Job 24: Group Study Handout

Overview

In Job chapter 24, Job continues his discourse on the mystery of divine justice, questioning why the wicked often seem to go unpunished. He vividly describes diverse forms of societal injustice, such as the oppression of the poor, the exploitation of workers, and the marginalization of the needy. The chapter underscores Job's deep frustration with the apparent absence of divine intervention in rectifying earthly wrongs.

Key verse

“Why aren’t times laid up by the Almighty? Why don’t those who know him see his days?”

Job 24:1 (WEB)

Outline

1. Job 24:1–2 Job's Questions on Divine Justice
2. Job 24:3–9 Injustice Against the Vulnerable
3. Job 24:10–12 Desperation of the Poor
4. Job 24:13–17 The Nature of the Wicked
5. Job 24:18–20 The Fate of the Wicked
6. Job 24:21–24 God's Sovereignty Over the Mighty
7. Job 24:25 Challenge to His Critics

Discussion questions

1. In v2, who are the people that 'remove the landmarks'?
2. What happens in v12 when 'men groan' in the populous city?
3. In vv. 18-19, why does Job compare the wicked to 'foam on the surface of the waters'?
4. In vv. 22-23, what does Job's mention of God preserving the mighty suggest about divine justice?
5. When have you seen someone 'drive away the donkey of the fatherless' in your community?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Job 24: John 1, Job 22, John 3.

Before next time: read Job 25.