Job 27:7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. 8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? 9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? 10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
In verses 7-10, Job addresses the matter of the hypocrite. He had been accused of being a hypocrite earlier in the book. This was an accusation that was not fitting for Job. In verse 7 Job addressed the hypocrite as his enemy. That is what a hypocrite is to the righteous. He speaks one thing and does another. We have mentioned before that the definition of a hypocrite is like that of an actor. It is pretending to be somebody that you are not. Interestingly, our P.M. was trained to be an actor of sorts. He is showing his true colours more all the time. At first he presented himself as this caring, humble man. He claimed to be a feminist which is not a term of honour. He has proven to despise anyone who steps in his way. He is a bully and developing into quite the dictator. Job was dealing with hypocrites on a different level. They were religious hypocrites. They claimed be walking close to God but their counsel to Job was anything but that of someone who is walking close to God. In verse 8 Job asked his friends what hope a hypocrite has. Job was looking at more than just this life. It is one thing to seem to do well in this life. What about eternity. Job pointed out that God has the final say. God is not impressed with hypocrisy. Jesus condemned the Pharisees and Scribes of being hypocrites. He called them whited sepulchres. They did not take kindly to His true assessment. Jesus was not wrong in what He said nor in how He said it. They were wrong in not wanting to address their sinfulness before Him. Job’s friends were of similar character. God would address them as well. In verse 9 Job reminded them that God is not going to hear the cry of the hypocrite when trouble comes. They have shut Him out and He is not obligated to hear them. God is willing to hear the cry of a repentant sinner. He is open to the cry of the humble.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Job was such a man. He desired to hear from God. He needed to learn more about humility, but he was on the right road. He was not trying to make God someone He was not. He just needed to learn to trust Him more. In verse 10 Job declared that the hypocrite does not take delight in the Almighty. He does not have a relationship with God and does not call upon Him regularly. The Pharisees illustrated this well for us. They despised God. They had a god, but not the true God. They rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah. They did not believe they needed Him as their Saviour. They tempted Him often. They mocked Him at His trial and at the cross. They lied about Him after His crucifixion. They were not interested in truth and most are suffering in torment today. Saul, who was later called Paul, was converted on the road to Damascus. Hypocrites can be saved, but it is a rare thing. Most are too proud and too foolish for that. Job warned these men of the danger they were in. As a wounded man, he could still be used of God to challenge the thinking of ungodly people. These men were trying to break him. They were seeking to interfere with God’s design for Job. They were not interested in knowing the true God themselves and did not want him to know Him either. The hope of man is God. Without knowing Him, man is lost. False religion may seem right. It may seem fulfilling. In reality it is empty and worthless. Just as in Bible times, most people are pursuing false religion. They are as Paul wrote to Timothy:
II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
God will give understanding to those who seek after Him. He will withhold wisdom and understanding from those who despise Him. Today is the Lord’s day. For those who are saved and have a good church, God has a blessing for you today as you follow Him obediently. For those who are lost, why not go to a good church today and listen to what God has to say. You will not be wasting your time. Your life will soon be over and your future is not good. God wants to show you His glory and grant you His salvation. Will you humble yourself and listen to Him today? Pastor Bartel