Job 12

Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

12 Then Job answered and said:

  “No doubt you are the people,
    and wisdom will die with you.
  But I have understanding as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know such things as these?
  I am a laughingstock to my friends;
    I, who called to God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
  In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
    it is ready for those whose feet slip.
  The tents of robbers are at peace,
    and those who provoke God are secure,
    who bring their god in their hand.
  “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
    the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
  or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
  Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the LORD has done this?
  In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of all mankind.
  Does not the ear test words
    as the palate tastes food?
  Wisdom is with the aged,
    and understanding in length of days.
  “With God are wisdom and might;
    he has counsel and understanding.
  If he tears down, none can rebuild;
    if he shuts a man in, none can open.
  If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
    if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
  With him are strength and sound wisdom;
    the deceived and the deceiver are his.
  He leads counselors away stripped,
    and judges he makes fools.
  He looses the bonds of kings
    and binds a waistcloth on their hips.
  He leads priests away stripped
    and overthrows the mighty.
  He deprives of speech those who are trusted
    and takes away the discernment of the elders.
  He pours contempt on princes
    and loosens the belt of the strong.
  He uncovers the deeps out of darkness
    and brings deep darkness to light.
  He makes nations great, and he destroys them;
    he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
  He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
    and makes them wander in a trackless waste.
  They grope in the dark without light,
    and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

(ESV)

Job 12 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

Job comes out with some bold truth in addressing his friends. He seeks to point out that they do not have his best interest in mind.

The one who is at ease holds calamity in contempt and thinks it is prepared for those whose feet are slipping. In other words, “You have no troubles yourselves, but you are fine with kicking me while I’m down.”

Job 12:5 HCSB

In verse 6, Job moves into a “survival of the fittest” mentality.

You have no troubles, and yet you make fun of me; you hit someone who is about to fall. 6 But thieves and godless people live in peace, though their only god is their own strength. 7 Even birds and animals have much they could teach you; 8 ask the creatures of earth and sea for their wisdom. 9 All of them know that the LORD’s hand made them.

Job 12:5-9 GNB

This verse is also a direct shot at Zophar who had previously called Job a “wild donkey.” Basically, Job is saying, “Even the dumb animals know that God in control of all things.” Their instincts respond to the way that God governs the Earth.

In the animal world, the degree of earthly suffering usually lessens the higher up you go on the ladder for a particular species. The lion, for instance, is more secure than the ox. The vulture is more secure than the dove. Job notes this fact but points out that their security is provided by God and God alone. It’s not by our own power that we are safe and provided for, but by His.

Job still believes in God’s sovereignty. This is an interesting point considering Job’s physical and mental state. He continues to faithfully build on the absolute sovereignty of God. He is banking on it.

The apex predator may be least threatened and most comfortable, but often he is the least resilient. This is true in our spiritual experience because we know that suffering is purifying to the soul. It is the refining process that produces the strongest and most faithful followers. Not only that, but our greatest trials are often redemptive for those around us, just as Christ’s was. It’s easy to say, but very hard to see. This is why we can only view suffering in this light if we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Job’s getting there, slowly but surely. God will never forget those who remain faithful.