Job 17
Job continues his complaint. In the previous verse (Job 16:22), Job “optimistically” gave himself a few years to live, but he immediately corrects himself here and says his days are extinct. (v. 1)
Even though Job continues to see God as his Tormentor, he also appears to appeal to Him as a Judge against his so-called friends. (Job 17:3-6) So it seems that in some way Job expects God to decide things justly, that God will not let his taunters come out on top. He also appears to suggest that, although he has become a mockery to most, perhaps there are a few upright who object to his treatment. (Job 17:8) On the other hand, he looks around at his friends and says, I shall not find a wise man among you. (Job 17:10)
Job ends the chapter somewhat as he began, with an expectation of death, of going to Sheol. He asks,
If I hope for Sheol as my house,
Job 17:13-16
if I make my bed in darkness,
if I say to the pit, “You are my father,”
and to the worm, “My mother,” or “My sister,”
where then is my hope?
Who will see my hope?
Will it go down to the bars of Sheol?
Shall we descend together into the dust?
One could take that as an expression of despair, but I see a hint (at least) of ongoing hope, an appeal that his hope should not die, that, in fact, it would be improper (and unjust) for his hope to thus descend to the Pit. Job does not yet have the Good News of Jesus Christ. He does not yet know of the Resurrection. He does not yet have the living hope we have:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I Peter 1:3-5
Thank you, John, for consistently sharing your insights into the chapters and verses we read in the book of Job. Much of it is difficult to understand, especially line by line, verse by verse. Thank you for helping us to see the bigger picture!
There are some deep thoughts in these few verses: Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor? You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them. If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail. (Job 17:3-5; Berean Study Bible) John has commented on these verses; let me add my own thoughts. Essentially Job is asking God to shut his friends down. They have no understanding; God should not exalt them! That last verse is powerful – if a person denounces his friends for the sake of his own gain, then he should see punishment in the form of his own children suffering. That is, making myself look good by making my friend look bad – that’s a really wrong way to behave!! Folks, it’s really important for us to seek the Holy Spirit in all that we do. If we find fault with another person, we need to first ask God to guide us into truth, to see that person as God sees him or as God sees his actions. Then, only with Holy Spirit guidance can we begin to judge another’s behavior. Test the spirits…!! Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God… (I John 4a)