31:35-40
This is the conclusion of Job’s speech. Again he despairs of being heard. He demands God answer Him, tell him what he is doing wrong. He announces he will freely admit his crime if he knows what it is. He even asks God to curse his land if he has ever been as unjust as his friends have accused him of being.
This is an interesting comparison to Psalm 13.
In verses 1 and 2 David cries in despair to God”
“How long? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? NIV.
Quite an interesting parallel here. And David continues by asking God to answer him and proclaiming that if God does not restore him he will die and his enemies will rejoice over his fall. But then the comparison ends. The difference is that David follows his despair with a statement of trust in God.
“But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me?” NIV
Both men despaired but David followed his plea with an acknowledgement of all God has done for him.
So what about the difference? Is this an indication of sin on Job’s part?
Yes and No.
In the midst of his pain, Job did forget what God had done for him. But he desired God and served him constantly, refusing to condemn Him. What he did was demand God answer Him.
It is completely human to be thrown by overwhelming things that happen to us. Yes, our lives would be easier if we could maintain our focus on God, but we don’t always do that. God knows it is better for us to keep our focus on Him and wait in trust. He knows we suffer more away from Him. But He doesn’t condemn us for losing sight of Him and he gently draws us back to Him. We return, chastened and contrite. We offer our apologies and beg forgiveness and God lovingly forgives us. We learn from this event and maybe next time we don’t despair so quickly.
It is important to note the role others play in our ability to cope with overwhelming events. God created us to support one another. When He said it is bad for the man to be alone, He was referring to the need for us to have relationships. We were created to be in relationship with each other, to support each other. If we don’t support and encourage our friends are we fulfilling God’s purpose in creating us? No.
What does support and encouragement look like? It doesn’t look like Job’s friends, with their condemnation and accusations. It doesn’t look like the person who tries to shut you down with words like “You should be grateful to God”, “It is all for the best”, “Don’t get so ungrateful”, “that other person is suffering more than you, what right do you have to be miserable”, “come on, enough of these tears. The funeral is over. Time to get on with your life”.
Support and encouragement looks like sitting with the person, allowing them to talk, acknowledging their pain, showing by your words and actions that you care, allowing them to cry without saying anything to stop those tears, allowing them to rant and rave without telling them to stop. Support and encouragement looks like words of love “I care”, “I am sorry for what you are going through”, “I would like to help you, can I do …. for you?
Had Job’s friends done that, I wonder if he would have demanded answers from God? I wonder instead if he would have expressed his sorrow and waited on God?
 

31:1-34
In these verses Job concludes his summary of his complaint.
He speaks of how he made a covenant to obey God and not sin.
He speaks of how he did not commit the sins of sexual lusting, cheating in his business dealings, or cheating on his wife. Then he speaks of how he committed to be just in his attitude to and dealings with others. He acknowledged he was made in the womb by God, just as were his servants. And he has never denied them justice. He has always cared for the poor. He never used his wealth or position to harm others, only to help them. He has never forgotten God’s command for there to be justice for all and he has never forgotten that he is no better than anyone else.
Next Job addresses idolatry. He contends he never worshipped the wealth and possessions God gave him or considered they gave him security. He looked to God for that. He never worshipped the beauty of the earth. Only the one who created it. He has been faithful to God.
He then contends he has never rejoiced at the misfortunate that has afflicted others. Even when they were his enemies.
I love this section. It is a good description of how we should behave in our walk with Jesus. As I read it, I asked myself if I have been as faithful to God as Job was. I read through the first few things and ticked them ‘yes’. Then I got to the one about rejoicing in the affliction of others and hesitated. Although I do not gloat over the misfortune of others I struggle not to feel vindicated when those who have harmed me have bad things happen to them. I really struggle to pray for them and hand my unforgiveness to God! I am sometimes reminded of Jonah sulking at Ninevah’s repentance and remind myself that, instead of being Jonah, I should rejoice in the blessings God gives to others, even when they have harmed me. It is God who judges and punishes or rewards in His time.
If you can read verses 1 to 34 and are able to say “I have done all that” then well done. I suspect many others will, like me, find things in these verses they struggle with.
Our journey along the narrow way is never over until we get to Heaven. We will always struggle and Jesus will always forgive us and love us. And some day the journey will end and we will be with Him in Heaven. And Job will be there too.
 

30:1-31
As Job expressed his sadness in chapter 29 there was not only a sense of deep grief at incredible losses. There was also an underlying message.
Now he speaks it aloud.
Now people mock him. He is dishonoured and men younger than him, instead of respecting him as is culturally appropriate, mock him. Is this a reference to his friends?
He is accused by his friends of being unrighteous and evil towards those in need. How that must hurt. How angry Job is at this.
He is also angry that he who championed the cause of others is unsupported. He is appalled there is no compassion for him, a broken man. He would show such compassion to others, even perhaps to his friends, but no one, especially his friends is giving it to him. Even God has deserted him. Yet he refuses to curse God. He is hurt and feels abandoned but he will not curse God.