Job: Tragedy, Repentance & Restoration – Part VII

Job’s friend Bildad, the “voice of tradition,” accused Job of being a sinner and that is why he is suffering so. We looked at this last time.

Two of my favorite chapters in Job are next. We’ll look at Job’s reply to Bildad. What’s so exciting is that Job asks questions that can only be fulfilled in the coming of the Meshiach: Jesus!

The Book of Job – Part VII: Job answers Bildad

Then Job answered, “In truth I know that this is so; but how can a man be in the right before God?” –Job 9:1-2.

Job starts by saying that he acknowledges some of what Bildad said. He then asks the first of several pivotal questions: “How can a man be in the right before God?” Answer: on your own, through your own righteousness, you cannot!

“If one wished to dispute with Him, he could not answer Him once in a thousand times. Wise in heart and mighty in strength, who has defied Him without harm?” –Job 9:3-4.

Many have tried to defy God. If never works in the end. Whether in this life or the next, you’ll have to answer for that yourself if you don’t have the Savior. Job wants answers to his questions, but he wants God to answer him.

“It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, when He overturns them in His anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun not to shine, and sets a seal upon the stars; who alone stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea.” –Job 9:5-8.

In these majestic passages, Job describes his knowledge of who God is as Creator and Master of the Universe. And while God is both, and deserving of our awe and worship, Job has yet to experience God’s mercy, care, and tenderness.

“Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; who does great things, unfathomable, and wondrous works without number.” –Job 9:9-10.

Here Job describes the constellations that are still with us today.

“Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.” –Job 9:11.

Job correctly describes God here as a spirit; the spirit that created all things.

“Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are you doing?’ God will not turn back His anger; beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab. How then can I answer Him, and choose my words before Him?” –Job 9:12-14.

“Rahab” was a mythological monster subdued by the pagan god Marduk. Job here is using a figurative expression for pride. Moreover, I think the problem today is that we–human beings in general–have lost a healthy respect for who God is. I think we take Him much too lightly and esteem Him not as we should. One day, the world will have a wake up call when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.” –Job 9:15-16.

Here is another hint of the role Jesus plays in the life of a believer. Though we may say we are righteous, we are guilty before God. Jesus takes upon Himself our sin and imputes His righteousness to us. Since Job is living on the other side of the cross, Job can’t believe that God is listening to him.

“For He bruises me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. He will not allow me to get my breath, but saturates me with bitterness. If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?” –Job 9:17-19.

In the first verse, Job incorrectly ascribes his suffering to God. Again, this is because he was not privy to the conversations between God and Satan as we, the readers, were. He then goes on to ask how would it be possible for him to plead his case before Almighty God. The questions are more rhetorical than inquisitive.

“Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.” –Job 9:20.

Here is another pivotal verse. Although Job acknowledges that he would not be able to stand before God, he has and will hold to the position that he’s really not a bad guy. It’s almost the same thing as saying: “But I’m a good person.” Even though God does have a high opinion of Job, Job acknowledges that if he were to stand before God, God would find something in his character that he’s not aware of and God will declare him guilty.

“I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.” –Job 9:21.

Job here is making a claim to being innocent by appealing to his unjust suffering and that he doesn’t even want to live anymore.

“It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’ If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?” –Job 9:22-24.

Job accuses God of being unfair and unjust. He asks the question “if it’s not God that has caused this, who did?” The answer is really Satan. But Job doesn’t know that at this point.

“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good. They slip by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops on its prey. Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’ I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.” –Job 9:25-28.

He says that even if he tries to forget everything that has happened, gets happy and tries to be cheerful, He knows that God will still condemn him.

“I am accounted wicked, why then should I toil in vain? If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, yet You would plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes would abhor me.” –Job 9:29-31.

Job has come to conclusion that God has declared him guilty. Even if he tries to “get clean” on his own, God would still send him into the pit and even his own clothes would hate him.

Job cries out for Jesus (he just doesn’t know it)

“For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, that we may go to court together. There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both.” –Job 9:32-33.

From the depths of his soul, Job cries out for a mediator between God and himself. At this point in time, there is no true mediator that understands the deep longing and need for a Savior. Jesus is the answer to the question Job seeks. Jesus is our mediator. Jesus is our High Priest that offers Himself as sacrifice to pay for our sins! (1 Timothy 2:5).

At this point in history, there was no priesthood yet. The law hadn’t been given yet. There were rudimentary offerings and sacrifices, but no God-given procedures to cover the sins of the people, the Mosaic law.

“Let Him remove His rod from me, and let not dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him; but I am not like that in myself. I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.” –Job 9:34-10:1.

Since Job has no mediator and no viable way to plead his case, he is going to simple cry out in his bitterness, pain, and humiliation. Now, he will really get worked up about his situation.

“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; let me know why You contend with me.’” –Job 10:2.

Before the book of Job is finished, God will answer this question. We all would do well to pay attention to the answer.

“‘Is it right for You indeed to oppress, to reject the labor of Your hands, and to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked?’” –Job 10:3.

Job is puzzled by his suffering (a good guy) while the wicked (the bad guy) don’t appear to be suffering. This is a question that all of us have wrestled with at one time or another.

“‘Have You eyes of flesh? Or do You see as a man sees?’” –Job 10:4.

He wants to know if God really can understand (“see”) his plight. The answer has always been “yes.” Even more so for us who live on this side of the cross. We have the benefit now of God coming to earth in the flesh to experience life as we experience it. God does know what you are going through and feels the pain you do. He understands your problems better than you ever could.

“‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal, or Your years as man’s years, that You should seek for my guilt and search after my sin? According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty, yet there is no deliverance from Your hand.’” –Job 10:5-7.

Like the defendant at a trial, Job now gets on the stand to begin to defend himself. In “The Shawshank Redemption,” there was a running joke among the inmates when new arrivals would ask “what you in for?” The answer was “we’re all innocent here.” The character Andy Dufresne was framed and falsely imprisoned. He suffered for many years in that prison. Assuming he was a real person, would he be righteous before God? No, he wouldn’t because we are all sinners.

The lesson that Job needs to be taught (at least one of them) is humility. We are starting to see some prideful statements being made by Job and that is a problem in God’s eyes.

“‘Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, and would You destroy me? Remember now, that You have made me as clay; and would You turn me into dust again? Did You not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese; clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews?’” –Job 10:8-11.

Job is describing the wondrous care and love God shows us while we are in the womb of our mother.

“‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness; and Your care has preserved my spirit. Yet these things You have concealed in Your heart; I know that this is within You: if I sin, then You would take note of me, and would not acquit me of my guilt. If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery. Should my head be lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion; and again You would show Your power against me.” –Job 10:12-16.

He acknowledges God’s lovingkindness and care toward him. However, he says that God is quick to find his sin and his faults. He describes God as someone who is always ready to find you out; to find the bad in you.

“‘You renew Your witnesses against me and increase Your anger toward me; hardship after hardship is with me. Why then have you brought me out of the womb? Would that I had died and no eye had seen me! I should have been as though I had not been, carried from womb to tomb.’” –Job 10:17-19.

Here ends the long statement that Job says he would say to God that began back in 10:2. Job again says that he wishes he had not been born or still-born “womb to tomb.”

“Would He not let my few days alone? Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer before I go–and I shall not return–to the land of darkness and deep shadow, the land of utter gloom as darkness itself, of deep shadow without order, and which shines as the darkness.” –Job 10:20-22.

Job wants God to leave him alone so he can “have a little cheer” before he dies. From the sweeping and majestic descriptions of God’s might and power as Creator, Job now goes back into the dark place of gloom and doom.

We’re starting to see what’s behind the curtain in Job’s life. We’re starting to see some weeds growing in Job’s life that God needs to root out. So often, pain, trials, and suffering are God’s way of pruning away the dead branches from our lives so new growth can spring up.

Next time we’ll see Zophar’s first talk with Job. He is the last of Job’s three friends and he is “the legalist.”

May He Increase!