The Words of Job are Ended

Text: Job 25-31

In chapter 25, only 6 verses, Bildad sums up the accusations against Job. “How then can a man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” Job, he says, it is simply not possible for you to be as righteous as you claim. No man is righteous. You are a sinner, and you have suffered the things you have suffered as a result.

Chapters 26-31 record Job’s own summation. In short, he considers himself to be as righteous as any man can be, and his fall to be unjust. Chapter 27:6 states, “My righteousness I hold fast, and I will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” In chapter 31:35, Job laments, “Oh, that one would hear me! Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.” Job claims to understand God and His justice, affirms His own righteousness before God, and desires some sort of explanation of his condition. Concluding his arguments, 31:40 ends with “The words of Job are ended.”