Chronological Bible Study – Jan 7
What I Noticed Today (Job 14-16)
Job 14
Job describes the hopelessness of man.
In verses 1-4, Job says a man’s life is short and full of trouble (turmoil). Job asks why God concerns Himself with man.
In verses 5-6, Job says God determines the days of a man’s life, so why doesn’t God just let man rest so he can enjoy himself.
In verses 7-12, Job says a man’s life is like water that evaporates away. Man is not like a tree that, once cut down, may sprout and grow once again. Job asks if a man dies will he live again? There would be hope, says Job, if God would wash away any trace man’s sins.
In verses 13-14, Job asks God to hide him in Sheol until God’s anger passes. Job says if there was hope for a man to come back to life, he could endure his struggles.
In verses 15-17, Job suggests if God called on him, he would answer (courtroom language). God would not take not of his sins and would cover his iniquity.
In verses 18-22, Job is despondent, suggesting there is no hope for man. God will wear him away like water wears away a mountain.
Job 15
Eliphaz’s second speech to rebut Job.
Note: In his first speech (Job 4-5), Eliphaz’s remarks were tempered with kindness, but in this speech, he is neither patient nor kind to Job.
There are two sections to Job 15:
- Job 15:1-16. Eliphaz accuses Job of lacking in wisdom, and that his own words condemn him before God.
- Job 15:17-35. Eliphaz says that God judges the wicked immediately. The wicked will not be rich, and will always live in darkness. In the closing verses (34-35), Eliphaz accuses Job of being a hypocrite and a Godless man, and that the tragedies that befell him were because of sin in his life.
Job 16
Job responds to his three friends, referring to them as miserable comforters.
There are two main sections to Job 16:
- Job 16:1-14. Job expresses disappointment in his friends, saying they are miserable comforters. His friends do not have sympathy for his suffering or his confusion, believing that he was righteous before God, yet being punished.
- Job 16:15-22. Job once again pleads with God for justice. He has put on sackcloth and ashes and humbled himself before God. He wishes that God would kill him and take away his pain, yet he does not want to die before he has the opportunity to vindicate himself before God.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- Job wishes there was some way to wash away his sins so he could come before God; that he might be born anew. We have exactly that in Jesus Christ, who came to wash away the sins of man. And with our sins washed away, we are indeed born again!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.