Job 27 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Have you ever just unloaded your heart out of both sides of your mouth? On one hand, you are so angry that God would allow horrific circumstances in your life, but on the other hand, you know He is completely just and will always rule fairly. This is where Job has landed. It’s a tough place to be.
“The juxtaposition is jarringly ironic. Even as Job confesses his faith in the living God, he matter-of-factly accuses this God of deserting him, of leaving him in the lurch… Job does not say, ‘as I live,’ but ‘as God lives,’ even though this God has hidden His face and denied him justice.”
Mike Mason
Have you ever been there? I definitely have. It kind of feels like a tug-o-war on the heart. Which side will prevail? One thing is for sure – Job is no hypocrite – at least not nearly to the degree his friends are accusing him of. Would a hypocrite boast about the power and wrath of God Almighty? I would actually argue that his contradicting statements are more of a comfort than a setback. He’s venting, and we all need to do that once and awhile.
But he is also expressing the depth of his heart while affirming who he believes God is. Hypocrites don’t do that. They usually aren’t authentic or humble. They are proud and arrogant. Hypocrites despise reality and will do whatever it takes to hide their true identity. Job has been completely transparent in his struggles.
In a weird way, I think Job’s words about God are a comfort to his heart. He’s reminding himself of who God is, and that’s never a bad thing. Even if that may seem to contradict his current situation, his strong faith keep churning out the truth about God’s character. Job is wrestling! At this point, each chapter seems repetitive, but if you’ve ever been in a deep struggle with God, you know this is what it’s like. The scenario plays out like a high-speed roller coaster.
Job isn’t contradicting himself, and he isn’t a hypocrite. He’s just a human trying to figure out an inexhaustible God. I will at least give him this much – he is persistent! Where do you need to persist in your faith? Where are you facing a paradoxical struggle? What can you remind yourself about God that will calm your heart?
