"Job's Accountability Questions Part 3"
Introduction:
Segway—
Background—
A. CONTEXT FOR THE BOOK OF JOB
——OVERVIEW——
I. Prologue (narrative) ch. 1-2
A. HIS PROSPERITY (1:1-5)
B. HIS ADVERSITY (1:6-2:13)
C. HIS PERPLEXITY (3)
II. Dialogue (poetry) ch. 3-42
A. Three rounds of “debate”
Eliphaz, Bildad, & Zophar
1st Round (4-14)
1. Eliphaz (4-5) Job's reply (6-7)
2. Bildad (8)_Job's reply (9-10)
3. Zophar (11)_Job's reply (12-14)
2nd Round (15-21)
1. Eliphaz (15)_Job's reply (16-17)
2. Bildad (18)_Job's reply (19)
3. Zophar (20)_Job's reply (21)
3rd Round (22-37)
1. Eliphaz (22)_Job's reply (23-24)
2. Bildad (25)_Job's reply (26-31)
3. No Zophar
B. Elihu’s speech
1. Contradicting Job's friends (32)
2. Contradicting Job himself (33)
3. Proclaiming God's justice, goodness, and majesty (34-37)
C. God humbles Job (38:1-42:6)
1. Through questions too great to answer (38:1-41:34)
2. Job acknowledges his inability to understand (42:1-6)
III. Epilogue (narrative) ch. 42
GOD HONORS JOB (42:7-17)
1. God rebukes his critics (42:7-10)
2. God restores his wealth (42:11-17)
B. CONTEXT FOR CHAPTER 31
Context of Job 31
29: Job remembers his happy past
30: Job describes his present humiliation
31: Job defends his innocence & looks ahead to God's vindication.
32–37: Elihu rbukes Job and friends and affirms God's justice.
C. CONTEXT FOR TODAY'S PASSAGE
---It is clear that Job knows that one is accountable not only for overt acts of sin but also for contemplating immoral behavior and cherishing cruel, vengeful thoughts against others. —John E Hartley in NICOT
---...sin lies in the inward intentions of the heart, and not just in the outward act. —D. A Carson in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition
! Mark the If's in chapter 31.
1. Lust/looking (1-4)
2. Integrity/honesty (4-8)
3. Seduction/adultery (9-12)
4. Respect/fairness (13-15)
5. Charity/generosity (16-23)
6. Coveting/idolatry (24-28)
7. Malice/"ill will" (29-32)
8. Secret sins/hypocrisy (33-37)
9. Injustice/oppression (38-40)
These are ...
...not just historical of cultural curiosities.
...not irrelevant to the New Testament believer.
Some of the particulars may have changed in their application, but the core values still stand.
C. REVIEW
1. Lust/looking (1-4)
1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?
2 For what is the allotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked,
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 Does He not see my ways,
And count all my steps?
"...if a man wishes to maintain purity of life, he must make just such a covenant as this with himself" —Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament
God is omniscient and just.
Proverbs 24:12
If you say, “Surely we did not know this,
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
“The fear of the Lord is the awareness that God is
watching, weighing, and rewarding
all that I do, say, or think.”
- - - - - - -- - - - - - - -
2. Integrity/honesty (4-8)
5 “If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way,
Or my heart walked after my eyes,
Or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then let me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.
God is holy and true.
Think about and focus on what lasts.
And the world is passing away,
and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. John 2:17
- - - - - - -- - - - - - - -
3. Seduction/adultery (9-12)
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 Then let my wife grind for another,
And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
And would root out all my increase.
God is faithful and pure.
Don’t be a fool!
Drink water from your own cistern,
And running water from your own well.
Proverbs 5:15
4. Respect/fairness (13-15)
13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
A. The meaning—(13)
13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,
despised מאס Strong's H3988 - ma'ac mä·as' (Qal) 1) to reject, refuse 2) to despise
YLT, KJV, NKJV—despised the cause; NASB—despised the claim; ESV—denied the claim;
NIV—denied justice to; NLT—been unfair to
The word "despised" seems unthinkable when we see it, but our attitudes can drift in that direction with an imperceptible ease that should cause great caution.
cause משפט Strong's H4941 - mishpat mish·pät'
judgment, justice, ordinance
judgment
act of deciding a case
place, court, seat of judgment
process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
case, cause (presented for judgment)
Complained ריב Strong's H7379 - riyb rēb 1) strife, controversy, dispute a) strife, quarrel b) dispute, controversy, case at law
(with, against, to me)
YLT—contending with me; KJV—contended with me;
NASB—filed a complaint against me; NKJV—they complained against me; ESV—brought a complaint against me; NIV—had a grievance against me; NLT—brought their complaints to me
Job saw his position as a dispenser of God's justice as more important than his feelings, pride, or personal interests. This stands in contrast to his times and to human nature.
I am afraid that we forget what a leader is. Too often, we loose our generous nature and sense of nobility as God's regents and then become selfish, petty, and harsh.
"The goodness of a man or a woman is often best indicated by how they treat those thought to be inferior to them, not how they treat their person those thought to be superior to them." —David Guzik in The Enduring Word Commentary Series
TE: What motivates someone to care about what his or her subordinates thought or felt?
B. Because of who God is. (14)
14 What then shall I do when God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
God rises up
...in that time of judgment God, either as a judge or witness, will rise (qûm) to their defense… —John E Hartley in NICOT
This reminds me of the famous parent quote, "Do I need to get up and come over there?"
It is not a matter of if God will act, but when.
punishes פקד Strong's H6485 - paqad pä·kad'
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for
a) (Qal)
1) to pay attention to, observe
2) to attend to 3) to seek, look about for 4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack
5) to visit
6) to visit upon, punish
7) to pass in review, muster, number 8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit
is "me" or "I" in there"
KJV—visiteth
NASB—calls me to account; NIV—called to account
NKJV—punishes
YLT—inspect; ESV—makes inquiry; NLT—questioned me
Ephesians 6
5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
Colossians 4:1
Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
If we do not get it right with our employees or subordinates, God will overturn our verdict and dispense the proper consequences.
"I tremble," said President Jefferson, speaking of slavery in the United States, "when I remember that God is just." ——Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament
TE: The nature of ourselves and our fellowman gives us a second reason.
C. Because of who men are. (15)
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
"The wonderous origin of human life is true for both slave and free, although their earthly status differs markedly."—John E Hartley in NICOT
Because of our respect for God, we should respect others He has created. (Gen. 9.6)
Proverbs 14.31
He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
Proverbs 22:2
Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.
Job 34.19
Yet He [God] is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For they are all the work of His hands.
1847; Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament
"This sentiment, if fairly embraced and carried out, would soon destroy slavery every where."
APPLICATION:
God is our judge and creator
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord of glory, with partiality.
James 2.1
5. Charity/generosity (16-24)
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his heart has not blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
"Eliphaz had already accused Job of gross sins against the poor in 22:6-9, and in 29:12-17 Job had spoken positively about the depth of his social conscience." —Elmer Smick in Expositor's Bible Commentary
Job 22.6-10
6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
And stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have not given the weary water to drink,
And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 But the mighty man possessed the land,
And the honorable man dwelt in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty,
And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
Job 29.12-17
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind,
And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor,
And I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked,
And plucked the victim from his teeth.
A. Job took pride in always sharing with the poor.
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);
16 desire חפץ Strong's H2656 - chephets khā'·fets desire or will
16 the eyes of the widow to fail
YLT—eye of the widow to consume;
KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV—eyes of the widow to fail
NIV—eyes of the widow to grow weary;
NLT— crushed the hopes of the widows
That is, I have not frustrated her hopes, or disappointed her expectations, when she has looked intently upon me, and desired my aid. The "failing of the eyes" refers to failing of the object of their expectation; or the expression means that she had not looked on him in vain; see chap. xi. 20. ——Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament
Job 11.20
But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape,
And their hope—loss of life!”
Job had not seen the look of desperation turn to abject hopelessness.
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);
Job inserts a parenthetical thought expressing the longevity of his compassionate treatment… —Elmer Smick in Expositor's Bible Commentary
The expression "from my mother's womb: is obviously hyperbolic. It is a way of saying "all his life." —translations notes in the NET Bible
From the earliest youth, so far back as he can remember, he was wont to behave like a father to the orphan, and like a child to the widow. —Delitzsch in Commentary of the Old Testament
APPL: What do we teach our children about the poor?
B. Job took joy in receiving their gratitude.
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his heart has not blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
20 heart חלץ Strong's H2504 - chalats khä·läts' loins-the region of the hips
YLT, KJV, NASB—loins; NKJV, NIV—heart; ESV—body
...loins is a synecdoche for the whole person. —John E Hartley in NICOT
The force of the parallelism is lost unless one can feel the pathos of a shivering body thankfully warmed by Job's fleece. —Elmer Smick in Expositor's Bible Commentary
20 blessed me
YLT, KJV, NKJV, ESV, NIV—blessed;
NASB—thanked;
NLT—praise
C. Job took honor in protecting the helpless.
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;1
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm2 be torn from the socket.
23 For destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
The expression "raised my hand" refers to a threatening manner or gesture in the court rather than a threat of physical violence in the street. —translations notes in the NET Bible
1 Heb "gate," referring to the city gate where judicial decisions were rendered in the culture of the time. —translations notes in the NET Bible
The curse of the arm (that was raised against the fatherless) has a strong sense of poetic justice.
2 forearm ——Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament
23 For destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
23 destruction איד Strong's H343 - 'eyd ād a burden, load by which one is oppressed, or crushed;
YLT, NASB, ESV—clamity; KJV, NKJV, NIV—destruction
He was deterred from this crime of oppressing the fatherless by the fear of God. ——Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament
23 magnificence שאת Strong's H7613 - sĕ'eth seh·āth' elevation, exaltation, dignity, swelling, uprising
YLT—because of His excellency I am not able
KJV—by reason of his highness I could not endure
NASB—because of His majesty I can do nothing
NKJV—because of His magnificence I cannot endure
ESV—I could not have faced his majesty
NIV—for fear of his splendor I could not do such things
NLT—if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there
...I should not overcome His majesty, i.e. I should succumb to it. —Delitzsch in Commentary of the Old Testament
1 John 3.16-17
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
NIMBY stands for "not in my backyard." That should describe our attitude to the poor, disenfranchised, and helpless.
It is not the keep the poor out, but lift the poor up.
We don't need to be in a constant state of angst over all the "poor in the world," but we should be moved with compassion by those that cross our path.
APPLICATION:
The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
... let him labor, working
with his hands what is good,
that he may have something
to give him who has need.
Ephesians 4:28
What is your motivation to be rich? Is it to have or to give?
Eph 4.17 & 28
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. . . .
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
"I Want a Principle Within"
by Charles Wesley
I want a principle within
of watchful, godly fear,
A sensibility of sin,
a pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel
of pride or wrong desire,
To catch the wandering of my will,
From Thee that I no more may stray,
no more Thy goodness grieve,
Grant me the filial* awe, [fil-ee-uhl]
I pray, the tender conscience give.
Quick as the apple of an eye,
O God, my conscience make;
Awake my soul when sin is nigh,
and keep it still awake.
*Having or assuming the relationship of child or offspring to parent.
Almighty God of truth and love,
to me Thy power impart;
The mountain from my soul remove,
the hardness from my heart.
O may the least omission pain
my reawakened soul,
And drive me to that blood again,
which makes the wounded whole.
Bibliography
——John E Hartley in NICOT The New International Commentary on the Old Testament
——Matthew Henry
——Delitzsch in Commentary of the Old Testament
——Albert Barnes in Notes on the Old Testament
——D. A Carson in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition
——Warren Wiersbe in Be Patient
——Roy B. Zuck in Bible Knowledge Commentary
——David Guzik in The Enduring Word Commentary Series
——Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa in Talk Thru the Old Testament
——Elmer Smick in Expositor's Bible Commentary
——translations notes in the NET Bible
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