B. The Way It Is (30:1-31)

In ch. 30 Job’s attention turns to his present plight. Instead of the respect he enjoyed during his prosperous times, he is now greeted with disdain by the young and offscouring of the town. He is hurt by such treatment (vv.1-15). He had been acclaimed by notables; now he is ridiculed by a segment of the town whom he had “disdained.”

Not only is he ridiculed by the people, he is attacked by God (vv.16-23). Job continues to assign his suffering to God, being ignorant of the divine council meeting in the prologue. Reflecting OT thought, Job ignored secondary causes of his suffering and focused on God, whom he sees as the primary source. All events were attributed ultimately to God.

The suffering Job is not greeted with the same concern and care that he had extended to those in affliction. No one pities him now in his desperate circumstances (vv.24-31). Such treatment only intensifies his sorrow and pain.