The first discussion between Job and his friends. Job 4 to 14.
After seven days of silence the friends start their "help". They showed no compassion for the suffering of Job, Eliphaz starts out gently, but his first words, "If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?" indicates the attitude of Eliphaz, he means "that my words are here to help, so listen." Job, your words have helped others, verse 3,4, now you are suffering you are not practicing what you preach," verses 5-11. Eliphaz continues with the thought that God blesses those who seek Him and punish those who sin.
This thought will apply to all three friends, "God only judges the bad, He judges over a long period or very quickly, like a storm," verses 9-11. Many people will agree with this thought, "bless the good and judge the sinner."
Job 4:12 - 5:7.
Eliphaz presents two arguments to prove this idea.
Eliphaz offers two ideas in his speach, to depend upon experience,
Job 4:12-21
And secondly to use observation,
Job 5:1-7.
The "experience" example seems to be from a strange and possibly frightening night where he had a "vision" and heard a voice. What was the source of this experience? What was the message he heard?
The "spirit message" starts with verse 17, and it appears to continue to verse 21 but some Bible students feel that some of this is added by Eliphaz, unfortunately the Hebrew manuscripts do not have punctuation marks so we are not certain where quotations start and end. So now we have to ask, "was this a revelation from God?" It is felt "NO" as it lacks authority, like "Thus says the Lord," also God does not normally give messages in a frightening manner. Did Eliphaz have a dream and he has turned it into a vision?
The message seems to say that the life of a man is short and dangerous, because of this a man can never achieve righteousness to please God. Yes, a man does live a short life which can end very suddenly, but we are made in the image of God and He is full of grace, love and mercy, a perfect judge.
Job 5:1-7..
The second thought of Eliphaz’s concerns his own observations of life, he has seen sinners apparently build up wealth only to lose it all, a hint at the life of Job, was Job hurt by these words? It was basically saying that it was his sin that killed his family.
We have a problem with our personal observations, they are very limited, we do not know what the final stage is, for example, a sinner may have great riches in their life but eternity in suffering, only God knows all the future effects of our way of life.
Job 5:8-17.
Eliphaz therefore concludes that Job must have sinned badly to have all this apparent punishment, Job must repent and ask for the forgiveness of God. verses 17, 18, Job should look upon these trials to make him a man closer to the heart of God. The final thought from Eliphaz in this speach is that God may hurt or wound a person but also heals those who turn to Him, words of assurance. These thoughts show how certain he was, " Behold, this we have searched out; It is true. Hear it, and know for yourself.". Unfortunately Eliphaz is suggesting that Job makes a contract or bargain with God, "Job, confess your sins and God will restore all your wealth." That is what Satan wanted Job to do as it would show that God was only worshipped for reward.
Job 6 to 7. Job replies.
Job 6:1-3.
Job appeals to his friends that they might have sympathy and understanding for what he is experiencing. They could not understand the physical and emotional pain he was going through. His relationship with God was different to a Believer today, we have a greater understanding and communication with the Father through Christ,
Romans 8:1ff;
2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Job 6:4-13.
Job felt that God, for some reason, had chosen to shoot arrows at him, he wants to understand. Job wants God to respond, he feels the future is hopeless, life is only getting worse. Job was asking God to end his life, though he does not consider suicide as he knows this was wrong.
See also Job 3:20-23;
Job 6:8,9;
Job 7:15,16;
Job 10:18,19;
Job 14:13
Job 6:14-30.
Job points out that they did not meet his needs, they were like a dry river, going no where. "Teach me why" help me to understand. Though his friends were sitting with him physically, they were emotionally very distant, they were so interested in protecting only themselves. Consider the story Jesus told in,
Luke 10:25-37,
His friends were like the priest and Levite, who passed by on the other side, protecting themselves.
Job 7:1ff.
Job calls to God for help.
Job recalled a number of situations of life, a labourer, a man hired to work, at least they had a future, finally ending in death. Each day for Job was hopeless, he had no sleep, each day was so short, like a weavers shuttle, rapidly moving until empty. Only God can see the future pattern of the cloth, yet it appears that God did not seem to care, if Job did sleep God would come to him in his dreams, there was no way to escape God, "watcher of men. What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him, That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?"
Job ends with a cry, "Have I sinned? What have I done to You? Then forgive me."
Job 8:1ff.
Bildad the Shunite speaks.
Bildad now presents three logical thoughts to prove that Job was guilty. Job is expecting a sympathetic voice instead Bildad starts "How long will you speak these things, And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?", Bildad is saying "your words are just hot air." Bildad is more interested in defending God and His justice than the needs of his friend. He presents three arguments:-
- The Character of God.
- Job 8:1-7. Bildad thinks that Job is saying that God can do wrong, he reminds Job that God is holy and is always right in His actions. Unfortunately Bildad had forgotten that God also has love, goodness and mercy, not just holiness and justice. These attributes are shown on the cross when Jesus took our place of judgement for our sin and so we are now offered forgiveness and mercy,
Romans 3:23-26.
- Bildad tells Job that his children had died because of their sin, verse 4. If you were right before God this would not have happened, "make your supplication to the Almighty," to restore you wealth, this idea is what Satan wants to happen.
- Past wisdom.
- Job 8:8-10. Tradition says Bildad, "what do our ancestors teach?" We must note that past ideas may not be the truth.
- Evidence from nature.
- Job 8:11-22. Bildad points out how nature lives, water loving plants like, papyrus need water or they die. Job you are dieing without God.
- Spiders webs are very fragile, no strength, just like the life of Job.
- Plants cannot survive unless they have roots, nobody will destroy a healthy plant, Job you must be sick in the eye’s of God."Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers."
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Job replies to Zophar. Job 12 to 14.
The answer by Job to Zophar’s accusation is quite long, he begins his response with the second accusation, "No knowledge of God." Job first of all tells the friends that he has the same wisdom and understanding as they did, they may be older but that does not mean a greater knowledge.
- The greatness of God.
Job 12:4-25.
- Job felt that he was just in the eyes of God, as described by God, Job 1:1,8; Job 2:3,
Note: Job did not know of these words by God.
- Job 12:5,6.
Job challenges "If God is punishing me for my sin then why does He not also punish the evil in the world."
- Job 12:7-11. Job tells Zophar that nature can teach us, animals know that God made all things. A man can judge the taste of food, a gift from God, then He has also given a gift of wisdom.
- Job 12:12-25.
Job describes the power and wisdom of God, He has complete and absolute knowledge and power, with nature and Mankind, no one can overrule what He wants to do. The position, wealth or status of a person makes no difference, God is in control and does what He pleases. God is also sovereign over nations, verses 23-25, He can make them a great nation or can destroy them. All God needs to do is remove the leadership’s wisdom or control.
- The righteousness of Job.
Job 13:1-28.
- Job 13:1-12.
Job is sad that his friends spoke the way they did, they felt higher in position and knowledge, they thought they could be judges, they felt they knew God better than Job did.
Job tells them that they are "forgers of lies, worthless physicians. You speak wickedly for God, and talk deceitfully for Him?"
- Their diagnosis as doctors was useless.
- They could not defend God, they did not have the knowledge, they had a very narrow view of God.
- They were deliberately avoiding problems so that their traditional views and ideas were taught, just ashes from the fires of the past.
- Job makes a statement.
Job 13:13-17.
- Job makes a great statement of faith. Basically he is saying "I will approach God, if He kills me it is proof I am wrong, if He does not then I am telling the truth." To approach God personally was a great act of faith.
Exodus 33:18-23.
- Job wants to meet God.
Job 13:18-28.
- Job is now talking directly to God, he is asking for God to remove his apparent punishment and that God would visit him and not frighten him. To talk over the situation and the "case" against Job.
- Job has realized that he may lose his life in this action, but cannot understand why God is paying so much attention to him when I am not worth anything.
- Job feels life is hopeless.
Job 14:1ff
- Job had been told by Zophar that the only hope for him was to repent of his sin’s. But Job felt that in fact he has no future, Job uses a number of images to show the real condition of man, like a cut flower, a shadow, a man who loses his job for example, and all under the control and decisions of God.
- Job 14:7-12.
Man is like a tree which is chopped down, normally a stump is left which can regrow again, but when a man dies there is no stump left, or he is water which disappears into the air or ground.
- Each day we sleep, no one knows whether we will wake up the next day. Today a Believer knows what the future holds through the action of Jesus,
2 Timothy 1:10,
Job had no knowledge of this,
Job 14:14 .
- Job 14:13,
Job asks God to remember to bring him back from Sheol, the place of the dead, so that he can challenge God and prove his accusers were wrong.
Read Ephesians 1:13-14.
A true Believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Until the day of redemption, God does not need to remember,
1 Corinthians 15:50-58.
- Job 14:15,
Job reminds God that he was His creation yet God appears to take no interest except how often he sins. "So You destroy the hope of man." verse 19, "He is like a mountain which is washed away by the rain or moved by an earthquake, death may take a long time or be sudden. No wonder some people feel life is not worth living," says Job. Without Christ what is life?
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