Job 9

"Truly I know it is so,
But how can a man be righteous before God?" v.2

Read chapter 9
This is the like the thesis of the book of Job, the question of the whole book, "How can a man be righteous before God?"  In other words "How can sinful man ever be treated righteous by his Maker?" Job didn't agreeing with his friends opinions on how he had sinned and been a hypocrite, but he also knows that he is not perfect before God.  He knows that God always wins every debate, every argument, every idea. God is just. Well there is a way that man can be made righteous before God and it's what Job eludes to at the end of this chapter in verse 33 "Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both." Do you know who that mediator is that make us righteous?

"and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; "  Philippians 3:9

Job 8

"For inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
9 For we were born yesterday, and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?" vv.8-10

Read chapter 8
Bildad, the second of Job's three friends to speak.  His reasoning seems a little more blunt than Eliphaz.  His arguments appear to be based on human tradition as we see clearly in these verses eight through ten.  Learning from past is a great benefit so that we can try to avoid the same mistakes.  Also learning from someone who is older and has more experience or is past a certain stage that we may be in now is great value.  Yet sometimes human tradition is negative and can be rooted by something false and only because of tradition it is thought to be true.  Do you believe things based on traditions or if a certain person says so?  Who are some people older and wiser that you go to to learn from?  What traditions do you see that are based off of false ideas that are now taken as truth?

Job 7

"Have I sinned?
What have I done to You, O watcher of men?
Why have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?" v.20

 Read chapter 7
Job's excessive grief takes up the second half of this chapter; his argument with God.  Our impulse when we sin is to want to earn forgiveness.  Here Job is saying if he's sinned what is there for him to do to be redeemed.  Yet there is nothing we can do to receive forgiveness since it is a gift from God, not something to be earned.  Today Christ's death has forgiven all our sins before we commit them and before we even ask for forgiveness.  Job's time was before the law was given for how to be forgiven of a sin through animal or grain sacrifices so is asking what he can do to regain the Lord's favor yet knows there really is nothing but the Lord's mercy.
Job calls God "watcher of men" probably knowing that He knows and sees not only our every action but our every thought.  Job is still standing strong against his friends accusations that there was "hidden" sin in him despite his outward righteousness.  We can hide nothing from Him, so let us plead guilty before the throne of grace.  What thoughts or actions do you try to hide from God?

Job 6

“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty...Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you undermine your friend." vv.14, 27

Read chapter 6

Job now responds to his supposed friend Eliphaz.  Job is pretty upset and complains at the way Eliphaz had spoke to him.  He thinks his friend should show kindness and compassion in his judgment of him, and behavior toward him, and not pass such unmerciful reprimand upon him nor load him with reproaches.  Job wants pity and sympathy even if it forsakes the fear of the Almighty.   How often too do we desire sympathy or someone to join our pity party.  How hard is it to be that friend that loves with the hard truth rather than say what they want to hear?  

His friends words weren't only in vain to Job but they hurt too feeling as if he is triumphing over him, undermining Job and distorting his words to them.  How easy it is to want to justify ourselves and this same tone that seems to be in Job's words here.

Job 5

"“But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—" v.8

Read chapter 5 Note the emphasis on "I" in contrast with you (Job).  The way Eliphaz speaks could be read as if he has it all figured out and knows the perfect response and answer for Job.  How often do we think we know what's right or better for someone and try to impart are ways in a passive aggressive way or tone?  It could also be in a form of advice if he were in Job's shoes.  Sometimes I just want to know how someone else would respond in a situation so I can make a judgment based on that or make someone else's judgment my own.  
Eliphaz is continuing to base his argument on human reasoning of earning or deserving what you were dealt. Yet we see from other parts of scripture that God doesn't treat us according to what we always deserve: "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities." Psalm 103:10
How often do we think we know something yet later realize we didn't know?  "And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know." 1 Cor. 8:2

Job 4

"Even as I have seen,
Those who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same." v.8

Read chapter 4
Now we have the first friend speak.  All three friends seem to reason with supposing all affliction happens for a way of punishment. Eliphaz begins to question and reason with Job based on human experience.  We see this from the verse: "as I have seen," and so can appear to base on man's view of things rather than God's view.  Ecclesiastes 9:2 says, "All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath."  So both the wicked and the righteous face the same curse of sin: death; but it's what's after death is different.
He then follows by a revelation of a vision he saw to confirm what he has been saying.  Is this easy to believe Eliphaz or not?  How do you see people today reason like him?  Do you agree or disagree?

Job 3

"For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes." vv.25-26

Read chapter 3

This chapter is Job's words as he regrets his ever being born.  These are types of thoughts that lead to suicide, wondering if the world would be better if never born and lived, or the hurt in the soul and body of a person is too heavy to bear that they'd be better off dead to not have the pain anymore.  Job says the thing he's greatly feared has come upon him and what he's dreaded has happened.  Out of all the things we read about in chapters one and two of what happened to Job to his possessions, his family and his physical body, which do you think is the thing that he feared the most?  Which would be the hardest for you?  

We still notice that Job doesn't curse God, but that doesn't mean he's happy by any means.  He's not at ease, not restful.  "For trouble comes" show of the rapid and intensity of his sorrows and we'll continue to read how he lives on from here.  So how do you respond in sorrow?  Have you ever doubted why you were born?  And what then has comforted or encouraged you?