Job “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.” Job 19:25
Confusion What is the meaning of my life? – What purpose is life when it is full of suffering? Suicide never seems to be a consideration Death is longed for, even as one who digs for buried treasure God has “hedged him in” – He’s trapped He groans even before his food arrives His misery and groaning is poured out as abundantly as water
Confusion “What’s next?” Trouble has come, evil following evil Apparently God has forsaken him He finds no respite that would come with death Trouble will continue to come
The First Cycle of Speeches Eliphaz (ch. 4-5) Job (ch. 6-7) Bildad (ch. 8) Job (ch. 9-10) Zophar (ch. 11) Job (ch )
Eliphaz’s First Speech Compliments Job on former manner of life (4:1-5) Eliphaz’s theological view (4:6-11) His dream and its message (4:12-21) There will be no help from God (5:1-2) Eliphaz’s observation of the foolish (5:3-7) His advice to Job (5:8-16) – Seek God – Commit your cause to God The benefits of discipline (5:17-27)
Job’s First Response Chapter 6 His wretched condition (1-7) His request: that God would crush him, cut him off (8-13) His friends are deceitful (14-23) His challenge: Show me my sin!” (24-27) Appeal for honest examination (28-30)
Job’s First Response Chapter 7 The magnitude and helplessness of his condition (1-10) Job protests to God about his treatment (11- 21)
Bildad’s First Speech Job should repent (1-7) Bildad appeals to the wisdom of the ancients (8-10) Optimistic hope (20-22)
Job “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.” Job 19:25
Job’s Second Response Chapter 9 God is great, but is indifferent to Job’s suffering (1-12) Job complaint regarding God’s moral government in the universe (13-24) The brevity of life—the tragedy of such an end (25-35)
Job’s Second Response Chapter 10 With no arbiter, Job launches out on his own (1-7) God’s apparent hardness toward His creatures (8-17) Job’s quandary: There is no satisfactory explanation of life (18-22)
Zophar’s First Speech You actually deserve worse! (1-6) The transcendence of God (7-12) Zophar urgently insists that Job repent (13-20)
Job’s Third Response Chapter 12 Job is just as “wise” as his friends (1-6) Appeal to creation for the wisdom and power of God (7-12) The wisdom and might of God (13-25)
Job’s Third Response Chapter 13 Indignation at his friend’s speeches (1-2) Rebuke: the friends defend God on the basis of a lie (3-12) Job’s confidence and hope is in his godliness and righteous life (13-19) Job presses his case before God (20-28)
Job’s Third Response Chapter 14 Man’s life is brief and full of trouble (1-6) A soliloquy: Man’s hopelessness (7-12) Yearning for a temporary hiding place and future vindication (13-17) Job’s sad conclusion (18-22)