Dawn over a long gray ash mound: a small man wrapped in a dark cloak stands upright with his back to us, a long shadow on the ash, a small walled town far off, under a calm, pale, empty sky.

The Book of

Job 27

Job speaks. Round three is over. Zophar’s turn comes and he says nothing. Job stands and takes an oath.

23 verses≈ 3 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–3The testBlameless, stripped of everything, and his cry
4–14Round oneThe friends speak; Job answers
15–21Round twoMy Redeemer lives
22–31Round threeThen wisdom, and Job's last defenseChapter 27
32–37ElihuA younger voice
38–41The LORD speaksOut of the whirlwind
42The endJob prays and is restored

Job Affirms His Integrity

Job

Job

Job continued his discourse:

“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—

the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

as long as my breath is still within me

and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

my lips will not speak wickedness,

and my tongue will not utter deceit.

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Job

my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.

Job 27:4

Job

A lone acacia on bare rock, bent hard by the wind, its roots gripping a split in the stone as dust streams past.

I will never say that you are right;

I will maintain my integrity until I die.

Job

Job 27:6

Reflect

Until I die

Job swears by the God he feels has wronged him. He will not lie to get his life back, not even to please God. Where are you tempted to say what is not true in order to be left in peace? Write it down.

The Wicked Man’s Portion

Job

May my enemy be like the wicked

and my opponent like the unjust.

For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off,

when God takes away his life?

Will God hear his cry

when distress comes upon him?

Will he delight in the Almighty?

Will he call upon God at all times?

Job

Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?

Job

I will instruct you in the power of God.

I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves.

Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

Question

Quick question

He has sworn it. What will he not say?

What does Job refuse to say?

Job

This is the wicked man’s portion from God—

the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword;

and his offspring will never have enough food.

His survivors will be buried by the plague,

and their widows will not weep for them.

Job

A wall of brown dust rises out of the east over a bare plain, a torn black tent cloth whirling away before it, under a band of calm sky.

Terrors overtake him like a flood;

a tempest sweeps him away in the night.

The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;

it sweeps him out of his place.

0:10

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Job

It hurls itself against him without mercy

as he flees headlong from its power.

It claps its hands at him

and hisses him out of his place.

Where Job and the friends part

Whiteboard

Job can paint the wicked man’s end as well as they can. What he won’t do is read a man’s guilt from his losses.

Pray

Ask for honesty when a lie would be easier. Ask God to keep your conscience clean before Him. Ask for a loose hold on anything a wind can take. Pray for someone who is being told to confess what they have not done.

You’ve experienced

Job 27

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A verse to carry with you

my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will not utter deceit.

Job 27:4

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