Job 16

“My enemies look daggers at me. Wide-mouthed they gape at me; with scorn, they slap my cheeks; they gather themselves together against me. God delivers me to the perverse, throws me into the hands of the wicked. I was at peace, and he shook me apart. Yes, he grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target – His archers surrounded me. He slashed my innards and shows no mercy, he pours my gall in the ground. He breaks in on me again and again, attacking me like a warrior.” Job 16:9b-14 (CJB)

I have read the book of Job several times, and this is the first time that I noticed how “messianic” many of Job’s statements are. Chapters 16 and 17 are especially messianic and relay specific instances that Jesus suffered. Job can be considered (along with Biblical figures like David, Joseph, and Daniel) as a “type” of Messiah.

Some of the images of Jesus’ suffering are found in Job 16: Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemene (v.v. 15-17), Jesus as our High Priest (v.v 18-22)

In today’s passage, the first image is of the suffering of Jesus before the Sanhedrin at Ciaphas’ home:

“My enemies look daggers at me. Wide-mouthed they gape at me; with scorn, they slap my cheeks; they gather themselves together against me. God delivers me to the perverse, throws me into the hands of the wicked.” Job 16:9b-11 (CJB)

“Meanwhile, the men who were holding Jesus made fun of Him. They beat him, blindfolded Him and kept asking him, ‘Now, prophesy!  Who hit You that time?’ And they said many other insulting things to Him.” Luke 22:63-65 (CJB)

The second half of today’s passage paints a graphic image of Jesus’ suffering on the Roman cross:

“I was at peace, and he shook me apart. Yes, he grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target – His archers surrounded me. He slashed my innards and shows no mercy, he pours my gall in the ground. He breaks in on me again and again, attacking me like a warrior.” Job 16:12-14 (CJB)

“The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been put on the cross beside Jesus, then the legs of the other one; but when they got to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they didn’t break His legs. However, one of the soldiers stabbed His side with a spear, and at once blood and water flowed out.” John 19:32-34 (CJB)