Job continues his complaint that he has acted righteously and his further complaint that God is silent. It seems to me that what pains him most is God's seeming silence. Time and time again he begs for the opportunity to present his case.
If you take what he is saying in these verses and flip them from negative to positive then Job is claiming that, in his 'account' he has:
- Wept for those in trouble and grieved for the poor
- Remained pure as regards sexual immorality
- Been honest in his business dealings
- Treated his servants justly
- Fed the poor, widows and orphans
- Clothed those in need
- Rightly understood that his wealth was from the Lord
- Guarded his tongue
- Provided materially for his employees
- Opened his home to strangers in need
- Confessed his sin
- Kept clean books
Yet in the midst of losing everything he still hasn't made the complaint that so many make today, "I did all of that for nothing, forget trying to be good."
The fact that he doesn't go there seems to indicate something about Job's heart.
He did all that he did in the above list out of a love for God, a love that survives even though Job feels like he has been the victim of terrible injustice at the hand of God.
His 'friends' have been making the black and white argument:
"You sin, you lose it all. Therefore, Job, you're guilty."
Job seems to have been saying, "I used to think that too but now I realize I have seen the wicked prosper and I KNOW I am right with God so I'd just like to be able to plead my case, or die."
It is God's silence on the matter that he is lamenting.
Today finishes with: "The words of Job are ended"
So we get to hear closing arguments from the three stooges next.
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