Job 11-17

Job 11 1.Job has claimed to be an innocent and blameless man. (God himself had said this about Job.) How does Zophar respond in verses 1-6 to Job’s claim? He says God knows Job’s sin and he can’t hide it. Tells him to stop mocking God. 2.How would you describe Zophar’s way in speaking to Job so far? Rude, blunt, pompous, tactless 3.How does Zophar describe God in verses 7-12? God is greater and smarter than we are and knows how evil people are. “He sees your lies Job.”

4.What does Zophar advise Job to do in verses 13-19? What does he say will be the result if Job follows his advice? Devote his heart to God and then things will go better for him = false Theology of Glory 5.What is Zophar’s concluding statement to Job? If you were suffering, would you like to hear this from someone who had come to comfort you? The wicked will suffer No 6.Have you ever been with a person who is going through great suffering? Share your experience. Answer must vary

Job 12 1.Job acknowledges that there is truth in what Zophar says. In verse 3, Job says, “Who does not know all these things?” If Zophar is right, why do you think Job rejects his advice? (verses 1-3) What Zophar is saying only applies to unbelievers. Job mocks Zophar 2.What is Job’s complaint in verse 4? He is a laughing stock among his friends even though he is righteous before God through faith. 3.How do the wicked view Job’s sufferings? (verses 5,6) If one is good then God will reward them with good. They saw Job as someone who’s feet were slipping. The Bible describes Karma and calls it false

4.Job doesn’t need the wisdom of his three friends to tell him that God can bring people down and raise them up again. Who also knows these truths? (verses 7-12) Even the animals know these things 5.What does Job confess about God in verses 13-25? God does what He wants, and no one can stop Him. He raises up nations and tears them down. 6.Job was tempted to envy people of the world who seemed to succeed even though they had no time for God. The psalmists David (Psalm 37) and Asaph (Psalm 73) also were tempted to feel that way. Read those psalms, see what conclusion the authors arrived at, and apply their words to your life as a Christian. Don’t envy the unbeliever’s life. This world is as good as it gets for them. We look forward to paradise

Job 13 1.In verses 1-12, Job evaluates his friends. What lies are they speaking about Job? Job will not accept the verdict of their courtroom. In what courtroom does Job want to appear? They claim Job has committed a great sin. Job calls them worthless physicians and tells them to be quiet Job wants to stand in God’s courtroom – Remember this for chapter 38 2.After Job is finished with his friends, he turns to God with reckless abandon. As he says in verse 16, the fact that he wants to lay his case before God is proof of his innocence. No sinner would dare do such a thing (verses 16-19). Job says in verse 15, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” The ultimate conflict in this book is not Job versus God or Job versus his friends. The ultimate conflict is God versus God. Discuss this point. Is God a vengeful God or a God who blesses and loves? It helps us to understand the proper distinction between law and gospel

3.Job now presents his case before God (verses 20-28). Does verse 23 imply that Job denies he is a sinner? Explain. Job is righteous by faith and believes God is treating him like a criminal 4.During times of suffering, you will want to stand before God and ask him why this is happening to you. Can you approach him? What do you think he will tell you? We can approach the Lord and do so boldly. He will grant His relief in His time. Be patient and look for blessings 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Job 14 1.Job says that God should not pick on mere mortals. What is his first reason? (verses 1-4) Our lives are filled with trouble and weakness. Why should God pick on us? 2.What is the next reason why God should leave us alone and not continually punish us? (verses 5-12) Life is short and when we are dead we are dead. Let us enjoy our short time 3.In verses 13-17, Job rises in faith and looks beyond this world and what seems to be an angry God who punishes our sins. What does Job yearn for in the future? He is looking forward to the afterlife with God, where there will be no more sin.

4.In verses 18-22, Job returns to his complaint over his life. What he hopes for is not what he sees now. What does he see God doing now? He sees God overpowering him and sweeping his life away. 5.Christians who are going through sufferings feel Job’s hopelessness, but they also know Job’s hope. How does this truth help us comfort suffering fellow Christians? As we see our health fail and our life ebbing away, we look forward to heaven more and more. That is one of the best lessons the young can learn from older Christians.

Job 15 1.Contrast what Eliphaz accuses Job of doing with what Job really is doing. Verses 1-4 Eliphaz: If you claim innocence, the others suffering for their wickedness will also think they are innocent – you undermine piety Job: If I deny my piety (through faith) then Job is denying God’s work in him. Verse 6 Eliphaz: If you claim innocence you condemn yourself – no one is innocent Job: I am a sinner, but I have innocently served the Lord. I am innocent by faith

Verse 13 Eliphaz: Why be angry with God, you are getting what you deserve Job: I trust God, but he seems to have turned against me. I want to know why Verse 20 Eliphaz: The wicked suffer in this life Job: not always 2.How can we avoid sounding like Eliphaz? Remember we live under the Gospel, and see all our suffering in light of God’s gracious promises

Job 16 & 17 1.Contrast Job’s complaint against God in 16:6-16 with what he says about himself in verse 17. What is Job’s problem? Job is a child of God who has served the Lord in his life. Why does it seem that God is against him? 2.Chapters 16 and 17 are a unit. The end of chapter 16 is the center of this unit. Recall that Hebrew poetry often climaxes in the center. What does Job express in the center of his lament? (verses ) He does put his faith and hope in an intercessor? Who is that intercessor? 1 Timothy 2:5

3.After Job has confessed his faith, he returns to his lament (verses 16:22–17:16). Yet woven into this lament are statements of faith. Can you find two of them? 17:3 – Who else can help me but God? He can prove Job’s innocence. 17:8-9 – All upright people will understand Job. They will grow stronger 4.How do you think Job would have comforted his friends if they were suffering? (16:4,5) He would have encouraged his friends, rather than speak to them they way his friends spoke to him.