Job 27 Study Notes

27:1-4 The upright use their lips (Ps 141:3) and tongue wisely. Their organs of speech should praise God (Ps 51:14-15).

27:5-6 Job agreed with his friends that his suffering meant that God was accusing him of wickedness, but he knew he was not wicked.

27:7-10 In their godless state, Job’s detractors lived for self, not God. Therefore, God would not hear their cries for relief.

27:11-12 Job and his friends knew about God’s power and providence. They lectured him about God’s judgment of the wicked (11:5-6; 22:5) but misapplied it to Job’s case.

27:13-23 Job displayed his understanding of the wicked man’s lot, which his friends had described.

27:18 House portrays metaphorically the wicked person’s life and possessions. A watchman’s shelter was a temporary structure built during harvest time as a booth from which to guard the fields. After harvest it was allowed to fall into ruin.

27:19-23 The wicked person’s prosperity can disappear overnight. Terrifying disasters haunt his soul constantly like a flood or tornadic wind (1:19; 38:24). Such could not designate Job. He might be discouraged, but he was confident of his integrity (27:5-6). The wicked must bear the scorn of those who rejoiced over his fall. Clapping the hands, hissing, and shaking the head were common gestures of contempt (Lm 2:15; Nah 3:19; Zph 2:15).