Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 22

In this third round of speeches, Job's friends plainly accuse him of being evil and sharing the fate of those who do evil.

• Eliphaz did not understand that God would delight in Job’s right relationship with him, just as God does with every righteous person (1:8; 2:3; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 147:10–11; Proverbs 11:1, 20; 12:22). God would also benefit from Job’s steady faith, which exposed the lie in Satan’s challenge (Job 1:9–12; 2:4–6).

• Job firmly claimed that he was blameless (23:10–12). God said the same thing (1:1, 8; 2:3).

The law and prophets forbade taking clothing as security for loans (Exodus 22:26–27; Deuteronomy 24:10–13; Ezekiel 18:7–8; Amos 2:8). In contrast, Job gave clothing to poor people (Job 31:19–20).

The Old Testament assigns Israel the duty of caring for widows and the fatherless (Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29). It often condemns neglecting them as the worst evil against society (Exodus 22:22–24; Deuteronomy 27:19). Job agreed that neglecting them was wrong but claimed he was innocent (Job 24:3, 21; 29:12–13; 31:16–18, 21).

What does God know?: Job did not claim that God cannot see, but others have (see Psalms 10:11; 73:11; 94:7).

so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked: Eliphaz repeated Job’s words to him (21:16b).

The righteous see it and are glad: Those in a right relationship with God will be glad to see justice done and wrong things made right (see also Psalm 58:10–11; Revelation 19:1–4). Eliphaz's perspective overlooked God's wish "that the wicked should turn from their ways and live" (see Ezekiel 33:11).

• The term instruction (Hebrew torah, also meaning "law," Deuteronomy 17:11), used in Job only here, often refers to the "Pentateuch" (Genesis through Deuteronomy).

• Receive … lay up: See Deuteronomy 4:1–2; 6:6–9; Psalm 119:11; Proverbs 2:1–9. Job had done this thing (Job 23:12).

return to the Almighty: Bildad and Zophar had already made a wrong application of this principle of the Bible (8:5–6; 11:13–14; Isaiah 55:6–7; Hosea 14:1–2; Zechariah 1:3; Acts 26:20). Now Eliphaz also makes a wrong application of it.

gold of Ophir: Ophir was probably in southern Arabia (see 1 Kings 9:28; 22:48). The gold of Ophir set the standard for fine gold (Isaiah 13:12). Queens wore it at weddings (Psalm 45:9).

God promises to be a "treasure" for his people (Psalm 16:5; Isaiah 33:6; Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21). Even if they own nothing, they will be "rich" (2 Corinthians 6:10; James 2:5).

• Ironically, Job will pray, God will hear, and Eliphaz will benefit (42:8).

• you will fulfill your vows: People often vowed after God forgave them (Hosea 14:2; Jonah 1:16; 2:9). They also vowed when asking help from God (Judges 11:29–40; 1 Samuel 1:1–28). Vows mean a serious commitments or to swear a promise (Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:23; Psalms 22:25; 61:5, 8; 116:14, 18; Ecclesiastes 5:4–5).

This difficult text probably shows how effective the prayer of a person in a right relationship with God can be. The idea appears throughout the Bible (Psalms 34:15, 17; 145:18; Proverbs 15:8, 29; James 5:16; see also Genesis 18:23–32; 19:29; 20:7, 17; 32:28; Exodus 9:28–32; 17:11; 32:10–14; Romans 5:19).