Job 42:1 begins Job's answer to the LORD after the LORD has spoken to him. It marks Job's reply to the LORD after the LORD has answered him, coming at the close of God's lessons to him. Job wanted to hear God Himself after discussion with his three friends showed the littleness of human wisdom and that affliction is not punishment for sin, and after Elihu stressed that affliction is disciplinary. God does not directly answer the arguments that were advanced, yet He resolves the problem by showing from all nature His goodness, love, and tender care for all His works.
In his reply Job acknowledges God's power and answers and submits to the divine reproof. He bows in sweet submission to the divine will, trusting it though he cannot understand it. He learns how little he knows and how great God's power is, leading him to trust God whatever may come. Having learned that God is infinitely wise and good and that he himself is of little account, he humbles himself and repents.
His confession to the LORD leads to his restoration. His friends must repent of accusing him and are accepted as he prays for them, while he himself turns from the hard feelings their accusations stirred in him. When he prays for his friends, God restores his fortunes and makes his latter life more prosperous than his beginning. That restoration of his prosperity comes because of his faithfulness, his devotion to right principles, and his faith in God.
Job 42:1 begins Job's answer to the LORD after the LORD has spoken to him. It marks Job's reply to the LORD after the LORD has answered him, coming at the close of God's lessons to him. Job wanted to hear God Himself after discussion with his three friends showed the littleness of human wisdom and that affliction is not punishment for sin, and after Elihu stressed that affliction is disciplinary. God does not directly answer the arguments that were advanced, yet He resolves the problem by showing from all nature His goodness, love, and tender care for all His works.
In his reply Job acknowledges God's power and answers and submits to the divine reproof. He bows in sweet submission to the divine will, trusting it though he cannot understand it. He learns how little he knows and how great God's power is, leading him to trust God whatever may come. Having learned that God is infinitely wise and good and that he himself is of little account, he humbles himself and repents.
His confession to the LORD leads to his restoration. His friends must repent of accusing him and are accepted as he prays for them, while he himself turns from the hard feelings their accusations stirred in him. When he prays for his friends, God restores his fortunes and makes his latter life more prosperous than his beginning. That restoration of his prosperity comes because of his faithfulness, his devotion to right principles, and his faith in God.