Mark A. Copeland
b. Job attempts to limit wisdom to himself, disregarding the wisdom of others
c. Job cannot be as pure and righteous as he claims; if angels and the heavens are not pure
2. Eliphaz repeats his main thesis: suffering comes to the wicked (15:17-35)
a. Appealing to what he has seen, and what wise men have said
b. He then offers a lengthy description of how the wicked one suffers (is he trying to
describe Job?)

B. JOB'S REPLY (16:1-17:16)
1. He reproaches his friends (16:1-5)
a. They are "miserable comforters"
b. He could do what they do, but would offer true comfort if they were in his place
2. He describes God's treatment of him (16:6-17)
a. Whether he speaks or remain silent, there is no relief
b. God is wearing him out, shriveling him up, gnashing at him
c. God has turned him over to the ungodly, who gape at him and strike him reproachfully
d. God has shattered him, shaken him, and broken him with wound upon wound
3. He hopes his cry will be heard (16:18-22)
a. That it not be buried in the dust of the earth, that it be seen in heaven
b. Scorned by his friends, his eyes pour out tears to God
c. He wished there was one who would plead for him with God, for he knows his time is
short
4. Job asks for relief (17:1-5)
a. He is broken, the grave is ready for him, and mockers are with him
b. His friends have no understanding, can't God help him?
5. He resumes his complaint (17:6-9)
a. He is despised by others, even as he grows weaker
b. Upright men are astonished by him, the innocent are stirred up against the hypocrite (is
Job saying that is how they view him?)
c. The righteous holds to his way, and those with clean hands become stronger and
stronger (perhaps Job is referring here to his friends, and speaking with sarcasm)
6. With no wisdom from his friends, he is losing hope (17:10-16)
a. His days are past, his plans are broken, and all his friends can do is say "the light is
near" when all is dark
b. If death and the grave is all that lies ahead, where is his hope?

II. BILDAD SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (18:1-19:29)

A. BILDAD'S REBUTTAL (18:1-21)
1. He is incensed at Job (18:1-4)
a. "How long" will Job keep speaking? - cf. 8:2
b. Why does he consider his friends as beasts and stupid?
c. Should the earth be moved because he is angry?
2. He too provides a lengthy description of the suffering of the wicked (18:5-21)
a. The light of the wicked will go out
b. He is cast down, ensnared
c. Terrors frighten him on every side
d. Destruction comes his way, others will take what is his
e. The memory of the wicked will perish from the earth, there will be no posterity

The Book Of Job 23
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