

1. What are the first 11 verses all about?

2. What are they set off against and what point is being made?

3. Why is wisdom a mystery?

C. Comment:

Job is eventually going to make the point that wisdom comes from the Lord and from knowing Him. He has just spoken about the wicked and the godless who obviously don't have wisdom, and so he starts speculating about this rare commodity. He starts by considering the efforts that mankind expend in mining precious materials (v.1-11): gold, (v.1), iron & copper (v.2) and sapphires (v.6). To obtain these things mankind mines & refines (v.1), smelts (v.2), digs deep (v.3-5), goes to depths where no other creatures go (v.7,8), digs deep in mountains (v.9), breaks through rock (v.10) and even sifts in rivers (v.11). Such is the incredible activity of mankind seeking precious rocks.

But what about something like wisdom (v.12,20)? Where can that be found? Generally people don't realise its worth (v.13a) and it is not easily found (v.13b), not in the depths of the land or sea (v.14), not purchased by gold or silver (v.15,16). It doesn't compare with precious materials (v.17-19), so where does it come from? It seems to be hidden from sight (v.21).

These are the pictures and questions that Job as a good teacher sets up before us to make us start thinking about wisdom, this elusive commodity which is found only, it seems, with the utmost difficulty.

D. Application:

1. How often do you think about wisdom, knowledge and understanding?

    Are these things you value?

2. How often do we think?

Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Study No.29                  Passage: Job 28:22-29      

Title: Job 9 - ultimate wisdom

A. Find Out:

1. Who (or what) else doesn't really know about wisdom? v.22

2. But who does know? v.23

3. Why does He? v.24

4. When did He fully understand it? v.25-27

5. What did He decree is wisdom? v.28a

6. And how is understanding expressed? v.28b

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Death is personified here?

2. How and why is nothing hidden from the Lord?

3. What do you think is the meaning of verse 28?

C. Comment:

Job has just been speaking about how wisdom is such an elusive thing. Even when you go into death (he implies) you will be no wiser from the experience (v.22); that is not the path to wisdom. No, only the Lord knows what wisdom is (v.23), because wisdom ultimately means the knowledge of how things work, what is right, and He alone knows this because He sees absolutely everything (v.24). Indeed when He created it all (v.25,26). He looked at it all, how it worked well and it was very good (see Gen 1:31 ) and He checked out everything (v.27) and ensured it worked just right.

Thus He is able to say to mankind wisdom is having a respect for God (v.28) that He is the Almighty Creator of all things, a respect that He is unique, He is holy, unlike anyone or anything else, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, all wise. This knowledge and the acceptance of it in reverential fear (which comes with the recognition that there is no one else like Him), this is wisdom! And when we understand that, when we perceive the reality of it, then we will live according to His way and avoid all evil, which is contrary to Him and His way.

This is an amazing revelation, if indeed this is the earliest book of the Bible! Job has a revelation of God; he understands something of who He is, and he thus knows what true wisdom is.

D. Application:

1. True wisdom is knowing the Lord and worshipping Him.

2. True wisdom brings understanding which impacts all of life.

Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Study No.                  Passage: Job 26:1 – 28:29      

Title:    Synopsis of Job's Final Speech (Part 1)

Chapter 26

Job implies he is powerless & feeble (v.2) and without wisdom (v.3) so when he asks what help Bildad has brought he is being cynical. ‘Wherever did you dredge up that lot' (v.4), a modern person might say.

We believe, he says, there is an afterlife that is very uncertain (v.5) and this causes anguish and worry about what follows, but it doesn't do that to God because everything about death is an open book to Him (v.6). There is no mystery to God for He has made the world (v.7), and the way it works (v.8,9). He determines the boundaries of the world and the skies (v.10) and when He speaks His power stirs up everything (v.11,12a) and there is no creature that can stand before Him (v.12b,13). But from our perspective these are just the tip of the iceberg of His activities (v.14a) and when He speaks we hear but a faint whisper (v.14b) so who can possibly understand this power? (v.14c)

Job seems to make an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives.” (v.2a). But then describes the Lord – as one who has denied him justice (v.2b). He has made Job “taste bitterness of soul.” (v.2c). Then he adds to it, “as long as I have breath in me ” (v.3) i.e. I'm just going to keep on and on saying this! He determines that he will not speak anything wrong (v.4) and so he will never admit they are right when they accuse him of sin (5). The positive side of that is that he will always maintain that he is righteous (v.6a) because he has a clear conscience (v.6b).

  Job maintains his friends have appeared as his enemies or adversaries (v.7) and he calls them wicked and unjust. He goes on then to call them godless (v.8). He has hope in God and in his own righteousness but what hope would they have if they were cut off in a similar manner? A feature of godlessness is quite obvious: an absence of relationship with the Lord, and these men never seem to call on the Lord, they appear to have no relationship with Him and so if they got into distressing circumstances would God listen to them? (v.9) Do the godless delight in the Lord? (v.10) No, that is why they are godless. In their relationship with Him, do they call on Him regularly? No!

  Look, says Job, I have such a relationship (implied) and so I will tell you about His power and His ways (v.11). You have seen this, you know the truth, you know of my relationship with the Lord, so why are you going on like this? (v.12).   Job is talking about the wicked (v.13). Their children will suffer because of them (v.14) and those who follow in the family will die of disease (v.15), presumably because of the hand of God on them. The wicked can pile up riches (v.16) and have heaps of clothes, yet they will be taken by others (v.17). His house will be a temporary structure and will not last (v.18). He may be wealthy one minute (v.19) but the next minute it is all gone. Disaster will come like a flood without warning (v.20) and his possessions and his very life will be snatched away. It will be like a strong wind coming (v.21) that will carry him away and with no mercy he will just be swept powerlessly before it (v.22) as it, with no thought or feeling, takes him (v.23). These are strong words creating strong pictures of judgement which cannot be withstood. As we've noted, they don't happen to all but they do happen to some and the ‘some' will be the godless who do not have God's protection, so be warned, he says.

Chapter 28 – about Wisdom

  Job is eventually going to make the point that wisdom comes from the Lord and from knowing Him. He has just spoken about the wicked and the godless who obviously don't have wisdom, and so he starts speculating about this rare commodity. He starts by considering the efforts that mankind expend in mining precious materials (v.1-11): gold, (v.1), iron & copper (v.2) and sapphires (v.6). To obtain these things mankind mines & refines (v.1), smelts (v.2), digs deep (v.3-5), goes to depths where no other creatures go (v.7,8), digs deep in mountains (v.9), breaks through rock (v.10) and even sifts in rivers (v.11). Such is the incredible activity of mankind seeking precious rocks.

  But what about something like wisdom (v.12,20)? Where can that be found? Generally people don't realise its worth (v.13a) and it is not easily found (v.13b), not in the depths of the land or sea (v.14), not purchased by gold or silver (v.15,16). It doesn't compare with precious materials (v.17-19), so where does it come from? It seems to be hidden from sight (v.21).

Even when you go into death (he implies) you will be no wiser from the experience (v.22); that is not the path to wisdom. No, only the Lord knows what wisdom is (v.23), because wisdom ultimately means the knowledge of how things work, what is right, and He alone knows this because He sees absolutely everything (v.24). Indeed when He created it all (v.25,26). He looked at it all, how it worked well and was very good (see Gen 1:31 ) and He checked out everything (v.27) and ensured it worked just right. Thus He is able to say to mankind, wisdom is having a respect for God (v.28) that He is the Almighty Creator of all things, a respect that He is unique, He is holy, unlike anyone or anything else, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, all wise.

Book: The Questions of Job (Job, chapters 15-31)

Series 2 of 3 in Job: Part 4 of 5: Chapters 26-28   

Title: RECAP 4: "Job's Final Speech (1)” : ch. 26-28

SUMMARY :  

In this fourth group of 6 studies we have seen Job:

- declaring it is foolish to speak definitely about mysterious things of God,

- making a defence of his own righteousness,

- accusing his friends of godlessness and warning of the folly of such,

- warning of the consequences of wickedness,

- comparing searching for wisdom with searching for precious materials,

- declaring that true wisdom is knowing the Lord and revering Him.

COMMENT:

Job starts the first half of this last speech (or possibly series of mini-speeches) as a response to the three friends who, he feels, have not done a good job in helping him. The things of God are largely a mystery he maintains, but one thing he knows and that is that he is righteous. In their attacking him they need to be careful for they have appeared godless and such people are answerable to the Lord. There is an implication that they lack wisdom, for true wisdom is having a fearful respect for the Lord and living accordingly.

LESSONS?

1. We must be careful how we speak – and not judge people.

2. We shouldn't be afraid to declare the righteousness we have.

3. We should be aware of the meaning of wickedness and godlessness and

    the fruits that come with them.

4. True wisdom is acknowledging the Lord's greatness.

PRAY :

  Worship the Lord who is supreme.

PART 4 : Job's final speech (2) – chapters 29-31

Job concludes by simply summarising what has happened – how life used to be, what has happened, and how he now is. The final chapter is a full blown defence that declares his righteousness. He refuses to take on false guilt and refuses to acknowledge that he has sinned in a whole range of ways. It is a powerful declaration.