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Reading Job chapters 20-23
Reading Job chapters 20-23
We need to remember as we read these chapters in Job, that this is not a theological debate about final judgment, eternal punishment, heaven, or hell. They are trying to decide why Job is undergoing such an ordeal. They are not discussing the afterlife, but rather THIS life, in particular, Job's life.
The three friends have basically repeated one main argument:
God punishes the wicked, meaning He does so NOW with temporal punishments).
God is punishing Job (which they take as self-evident).
Therefore, Job has been wicked.
You remember that such is NOT the situation. So far in the discussion, the friends have only implied and insinuated the wickedness, they have not given any specific acts of evil that Job has done. So here in chapter 20, Zophar again affirms that God punishes the wicked in this life: "the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment" (vs. 5). He lists some things that happen to the wicked in this life and concludes: "This is the wicked man's portion from God" (vs. 29).
Job points out that such is NOT always the situation with the wicked! If such WERE the case with the wicked, "Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power"? (21:7). Job then lists 'good' things that happen to those who are wicked. He is careful to point out that "the counsel of the wicked is far from me" (21:16), yet, he notes that God doesn't always punish the wicked in this life.
Eliphaz explodes in response by accusing Job of SPECIFIC acts of wickedness! The friends finally get down to brass tacks. The list indeed, if it were true, would show that Job is wicked and, as affirmed, God is punishing Job LESS than he deserved!
Job can easily answer this, and does. In chapter 31 we can see what God meant when He said of Job: Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (1:8). Chapter 31 is a great chapter to show what a blameless and upright man is like. It also gives great insight into what the people of the patriarchal age, understood about right and wrong. This was the age before the giving of the law of Moses to Israel, and yet the basics of right and wrong are alike. Even today, under the New Covenant, such basics of wrong and right are still true.
We live in an age of greater revelation. God has spoken unto us by His Son. God has shown us our destiny in Jesus Christ. God has given us assurance of His love in raising Jesus from the dead. God has given us the inspired scriptures that are "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". Yet, with such great privilege, we find few that are as righteous and blameless as was Job!
Paul wrote: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11–14).
If someone accused us, as Eliphaz did Job, could we respond and describe our lives as did Job? We should be able to.
Hugh DeLong
