Job's friends maintain that Job sins, because calamities have befallen him and his family, and because, according to their understanding, calamities are necessarily God's just punishment for sinful behavior. Job's friends are deluded, for at Job 1:8 God's claim concerning Job is recorded: "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Satan is permitted to afflict Job. Perhaps he is permitted to afflict Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad, too, tempting them to believe what is false and inciting them to join in persecuting Job. That their words are recorded in the Bible does not make either their words or their judgment true.
I feel tempted to doubt that Job is 100% blameless and upright in maintaining his righteousness and his integrity (Job 27:5-6). I have been taught that there is only one 100% blameless human; and his name is Jesus. But there it is in scripture--God's approval of Job's purity (Job 1:8). Additionally, scripture states twice that Job does not sin against God (Job 1:22 and 2:10b).
I believe Job is misguided somehow. Perhaps Satan is behind Job's claim of justice denied (Job 27:2). God does not deny justice to Job. God only delays justice to Job.
Is there some shadowy encouragement here--that one could be misguided and yet without sin? No matter, as it wouldn't apply to me, for too often I am possessed of both a misguided understanding and a sinful heart.
Lord, have mercy...
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