If this is your first viewing, please see my Introduction before reading this.
13 August. Job chapters 29-31
A couple of days ago I considered whether the charge laid against Job by Eliphaz in chapter 22 might hold some truth: was he in fact a heartless capitalist who had become rich at the expense of others? It is always difficult to be criticised, whether in private or in public, and harder still to hold up one’s head and remain confident of being right, however unreasonable the charges being brought. There is always a tendency – at least among ‘reasonable’ people – to wonder whether in fact the fault might be your own. Standing up to your accuser and insisting that you are innocent not only in your own eyes and under human laws, but also in the eyes of God and under his divine law, is a bold stance that tends to sound like boasting.
Chapter 29 may give an understanding of how Job could manage, in chapter 31, to utterly refute Eliphaz. In the former, he recalls how before the start of his affliction, he was not only wealthy but respected by all the important people of his city. In the latter he uses that positive recollection to support his case. In the latter he lists his virtues – caring for the stranger, orphan, widow and poor – and also the sins that he has avoided – lust, adultery, violence, discrimination, greed. At the end of the arguments with his so-called comforters, Job is quite sure that he has done nothing to deserve God’s punishment, and everything that he can to remain right with his maker.