In our previous study, we ended with Job’s cry for a Mediator, who would plead his case before both men and God (Job 16:21-22). He continues in that context in this study as well, saying that the time he has left to spend in the land of the living is very short, for he is at death’s door (Job 16:22; 17:1). Job was deeply troubled over how his friends had abandoned him, for they had used the words of an enemy to accuse him of wicked deeds. The friends weren’t specific about what they perceived Job must have done to warrant the wrath of God, but this didn’t seem to hinder them from accusing Job of evil works. So, just as Job was betrayed by his friends, so Jesus would be betrayed by one of his friends. Moreover, just as Job had those who falsely accused him of wicked deeds, so our Savior was made to face false witnesses who accused him of deeds worthy of death. Finally, just as Job was unreasonably perceived to have been smitten by God, so, indeed, was Jesus (cp. Isaiah 53:4).
As mentioned above, Job continues to describe his weakened state: “My breath is corrupted…” (Job 17:1). Compare: “My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids are shadows of death.” (Job 16:16). Nevertheless, Job 17:1 is the beginning of a new thought, and not, as some assume, that the chapter division is wrong and Job 16:22 should be with Job 17:1. Job concludes the thought in Job 16:22 that was begun in Job 16:19, and Job 17:1 and verse-2 answer to: “God, give me some support. No one else will!” (Job 17:3; ERV).
Earlier, Job alluded to his need to struggle for each breath (Job 7:15), and now he tells us that his breath is corrupt, which seems to be a consequence of his affliction (cp. Job 19:17). He says his days are cut off; his life is gone and all that he has to look forward to is the grave. Yet, even in his present weakened, state, no mercy or comfort is offered. His constant companions are mockers and provocateurs (Job 17:2). They promise him long life, if he would only repent, which really means: if you come around to our way of thinking, it will go better with you (cp. Matthew 27:42; Mark 15:31). Folks like this believe they know the scriptures. They think they know the will of God. Yet, if they are challenged to prove their understanding with the scriptures, many of them wouldn’t be able to put two scriptures together to make a logical case. Everything they would use would be taken out of context and prove nothing, just as it was done when similar religious folks crucified Christ.
Therefore, Job asks the Lord to strike hands with him (Proverbs 17:18; 22:26) and become his surety: “Make then a pledge for me with You. Who else would strike hands with me?” (RV). His point is that no one believes him. His mockers and provocateurs have closed their minds to truth. Job is unable to get through to them to vindicate himself. No one but the Lord is able to break down the stronghold of a closed mind, so Job asks the Lord to strike hands with him now, and vindicate him (Job 17:3), before death, after death, whenever! However and whenever it suits the Lord would satisfy Job, knowing it would be done eventually.
Job is confident that, since the Lord had closed the hearts, vis-à-vis the minds, of his friends (Job 17:4), it was satisfying in itself that they wouldn’t be able to exalt themselves over the truth forever. They had denounced their friend for their own profit! In other words, they thought it profitable to have the flattery of their children/disciples, instead of doing the right thing and support their friend (Job 17:5). Therefore, Job was confident that the Lord would do the right thing in due time (verse-3).
The work of the Lord in Job’s life (viz. Job chapters 1 & 2) has had the effect of making Job a byword among the people, just as his work in Job’s life prior to chapters 1 & 2 had exalted Job among the people. For the present, then, Job is abhorred (Job 17:6), and in this he perceives himself as one cut off from God. It is this thing that has brought him to the point of death, his eyes being dim through sorrow (Job 17:7), not unlike the feeling Jesus experienced, when he felt his fellowship with his Father was cut off. He, too, felt he was at death’s door (cp. Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34).
Job’s life was in the state of upheaval, and this caused him to begin rethinking everything he thought he knew about God. The Lord had richly blessed him, but this didn’t tell the whole story about God, for Job’s present condition also came by the Lord’s hand (cp. Job 10:12-13). Yet, how could Job’s present circumstances be a picture of God’s judgment, because Job knew in his heart that his sins weren’t so great that they warranted such treatment at the hand of the Lord. Therefore, Job placed his hope in the future. The God he knew was also his Redeemer (cp. Job 14:13-15). Therefore, God who would make himself the surety of man (cp. verse-3), for he is the true God, the God who is amazing.
Finally, the upright, who would witness this record of Job’s life and understand what great sorrow and persecution the righteous had to endure, would take heart and have their strength renewed in their resistance of evil men in their own generations. Therefore, although he perceived himself to be at death’s door, Job was also able to take heart in the fact that, in all of this, his own strength to resist was renewed (Job 17:8-9).
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