February 27 / Job 27

Job 27

Yesterday Job spoke of God’s unsearchable greatness. Today Job continues his discourse, turning his attention back to himself — and holding that same Almighty God responsible for his afflictions. (v. 2) But it is all part of the same argument he is making in his own defense against his friends.

In Job 27:2-6, Job steadfastly continues to maintain his innocence. He refuses to say that the friends are right, maintaining that to do so would be to lie and to violate his integrity. (He is, of course, right about that. It is ironic that in urging Job to confess his sin, they are really urging him to make a false confession, which would itself be sin.) All of this argues strongly in favor of Job in that it shows how dearly Job holds his righteousness and integrity. He would not sacrifice it on the altar of public opinion and relief from his friends’ accusations. (By the way, Jesus says something similar in John 8:55: If I were to say that I do not know [the Father], I would be a liar…)

In Job 27:7-12, Job turns it all back onto his friends, only now he sees them as enemies. (At least, that’s how I read verse 7.) He wishes that they become as the wicked and suffer accordingly. And he asks whether God would hear their cry in their distress (v. 9), and whether they would continue to take delight in the Almighty and to call upon God at all times. (v. 10) (I rather doubt they would…)

Finally, in Job 27:13-23, Job describes the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage that oppressors receive from the Almighty. (v. 13) Interestingly, here Job’s description diverges from some of what he has said before. He does not describe the wicked as prospering and going through life without seeing any negative consequences for evil. Instead, his description is somewhat similar to what we have heard from Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. I find that curious. Perhaps he is acknowledging that the wicked eventually suffer consequences (though perhaps not as surely and swiftly as the friends contended), and so maybe he is backing off of his earlier “prosperity of the wicked” argument. But I doubt it. Instead, I am guessing that he is warning his friends (now considered enemies) of what will (or should) come their way with a “crime doesn’t pay” speech. In any case, he is reaffirming his own call to righteousness and his rejection of wickedness.

So, again, what about us? Do we steadfastly and wholeheartedly pursue righteousness? Do we treasure it and hold fast to it? Do we guard and protect our integrity with all our strength? Do we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? (Mt. 6:33) On the flip side, how do we regard sin? Do we utterly reject it in any form? Do we abhor it as God does? Or do we sometimes cozy up to sin, and treasure it instead of righteousness? Are we somehow casual about either righteousness or sin? Job certainly wasn’t casual about either one — and neither is God.