Job 8 - 10
After Job rejects Eliphaz’s theology, Bildad is stunned and offended: “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?” (Job 8:2) He is offended specifically because of Job’s complaint against Yahweh’s righteousness: “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?” (Job 8:3) He returns to the main point of Eliphaz’s theology: “If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation” (Job 8:5-6). He compares an unrepentant sinner to a plant uprooted from the ground – he will quickly wither away (Job 8:11-19). He believes that Job’s condition is sufficient proof of his unrighteousness: “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man” (Job 8:20). And Job cannot expect any relief while he covers up his sin: “Nor [will God] take the hand of evildoers” (Job 8:20). The only option left to Job is to repent from his unidentified sin, and Bildad concludes with a promise of restoration: “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting” (Job 8:21).
Job does not argue with Bildad about God’s righteousness and justice – He shows His power and just order over all creation (Job 9:5-10). But Job wants to know, how does God’s righteousness and justice apply in cases of injustice, especially the situation that Job himself is facing? What makes this question more painful and troubling is that according to Job’s view, God Himself has caused this injustice: “For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause” (Job 9:17). “If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me” (Job 9:30-31). In Job’s view, who will determine justice when God has acted unjustly? There is no arbiter who can put his hands on both Job and God (Job 9:33).
From there Job imagines openly what he would say if he could appear before God to level his complaint: “I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me. Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked?” (Job 10:2-3) But in the end Job does not see how he can win his case against God: “And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me. You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me” (Job 10:16-17). Finally, he considers finding relief only in death: “Cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer before I go – and I shall not return – to the land of darkness and deep shadow, the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness” (Job 10:20-22).
In summary, Job wants to know how an injustice committed by God would be rectified. He finds no hope of resolution except in death… but the conversation has not finished yet.
Job does not argue with Bildad about God’s righteousness and justice – He shows His power and just order over all creation (Job 9:5-10). But Job wants to know, how does God’s righteousness and justice apply in cases of injustice, especially the situation that Job himself is facing? What makes this question more painful and troubling is that according to Job’s view, God Himself has caused this injustice: “For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause” (Job 9:17). “If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me” (Job 9:30-31). In Job’s view, who will determine justice when God has acted unjustly? There is no arbiter who can put his hands on both Job and God (Job 9:33).
From there Job imagines openly what he would say if he could appear before God to level his complaint: “I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me. Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked?” (Job 10:2-3) But in the end Job does not see how he can win his case against God: “And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me. You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me” (Job 10:16-17). Finally, he considers finding relief only in death: “Cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer before I go – and I shall not return – to the land of darkness and deep shadow, the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness” (Job 10:20-22).
In summary, Job wants to know how an injustice committed by God would be rectified. He finds no hope of resolution except in death… but the conversation has not finished yet.
