Job 22-24

"Does it delight the Almighty if you are righteous? Does He profit if you perfect your behavior?" (22:3).

Eliphaz might be a poor source of comfort - but he brings to light a great truth here. God doesn't need us. He has nothing to gain by our piety. God never gains anything - He is complete, lacking nothing.

We need Him.  He does not need us.

Job's hope ... "Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold" (23:10).

Read it here.

Job 20-21

Now Zophar gets heated up. These "friends" truly believe that Job is being punished by God because of his wickedness. How horrible must this be for Job? He knows he is blameless - yet he is being torn apart by circumstances and tragedy and then (insult to injury) he is being blamed for it!  As if he deserves what he's getting.

Would you be able claim innocence? Few of us would be able to face calamity with this much true innocence.

Read it here.

Job 18-19

Bildad taps in.  He gets a little testy with Job. He describes Job using the third-person. But it is not lost on Job that Bildad is accusing him of being a wicked man.

Sometimes friends should just stay home in times of adversity.

Yet one of Job's most profound confessions of faith and hope in God comes on the heels of this conversation with Bildad.  Do not miss Job 19:25-27!

Read it here.

Job 15-17

In this corner, Eliphaz tags back into the ring! This dude pulls no punches. He is very accusing toward Job. He doesn't get it. He assumes that Job is "getting what he deserves." We should be slow to draw such conclusions!

Job is fiery in his reply! He wants them to just shut up and leave him alone. He feels broken and now is being kicked while he is down. Tough spot!

Read it here.

Job 11-14

Now Zophar gets in the ring. I like this guy.  He has a very God-centered perspective.

Can you fathom the depths of God

or discover the limits of the Almighty?⁸ They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?⁹ Their measure is longer than the earthand wider than the sea.


But Job is growing weary of the unsolicited free advice. ("No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!"). Job is aghast. Why would God allow such tragedy in his life?

Read it here.

Job 8-10

Bildad speaks. (Who names their kid Bildad?). Now remember, neither Job nor Bildad got to read the first two chapters. They don't know what God is up to. So along the way they will surmise what is right. And sometimes they will say some bogus things.

How do you process the events that surround you? Perfect clarity? Always from God's perfect perspective?  These guys actually get it right far more than I would had I been there!

Read it here.

Job 6-7

"If only my greif could be weighed  and my devastation placed with it in the scales. For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas!

How do you make sense of sudden catastrophe? Empathize with a godly man as he wrestles with the sudden and senseless (in his mind) havoc of his life.

Read it here.