“Job Responds to Eliphaz – Part 1” - Job 6-7

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Job has suffered at the hand of Satan by the permission of God. Job has lamented that suffering. Eliphaz has offered what he considered to be “help”. We now move to the first of Job’s many responses to his friends. His three friends sat with Job and were silent for a week, but now they are beginning to answer the lamenting words of Job in chapters 4-27. They have “advice” and Job will have reactions to that “advice”. Let’s see what Job has to say to his friend Eliphaz who basically said that the suffering that Job is going through is a result of his own sin.

 

I.                   Job Confronts His Friend’s Response To His Suffering    Job 6:1-30

a.       With the conclusion of Eliphaz’ first volley of advice to the suffering Job, we begin this section with “Then Job answered…” This is the first of the passages along the way that will precede the words of Job toward his friends and God. We will see this same beginning in 9:1, 12:1, 16:1, 19:1, 21:1, 23:1, and 26:1.

b.      Job begins his remarks in Verses 1-7 by saying that he only wishes that his words of complaint and struggle were equal with what he is going through. If that were the situation, than Job would be suffering a lot less than he is! Instead, he offers that what he is saying is no match for what he is going through. If it were, his words and his grief would be as heavy as the sands of the sea. He says that all of this is the arrows of God against him and the poison of these arrows is breaking his soul and spirit. He also mentions by way of questions that would have a “no” answer that somehow his situation and his words are being caused by the heaviness of his life. In light of this, Job refuses to “eat” or digest the words that Eliphaz has laid on him. They don’t taste good at all and are not words that would nourish him.

c.       Job continues in Verses 8-13 with his continuing thought that perhaps death would be a relief to what is going on presently. Somehow, Job would be better off in his mind if his now purposeless and meaningless life were somehow ended. Of course, let’s be reminded that again Job is not considering suicide. He just can’t understand the reason or purpose for his current situation. What he is able to take heart in is the fact that he has been up to this point been able to rejoice in this incredible pain and that he has not denied the words of God throughout this affliction thus far. But he also mentions that his strength is fading and that his inner strength is waning in the wake of this disaster that has befallen him.

d.      Job will now take on a courageous undertaking in Verses 14-23. Remember that his friends have been sitting with him and remaining silent up to this point except for the first response of Eliphaz. While he has not yet heard from his other friends, he must feel like they are in agreement with Eliphaz in that he will offer his comments to them all. What does he say to these friends?

                                                              i.      A despairing man should receive kindness from his friends – Job is fully aware that he is in bad shape. He is being unjustly allowed to go through a set of circumstances that would break someone else. Since that is the case, Job says that his friends should have come alongside him in a more understanding way instead of the judgmental way that Eliphaz has done it. The reason that Job give for this friendly support is so that a man will not lose his faith in God above. Somehow, these friends are representing God on the ground level to Job and their non-support has only reinforced the fact that God is the One that is laying all of this on him.

                                                            ii.      You have been unreliable and disappointing – from that initial thought, Job continues by comparing his friends to a stream, creek, or wadi that flows in the winter when no water is needed and stops flowing and dries up during the times of great heat and need during the difficult trying times of summer. He says that he is not asking for a bribe to God or deliverance from Him or the friends. He is only looking for some understanding and empathetic response to this unjust treatment that he is currently suffering under.

e.       Job concludes his remarks in Verses 23-30 with an appeal to his friends. This appeal is to show him or demonstrate to him where he is wrong in his analysis of the situation. He shares with them that his words, although painful to hear, are accurate and undeniable. But they have treated his words and his reactions like “wind”, unseen and of no substance. He accuses them of being unfeeling and even says that they would cast lots for and barter over the despair of the orphan and the friend. But he concludes with an appeal to them to look into his face and call him out if he’s lying. He says that they can call him on any inaccuracies in information or discernment in the words of their suffering friend. But he doesn’t believe he’s wrong! He is suffering unjustly! His friend Eliphaz has not discerned accurately the situation that Job suffers under and that lack of compassion and discernment is both shocking and disappointing to Job.

 

II.                Job Confronts God’s Role In All Of This    Job 7:1-21

a.       With the start of chapter 7, Job will now speak to Eliphaz but be considering God’s economy in all that is before him. In Verses 1-10 we see a picture of the life that man is given here on earth. That life is full of labor and hard work. It is the life of a military man, a slave or an employee who works for nothing but his paycheck. That life is a life of vanity, a life of meaninglessness and emptiness. There are no dreams in this life beyond the nightmares that awaken the man and remind him that it is not time to get up yet. So he tosses and turns until it is finally time to arise. But it is a life that also reminds a man of the shortness of his days in regard to acquiring or realizing hope. Job’s condition is noted in that he is covered with worms, scabs, dirt and oozing sores. While his days are short on dreams and hopes, they are also quickly disappearing like the clouds of the sky. Soon they will be gone and forgotten. Job’s life and the life of the suffering are like this.

b.      So in light of this tragic scenario, Job says in Verses 11-21 that he will not be quiet. He will continue to complain in that all of his complaining is nothing compared to his pain. He will continue to bring out the bitterness of his soul at being a man that is under such unjust attack. Job asks why God would see him as someone who gets the attention that he seems to be receiving. Is he some kind of chaotic sea or even a sea monster that demands the eyes of God to watch over him? He is tormented whether in bed or awake. He feels like death would be a better alternative to the life that he now leads. He wishes that God would just leave him alone! Remember that we say things in despair that we will live to regret; but not now! Job is wondering why every detail of his life must be under the watchful eye of God. Not unlike Job 6:4, Job is wondering why he is a target of God Himself. Is it sin? He doesn’t believe so. Has Job done something to offend God? He doesn’t think so.  If so, why doesn’t God just forgive Job? Then everything could be better, right? But for now, Job will lie down like a dead man and he will not react to the call of God…

 

III.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       Be reminded that when you minister to those that are hurting, you will hear them say things that will both be illogical and theologically incorrect. Try to hear past those words to the heart of the hurting person.

b.      Be reminded that Job was not convinced of the advice of Eliphaz. While it was pretty uncompassionate and even wrongly timed, Job could have used the opportunity to consider whether there were any “nuggets of truth” in his words.

c.       Be reminded that even though God sometimes allows testing and while doing so may seem far away and even uncaring to our unknowing minds and hearts, He is in fact watching, growing and maturing us our good and His glory.

 

A Proper Setting - The WorkPlace

by Charles Ligon

Diamonds are meant to be beautiful. When set properly, they can be especially stunning and very attractive to the eye. However, in an inappropriate setting (e.g. in a drawer, pocket or locked away in a box), the beauty, attraction and magnificence may go unnoticed or worse, be lost altogether.    

The same can be said of spiritual gifts!  You see, God has graciously granted spiritual gifts to every believer. When used in the proper setting or situation, these gifts are quite beautiful.  The Bible says that, in His grace, God has given us different spiritual gifts for doing certain things well. If prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And, if you have the gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly (Romans 12:6-8 NLT). So…what is the proper setting for using our spiritual gifts? The answer: from an abundance of agape love!  You see, our spiritual gifts must be administered or applied with selfless, sacrificial and charitable love toward others. Apart from this setting, our gifts will lack the brilliance, magnificence and beauty of our Lord. First Corinthians 13 (known as the Love Chapter) speaks very concisely about this…we can exercise great spiritual gifts and achieve marvelous things, but if we are not motivated by love, we are nothing! Thus, as workplace believers, we are called to use our gifts to serve others out of a genuine, authentic, selfless love. We serve others because Christ served us. We love others because Christ loved us. We forgive others because Christ forgave us. This is agape love…the highest form of love.

How has God gifted you? Are you using your gifts in your workplace in such a way as to reflect His beauty, magnificence and glory? Are your actions motivated from the context of agape love? Or, is your gift locked away, tucked safely in your “drawer of life”? If so, remove it and apply it in a setting of agape love that others will see God through you and experience firsthand His love and His mercy.

Your workplace challenge is to first identify your spiritual gift(s). If necessary, take a spiritual gifts inventory through your local church. Next, consider how you might use your gift more often in your specific place of work (encourage more, serve more, give more, etc.). With agape love, let God’s beauty and brilliance shine forth through you so that others will be drawn to Him. Make today count for His Glory. 

John Hus

     There was a priest and theology leader named John Hus that in 1414, was called to a Council of the Catholic Church in Switzerland for trial, called a heretic and found guilty.  He was sentenced to be burned at the stake July 6, 1415, 600 years ago. 

He had been a rector of the Chapel of Innocents of Bethlehem in Prague and had tried to change and reform the Catholic Church in the previous years before his execution through his preaching, teaching and writing. He challenged the corruption of the church and called for priests and pastors to live as spiritual role models for their flocks. He aggressively rejected the sale of indulgences and opposed other ways in which the institutional church sold spiritual goods, along with wanting the church to use the Holy Scriptures to lead and guide the authority of doctrine and practice.  He preached that doctrine alone was not enough for salvation.  In trying to quiet John Hus, several years later the Moravian church started on the principles and doctrine that John Hus had preached.  He gave his life so the gospel could prevail.  He is an example that the truth cannot be destroyed by violence.

 

“Eliphaz Speaks – Part 1”, Job 4-5

By Pastor Rich Paradis

With the opening testing behind us in chapters 1-2 and the initial lament of Job in the last chapter, we now move to an extended section of the book of Job called the Dialogue – Dispute section. This section will go from Job 4-27. These discussions will be characterized with one of the “friends” speaking for a while, followed by Job’s response. Eliphaz and Bildad will be leading 3 discussions while Zophar will lead out in only 2 discussions. Each of these discussions will continue to yield God’s insight into Job’s situation versus man’s sometimes feeble attempts to “help”. Let’s see the first one of these friends, Eliphaz, speak to Job with his brand of insight and help…

 

I.                   The Man Eliphaz - Introduction

a.       The first of Job’s friends to be introduced beyond the scene of sitting silently along with Job is Eliphaz. Eliphaz was a man from city of Teman, an Edomite city noted as a center of wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7). Some are convinced that Eliphaz was not only the eldest, but also the wisest and most sympathetic to the situation that Job currently suffers with.

b.      Eliphaz will reveal immediately a sort of respect for Job and the kind of man he is. But he will continue by accusing him and doubting that goodness and character.

c.       After the tirade of chapter 3, Eliphaz will have no problem looking spiritual. But we will see that instead of listening to Job’s heart cry, he listened and responded to Job’s words. Good counselors do both. They will offer God’s counsel, and they will offer it in love, the way that a Christian does as spoken of in Ephesians 4:15.

 

II.                Overviewing the Text    Job 4:1-21

a.       Remember, Job has just lamented the entire situation that befalls him in front of his 3 friends. He is broken, he is despairing, he is discouraged, and he is wondering out loud about his birth, his life, and even his purpose for being alive to suffer as he currently is.  The friends must have been sitting there slack-jawed and stunned at the intensity and the emotion of the entire monologue by the suffering man Job.

b.      With that monologue just coming into the rear view mirror, Eliphaz will now “answer” Job’s lament. As we have already noted, Eliphaz will make a significant “helpers” mistake by responding to what Job is saying instead of offering help to the heart of the hurting man. A brief word of application is appropriate here: Do you listen to the words only, or do you listen to the heart of those confiding and being transparent to you? Do you really listen, or are you loading for your response based only on the words that you heard and how they may make you feel?

c.       Eliphaz begins benignly enough by noting in Verses 1-6 that Job has been one to offer help and counsel in the past to others that were hurting, but that compliment is swallowed in a thinly disguised accusation that Job has really been one to give advice, but is now not able to receive it for himself. He is reminded by Eliphaz that if in fact his character and his virtue are true, he will be protected by God and he can embrace that as his future hope.

d.      The next section of the chapter, Verses 7-11, must have been painful for Job to hear. What Eliphaz is saying here is that God has been a God that would not allow the innocent or the upright to suffer. This will be a theme that will carry through all of the friend’s dialogues. This theme briefly stated is “Do right and it’ll work out; do wrong and get God’s judgment”. The problem with this logic is that Jesus “did it right” and He suffered more than all of us! This logic is wrong!! Whether the judgment that is now being reaped is slow like a wind’s damage, or sudden like the death by conflict or death to the mighty lion, it is coming and it is deserved.

e.       Eliphaz now relies upon a mysterious “word” that came in the form of a dream to him to continue his advice. Verses 12-16 speak of this dream and how it came upon him. The exact source of this “word” is not offered in the text. Again, he will make a mistake that many of us make when offering what we think is good advice and counsel to those that are hurting around us. That mistake is the mistake of “I’ve heard…” Sometimes we depend on these spectacular words from another world to give us special insight, etc. The Word of God is to be our “special word” that we can deliver to the hurting around us.

f.       The “word” that he heard is unpacked in Verses 17-21. The word is that there is no one that is perfect. God can’t even depend on the angels to all be right and pure. If He can’t even depend on the angels, how can He depend on our goodness?  The people are without wisdom and their ultimate destination is death.

 

III.             Overviewing the Text    Job 5:1-27

a.       This chapter will pick up right where the last chapter left off. Eliphaz has thinly veneered an accusation toward Job that all of this is happening due to his sinfulness. In Verses 1-7, he continues the accusation by now reporting that Job is also acting like a fool. Who can mediate for a fool before God? The foolish man takes root, just like the godly man discussed in Psalm 1:1-3. And the “rootedness” of this man will affect him, his home, his children, and his harvest. That kind of life is both impossible to deliver a man from and undoubtedly caused by something. It didn’t just come up out of the ground. All men are sinful and Job is part of “all men”.

b.      Eliphaz now offers advice that seems sort of okay, except for the fact that it is coming from one who doubts the character and virtue of Job and is now in possession of the “moral high ground” in his own mind. True humility is shown best when we react humbly even when we have the moral high ground. All can be humble from the “low ground”.

c.       But instead of humility, Eliphaz shares in another way that the mistaken “helper” often does. Instead of offering the Word of God and the counsel of the godly, he offers insight from all that he has “seen”. So now he has not only tried to offer counsel from what he uniquely has “heard”, but now he is offering counsel from what he uniquely has “seen”. Both of these platforms for counsel are limited and sometimes inaccurate.

d.      But Verses 8-16 have Eliphaz offering “What he’d do if he was Job”. Although he may or may not have known it, Eliphaz is doing the very same thing that Satan accused God of doing. Satan accused God of “buying Job’s worship”. Now Eliphaz is instructing Job to “buy the forgiveness of God”.

e.       The final section, Verses 17-27, has Eliphaz discussing the “blessedness” of the man who is corrected and reproved for his sin. Eliphaz is convinced that all of this suffering is due to some unconfessed or secret sin that God must punish through suffering and tragedy. He’ll put pain on you, and He’ll eventually take pain away. He will provide help and restore that which has been taken. It is sort of sad that Eliphaz’ remarks include the children being restored in Verse 25. Sometimes, truth can be served in some of the most “super-spiritual” and cold ways. How about the patronizing attitude of Eliphaz in Verse 27? A sad response to a friend…

 

IV.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       Be sure to listen not only to the words of the hurting, but also the heart’s cry.

b.      Remember to utilize the Word of God as your primary counseling tool, not the special words or experiences that you have had that will only be proved to be incomplete and most likely inaccurate when utilized to offer general principles for all cases.

c.       “Do right and it’ll work out; do wrong and get God’s judgment”? This logic is wrong if you consider the life of Jesus!!

d.      Don’t allow cold theology to replace warm affection as you deliver truth to those that are hurting.

The Power of Forgiveness - The Work Place

by Charles Ligon

The entire world was devastated when a lone shooter brutally shot and killed the pastor and eight members of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.  Then, the world was shocked when the victims’ families responded with forgiveness toward the one who had murdered their precious loved ones. I listened intently as each family member spoke words of forgiveness and was reminded of the words of our savior as he was dying on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. You see, it is only by His Spirit that these families could do such a thing…and their testimony to the world was indeed powerful.  As difficult as it may be, every believer is called to emulate this model of Christ’s love, compassion and forgiveness.

C.S. Lewis once said, Forgiveness is a lovely idea until you have someone to forgive. So true, but believers have been given a divine example to follow and His Spirit to empower us. Colossians 3:13 says, bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”. Inasmuch as we have been forgiven, God has commanded us to forgive others. Mark 11:25 says…if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. God knows it is in our best interest to forgive others. Why? Someone once said unforgiveness is the poison we drink hoping someone else will die.  The emotional burden of it will destroy you.  Furthermore, unforgiveness hinders our daily walk with the Lord and our relationships with others. Conversely, forgiveness releases us from anger, resentment and bitterness and brings healing. Forgiveness is freedom.

The workplace presents countless opportunities to practice forgiveness. It is a storehouse for offenses that we might find difficult to forgive. Gossip, pettiness and unfair treatment often create hurt and pain. General conflict, poor communication or inconsiderate acts can affect us and be difficult to overlook. How about you? Have you been hurt?  Are you bitter towards someone? First, understand that the actions of others, while insensitive, may have been unintentional. Second, refuse to develop an unforgiving attitude as it will only make matters worse. Third, decide to practice forgiveness and enjoy the freedom that follows.

Our workplace challenge is to follow the example of Christ and to be quick to forgive others. Make the decision to give up blame, fault and refuse to hold a grudge. Then, surrender your will to God and ask him to heal any unforgiveness in your heart. Where necessary, seek reconciliation by asking others to forgive your anger or bitterness toward them. We are to forgive as the Lord forgave us and we are to do it for his Glory!

Beaming for Jesus - The WorkPlace

by Charles Ligon

Walking into the Auto Parts Store, I heard a very pleasant voice say, “Welcome to CarQuest”. I looked up and saw her beaming smile…as big as the room. Everything about this sales associate said “I love my job and I am here to serve you with joy and excellence”, and I felt very welcomed! I quickly walked to the counter to inquire about brakes and rotors. But, instead of asking about auto parts, I took a risk and inquired about her faith. “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?” Her smile grew wider as she lifted up one hand in praise to her Lord. Christ was in her and it was obvious she was serving God through her work by serving the customer. Her work was clearly an act of worship unto God. She was beaming for Jesus and it showed!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:5-7).

Do you beam for Jesus in your workplace? Can others clearly see Christ in and through the work you do? Is your work an act of worship unto the Lord?  Do you serve others out of gratitude for all God has done for you? Finally…does your life reflect joy and is your work of excellent quality?  These attributes are essential for believers. As God’s ambassadors, we represent Him by what we say and do. If our effort is poor, we represent Him poorly and the testimony of Christ can be damaged.

Our workplace challenge is to evaluate our work demeanor and attitude.  Ask yourself, does His light shine forth from me and do I glorify my Father in heaven? Is my life in contrast to a dark world? If not, recognize that the workplace provides perhaps the greatest opportunity to demonstrate the difference Christ is making in your life. Decide now to let your light shine before men through testimony and action. Beam brightly for Jesus and make today count for His Glory.

Job-A Real Man, Job 3:31-26

                                               By Pastor Rich Paradis

 

Job has “passed” the first tests of Satan. He was been stripped of his family and his possessions and concluded chapter 1 with a time of worship. In chapter 2, Job was attacked in his own body and noted that to accept good from God and not adversity was to miss the point of God’s sovereignty and reign. His friends have showed up and made an initial connection of care with him. So now what? The final scene of chapter 2 was four men sitting on the ground in silence because of the great pain inflicted on one of them. Let’s continue our look at the man Job…

 

I.                    Some Transitional Thoughts    Job 3:1a

a.       With the very first thoughts of chapter 3, we run into some very probing questions for both Job in the local context and for all believers that suffer in the greater context. Again, we have decided that to read Job as some sort of quick read without considering the pain, anguish and despair of it is to make it far less that it should be. There is incredible emotion in this account. Don’t allow yourself to miss that emotion because of the pain and personal-ness of it or you will miss something very important.

b.      Job has been sitting on the ground with 3 friends for a week now. He is covered from head to toe with boils (or one giant one!). He has said nothing to his friends and they have said nothing to him. But that doesn’t mean that nothing has been going on in Job’s head or the head of his friends.

c.       The silence will be broken now as Verse 1a opens up. What will Job say? Is Job “healed” because his friends have showed up and displayed compassion? Has “time healed all wounds”?

 

II.                 Why Was I Born…?    Job 3:1b-10

a.       We don’t have to wait long to get some answers to the questions above. Verse 1b-2 says that Job “opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth”! WOW! How could this happen? Job is the man of faith, right? Job is the one that passed the tests with flying colors, right?

b.      In this transitional chapter, we will now run into the fact that even great men like Job struggle and even more clearly we will see that God would prefer honesty to a bunch of clichés that merely try to mask the pain or “play through it”. It is important to note that while Job will curse the day of his birth, he will never curse God. Even though he will doubt God’s care, he will never doubt God’s existence. And it is also noteworthy that Job does not seem to consider ending his life. He is merely wondering and lamenting that it started at all.

c.       The desire to Satan is not to only to destroy your body and your stuff. It is to destroy your soul! To see the despair of Job at the loss of all that is precious to him is only part of the battle. Satan wants Job to see God as mean and uncaring. If he can cause that to happen, than he has “won”.

d.      There is an important distinction being made in Verses 3-10 and again at the end of the chapter. That distinction is the distinction between darkness and light. Job begins to wonder out loud about the day of both his conception and his birth. His lament is that these days would have not ever happened. He wishes that those days, instead of being days of light (life), would have been days left in the darkness. He even says that he desires that God above would not have even cared about that day.

e.       Don’t even let that day or night of my birth even be noted. Don’t even allow it to be a noted day on the calendar. There is a stated desire here that those that curse days (like perhaps Balaam in Numbers 22-24) professionally would curse “it”; that day of celebration in the lives of everyone. He even wonders in Verse 8 if Leviathan, the great creature of chaos from the sea, which itself was a boisterous deity that could be called upon to the pagan world, would devour that day from existence.

f.        Why is he speaking this way? Verse 10 tells us that the reason is because his mother’s womb had not been shut and now he is experiencing great trouble being lived out in front of him and in him. Of course, we know that there are times when we say things that are not accurate during times of hurt and things that will probably cause us regret in the future. The things that Job is saying are both theologically inaccurate and logically absurd, but for now, Job is being REAL! He knows that to have missed his own birth would have also been to miss the blessings of all that he now laments. His statement of faith in the Job 1:21 and 2:10 is unfortunately not the message that his friends are hearing at this moment…

 

III.               Since I Was Born…    Job 3:11-19

a.       Job continues the progressive logic of this lament with a second idea in Verses 11-19. That idea is “since the day of my birth did come about, why could I have not been stillborn?”

b.      Job wonders and laments the fact of his birth by asking why his mother had even received him and nourished him. If he had only been stillborn, he could have been immediately in the place of the dead. He shares that this would be a marked improvement from where he is currently staying because in that place he would be in the place of equality, a place where the king, counselors, and the miscarried children all are on equal footing. That place is a place of relief from the wicked and those that this life separates naturally from one another.

c.       Job is looking for relief. But again, we have no indication of his desire to “play God”. He is merely lamenting his birth as something he wished had never happened. And he is now carrying the logic out to the point of considered that since he did live, why it had to be for long and in such a place as he now finds himself.

 

IV.              Since I Didn’t Die…    Job 3:20-26

a.       The final portion of Job’s lament takes the progressive thinking to his own emotional place. Why was he born became since I was born why wasn’t I stillborn. Now, Job laments that since neither of these first two things happened he is in terrible despair. Verses 20-26 return to the ideas of light as life and darkness as death and separation.

b.      Job longs for death, but again doesn’t consider taking his own life. The pain of all of this comes from down in his empty stomach and he can’t stop crying. What had always been a fear and a dread has now become a reality. He is not imagining this! It really is this bad!! It has stolen his rest and his quiet. Trouble has taken over!!!

 

V.                 An Application For All Of Us

a.       Are any of you discouraged? Despairing? Worn down by life? Wishing that God would just “take you to heaven”? Looking for answers to the “whys”? Remember that we live by promises, not explanations. This is no time to “play God”, but to look to God!

b.      Strong believers sometimes get discouraged, suffer on many levels, and lose perspective. There are days and seasons when there seems to be no road back to the blessing of yesterday.

c.       If there is no tragedy in this life, than the sacrifice of Jesus is much ado about nothing. But there is tragedy and there is no “horizontal answer”, only a “vertical answer”!! His name is Jesus and He will and does come alongside the hurting and the brokenhearted.

 

Eliphaz Speaks – Part 1, Job 4-5

By Pastor Rich Paradis

With the opening testing behind us in chapters 1-2 and the initial lament of Job in the last chapter, we now move to an extended section of the book of Job called the Dialogue – Dispute section. This section will go from Job 4-27. These discussions will be characterized with one of the “friends” speaking for a while, followed by Job’s response. Eliphaz and Bildad will be leading 3 discussions while Zophar will lead out in only 2 discussions. Each of these discussions will continue to yield God’s insight into Job’s situation versus man’s sometimes feeble attempts to “help”. Let’s see the first one of these friends, Eliphaz, speak to Job with his brand of insight and help…

I.                 The Man Eliphaz - Introduction

a.      The first of Job’s friends to be introduced beyond the scene of sitting silently along with Job is Eliphaz. Eliphaz was a man from city of Teman, and Edomite city noted as a center of wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7). Some are convinced that Eliphaz was not only the eldest, but also the wisest and most sympathetic to the situation that Job currently suffers with.

b.     Eliphaz will reveal immediately a sort of respect for Job and the kind of man he is. But he will continue by accusing him and doubting that goodness and character.

c.      After the tirade of chapter 3, Eliphaz will have no problem looking spiritual. But we will see that instead of listening to Job’s heart cry, he listened and responded to Job’s words. Good counselors do both. They will offer God’s counsel, and they will offer it in love, the way that a Christian does as spoken of in Ephesians 4:15.

II.               Overviewing the Text    Job 4:1-21

a.      Remember, Job has just lamented the entire situation that befalls him in front of his 3 friends. He is broken, he is despairing, he is discouraged, and he is wondering out loud about his birth, his life, and even his purpose for being alive to suffer as he currently is.  The friends must have been sitting there slack-jawed and stunned at the intensity and the emotion of the entire monologue by the suffering man Job.

b.     With that monologue just coming into the rear view mirror, Eliphaz will now “answer” Job’s lament. As we have already noted, Eliphaz will make a significant “helpers” mistake by responding to what Job is saying instead of offering help to the heart of the hurting man. A brief word of application is appropriate here: Do you listen to the words only, or do you listen to the heart of those confiding and being transparent to you? Do you really listen, or are you loading for your response based only on the words that you heard and how they may make you feel?

c.      Eliphaz begins benignly enough by noting in Verses 1-6 that Job has been one to offer help and counsel in the past to others that were hurting, but that compliment is swallowed in a thinly disguised accusation that Job has really been one to give advice, but is now not able to receive it for himself. He is reminded by Eliphaz that if in fact his character and his virtue are true, he will be protected by God and he can embrace that as his future hope.

d.     The next section of the chapter, Verses 7-11, must have been painful for Job to hear. What Eliphaz is saying here is that God has been a God that would not allow the innocent or the upright to suffer. This will be a theme that will carry through all of the friend’s dialogues. This theme briefly stated is “Do right and it’ll work out; do wrong and get God’s judgment”. The problem with this logic is that Jesus “did it right” and He suffered more than all of us! This logic is wrong!! Whether the judgment that is now being reaped is slow like a wind’s damage, or sudden like the death by conflict or death to the mighty lion, it is coming and it is deserved.

e.      Eliphaz now relies upon a mysterious “word” that came in the form of a dream to him to continue his advice. Verses 12-16 speak of this dream and how it came upon him. The exact source of this “word” is not offered in the text. Again, he will make a mistake that many of us make when offering what we think is good advice and counsel to those that are hurting around us. That mistake is the mistake of “I’ve heard…” Sometimes we depend on these spectacular words from another world to give us special insight, etc. The Word of God is to be our “special word” that we can deliver to the hurting around us.

f.      The “word” that he heard is unpacked in Verses 17-21. The word is that there is no one that is perfect. God can’t even depend on the angels to all be right and pure. If He can’t even depend on the angels, how can He depend on our goodness?  The people are without wisdom and their ultimate destination is death.

III.             Overviewing the Text    Job 5:1-27

a.      This chapter will pick up right where the last chapter left off. Eliphaz has thinly veneered an accusation toward Job that all of this is happening due to his sinfulness. In Verses 1-7, he continues the accusation by now reporting that Job is also acting like a fool. Who can mediate for a fool before God? The foolish man takes root, just like the godly man discussed in Psalm 1:1-3. And the “rootedness” of this man will affect him, his home, his children, and his harvest. That kind of life is both impossible to deliver a man from and undoubtedly caused by something. It didn’t just come up out of the ground. All men are sinful and Job is part of “all men”.

b.     Eliphaz now offers advice that seems sort of okay, except for the fact that it is coming from one who doubts the character and virtue of Job and is now in possession of the “moral high ground” in his own mind. True humility is shown best when we react humbly even when we have the moral high ground. All can be humble from the “low ground”.

c.      But instead of humility, Eliphaz shares in another way that the mistaken “helper” often does. Instead of offering the Word of God and the counsel of the godly, he offers insight from all that he has “seen”. So now he has not only tried to offer counsel from what he uniquely has “heard”, but now he is offering counsel from what he uniquely has “seen”. Both of these platforms for counsel are limited and sometimes inaccurate.

d.     But Verses 8-16 have Eliphaz offering “What he’d do if he was Job”. Although he may or may not have known it, Eliphaz is doing the very same thing that Satan accused God of doing. Satan accused God of “buying Job’s worship”. Now Eliphaz is instructing Job to “buy the forgiveness of God”.

e.      The final section, Verses 17-27, has Eliphaz discussing the “blessedness” of the man who is corrected and reproved for his sin. Eliphaz is convinced that all of this suffering is due to some unconfessed or secret sin that God must punish through suffering and tragedy. He’ll put pain on you, and He’ll eventually take pain away. He will provide help and restore that which has been taken. It is sort of sad that Eliphaz’ remarks include the children being restored in Verse 25. Sometimes, truth can be served in some of the most “super-spiritual” and cold ways. How about the patronizing attitude of Eliphaz in Verse 27? A sad response to a friend…

IV.            An Application For All Of Us

a.      Be sure to listen not only to the words of the hurting, but also the heart’s cry.

b.     Remember to utilize the Word of God as your primary counseling tool, not the special words or experiences that you have had that will only be proved to be incomplete and most likely inaccurate when utilized to offer general principles for all cases.

c.      “Do right and it’ll work out; do wrong and get God’s judgment”? This logic is wrong if you consider the life of Jesus!!

d.     Don’t allow cold theology to replace warm affection as you deliver truth to those that are hurting.