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Chapter 17

Job continues his reply to Eliphaz

v1 My spirit suffers. My life is short. Soon, I must die. v2 Everybody insults me. And I watch

their cruel actions.

Chapter 17

Verses 1-2

Job thought that he was dying. His friends were with him. But they did not speak kind words tohim. Instead, they accused him of many evil deeds.

Job prays

v3 God, promise to be fair to me! Nobody else will protect me. v4 You have caused thepeople not to know the truth. So, you will not allow them to succeed. v5 Nobody shouldoppose his friends for a reward. Even the children of such a person deserve to suffer.

Verse 3

Jobs friends could not help Job. And Job thought that God was attacking him (Job 16:9-14). ButJob still respected God. And Job still trusted God. So Job asked God for help (Job 16:19-21).

In fact, God did not cause Jobs problems. The devil was responsible for Jobs troubles.

Verse 4

Jobs friends did not know that Job was innocent. And Job thought that God had caused thissituation. So Job prayed that God would declare him innocent.

Verse 5

Job was right to say that such a person is very evil. But we do not believe that the personschildren should suffer. Each person is responsible for his own evil deeds. (See Ezekiel chapter18.) So each person must confess his own evil deeds to God. And each person must invite

Jesus into his life (John 1:12; John 3:18).

Job suffers

v6 When people curse, they use my name. They spit at me. (That is, they splash me withwater from their mouths.) v7 My eyes are weak because of my tears. My whole body seemsas weak as a shadow.

Verses 6-7

Job was innocent, but he suffered greatly. Jesus was also innocent, and he too suffered greatly.Sometimes Jobs words remind us about Jesus death. See also Psalm 22 and Isaiah chapter53. The authors of these books wrote these passages before Jesus was born. But thesechapters describe well the troubles that Jesus suffered for us. Jesus died so that God wouldforgive our evil deeds (1 Peter 2:24).

The effects of Jobs troubles

v8 Good people are surprised to see this. But my troubles cause innocent people to actagainst evil people. v9 Good men continue their good behaviour. And innocent peoplebecome stronger and stronger.

Verses 8-9

Jobs situation impressed other people powerfully. Good peopleadmired Jobs attitudes. Jobstroubles did not frighten them. Instead, their determination to do the right things increased.

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Paul had a similar experience when he was in prison. See Philippians 1:12-14.

Job says that his friends are not wise

v10 But speak again! Try to prove that I am guilty! And I will prove that you are not wise.

v11 My life is short. My plans have failed. And I have no hope.

v12These men (Jobs friends) pretend that the night is the day. It is so dark. But they say,The light will come soon.

v13 But my grave will become the home for my body. I will be like someone who sleeps inthe darkness. v14 My family will not surround my body. Instead, the tiny animals that destroydead bodies will surround me. v15 I have no hopes for the future. You can see that mysituation is hopeless. v16 There is no hope for a dead man. So, my body will lie, withouthope, in my grave.

Verse 10

As Job spoke about other good people, he himself felt more confident. He was not afraid of hisfriends speeches. He knew that they supposed him to be an evil man. So he told them to speaktheir opinions clearly. He felt ready to reply.

Verses 11-12Job accused his friends. They said that his life would get better (Job 11:15-19). But Jobstroubles were real troubles.

Verse 13

Job expected to die soon. He did not realise that his spirit would then go to heaven. Later, hewould start to understand this (Job 19:26-27).

Verses 14-16

Job knew what happens to dead bodies. And he thought that he was almost dead. He had nohope for the future. He did not know that God would rescue him (Job 42:10-17). Job simplywanted to prove that he was innocent. He wanted to show that he did not deserve thesetroubles.