Read Job 17
Questions from the Scripture text: How does Job feel (Job 17:1)? What has brought him so low (Job 17:2)? What does he ask God to do instead (Job 17:3)? How does God’s providence relate to Job’s friends (Job 17:4)? What will happen to them (Job 17:5)? But what are they doing to him now (Job 17:6)? With what effect upon him (Job 17:7)? What will Job do, in light of their impending end (Job 17:8-9)? What does he now say to the friends (Job 17:10)? Why is he willing to suffer that at their hands—what hope does he have (Job 17:11-15)? What hope do his friends have (Job 17:16)?
What does a righteous man do, when he feels sure he is about to die? Job 17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the righteous use what time they have in this world to do good to others.
Job is not just exhausted, but on the verge of being extinguished (Job 17:1). His friends are his greatest trial (Job 17:2), but he asks God to give him a better friend (Job 17:3). The Friend for Whom Job is asking is Jesus! He is the One Who strikes hands with us as our great Friend and representative with God.
As for Job, he hopes to use his remaining moments by being the friend that his own friends need. Under the providence of God (Job 17:4), the mockers of the lowly, and flatterers of the nobility, will come to nothing in the end (Job 17:5). These “friends” treat him badly (Job 17:6-7), and anyone truly upright would be astonished at them (Job 17:8) and persist in their righteousness (Job 17:9). This is a clue to you, dear reader, to be astonished at the friends and hold to the gospel and true righteousness. The Lord will make you stronger and stronger.
Job urges repentance upon them (Job 17:10). He has nothing to gain by this; he is on the verge of dying (Job 17:11-14) and feels that he has no hope left in this world (Job 17:15). But this has reminded him that the friends soon will die too (Job 17:16). In all of this, Job’s concern reflects the character of God (cf. Job 42:7–9). We must learn to have a spiritual, soul-care for even those who are our greatest trial in life. There is nothing more Christ-like (cf. Luke 23:34).
What people are among your greatest trials in life? What spiritual danger are they in? How are you caring for them?
Sample prayer: Lord, we know that we are short on time and shall soon be in the grave. Grant unto us to spend that time like Job did, loving even those who have been a trial to us, and caring for their souls. And grant unto us to spend it also worshiping You. You are our purpose in life and our hope in death. We deserve for You to have hidden our heart from understanding, but You have made us to know You in Christ. How great is Your goodness and compassion! And no less great are Your holiness and justice and power! So, receive the worship of which You are worthy, and help us in it, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP11 “My Trust Is in the Lord” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace!”
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