Moreover Job took up his poetic discourse again, for "parable" here denotes a poetic discourse. The verse introduces his continued speech, marking the beginning of another speech by him. That speech stands at the close of the discussion with his three friends, a debate extending from chapters 4 to 31 and consisting of three rounds of speeches. The dialogues between Job and his friends address the cause and purpose of human suffering.
His friends condemned him because of his seeming self-righteousness, but he rejected their words because he felt they were condemning him unjustly. He is still defending himself, conscious that he has committed no open sins against God, and earnest and anxious for God to manifest Himself to him. The speech that follows recalls his former condition.
That former time was when he had enough and to spare and did works of goodness that brought him the honors men can give. Hearing about God and seeing the reasonableness of His requirements had prompted him to do those works, but he then treated those good works as evidence of his own righteousness and robed himself in it and was satisfied. That was a self-righteousness that cannot save, and it made affliction necessary so he would gain a personal acquaintance with God and take God's righteousness.
Moreover Job took up his poetic discourse again, for "parable" here denotes a poetic discourse. The verse introduces his continued speech, marking the beginning of another speech by him. That speech stands at the close of the discussion with his three friends, a debate extending from chapters 4 to 31 and consisting of three rounds of speeches. The dialogues between Job and his friends address the cause and purpose of human suffering.
His friends condemned him because of his seeming self-righteousness, but he rejected their words because he felt they were condemning him unjustly. He is still defending himself, conscious that he has committed no open sins against God, and earnest and anxious for God to manifest Himself to him. The speech that follows recalls his former condition.
That former time was when he had enough and to spare and did works of goodness that brought him the honors men can give. Hearing about God and seeing the reasonableness of His requirements had prompted him to do those works, but he then treated those good works as evidence of his own righteousness and robed himself in it and was satisfied. That was a self-righteousness that cannot save, and it made affliction necessary so he would gain a personal acquaintance with God and take God's righteousness.