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Summary

Job 17:1–5 – Spirit broken and mockery around

What happens: Job says his spirit is broken and the grave is ready. Mockers surround him and he pleads for a pledge from God since no one lays a hand in his favor. He warns that flattery ruins children’s eyes.

What it means: God is the protector of the defenseless. False friendship steals hope. Trust seeks security in God’s promise, not human approval.

Job 17:6–10 – Public shame and small strength

What happens: Job has become a byword and spitting to people. His eye grows dim from grief and his members are like shadows. The upright are appalled, yet the righteous hold their way.

What it means: Shame isolates, but perseverance honors God. Integrity can survive slander. God sustains the faithful when reputation fails.

Job 17:11–16 – Hopes laid in the dust

What happens: Job says his plans are broken and the desires of his heart. He speaks of Sheol as his house and calls the grave his father. He asks where his hope is and says it descends to the bars of Sheol.

What it means: Despair speaks in absolutes, yet God can revive hope. Mortality exposes our need for a stronger promise. Only God can raise expectations from the grave.

Application

  • Ask God to be your guarantor when human help disappears.
  • Hold your way in integrity even when shamed.
  • Name your despair to God and ask him to revive hope.
  • Refuse flattering lies, and prize truth that heals.

Bible

1My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

2Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

3Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

4For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

5He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

7Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

8Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

10But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

11My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

12They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.

13If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

14I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

15And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

16They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

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