WHY THIS MEANINGLESS TALK?

Passage: Job 27:1-23

Key verse: 11

NIV

Job’s Final Word to His Friends

27 And Job continued his discourse:(A)

2 “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,(B)
    the Almighty,(C) who has made my life bitter,(D)
3 as long as I have life within me,
    the breath of God(E) in my nostrils,
4 my lips will not say anything wicked,
    and my tongue will not utter lies.(F)
5 I will never admit you are in the right;
    till I die, I will not deny my integrity.(G)
6 I will maintain my innocence(H) and never let go of it;
    my conscience(I) will not reproach me as long as I live.(J)

7 “May my enemy be like the wicked,(K)
    my adversary(L) like the unjust!
8 For what hope have the godless(M) when they are cut off,
    when God takes away their life?(N)
9 Does God listen to their cry
    when distress comes upon them?(O)
10 Will they find delight in the Almighty?(P)
    Will they call on God at all times?

11 “I will teach you about the power of God;
    the ways(Q) of the Almighty I will not conceal.(R)
12 You have all seen this yourselves.
    Why then this meaningless talk?

13 “Here is the fate God allots to the wicked,
    the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty:(S)
14 However many his children,(T) their fate is the sword;(U)
    his offspring will never have enough to eat.(V)
15 The plague will bury those who survive him,
    and their widows will not weep for them.(W)
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust(X)
    and clothes like piles of clay,(Y)
17 what he lays up(Z) the righteous will wear,(AA)
    and the innocent will divide his silver.(AB)
18 The house(AC) he builds is like a moth’s cocoon,(AD)
    like a hut(AE) made by a watchman.
19 He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more;(AF)
    when he opens his eyes, all is gone.(AG)
20 Terrors(AH) overtake him like a flood;(AI)
    a tempest snatches him away in the night.(AJ)
21 The east wind(AK) carries him off, and he is gone;(AL)
    it sweeps him out of his place.(AM)
22 It hurls itself against him without mercy(AN)
    as he flees headlong(AO) from its power.(AP)
23 It claps its hands(AQ) in derision
    and hisses him out of his place.”(AR)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Job Continues: I Will Maintain My Integrity

27 And Job again (A)took up his discourse, and said:

2 “As God lives, who has (B)taken away my right,
    and the Almighty, who has (C)made my soul bitter,
3 as long as my breath is in me,
    and (D)the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
4 my lips will not speak (E)falsehood,
    and my tongue will not utter (F)deceit.
5 Far be it from me to say that you are right;
    till I die I will not put away my (G)integrity from me.
6 I (H)hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go;
    my heart does not (I)reproach me for any of my days.

7 “Let my enemy be as the wicked,
    and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
8 (J)For what is the hope of the godless (K)when God cuts him off,
    when God takes away his life?
9 (L)Will God hear his cry
    when distress comes upon him?
10 Will he (M)take delight in the Almighty?
    Will he call upon God at all times?
11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God;
    (N)what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves;
    why then have you become altogether vain?

13 (O)“This is the portion of a wicked man with God,
    and the heritage that (P)oppressors receive from the Almighty:
14 If his (Q)children are multiplied, it is for (R)the sword,
    and his descendants have not enough bread.
15 Those who survive him the pestilence buries,
    and his (S)widows do not weep.
16 Though he (T)heap up silver like dust,
    and pile up clothing like clay,
17 he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it,
    and (U)the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He builds his (V)house like a moth's,
    like (W)a booth that (X)a watchman makes.
19 He goes to bed rich, but will (Y)do so no more;
    he opens his eyes, and (Z)his wealth is gone.
20 (AA)Terrors overtake him like (AB)a flood;
    in the night a whirlwind (AC)carries him off.
21 (AD)The east wind lifts him up and he is gone;
    it (AE)sweeps him out of his place.
22 It[a] hurls at him (AF)without pity;
    he flees from its[b] power in headlong flight.
23 It (AG)claps its hands at him
    and (AH)hisses at him from its place.

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Footnotes
  1. Job 27:22 Or He (that is, God); also verse 23
  2. Job 27:22 Or his; also verse 23
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Ultimately, Job gave glory to God who is eternal and Almighty. Job acknowledged God’s sovereign justice, but he maintained his innocence before those who accused him. He did not admit that they were right. Job firmly decided in his heart not to go over to the side of God's enemies and accusers. He will not confess to sins he has not committed. He does not understand, but he will be faithful to God. He vowed to teach his detractors about the power and ways of Almighty God. God’s word is treasure, but their talk is meaningless

The wicked are those who never delight in God or call on him; they are ruthless toward their fellow man. They appear to be wealthy and successful, but in the end, terror will overtake them like a flood.

Prayer: Lord, protect me from speaking meaningless talk. Help me instead to teach others your word and about your power and glory.

One Word: Teach about the power of God