This is the Bible Book Club, the book of Job. Welcome to the club.

Last episode in chapters 15 through 17 of Job, round two of the great debate began,

and things got a little less friendly in round one the three friends

were preachy but still pastoral their message was basically repent and things will get better but

job refused he wasn't guilty so he was not confessing to something he didn't do and that refusal

changed everything in round two the velvet gloves were traded for boxing gloves.

Elefaz led the fight in chapter 15. He accused Job of arrogance, foolishness, and defying God.

His message shifted from, Here's what you should do to here's what you are. And what you are,

Job is wicked. But Job didn't collapse from that blow in chapter 16

and 17 battered and near despair he did something remarkable he looked past his miserable comforters

posing as friends and looked up to what he knew to be true he had a witness in heaven an advocate

on high an intercessory who could see the truth.

Job didn't have a name for that witness. He never would. But we do. It's Jesus.

Well, welcome back to round two of the case against Job. In this round, we've already had Elifaz,

but in this round, both Bill Dad and Zofar will aggressively

accuse Job. Now, recall that the friends have shifted in this round from correction to condemnation.

And their tone is shifted from, here's what you should do to here's what you are.

They do not hesitate to tell Job what he is. And they are unanimous

in their opinion. Job is wicked. Elifaz attacked Job's character, insinuating that he was

foolishly wicked. Bildad will attack Job's understanding, insinuating that he is blindly wicked, and so far will attack

Job's future, stating that he is hopelessly wicked. There is also a deeper theological shift

in this round. The friends stop talking about God's mercy and only talk about God's judgment.

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