Bible Commentaries
Job 27

Verses 1-23

JOB - CHAPTER 27

Verses 1-23:

Verses 1, 2 state that Job proceeded to take up his parable. It was Zophar’s turn to speak; but as he and the other two were silent, virtually conceding defeat, after a pause, Job proceeded to lift up or elevate his discourse, Job 34:4. Job asserts that as God liveth (lives on, without cessation) it was He who had taken away Job’s judgment, foreshadowing that of Jesus Christ as yet set forth, 1 Samuel 20:3; Isaiah 53:8; Acts 8:33. He too declared that the Lord had "vexed his soul," or made him bitter, by permitting Satan to smite him with loss of his family, his property, his health, and his wife who turned against him, Ruth 2:20; Job 2:6-10.

Verses 3, 4 pledge, however, that as long as breath is in him, the spirit of God is in his nostrils, he would not speak wickedly, nor permit his tongue to utter deceit. In spite of his trials he did not grow bitter, by permitting Satan to smite him with loss of his family, his property, his health, and his wife who turned against him, Ruth 2:20; Job 2:6-10.

Verses 3, 4 pledges, however, that as long as breath is in him, and the spirit of God is in his nostrils, he would not speak wickedly, nor permit his tongue to utter deceit. In spite of his trials he did not grow bitter against God; to admit guilt, against the witness of his conscience, would be deceitful, a thing he resolved he would not do, Job 6:28; Job 6:30.

Verse 5 is a direct address to his accusing friends. He said that God forbid him to justify his friend’s views of his guilt, to accept their charges against him, in his innocence, would be to give up his integrity. It was a thing he certified to them that he would not do, Job 13:15.

Verse 6 recounts Job’s vow at this moment, to hold fast to his rightousness as long as he lived, Job 2:3. He asserted that he would so live in his trials that his heart or conscience would not reproach or taunt him as long as he lived, a noble resolve, Acts 24:16.

Verse 7 pleads for the Lord to let Job’s enemy become as wicked, even those who rose up against him as the unrighteous, to be judged for their words and deeds of wickedness, Matthew 12:36; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Verse 8 Inquires just what hope has an hypocrite, without regards to his gain, when his life has been taken away or cut off? When his soul departs to give account to his Maker, what gain has he then? Psalms 104:29; Daniel 7:15; 2 Peter 1:14. Job’s calling on God, in spite of all his loss, trials, and suffering shows that he is no hypocrite, as Bildad and Zophar had charged him to be, Job 8:13; Job 20:5. See also Matthew 16:28; Luke 12:20.

Verse 9 inquires further, "will God hear his cry (as an hypocrite) when trouble comes upon him?" Of course David wrote, "if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me," Psalms 66:18. See also Job 35:12; Psalms 18:41; Psalms 109:7; Proverbs 1:28; Jeremiah 14:12; Ezra 8:18; Micah 3:4; James 4:3.

Verse 10 presses the question, "will he, the hypocrite, delight himself in the Almighty? Will he call on God? Will he pray to Him in times of calamities, facing death as well in times of prosperity, as I have done?" Job asks his accusers, Job 19:25; Therefore, I can not be an hypocrites, Job contends, Job 20:5; Job 22:26; Psalms 62:8.

Verses 11, 12 recount Job’s assurance to his super-wise feigned friends that he would teach them by the hand of the Lord, not withholding or concealing what was in harmony with the Almighty, regarding why the righteous suffer. He then assured them that each of them had seen this, but was too slow to grasp the truth: 1) Some suffer for their own sins; 2) Some suffer because of the sins of others; and 3) Some suffer simply that the Lord may be glorified in their testing, John 9:2-3; John 11:4; 1 Peter 4:12-16.

Verses 13, 14 describe the portion of the willful wicked one, who deliberately sins against God, to bring punishment of the Laws of nature, natural laws, upon himself and his heritage or posterity, Exodus 20:4-5; Galatians 6:7-8. If his children be multiplied, be many, it is for the sword; Even his offspring will not be satisfied with good, Ezra 9:10; Hosea 9:13-14; Jeremiah 18:21. But all human suffering is not evidence of such personal wickedness. This, Job’s friends did not recognize!

Verse 15 adds that those who remain of his family will be buried in death, and his widows shall not weep, shall have no more children over which to weep, Psalms 78:64; Jeremiah 15:2; Jeremiah 22:18; Revelation 6:8.

Verses 16, 17 declare that though the wicked heap up or accumulate silver as the dust and prepare raiment as the clay hill, he may prepare it, but the just shall put it on or wear it. And the innocent shall divide the silver one day. The clay is an image of multitudes, Zechariah 9:3; And many changes of garments is a chief source of wealth in the East, Proverbs 13:22; Proverbs 28:8; Ecclesiastes 2:16.

Verses 18, 19 state that the wicked, wealthy, hypocrite builds his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper makes. It is a temporary dwelling, subject to sudden destruction at any moment, La 2:6. He lies down in death but he shall not be gathered, given an honorable burial. He lies down to rest no more. His ease is over and torments are at hand, Numbers 20:26; Jeremiah 8:2; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 23:37; Hebrews 9:27.

Verses 20, 21 state that terror or horror takes hold of the prosperous wicked in the throes of death, like a rapid, violent flood, and he is swept away from his wealth like a tempest in the night, unexpectedly and unprepared, Job 18:11; Isaiah 8:7-8; Jeremiah 47:2. The east wind takes him in life’s departure, as a storm, hurling him out of his place, to which he may not return, Psalms 58:9.

Verses 22, 23 conclude that God will cast thunderbolts of judgment upon him, and will not spare; Though the wicked would long to flee out of His hand, as the rich man in hell desired escape from his torments, Luke 16:19-31; Job 16:13; Psalms 7:12-13. It is declared that men shall clap their hands and hiss at his death and downfall as a thieving wealthy hypocrite, La 2:15; Nahum 3:19. Job alludes to the words of Bildad, Job 18:18; Jeremiah 15:9. See also Exodus 14:25; Judges 4:17; Isaiah 10:3; Amos 2:14.