Job 30:13-15 | KingComments | STEP | In the preceding verses Job described the depraved environment from which the scum that despised him came. In , Job speaks of the way in which the scum, which he has described in the preceding verses, defames him ( ) and attacks him ( ). In Job says for the second time “now” (cf. ) as an introduction for a description of the situation in which he finds himself now and which contrasts with his earlier situation. He is now mocked by the foam of society, by people for whom no one has any esteem, but only contempt. They sing mocking songs about him and make fun of him through mocking words. They amuse themselves with him. Even such people look down on him with an abhorrent resentment ( ). They stay far away from him. Sometimes they run to him to spit in his face and then run away again. They do not do this out of fear, but because he stinks so much. Spitting on the ground when you see someone is a sign of contempt, but spitting in someone’s face is much worse. How deep his misery must be! What Job says in is strongly reminiscent of what people have done to the Lord Jesus (Psalms 22; 69; 102). He also felt the deep pain of it, but He suffered and did not threaten. He “kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously” ( ). If anyone can speak of the difference between past glory and present suffering, it is the Lord Jesus during His life on earth. He voluntarily exchanged glory with the Father for the greatest insult and mockery in the world. In all the misery inflicted upon him by men, Job knows that in the end he was made powerless and humiliated by God ( ). His “bowstring” or “tent cord” is the thread by which he is bound to life. Peter speaks of his dying as “laying aside of my earthly dwelling [or: my tent]” ( ). Job thought he had the thread of his life in his hand and controlled everything well. But God pushed him out of his socially strong and honorable position. Now all respect for him is gone. The scum is exploiting his misery and defenselessness to belittle him even further. Everything that had kept them in check (“bridle”) when he lived in prosperity, they cast off and now they turn their biting mockery on him. They do not restrain their tongues, but give them free rein to ridicule and insult him (cf. ). In Job seems to speak of another group of opponents. They are of the same low rank, for he calls them “brood”. However, they don’t leave it at mockery, but also sue him and storm him. The right side is the place of the accuser ( ; ). Possibly by this brood and these prosecutors he means the disasters and ailments that have come over him. They are taken as a reason to accuse him of evil. The heavy accusations drive him on the run. He compares himself to a besieged city. Against the wall of that city, siege walls are built, to take the city. Job feels the disasters as roads that are being made to lead him to ruin. As a result, his path, or escape route, is cut off ( ). There is no escape. They are all striving for his downfall. Everyone and everything is against him. Among those who surround him there is no one to help him, there is no one who restrains them (cf. ). All of them are besieging him. He is abandoned by God and people. After the mockery the signal comes to the attack ( ). The attackers have made a breach in the wall of his defense. And it is “a wide breach”. In the disasters and accusations comes the destruction. Job is in danger to perish in the sea of suffering. At the sight of the oncoming flood of suffering, Job feels that the horrors have turned against him ( ). As if by a gust of wind, his dignity has been taken away from him. All his happiness is gone, wiped away, like a cloud that has passed by and dissolved (cf. ).

‏ Job 30:13-15

Their Contempt

In the preceding verses Job described the depraved environment from which the scum that despised him came. In Job 30:9-15, Job speaks of the way in which the scum, which he has described in the preceding verses, defames him (Job 30:9-12) and attacks him (Job 30:13-15).

In Job 30:9 Job says for the second time “now” (cf. Job 30:1) as an introduction for a description of the situation in which he finds himself now and which contrasts with his earlier situation. He is now mocked by the foam of society, by people for whom no one has any esteem, but only contempt. They sing mocking songs about him and make fun of him through mocking words. They amuse themselves with him.

Even such people look down on him with an abhorrent resentment (Job 30:10). They stay far away from him. Sometimes they run to him to spit in his face and then run away again. They do not do this out of fear, but because he stinks so much. Spitting on the ground when you see someone is a sign of contempt, but spitting in someone’s face is much worse. How deep his misery must be!

What Job says in Job 30:10-11 is strongly reminiscent of what people have done to the Lord Jesus (Psalms 22; 69; 102). He also felt the deep pain of it, but He suffered and did not threaten. He “kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously” (1Pet 2:23). If anyone can speak of the difference between past glory and present suffering, it is the Lord Jesus during His life on earth. He voluntarily exchanged glory with the Father for the greatest insult and mockery in the world.

In all the misery inflicted upon him by men, Job knows that in the end he was made powerless and humiliated by God (Job 30:11). His “bowstring” or “tent cord” is the thread by which he is bound to life. Peter speaks of his dying as “laying aside of my earthly dwelling [or: my tent]” (2Pet 1:14). Job thought he had the thread of his life in his hand and controlled everything well. But God pushed him out of his socially strong and honorable position.

Now all respect for him is gone. The scum is exploiting his misery and defenselessness to belittle him even further. Everything that had kept them in check (“bridle”) when he lived in prosperity, they cast off and now they turn their biting mockery on him. They do not restrain their tongues, but give them free rein to ridicule and insult him (cf. Psa 39:2 ; Psa 141:3).

In Job 30:12 Job seems to speak of another group of opponents. They are of the same low rank, for he calls them “brood”. However, they don’t leave it at mockery, but also sue him and storm him. The right side is the place of the accuser (Zec 3:1; Psa 109:6). Possibly by this brood and these prosecutors he means the disasters and ailments that have come over him. They are taken as a reason to accuse him of evil.

The heavy accusations drive him on the run. He compares himself to a besieged city. Against the wall of that city, siege walls are built, to take the city. Job feels the disasters as roads that are being made to lead him to ruin.

As a result, his path, or escape route, is cut off (Job 30:13). There is no escape. They are all striving for his downfall. Everyone and everything is against him. Among those who surround him there is no one to help him, there is no one who restrains them (cf. Job 29:12). All of them are besieging him. He is abandoned by God and people.

After the mockery the signal comes to the attack (Job 30:14). The attackers have made a breach in the wall of his defense. And it is “a wide breach”. In the disasters and accusations comes the destruction. Job is in danger to perish in the sea of suffering.

At the sight of the oncoming flood of suffering, Job feels that the horrors have turned against him (Job 30:15). As if by a gust of wind, his dignity has been taken away from him. All his happiness is gone, wiped away, like a cloud that has passed by and dissolved (cf. Hos 6:4 ; Hos 13:3).