Job 12 Commentary

Job 12 Commentary

Job responds to Zophar’s speech. He draws Zophar’s attention to logic. He is in no way inferior to them. He has observed life. He has seen the righteous suffer, himself being an example. He has also seen the godless live in peace.

Job’s friends have relied on the “Causation Principle”. How can they explain Job’s observation?

Based on Job’s observations, can we conclude that the LORD God distributes His rewards and His punishments randomly? Of course, Job hasn’t said it, but it’s an observation made to dispel the friends’ “Causation Principle”.

Job’s question is this: Is there a formula for distributing rewards and punishments in heaven? From what he has seen, there is simply no formula.

Job disagrees with the simple wisdom of his friends. Life isn’t about simplified equations presented by the three friends.

“Who does not know all these things”? Job is not probably referring to the wisdom presented by the friends. He is most likely referring to the things that he is about to say.

There is credibility to Job’s argument in this chapter about the randomness of blessings and punishments based on Job’s life.

The Book of Job seeks to refute the notion that God can be defined by human reasoning and experiences. It invites the reader to consider factors beyond his own reasoning and experiences. Job’s suffering has nothing to do with “human” performance, or any lack of it.

Humans are accustomed to equations, hence the friends’ “Causation Principle”, and Job’s “Random distribution”. Interestingly, both principles taste terrible in view of our understanding of God’s love and justice.

Even within the context of this book, the “Causation Principle” fails to hold. At the end of it all, God will speak. Job’s three friends will be condemned by God. According to their own “cause and effect” principle, they should be punished. But they are instead forgiven through Job’s intercession.

But we also know that finally the Son of Man will separate humanity into two groups. Sheep and goats. Matthew 25 gives us the picture of a separation technique purely based on human performance. Regardless, you still find strong undertones of “grace” as the sheep’s “kingdom … prepared … ever since the creation of the world” Matthew 25:34

Job refers to his own terrible state. He is now a laughingstock, though blameless. He refers to his previous relationship with the LORD, smooth and personal. They spoke.

The saint may have this kind of confusion. What has happened to the good times I enjoyed in the presence of the LORD? Was it all fake? And the wicked with their cursing and sins, why are they still free and enjoying life?

We quickly get back to the endless debate. It is God’s will. Yes. But is it fair? It is not God’s will. Yes. But why then hasn’t the LORD intervened? Ok. Fine. He will intervene, but when? Maybe I have sinned. Repentance follows. Now that I’m clean, I should be good, but it doesn’t happen.

We get all these thoughts and emotions from Job in his responses. We know he is not the only candidate.

In this chapter, Job provides an understanding of God whose operations are well beyond our knowledge. Things may happen outside our “performance” parameters. His will is supreme. But for now, questions and more questions are raised – exactly like we have it in our world today. 

The LORD will eventually answer Job. For now, let’s keep reading. Job continues his speech tomorrow.

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