We’ve come to the point in our study of the Book of Job, where it seems he has silenced his friends (cp. Job 32:1). The text says Job continued his discourse (Job 29:1), indicating he may have paused once more (cp. Job 27:1) to see if any of the friends had a reply or wished to admit their error. However, since no one spoke up, Job continued. A few chapters later Elihu would rebuke the friends in his wrath, because they had condemned Job, without replying to his claims; neither did they reconsider their judgment of him. They simply remained silent (Job 32:2-5). Elihu’s rebuke of the friends remains relevant today for modern Christianity, whose errors are many and obvious, but the folks who could make a difference by rebuking error remain silent, fearful of losing their place in Christian society (cp. John 12:42).
When Job was informed of his losses, his children and his possessions, he replied: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return: the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). Later, when he lost his good health, Job replied: “…shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). And, the texts say of him: “…in all of this Job did not sin or charge God with impropriety” (Job 1:21); and again: “In all this did not Job sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).
The words of Jesus come to mind at this point. Knowing he was about to be arrested and then beaten and crucified, he said: “…the cup, which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11). In the matter of Job’s discourse in chapter 29, however, Job begins to long for better times: “Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me” (Job 29:2). Up to this moment, Job had defended himself against his friends’ claims of wicked behavior being the cause of his losses and suffering, and he expressed confusion over what events brought him to his present state. Job even requested God to explain himself. Why, had all these things occurred? Such behavior and questions are understandable and permissible. However, at this moment, in chapter 29 Job begins to express his dissatisfaction with God, because he had permitted this turn of events that brought him so low: “Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me” (Job 29:2).
Job was depressed over the fact that he had no idea why the Lord did this to him. He longed for answers. He was in a dark place and longed for the light of the past, when the Lord directed his paths through his days of darkness (Job 29:5). Jesus, too, became depressed, when he realized a disconnect between him and the Father, as the sins of mankind were being laid upon him. He even believed he would die without restoring his intimate contact with his Father (cp. Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34). So, Job’s depression (Job 29:3-4) is understandable. Yet, when darkness was laid upon Jesus, he continued to pray for light. He looked for the Father to speak through one of his three disciples (cp. Mark 14:35-40), but to no avail.[1] Nevertheless, the Father always hears Jesus’ prayers (John 11:41-42). Therefore, when the Father didn’t speak through one of the three disciples, an angel came to Jesus to strengthen him (Luke 22:41-43). Thus, knowing the Father was with him, despite his not being able to sense it, Jesus was able to pray through the darkness more earnestly (Luke 22:44).
In Job’s case, the friends, just like the three Apostles, were no help. Nothing from the Lord came from them to help enlighten Job. Nevertheless, Job’s prayers would be answered later, when the Lord came to him in chapter 38. Indeed, Job was dissatisfied with the Lord’s table, but not to the point that he would rebel. Remember, Jesus was dissatisfied with the lack of apparent communication between him and the Father, but when he prayed for its restoration, he prayed that the Father’s will would be done. In the context of the heavens being as iron for Job, he longed for better times, when he sensed the Lord’s presence and his children were yet with him (Job 29:4-5), and when his life overflowed with abundance (Job 29:6). Things made sense then, but now everything was chaotic and he wished to die (cp. Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34).
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[1] See my earlier study in the Gospel of Luke: Did Jesus Pray to Avoid the Crucifixion? and Jesus’ Prayer in Gethsemane.
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