Chapters 26-31 contains the final speech of Job’s dialogue with his three friends. Chapter 27, verses 1-6 describe that on one hand, Job remains adamant that he has not sinned in such ways that warrants such calamities to fall upon him and his family; yet on the other hand, he is really at a dilemma. He strongly maintains that his despairing circumstances cannot be an indication of undisclosed sins in his life. He is in such a helpless predicament; he describes himself in verse 2 that God has taken away his right and that made his soul bitter.

Verses 3 and 4 tells us that he is able to keep his conscience clear with the fear that he has towards God and he declares that he harbors neither falsehood nor deceit in his heart. The only thing which he describes in v5-6 is that he disagrees with what his three friends have been saying in the last three cycles of their conversations. What Job says in verses 11-23 describes somehow what the three friends have been saying about how God punishes the wicked – to his children (v14), his spouse (v15), his house (v18) and so on (v19-23).

But even so when Job reiterates in v11-23 what the friends have told him, he believes the worst will happen to the wicked: God will also punish and cut his life away (v8). In saying so, he is telling his friends that the fact that God still keeps his life shows that he does not fall into the category of the wicked who sins against God. Some scholars suggest that Job may instead be warning his three friends in the way that they have been accusing him, they are to be careful not to fall into this category of the wicked.

Job’s three friends attempted in vain to convince him to come clean before God by not hiding any sin that he had committed against Him. But Job maintains his innocence that his unfavorable circumstances do not equate to the fact that he has sinned against God. Otherwise, God would not even spear his life. Together with his three friends, Job believes in the retribution from God. Though the wicked may prosper in their lifetime, God will still hold them accountable for their rebellion against Him in the day of judgement.

What lesson(s) can we draw from this chapter? Jesus says in Matt 7:1-5, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

The principle that we can learn from this chapter and what Jesus teaches above is to come before God, open our heart and be honest with Him. Confess to God if you have sinned against Him. If you think that you have not sinned but you are struggling with any temptation or any testing of your faith, be honest and tell him specifically the situation that you are facing.

PRAYER : O God, thank you that you know what is going on in my heart and in my mind. I cannot hide these thoughts from you. I come before you and pray… (be specific to God: sin, temptation, testing,…). Thank you for listening to what I have prayed to you. I also pray for your grace and help in the area of repentance, courage and wisdom – whatever that I need to move forward. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.