Chapters 26-31 is a long monologue by Job...and it is filled with lots of wisdom, sarcasm, and even some inuendo. So far, these chapters are my favourite responsed by Job, by far:
26:2-4 I'm starting to really appreciate Job's wit and sarcasm amidst trials, tribulations and idiotic friends. The start of Job 26 is an excellent example of this...it's just dripping with sarcasm:
"How you have helped the powerless!
How you have saved the arm that is feeble!
What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
And what grea insight you have displayed!
Who has helped you utter these words?
And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?"
You can almost hear Job give a sarcastic "clap-clap". Probably rolled his eyes and did a theatrical bow down too. I never realize Job was so sarcastic...I LOVE it!
28:12,28. Job asks a very genuine question...one that Solomon would later ask, and we would still be struggling with to this day, "Where can widsom be found? Where does understanding dwell?" (He actually asks this questions twice, here in verse 12 and late in verse 20). In verse 28 he offers his answer, "The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding". Sounds like a good answer...perhaps not complete, but at least its a great place to start.
29:14-16. Here is a beautiful picture of righteousness, and Christlike living: "I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to he needy; I took up the case of the stranger." Sounds like a very primitive form of Jesus' quotes of "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.." (from the opposite perspective of course, more like "I saw you hungry and gave you food...I saw you crippled and I carried you"). Do you think its possible that Jesus was, at least slightly, referencing Job in his words? I mean, Jesus would have been very familiar with the story of Job, as would his listeners. Maybe its just more of a coincidence. Either way, its a powerful statement from Job, and an example we should strive for!
30:26. I think we can all resonate with Job's cry here. "...when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for ligh, then came darknes". All of us have prayed for something, or wished for something, and felt that God didn't answer. We've all felt, at one time or another, that God gave us the opposite of what we wanted and needed. Felt abandoned by God. Utterly alone.
31:1-40. This chapter was AMAZING! Job begins with a challenge for all of us guys, "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl." I don't even think I need to give a comment about that verse, because all guys can relate, and can take that challenge to heart. May we all strive to make that covenant with our eyes!
This chapter is also where the inuendo comes in. It's not quite Song of Solomon quality, but it's still good. Throughout the chapter Job is saying, "If I have done this, then may this happen"...and verses 9-12 refers to sexual sin. He says, "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door, THEN MAY MY WIFE GRIND ANOTHER MAN'S GRAIN..." That is not referring to farming, and he is not saying he will lend out his wife to be a farmhand (unless it is some sort of role-play). He is literally saying, "If I lusted, and had an affair, then may my wife have an affair with someone too".
Literally, every section of this chapter is great. Instead of drawing attention to each individual section, I will paraphrase it for you:
-If I have denied justice, what will I answer [to God] when called to account
-If I have denied the poor, weary, naked and needy...let my arm fall from the shoulder
- If I have walked in falsehood, let God weigh me in honest scales
-If my steps turned from the path or hands been defiled, let others eat what I've sown
- If I put my trust in gold, then I would have been unfaithful to God on high
Job also talks about not rejoicing over his enemies misfortune, and making sure that he pays his debts. Are we willing to tell God, "If I sin this way...punish me with this?". Are we so bold to say that "I am pure...please weigh me on honest scales!" No way am I saying that. Anyway...if you read one chapter of Job, I highly recommend it to be Job 31. Filled with great challenges to us all, to love the poor, not love money, not rejoice over our enemies failure, to remain pure and much more!
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