Job 30 could be outlined -
Job’s loss of honor. (Job 30:1-14)
Job’s negative image of life. (Job 30:15-31)
Job continues speaking. The outward calamities of Job have affected his mental state.
1 "But now they mock at me, men younger than I, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock. 2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me? Their vigor has perished. 3 They are gaunt from want and famine, Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste, 4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, And broom tree roots for their food. 5 They were driven out from among men, They shouted at them as at a thief. 6 They had to live in the clefts of the valleys, In caves of the earth and the rocks. 7 Among the bushes they brayed, Under the nettles they nestled. 8 They were sons of fools, Yes, sons of vile men; They were scourged from the land. 9 "And now I am their taunting song; Yes, I am their byword. 10 They abhor me, they keep far from me; They do not hesitate to spit in my face. 11 Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off restraint before me. 12 At my right hand the rabble arises; They push away my feet, And they raise against me their ways of destruction. 13 They break up my path, They promote my calamity; They have no helper. 14 They come as broad breakers; Under the ruinous storm they roll along. 15 Terrors are turned upon me; They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed like a cloud. Job 30:1-15 (NKJV)
JOB’S LOSS OF HONOR
In this section Job is thinking of the most vile human beings he knows – and yet he sees that the children of those men would despise him in his present condition.
In verse one – men younger than he is – mock him. There is now no respect for his age – there is no respect because he is older. The fathers of these young men – Job did not like – they were on the lowest rung of society. He did not even regard them fit to sit with the dogs of his flock. The Contemporary English Version translates this verse:
“Young people now insult me, although their fathers would have been a disgrace to my sheep dogs.” Job 30:1 (CEV)
The point that Job is making is that – “even the children of people I despise – mock me. The lowest of the low have no respect for me.”
In verse two Job says that these men were of no use to him. When they would work they were not just lazy – they had no strength or energy what-so-ever.
In verses three thru eight Job describes these men:
1. They were starving to death – skinny and lifeless.
2. They search the wastelands at night for food.
3. They eat the center of sticks from the bushes. (sage brush)
4. They dig up roots and eat those too.
5. They are driven away by decent folk to become outcasts.
6. They were treated like criminals.
7. They live between the rocks – in holes in the ground.
8. They make noises like the wild donkey in the wilderness.
9. They lay down under thorn bushes.
10. Their fathers were fools.
11. They are the children of vile people.
12. They were forced to live in the wilderness.
Now it is the children of these people who mock Job. The family heritage of these people is not to pretty – yet to them Job has become a laughing-stock. Here is a list of taunting that Job receives from these young men:
1. They sing a song of ridicule about me.
2. My name has been slandered among them.
3. They despise me.
4. They keep far away from me.
5. They spit in my face.
6. At the place of honor – trouble arises.
7. They plan destruction for me.
8. They set traps in my path – potholes and barriers.
9. They plan all this by themselves.
10. There is no stopping them – they come as storm on the horizon.
In verse eleven Job gives the reason this is happening to him – “because God has taken away his strength and afflicted him.”
In verse fifteen Job sees terror at every turn – in fact terrors chase after him. Job’s honor is gone – taken away by a tornado – his prosperity has vaporized like a cloud.
In verses one thru fifteen Job sees that his life has become so low that his honor is gone – he has become a laughing stock of young men of vile background.
16 "And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; The days of affliction take hold of me. 17 My bones are pierced in me at night, And my gnawing pains take no rest. 18 By great force my garment is disfigured; It binds me about as the collar of my coat. 19 He has cast me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes. 20 "I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me. 21 But You have become cruel to me; With the strength of Your hand You oppose me. 22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it; You spoil my success. 23 For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living. 24 "Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins, If they cry out when He destroys it. 25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? 26 But when I looked for good, evil came to me; And when I waited for light, then came darkness. 27 My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; Days of affliction confront me. 28 I go about mourning, but not in the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help. 29 I am a brother of jackals, And a companion of ostriches. 30 My skin grows black and falls from me; My bones burn with fever. 31 My harp is turned to mourning, And my flute to the voice of those who weep. Job 30:15-31 (NKJV)
JOB’S NEGATIVE IMAGE OF LIFE
In this section Job looks in two directions: inward and at God. He will see God as his adversary. Job is a man not just going through economic and physical anguish – but also mental anguish as well. Through all of his trials Job has not turned his back on God – but he has not liked what has happened to him either. Through all that he has suffered he still is talking to God. Here in this section Job will address God – even though at this point God will not respond. We will look first at Job’s lament for himself:
1. My soul is poured out like water – because of my circumstances.
2. Every day – affliction has grabbed hold of me.
3. I am pierced to the bone every night.
4. I can not sleep because of the pain I suffer.
5. The pressure I am under – even wrinkles my clothes.
6. I am being choked like wearing a collar that is to tight.
7. I have been cast into a swamp by God.
8. I am nothing more the dust and ashes to God.
9. I cry to God – but nothing – there is no answer.
10. I stand before God – but He does not see me.
Life is nothing more than one circumstance after another. That is what life is. Sometimes the circumstances are good – sometimes they are bad. It is in the midst of these circumstances that our faith is tested and our character is built. There are times when we have no control over the circumstances of life. Sometimes good or bad comes as a result of our own actions. Sometimes the actions of others get us caught up in various circumstances. It is how we act and react that matters. Again, the testing ground of faith – is life. Remember what First Peter says:
“The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.” 1 Peter 1:7 (GW)
Verse twenty speaks about standing up – this was the common practice when one of honor is in your presence. Here in America – when the president enters the room – others will stand. In the military it is common practice when one of higher rank enters – to stand. In a court of law as the judge enters “all rise”. Job has come before God – as before a judge and he now stands – but Job senses that God does not even acknowledge his presence.
“I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me.”
Job 30:20 (ESV)
"I shout for help, God, and get nothing, no answer! I stand to face you in protest, and you give me a blank stare!” Job 30:20 (MSG)
A few translations consider that when Job speaks about standing – he is talking about praying to God. It was a common practice to stand as one prayed.
“You give no answer to my cry, and take no note of my prayer.” Job 30:20 (BBE)
Whichever is the case – Job feels that he has been ignored by God.
Lord, I pray that You would never ignore me – that You would never turn your back on me. There are times that I have been the wayward child – turning my back on You. Yet You have always been there to welcome me home. Thank You. Amen.
In verses twenty one thru twenty four Job’s thoughts focus on God. At this point of his circumstances Job views God as an advisory.
1. God, you are cruel to me.
2. Your hand is against me.
3. You send a tornado my way and I am caught up in it.
4. My success is in ruin.
5. You will walk me to the point of death.
6. I will die like every other person does.
7. Will You squeeze those who are already destroyed? Even when they cry out to You for help?
Job now will focus on himself again in verses twenty five thru thirty one.
1. I weep for those who are in trouble.
2. My soul is grieved for the poor.
3. My desire is for good but evil has come to me.
4. I wanted light but all I got was darkness.
5. I can not rest – all I have are days of trouble.
6. The sun does not shine on me – all I do is cry.
7. I stand all day long and yell for help.
8. My family members are the wild animals.
9. My friends are the beasts of the field.
10. My skin is rotting off my body.
11. My bones feel as if they are on fire.
12. The only songs I can sing are dirges.
13. There is nothing but sorrow in my voice.
The outward calamities of Job have affected his mental state.
In verse twenty five Job is expressing his compassion for those around him – even if they are in trouble or even if they are poor – he says he feels for them. He is asking the question, “How can God treat me this way – when I am showing compassion to others?” Compassion is a great thing. We are to:
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 (HCSB)
In verse twenty six Job says that when he looked for light all that came was darkness. When he looked for something good all he saw was evil. This is a picture of Job’s attitude of life. This past week I preached a sermon on attitude – here is an except from that sermon:
“Let me ask you a question – when you see half a glass of water sitting on the counter – is the glass half empty or is it half full? Those who have a positive outlook on life see the glass as half full. Some people see life full of problems – others see life full of challenges. What is your outlook on life?” [From the sermon – How To Give Courage To Others.]
Job’s outlook on life is not positive. “He sees the glass as half empty.” To Job life is full of troubles.
How often the circumstance of life – try to dictate to us how we are to feel. We can get caught up in this game. When things are going great – we feel great. When things are going bad – we feel bad. Did you know that God does not get flustered by circumstances? He does not worry about the wind. He does not tremble because of troubles. Probably most of us – if we are honest – would need to admit that our character is affected by calamity. We ride on life like we would a rollercoaster. But God is always bigger and better than circumstances. That is why Paul can say:
“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:38-39 (MSG)
I can understand Job’s reaction to life – but believe me Job – God is not finished with you yet – and He is watching every move you make.
