Job 27 could be outlined:
Job holds to his integrity. Job 27:1-6
The hypocrite is without hope. Job 27:7-10
The end of the wicked. Job 27:11-23
Job is quite aware of his status before God. He knows where he stands before God. He knows that he has not sinned before God and that God is not “punishing” him because of it. The accepted theology of the day was – “people suffer because of their own sin – God does not allow suffering of the innocent.” Job continues to claim his innocence. Job is quite aware of his spiritual condition. He knows that he is suffering and he knows his innocence. Let us remember that verse one of this book has not changed:
“There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil.” Job 1:1 (HCSB)
Job continues speaking.
1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said: 2 "As God lives, who has taken away my justice, And the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, 3 As long as my breath is in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils, 4 My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit. 5 Far be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. 6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. Job 27:1-6 (NKJV)
JOB HOLDS TO HIS INTEGRITY
In verses two through four Job makes an oath. He says, “I refuse to say one word that isn’t true. I refuse to confess to any charge that’s false.” Job 27:4 (MSG)
Job will not bend his integrity. He will not give in to the pressure of the common theology of the day. He will not give in to the pressure of his “friends”. He will not give in to that which is a lie – he will hold to the truth. A great lesson can be learned from Job. When all the forces are in opposition – when everyone and everything seems to be against you – hold to that which is true. Never! Never! Never – let go to that which is right and true.
Job tells his friends that he will hold fast to his righteousness. He will not let his heart be swayed by the pressures around him. Sin needs to be called sin. Righteousness needs to be called righteousness. Hold fast – remain faithful to that which is true. Remember James five:
“We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job’s endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job’s suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11 (GW)
Let us observe that James tells us that God is compassionate and merciful. Job does not see God this way in chapter twenty seven. In fact in verses four Job proclaims two things:
1. God has taken away my justice.
2. God has caused my soul to be bitter.
When we are in the midst of our troubles – when we are in the midst of our pain – we often get tunnel vision. We do not see the big picture – sometimes we don’t even see the hand of God working – but it is. It is at these times that our faith is put to the test. Remember:
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB)
If we could see the outcome clearly – where would be our faith?
Before we move on let us consider another great truth found in this section. It is found in again in verse four. Job will watch what he says. No matter what happens to him – he will bridle his tongue. What a great lesson this is for all of us. Just because something happens in our life that hurts us – does not give us an excuse to curse. Bad things happen all the time – but bad words never need to come forth from our mouths. James also says this:
“With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God’s likeness. Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! Do clean and polluted water flow out of the same spring?” James 3:9-11 (GW)
Let us always listen to the words that come out of our mouths. I have heard this statement: “It is better to be thought a fool – than to open your mouth and confirm it.”
7 "May my enemy be like the wicked, And he who rises up against me like the unrighteous. 8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, Though he may gain much, If God takes away his life? 9 Will God hear his cry When trouble comes upon him? 10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call on God? Job 27:7-9 (NKJV)
THE HYPOCRITE IS WITHOUT HOPE
As we have seen in the previous chapters Job holds fast to the fact that the wicked will be punished. The God of justice someday will proclaim justice. Job proclaims that those who stand against him (his enemies) need to be treated like the wicked and unrighteous. Their day of judgment will come.
In this section Job asks a series of questions about the hypocrite:
1. What hope does the hypocrite have if God takes away his life?
2. Will God hear the cries of the hypocrite when trouble comes to him?
3. Will the hypocrite delight himself in God?
4. Will the hypocrite always call on God?
To the first question Job would answer – the hypocrite has no hope – no hope at all. To the final three questions Job would answer – No. Job would say: “God does not hear the cries of the hypocrite – even when trouble comes. The hypocrite will not delight in God nor will the hypocrite always call on His name.”
Job and his friends would agree on this matter.
11 "I will teach you about the hand of God; What is with the Almighty I will not conceal. 12 Surely all of you have seen it; Why then do you behave with complete nonsense? 13 "This is the portion of a wicked man with God, And the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty: 14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword; And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 15 Those who survive him shall be buried in death, And their widows shall not weep, 16 Though he heaps up silver like dust, And piles up clothing like clay-- 17 He may pile it up, but the just will wear it, And the innocent will divide the silver. 18 He builds his house like a moth, Like a booth which a watchman makes. 19 The rich man will lie down, But not be gathered up; He opens his eyes, And he is no more. 20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night. 21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; It sweeps him out of his place. 22 It hurls against him and does not spare; He flees desperately from its power. 23 Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place. Job 27:11-23 (NKJV)
THE END OF THE WICKED
Here Job will teach his friends. What he is about to teach – they would agree with. Job also, believes that the wicked will perish. The wicked will be blotted out from the face of the earth. All would be in agreement on this point. The point that he does not agree with his friends on is this – he is not suffering because of some sin in his life. Job claims his innocence – his suffering is not due to his sin.
Job tells his friends in verses eleven and twelve that what he knows he will now teach them. He says that they have seen it too – yet when the innocent suffer they speak nonsense.
Job will now start a discourse of what will happen to the wicked. Here is what he says:
1. If the wicked have children they will die a violent death.
2. The children of the wicked will never have enough food.
3. Those who survive their parents are destined for the grave.
4. If they have wives – the widow will not cry when they are gone.
5. If the wicked become rich – those who are innocent will receive their wealth.
6. If the wicked has a fine wardrobe – the just will receive it and wear it.
7. The house that the wicked builds is temporary – it will not last.
8. The wicked goes to bed rich – but never wake up.
9. Troubles will over take the wicked like a flood.
10. A tornado will carry the wicked away – he will be gone.
11. The wicked run from the power of destruction – but can not escape.
12. Those who see all this will clap their hands in joy – they will boo the villain off the stage.
The righteous will clap their hands because of the destruction of the wicked – they will be joyful. Then they will hiss the villain off the stage. Clapping and hissing are both found in Lamentations by the enemies of Jerusalem when they have seen her destruction.
“All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” All your enemies rail against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth, they cry: “We have swallowed her! Ah, this is the day we longed for; now we have it; we see it!” Lamentations 2:15-16 (ESV)
In Job’s mind the destruction of the wicked is a sure thing. On that day the righteous will rejoice. Let us be very careful on this point. There will be a day of judgment. It will be a glorious day – it will be a terrible day. God has always been a God of justice – but thank God He is also a God of mercy. We shall rejoice and weep.
