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Read: Job 19-20

In chapter 19, Job continues lamenting and now asks his friends why they too try to judge and rebuke him. A continuation of what we’ve read thus far in the book of Job. This does not help in his current situation but instead makes him feel worse. Imagine if you were going through something difficult only for your friends to be convinced that you brought it upon yourself, as if you somehow deserve it.

Job says to them:

“How long will you torment me and crush me with words?” -Job 19:2

Instead of comfort, his friends continue to accuse him. In chapter 20, Zophar responds again saying that the wicked will eventually be judged by God; but he says so, convinced that Job has done something wicked. Zophar is essentially telling Job what to expect because God will hold him accountable. There seems to just be more finger pointing instead of comforting and compassion.

Job, however, points to something deeper. At the end of chapter 19, Job reminds them that God is the ultimate judge; but he knows that this punishment is not from his personal sins. One day he will stand before God, and God will judge him according to what he has done. Job warns that his friends, themselves, will have to answer for the judgment that they are placing on him.

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”
-Job 19:25

Reading this also made me think about something we talked about yesterday in my Bible study group: building a trusting relationship with my children. I want to raise them in a way where they feel comfortable coming to me with things, even really difficult things. Of course they should take things to the Lord, but I also want them to know that they can come to me. At the same time, I want to raise them in a way where I can trust them and believe them when they tell me something and have confidence in their truth. Ultimately only God will know everything, but how I raise my children plays a huge role in that relationship.

In high school I was accused of something by my friend’s parents that was not true, and no matter how hard I tried to prove myself, they didn’t believe me. My parents, though, believed me. To this day I can say that I did not lie about that situation. The others probably still wouldn’t believe me, and that’s on them. But it felt so good knowing that my mother had confidence in how she raised me and what she taught me and trusted me. In turn, I could trust her to tell her the truth.

Ultimately, just like Job said, we will all stand before God one day and give an account of our lives. As a Christian, I live knowing this truth.

“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” –Romans 14:10

God is the ultimate judge.

Discussion Question

1. Have you ever been accused of something that you didn’t do? How did that experience make you feel, and what helped you to get through it?
2. What are some ways that you can, or maybe already do, build relationships of honesty and trust within your family?

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