Job 27-28
< Back to Job Index
TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS
Job’s Final Response to All Three of His Friends
BACKGROUND NOTES
DOCTRINAL POINT(S)
In his final response to his three friends, Job defends his position.
In his final response to his three friends, Job describes God’s wisdom.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Keep a clear conscience!
QUESTIONS
How do we know that chapter 27 is the beginning of Job’s address to his three friends and not a continuation of his response to Bildad?
Does Job acknowledge that it is God who is behind his suffering? Does Job continue to insist that it is not his sinfulness that is the cause of his suffering?
What has Job’s response been to his severe suffering?
In verses 7-12, is Job praying for God’s judgment on his enemies for personal revenge?
Here in chapter 28, Job describes God’s wisdom. Why does Job include the interesting and fascinating description of ancient mining (vs 1-11) in his presentation about wisdom?
What are the truths that we can learn about God’s wisdom in this portion of Job’s response?
ANSWERS
We know that this chapter begins Job’s response to his three friends because the plural “you” in Hebrew is used in verses 5, 11 and 12 referring to the three friends.
Yes, Job does acknowledge that it is God behind his suffering in verse 2. And, while Job does not understand why God is allowing him to suffer, he does continue to claim his innocence, integrity and righteousness (vs 3-6). His conclusion is, therefore, that it is not because of his sin that he is suffering, contradicting the accusations of his friends.
Job continues to live his life apart from speaking wickedness or deceit and will not wrongly admit to the accusations of his friends (vs 4, 5).
No. Job is not praying for God’s judgment on his enemies for personal revenge. He is identifying opponents who are godless (v 8), those who do not take delight in God or pray to Him (v 10). It appears that Job is indicating to his three friends that if they do not stop their false accusations against Job, they will be putting themselves in the camp of the enemy, and they should be aware of this (v 12).
In chapter 28, Job’s detailed description of ancient mining (vs 1-11) provides a wonderful illustration of man’s inability to find wisdom, although he may be very successful in finding material treasures, even in the depth of the earth. Verses 12 and 13 clarify Job’s intent to point out man’s inability to identify the source of wisdom.
Job’s words teach us that God established wisdom and used wisdom in His design of the universe, including its natural laws (vs 25-27). Also, wisdom is available to man if he looks to God as the source for all wisdom and obeys God in order to understand truth (v 28).
DISCUSS/CONSIDER
Discuss your strategy for finding and gaining wisdom. Consider sources or means that would not be appropriate for the believer in a search for wisdom. List ways and means that God can impart wisdom, and lifestyles that must be avoided in order to be receptive to God’s wisdom.
CHALLENGE
Is your conscience clear before God today? Have you avoided those things that were giving your moral conscience misgivings or doubts? Have you accomplished those things or served those people today which if you had put them aside would have caused your conscience to trouble you? Follow the example of Job when he said, “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go.”
KEY VERSES
“From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? God understands its way, and He knows its place. And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:12, 23 and 28