We are working our way through the book of Job. Today we read chapters 16-19.

The Unsettling Wisdom of Job
Scholars classify this book as belonging to the wisdom literature of the Bible. The Old Testament comprises the Law, history, wisdom, and prophecy. They divide the Prophets into major and minor prophets.

However, I find the chapters we read today very prophetic.

Job is the person speaking.

He tells his friends they are not very comforting (v16:1). Then he asked if their long speeches would never end (v16:2).

This brought to my mind Jesus rebuking the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14.

Job’s friends act as if their many words will make them correct.

I am known as a quiet person. Therefore, I find it difficult to interrupt someone who is talking incessantly.

This may seem as if I have nothing to say. In truth, I am not being heard.
Job’s Foresight: A Portrait of Christ
Job is showing an attribute of Jesus when he says he would comfort those he is talking to (v16:5)

But, he must remain silent, as Jesus did on the night leading to his crucifixion (compare Matt 27:14 with Job 16:6).

On that night, God took Jesus’ righteousness and exchanged it for our sinfulness. He poured out on Him the wrath we deserved.

I see a parallel to this in Job’s words in v16:9, “God assails me and tears me in his anger” (NIV).

He goes on in verse 10  to say people strike his cheek and scorn him, which reminds me of Matt 26:67.

In Job 16:11, they turn him over to the ungodly, just as they did when the crowd demanded they crucify Jesus (see Matt 27:16-26)

When Job claims He crushed me, this was like the prophecy of Isaiah 53:5.

And when an archer spills his gall on the ground, I thought of John 19:31-42 where the guard pieces Jesus’ side.

Therefore, as I read this first chapter today, I felt I was reading about Jesus, not Job.
Job Understands
Job knew he was not the Savior, but that he needed one.

When we reach verse 16:19, he assures us that his redeemer is in heaven. He is his advocate on high who pours out His tears to God on our behalf. (v16:20-21).

Job knows only God can provide a savior. He says to God, “Give me the pledge you demand.”

This is the wage of sin, death. (Rom 6:23). We have been hearing him plead for several chapters for death to come to him.

Now he is equating that with a debt owed.

He follows this by asking, “Who else will put up security for me?”

Only Jesus can pay that debt. He did this by taking the death we deserved.

My reading had identified Jesus and traced Job’s acceptance of salvation, but now he serves as a byword. (v17:6)
When People Resist the Truth
When I became a Christian, many of my friends moved away from me. I was not part of their world and was not welcome unless I would forsake Christ. (v19:13-14)

Since I would not, they mocked me and ridiculed me.

We learn from Job, in these situations, the “righteous will hold their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.” (v17:9).

The desires of his heart turn night into day. (v17:11).

Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12-30).

Jobs’ friend Bildad continues to push back on him. (v18:1).

He states people will be driven into the darkness (18:18). He equates this with hell, saying, “such is the place of one who does not know God.” (v 18:21).
Finding Victory in the Redeemer
We reach verse 19:21, and Job calls out for pity.

Then he states his faith, “I know that my redeemer lives”. (v19:25)

Though he does not expect to suffer in his current state, he knows there is more to our life than this.

He writes, “Yet in my flesh I will see God” (v 19:26), and adds, “How my heart yearns within me!”” (v19:27)

I could not wrap it up better than he does in verse 19:29, “for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment.”

This was the third time Job’s friends have challenged him.

He is suffering. We all go through situations in our lives.

Each time his friends attack him, his answer was to tell them about the Gospel. There have been three different ways he has described it to them. The message is the same.

We are all sinners, God knows this. He will have to punish us. But Jesus took our place.

Every day, we will meet people going through different trials. Job has just shown us three ways to help use that suffering to bring them to Jesus.
Tomorrow, we will read Job 20-22