Job 27:7 | KingComments | STEP | In Job speaks of the fate of the wicked and the godless or hypocrite as always presented by the friends and applied to Job. He agrees with what the friends have said, for this is indeed the general rule. God is a judge of evil. Job, however, applied this truth in a very different way than the friends did. We see this from onward, when he teaches about “the power [or: hand] of God”, i.e. the acts of God. Job describes his friends as “my enemy” and “my opponent” ( ). They have addressed him “as the wicked”, “as the unjust” and in this way approached him as an enemy and an opponent. He wants to make it clear to them how impossible it is to confuse someone like him with a wicked one and someone who does wrong. He is not such a person. Indeed, for the godless or the hypocrite – to the friends Job is such a person – there is no hope if God cuts off his life and takes away his soul, his life ( ). But Job is not godless or a hypocrite, nor is he without hope. He keeps hoping for God, right through all the questions he has about his suffering. God does not hear the cry of the godless or hypocrite for help when he calls to Him in his distress ( ). The reason for this is that the godless has no real relationship with God, the Almighty. He doesn’t want that either, he doesn’t take delight in Him ( ). That is why he does not call on God at all times, but only when distress comes upon him. This is different with Job. Job does indeed delight in the Almighty and calls on Him at all times. He did the same when he lived in prosperity. Although Job does not (yet) receive an answer to his call for help, he knows that God hears him. Instead of being taught by friends about the ways of God, Job can give them some instruction “in the power [or: hand] of God” ( ). He reverses the roles. He knows the Almighty and will not hide from them what he knows of Him. Surely they have seen for themselves what he used to be like, that there was no injustice with him ( )? Why then, do they hold fast to their acting “foolishly” or, as it also can be translated, their speaking “vanity”, their empty talk, their hollow phrases?

‏ Job 27:7

Contrast With the Character of a Wicked

In Job 27:7-10 Job speaks of the fate of the wicked and the godless or hypocrite as always presented by the friends and applied to Job. He agrees with what the friends have said, for this is indeed the general rule. God is a judge of evil. Job, however, applied this truth in a very different way than the friends did. We see this from Job 27:11 onward, when he teaches about “the power [or: hand] of God”, i.e. the acts of God.

Job describes his friends as “my enemy” and “my opponent” (Job 27:7). They have addressed him “as the wicked”, “as the unjust” and in this way approached him as an enemy and an opponent. He wants to make it clear to them how impossible it is to confuse someone like him with a wicked one and someone who does wrong. He is not such a person.

Indeed, for the godless or the hypocrite – to the friends Job is such a person – there is no hope if God cuts off his life and takes away his soul, his life (Job 27:8). But Job is not godless or a hypocrite, nor is he without hope. He keeps hoping for God, right through all the questions he has about his suffering.

God does not hear the cry of the godless or hypocrite for help when he calls to Him in his distress (Job 27:9). The reason for this is that the godless has no real relationship with God, the Almighty. He doesn’t want that either, he doesn’t take delight in Him (Job 27:10). That is why he does not call on God at all times, but only when distress comes upon him. This is different with Job. Job does indeed delight in the Almighty and calls on Him at all times. He did the same when he lived in prosperity. Although Job does not (yet) receive an answer to his call for help, he knows that God hears him.

Instead of being taught by friends about the ways of God, Job can give them some instruction “in the power [or: hand] of God” (Job 27:11). He reverses the roles. He knows the Almighty and will not hide from them what he knows of Him. Surely they have seen for themselves what he used to be like, that there was no injustice with him (Job 27:12)? Why then, do they hold fast to their acting “foolishly” or, as it also can be translated, their speaking “vanity”, their empty talk, their hollow phrases?