Job 16 Study Notes

16:15 In sorrow and mourning, Job had put on sackcloth (2Kg 19:1; Jl 1:13).

16:16-17 With reddened eyes that no longer saw clearly, Job considered himself as good as dead. He felt he had done nothing to merit God’s attack. He had maintained a pure attitude in prayer (1:22). Purity was an issue that had been brought up by his friends (4:17; 8:6; 11:4; 15:14-15).

16:18 Because Job must surely die soon, he pleaded that his spilled blood would not be covered (Gn 37:26). Like the blood of innocent Abel, Job’s blood would cry out from the ground for justice (Gn 4:10). He asked that his cry for vindication not be forgotten until his blood shed in innocence was avenged (Ezk 24:7-8).

16:19-20 Job wanted an audience with God to plead his case (9:34-35; 13:20-22). If his case came before God, a holy God would bear witness to his integrity. Job placed his hope for vindication in God alone, despite his verbal attacks against him. He could expect no help from his friends; God remained his only advocate.

16:21 Job repeated his need of and desire for an arbitrator to represent him before God. Although he longed for an audience with God (13:3) where a fair hearing would vindicate him (13:15-16), he felt inadequate to represent himself (9:2-4,32-33). Jesus the Messiah became just such an intercessor for humanity (Is 2:4; 11:4; Rm 8:34; Heb 7:25; 1Jn 2:1).

16:22 Job lamented that his life expectancy was short at best (7:16,21; 9:25). With few years remaining, he faced only a death from which there was no return (10:20-21).