Job 24:1-12

Job 24 This chapter is largely a protest against the injustice of the world. There are many innocent people suffering in the world. Why is it that God takes such little notice of evil? Verses 2-4, 9 focus on the ones who mistreated the poor and needy while verses 5-8, 10-12 focus on the needy themselves. The orphans, widows, needy, and poor are forced to live as the wild donkeys constantly spending their time just finding enough food to keep themselves alive. “The author passes from one group of exploited people to another, and draws a series of sketches of wretched and downtrodden people, to expose the many injustices of the world.” Job’s description shows his compassion and sympathy to the victims of these wrongs. He also is outraged by the wicked and how they treat the poor. These things are evident, but the focus of this section is his bewilderment as to why God does not judge. The emphasis is not how society should address these cases of suffering (unlike Isaiah 58:7), but on how God should address them. 24:2 Some remove the landmarks;- The subject in this line is not specified in the Hebrew text. The verb used is 3rd mp (they) and from the description given it is clear that he is speaking of the wicked. The LXX adds the term wicked here. Landmarks were some types of marker or boundary stones defining the limits of one’s property. Removing landmarks or boundary stones is forbidden in Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Proverbs 22:28 23:10; Hosea 5:10. Notice these warnings are in legal sections, wisdom literature, and the preaching of the prophets. Deut. 27:17 shows that one who removes the landmark is under God’s curse. In Prov. 15:25 the LORD is said to establish the widow’s boundary. Taking another’s land upset the social order since land was passed down from generation to generation (Num. 27:1-11; 36). In doing this the perpetrators increased their land and diminished that of others (Isa. 5:8-10; Micah 2:1-2). They seize and devour flocks- The MT has the idea that they shepherd the flock and the LXX that they even dared to steal the shepherd. This verb seized was used in Zophar’s speech for those who seize houses not their own (20:19). Job 24 Job is disturbed as we often are that God does not punish sin more quickly and more thoroughly. But how many times have we benefited from that? Job 24 and Jesus The desire to see judgment upon the wicked is expressed in II Thessalonians 1:3-12; Revelation 6:9-10; 22:21. Job’s words, though this is not the primary focus in this context, ultimately anticipate the final day of the LORD (Matt. 25:31-46). 24:10 hungry (Matt. 4:2; Lk. 4:2). The Bread of Life was hungry (John 6:35). 24:11 Jesus cried out I thirst from the cross (John 19:28). The Fountain of Living Water cried I thirst. 24:12 Jesus was wounded for our transgressions (Isa. 53:5). Jesus identified with the suffering of those mistreated in Job’s description. Where is God? God will experience this suffering in the person of Jesus.