Chapter Summary

Job's answer continued. He reviews his present condition.

Discussion Questions for Job, Chapter 30

1. As verse 1 begins the second part of Job’s defense, what kind of people are coming after his integrity? How might these kinds of individuals make their words and condemnations especially painful? Even if they’re unfounded, how could their words affect your sense of self?
2. For those described in verses 3-8, what would be a modern example of these kind of people? In verse 10, how does it seem that his station in life has been switched with these same people?
3. Verse 11 explains Job’s circumstances like this, “God has loosed my cord and humbled me.” (ESV) Why might it be necessary to know that God has humbled Job? How might you be tempted to fight against such humble circumstances? Specifically, how might you be tempted to resist the humility coming from these people?
4. As Job accepts the onslaught of condemnations, verse 15 describes it this way, “Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.” (ESV) What is it that Job is concerned about losing? If he has already lost his “prosperity”, what more does he have to lose?
5. In verses 16-18, is Job speaking of physical pain? How could exterior troubles in his life cause him such pain? More than this, why might he feel his very clothes are confining or even constricting him, as in verse 18?
6. In verses 20-21, how does Job take it further than God merely ignoring his “cry to [God] for help”? (ESV) How might a Christian today experience a similar feeling? And how might you encourage them to remember the true character of God in moments like these?
7. In verses 24-25, why does job feel he should be immediately helped by God as he cries? What justification does he seek in thinking God would immediately intervene? How does this error in his understanding of righteousness help prepare Christians when they would experience trouble? What attitude should they pursue?
8. In verses 26-27, consider the timeline of Job’s “hope”. (ESV, Verse 26) Even when Job speaks of darkness, in terms of time, when does he imply that light should come? How is this counter to the hope of Christians awaiting “the light” of Jesus to come?
9. Job describes his condition as such, “My inward parts are in turmoil,” and, “my skin turns black and falls from me.” (ESV, Verse 27 and 30). Compare this with Job 2:7-8. How could these descriptions be literal? As he describes himself as part of “jackals” and “ostriches”, (ESV, verse 29) how might these physical afflictions add to this animalistic feeling?
10. How does verse 31 speak to the place of music in processing grief? How can a change in music, as described here, be helpful to you to express times of suffering? As this defense concludes, how might the song be a way of finding comfort, even in accepting the pain?

Key Words/Phrase

Abhored, v. 10.

Characters

God, Job, friends.

Strong Verse(s)

23