約伯道出了他的困惑：他感到上帝的不公，不僅是對他個人，就是總的觀察全世界，也是如此。他不能明白，為什麼全能的上帝，不肯立刻去審判壞人，又不肯讓祂的仁義子民活著看見冤情洗刷，以及惡人遭報。在約伯的時代漸進的啟示尚未清明，故不知將會有大審判的日子來臨。上帝會真正地懲罰惡人，為義人辯護，只是不一定在他們存活之時罷了（24：1）。

        約伯說明一些不同階級的人們可厭之處，他相信對這等人該有立即的懲罰。這些不同的罪惡，間接反映出當日社會道德的尺度。當時人對照顧窮乏饑餓的人，彼此尊重對方的私產，二者都非常看重（24：2）。而這時期可能是在摩西和上帝寫出的聖經出現之前，他們的道德尺度之高，著實令人驚異。主的律法的確存在於人類的良心之中。約伯描繪出一幅窮人和被壓迫者，令人痛心的圖畫，並且不懂，為什麼上帝不以惡報應那壓迫者呢？（24：5~12）。約伯因為貧窮和受苦，就能比以前更加的關懷窮人的情況，並反對壓迫。又因他憤恨這種殘暴，便間接地告訴以利法，控訴他壓迫窮人是冤枉的（22：65~9）。

        約伯提出一個有名的類比：以光明象徵善，以黑暗象徵惡。惡人被正人君子厭惡，所為如殺人、淫亂、偷竊、背叛光明；甚至不知什麼是光，他們只愛黑暗。約伯簡略歸結自己對惡人的意見，說：他們雖然興旺，在上帝的計時下，他們會像其他人一樣，步入墳墓（24：24）。約伯結束他的獨白，向他的反對者挑戰，來駁倒他；但是他的語氣暗示，那是不可能的。

        在比勒達回答約伯的話中，他並沒有理會約伯的挑戰，因為他好像沒有使人滿意的答案。但是既然輪到他講話，又因他沒話可說，就只好重述以利法的意見（參4：17~19；15：14~16），這些約伯也肯定的（9：2；14：4）：就是沒有人能在上帝面前稱義。比勒達之所以再說這一事實，可能是要強調他的信念：約伯並非像自己所說純潔無罪（23：11），並且絕不能在上帝的眼中辯解或稱義。

        比勒達考慮到上帝的偉大，問了下述之問題：「在上帝面前，人怎能稱義？」（25：4上）。新約聖經回答了這一問題。人絕不能靠好的工作，守律法稱義；但是律法可以領我們歸向基督，然後藉著信靠祂，我們可以稱義或成義（加2：16；3：24~26；羅3：28；弗2：8~9）。人只能藉基督的義來遮蓋，才能在上帝面前被變為義。稱義的源頭是上帝的恩典；而我們被稱為義的基礎，則在基督的寶血。祂的寶血救我們脫離上帝的怒氣。同時把基督的義輸進我們身內，使我們可以與祂一起進入上帝的恩中，並成為上帝的後嗣（羅1：17~18；5~9；來9：22；多3：7；約3：36）。

        約伯以諷刺回應，質問比勒達傲慢的說話，如何能幫助像他一樣軟弱而無助的人們。他控訴比勒達，引述了一些自己並沒有說過的話（26：4）。約伯詳述上帝奇妙和智慧的做法，較諸比勒達所說的，更加令人印象深刻，而且動人心絃。約伯表示：不僅尊貴的天體宣告上帝的榮耀，而且下面的世界，也是如此（25：5~6）；上帝全能的手控制著自然界的每一件事。祂是宇宙藝術的創造者；「藉祂的靈，使天有（眾星星座的）裝飾。」（26：13上；創1：2）。上帝甚至比生於大地之上萬物中最可怕的（海怪／蛇），更有力量（26：13下），正如同祂比撒但──古蛇，橫行大地尋找可以毀壞的東西──更有能力。上帝的權能和偉大，遠超過我們一定、有限的能力所能理解。誠如約伯所表示的，對於上帝的榮耀，我們所有的知識，以及我們所能看到的，就像小聲耳語和震天巨雷間的天差地別。非常清楚地，就算經歷了他所有的苦難，約伯仍然保持著原狀；而事實上，由於所受的一切輕視，他的信心也不斷增長。

        哦主阿！您對約伯的啟示，是奇妙的。數千前前，您曾教導您的子民，關於宇宙間的物理現象；這些事實，直到最近科學界才逐漸了解。給我們信心的恩賜，在一切事上，信賴您的話語。奉耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

English

        Job gives expression to his perplexing thoughts about what he feels is injustice by God, not only as it relates to him, but from surveying the world in general. He cannot understand why the Almighty God does not bring immediate judgment to the wicked nor let His righteous people live to see their hour of vindication and God's retribution on the unrighteous. In the time of Job, progressive revelation had not yet made known the great Judgment Day to come, so Job was unaware that God would indeed punish the wicked and vindicate the righteous, but it would not always be during their lifespan (24:1).

        Job described certain offenses by different classes of men, which he believed demanded immediate justice and punishment. These various crimes give us a picture of the morality of Job's day. Caring for the poor and hungry and respecting one another's possessions were very important (24:2). They were surprisingly moral, considering it was most likely before the time of Moses and God's written Holy Word, but the Lord's laws live upon the consciences of mankind, as they did in Job's heart. Job paints a heart-rending picture of the poor and oppressed and wonders why God does not charge the oppressors with wrong (24:5-12). Because of Job's poverty and suffering, he could relate to the plight of the poor and oppressed as he never could before, and because of his indignation at such atrocities, he indirectly tells Eliphaz that his accusations against him of oppressing the poor were wrong (22:5-9).

        Job gives a remarkable analogy of light, which symbolizes goodness, and darkness, which symbolizes evil. The wicked offenders of decency, such as murderers, adulterers, and thieves, rebel against the light and do not even know the light. They are lovers of darkness. Job summarizes his opinion about the wicked, saying that although they prosper, in God's own timing they will be brought down to the grave like all other men (24:24). Job closes his monologue by challenging his opposition to disprove him, but his tone implies that he believes it would be impossible.

        In Bildad's answer to Job, he did not reply to Job's challenge, for he likely had no answer that would be satisfactory. But since it was his turn to speak, and for want of something to say, he merely repeated the sentiments of Eliphaz (cf. 4:17-19; 15:14-16), which Job also had confirmed (9:2; 14:4), that no man is just before God. Bildad probably reiterated this fact in order to stress his belief that Job was not innocent as he claimed (23:11) and could never be vindicated or found pure in God's sight.

        Considering the greatness of God, Bildad asked the question: "How then can man be righteous before God?" (25:4a). The New Testament answered his question. Man can never be justified by good works or works of the Law, but the Law can lead us to Christ, so that by faith in Him, we can be justified or made righteous (Galatians 2:16; 3:24-26; Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-9). Man can be made righteous before God only by being covered with the righteousness of Christ. The source of justification is the grace of God, and the basis of our justification is the blood of Christ. His blood saves us from the wrath of God, brings us into favour with Him by imputing Christ's righteousness to us, and makes us heirs with Christ (Romans 1:17-18; 5:9; Hebrews 9:22; Titus 3:7; John 3:36).

        Job replied with sarcasm, asking how Bildad's lofty words have helped him or others like him in a weak and helpless condition. He accused Bildad of speaking words that did not originate with him (26:4). Job expounded upon God's wonderous and wise ways more impressively and eloquently than did Bildad. Job showed that it is not only the majestic heavenly bodies that declare God's glory, but the underworld as well (26:5-6), and God's almighty hand controls everything in nature. He was the artistic creator of the universe; "By His Spirit He adorned the heaven's [with starry constellations]"(26:13a; Genesis 1:16). God is even more powerful than the most feared creature (Leviathan/serpent) that lives upon the earth (26:13b), just like He is more powerful than Satan, that old serpent that roams the earth seeking whom he may destroy. God's power and greatness are beyond our finite, limited understanding. As Job expressed, the knowledge we have and what we can see of His glory is only like a small whisper compared to the majestic full-toned roar of His thunder. It is clear that even through all his sufferings, Job's faith remained intact, and in fact, due to all his contemplations, his faith was growing.

        O Lord, Your revelation to Job is marvellous. You taught Your people, thousands of years ago, facts regarding the physical universe which modern science has only recently understood. Give us the gift of confidence to trust Your Word in all things.