You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend. You would even cast lots for an orphanThis phrase highlights the extreme insensitivity and moral corruption of Job's friends, suggesting they would gamble over the fate of the most vulnerable in society, such as orphans. Casting lots was a common practice in ancient times for making decisions or dividing property, as seen in Leviticus 16:8 and Jonah 1:7. The act of casting lots for an orphan underscores a lack of compassion and justice, which is contrary to the biblical mandate to care for orphans and widows ( James 1:27). This reflects the broader theme of social justice in the Bible, where God consistently calls His people to protect and provide for the marginalized. and barter away your friend.
Bartering away a friend implies betrayal and a lack of loyalty, akin to selling someone into slavery or treating them as a commodity. This echoes the betrayal of Joseph by his brothers in Genesis 37:28, where they sold him into slavery. In the New Testament, Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16) serves as a parallel, highlighting the theme of betrayal by those who should be trustworthy. The cultural context of the ancient Near East placed a high value on loyalty and friendship, making such an act particularly egregious. This phrase serves as a critique of Job's friends, who, instead of offering support, are depicted as willing to exploit their relationship with Job for personal gain. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing immense suffering and questioning the justice of God. 2. Job's FriendsEliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are the three friends who come to comfort Job but end up accusing him of wrongdoing, suggesting his suffering is due to sin. 3. The FatherlessRepresents vulnerable individuals in society, often mentioned in the Bible as needing protection and justice. 4. Casting LotsAn ancient practice used to make decisions or divide property, often seen as leaving the decision to divine will. 5. BarteringThe act of trading goods or services, used here metaphorically to describe betrayal or exploitation of a friend. Teaching Points Integrity in RelationshipsJob 6:27 challenges us to examine our integrity in relationships. Are we treating our friends and the vulnerable with the respect and care they deserve? Justice for the VulnerableThe verse highlights the importance of advocating for those who cannot defend themselves, such as the fatherless. Christians are called to be voices for justice. The Danger of MisjudgmentJob's friends misjudged his situation, leading to hurtful accusations. We must be cautious not to assume or judge others' circumstances without understanding. Faithfulness in FriendshipTrue friendship is marked by loyalty and support, not betrayal or exploitation. Reflect on how you can be a faithful friend in times of others' distress. Trust in God's JusticeDespite human failures in justice, believers can trust in God's ultimate justice and righteousness, knowing He sees and cares for the oppressed. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Job 6:27 challenge us to reflect on our treatment of friends and the vulnerable in our community? 2. In what ways can we ensure that we are advocates for justice, particularly for the fatherless, as highlighted in this verse? 3. How can we avoid the pitfalls of misjudging others' situations, as Job's friends did? 4. What practical steps can we take to be more faithful and supportive friends, especially in times of others' suffering? 5. How does trusting in God's justice help us navigate situations where human justice fails? Consider connections to other scriptures that speak of God's justice. Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 82:3-4This passage calls for justice for the weak and fatherless, highlighting God's concern for the vulnerable, contrasting with the actions described in Job 6:27. Proverbs 17:17Speaks of a friend who loves at all times, contrasting with the betrayal mentioned in Job 6:27. James 1:27Defines pure religion as caring for orphans and widows, aligning with the biblical mandate to protect the fatherless. People Job, TemaPlaces Sheba, Tema, UzTopics Anger, Bargain, Barter, Cast, Cause, Child, Creditors, Dead, Dig, Fall, Fatherless, Friend, Lots, Merchandise, Orphans, Overwhelm, Pit, Profit, Strange, Truly, Yea, YesDictionary of Bible Themes Job 6:27 5730 orphans Library July 12 Evening
Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.--HEB. 10:24. How forcible are right words!--I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.--If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily PathOf Sufferings
Of Sufferings Be patient under all the sufferings which God is pleased to send you: if your love to Him be pure, you will not seek Him less on Calvary, than on Tabor; and, surely, He should be as much loved on that as on this, since it was on Calvary He made the greater display of His Love for you. Be not like those, who give themselves to Him at one season, and withdraw from Him at another: they give themselves only to be caressed; and wrest themselves back again, when they come to be crucified, …
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer "Now the God of Hope Fill You with all Joy and Peace in Believing," &C.
Rom. xv. 13.--"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing," &c. It is usual for the Lord in his word to turn his precepts unto promises, which shows us, that the commandments of God do not so much import an ability in us, or suppose strength to fulfil them, as declare that obligation which lies upon us, and his purpose and intention to accomplish in some, what he requires of all: and therefore we should accordingly convert all his precepts unto prayers, seeing he hath made …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning "Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. "
Isaiah xxvi. 3.--"Thou shall keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Christ hath left us his peace, as the great and comprehensive legacy, "My peace I leave you," John xiv. 27. And this was not peace in the world that he enjoyed; you know what his life was, a continual warfare; but a peace above the world, that passeth understanding. "In the world you shall have trouble, but in me you shall have peace," saith Christ,--a peace that shall make trouble …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Sinner Stripped of his Vain Pleas.
1, 2. The vanity of those pleas which sinners may secretly confide in, is so apparent that they will be ashamed at last to mention them before God.--3. Such as, that they descended from pious us parents.--4. That they had attended to the speculative part of religion.--5. That they had entertained sound notion..--6, 7. That they had expressed a zealous regard to religion, and attended the outward forms of worship with those they apprehended the purest churches.--8. That they had been free from gross …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul Joy
'The fruit of the Spirit is joy.' Gal 5:52. The third fruit of justification, adoption, and sanctification, is joy in the Holy Ghost. Joy is setting the soul upon the top of a pinnacle - it is the cream of the sincere milk of the word. Spiritual joy is a sweet and delightful passion, arising from the apprehension and feeling of some good, whereby the soul is supported under present troubles, and fenced against future fear. I. It is a delightful passion. It is contrary to sorrow, which is a perturbation …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity A Solemn Address to those who Will not be Persuaded to Fall in with the Design of the Gospel.
1. Universal success not to be expected.--2-4. Yet, as unwilling absolutely to give up any, the author addresses thou who doubt the truth of Christianity, urging an inquiry into its evidences, and directing to prayer methods for that purpose.--5 Those who determine to give it up without further examination.--6. And presume to set themselves to oppose it.--7, 8. Those who speculatively assent to Christianity as true, and yet will sit down without any practical regard to its most important and acknowledged …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul "And we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. "
Isaiah lxiv. 6.--"And we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Here they join the punishment with the deserving cause, their uncleanness and their iniquities, and so take it upon them, and subscribe to the righteousness of God's dealing. We would say this much in general--First, Nobody needeth to quarrel God for his dealing. He will always be justified when he is judged. If the Lord deal more sharply with you than with others, you may judge there is a difference …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Job 6:27 NIVJob 6:27 NLTJob 6:27 ESVJob 6:27 NASBJob 6:27 KJV
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