Job - Chapters 3-31

After the loss of all ten of Job's children and after the destruction of all his wealth, and after he has been inflicted with sores from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, chapter 3 begins, "After this, Job opened his mouth and curse the day of his birth." After Job cried out to God, his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, had three rounds of discussions with Job. They believe in the "Retribution Principle," which means when we obey God, He blesses us, and when we disobey God, He curses God. They believed that since such devastation had happened to Job, it was because he had sinned, but Job demands his innocence. In these chapters we get their human view point which has some truth mixed with some misunderstanding. His "friends," continue to tell him to repent and get right with God. As the reader, we know that these tests are not due to Job's sinfulness, but on the contrary, it is because of his righteousness. Job pleads with God to give him a hearing as to why this is happening. At one time, Job pleaded for God to take his life, but even in the midst of his pain, he declared that he still hopes in God (13:15). Chapter 28 is a hymn of wisdom which ends with "The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." Chapter 31 ends, "The words of Job are ended."