Job 12 and Book of Job

I will review Job's fourth speech (12-14) on this and the following page. Even though these three chapters are one "speech," Job 14 is a poem that stands fully on its own. In Job 12-13, Job brings new themes to the discussion and returns to legal language.

Job 12. New Themes. Job's distress is like a multi-faceted jewel, reflecting light in different patterns when seen from different angles. His anguish is one, but the psychological realities flowing from that pain are varied. Bitterness, longing to die, anger, resentment, cynicism, fear and grief are among the realities identified so far. Here Job adds two more themes to the mix: humiliation (v. 4) and God's unremitting wisdom and strength (vv. 13-25).

In a theme that will weigh on Job more as his speeches continue, Job admits now that he is an object of ridicule. "I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock (12:4)." If a Middle Eastern tribal leader or great man is humiliated, he must retaliate or die. Job's sense of powerlessness over against God and his inability to be heard by God, must be understood in this context.

Second, Job recites an unexpectedly long hymn to the divine wisdom and strength (12:13-25). Job's virulence toward God in earlier chapters does not prepare us for his seemingly majestic affirmations: "With him are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his" (v. 16) and "He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, and brings deep darkness to light (v. 22)." Yet, these need to be seen in the context of 12:9, "Who among all these [all creatures in the world] does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this [brought my calamity]?" The paean to God's wisdom and strength that follows needs to be understood more as a lament than a hymn. God's attributes are recited more out of frustration and hopelessness than gratitude. It is as if Job is saying, 'Yes, this God, the one who has messed up my life, this God indeed is the powerful one. What's a person to do?'

Job 13. Returning to Law. Job's desire to speak with God returns, but he is aware of the danger: "I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand. See he will kill me; I have no hope (13:14-15)..."*

[* Other translations of 13:14-15 have it: "Let him kill me if he will; I have no other hope than to justify my conduct"--NJB; "He may slay me; I am without hope"--Clines. This was the verse the King James Version famously misrendered as, "Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him," a translation that provided many exhortations for clergy and others, but quite misses the fact that Job really doesn't trust God at this point.]

But he wants to argue his case before God, and he states, with confidence, "I have indeed prepared my case; I know that I shall be vindicated" (13:18) and "I will defend my ways to his face (13:15)." If God would withdraw his hand and not terrify Job (v. 21), the lawsuit could go on: "Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me (13:22)." But there is more than a little bravado in Job's words. In fact, he experiences the deep sense that God hides his face and counts him as an enemy. He plaintively asks, "Will you frighten a windblown leaf and pursue dry chaff (13:25)?" Underneath Job's bold and confrontative exterior lurks a man who is terrified, fearful of being overwhelmed by a mighty, irrational and incomprehensible power. It is this reality that most dominates Job as he recites one of the most famous poems in Western literature--Job 14. To that we now turn.

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