JOB 4 Eliphaz Speaks: Job Must Have Sinned Greatly
Introduction : In this chapter, Eliphaz, the first of Job’s three friends begins to speak. After having kept silent for seven days and nights with the rest, the first words out of his mouth are not very encouraging to Job. Eliphaz basically assumes that Job must have done something very terrible to experience the extreme affliction and distress he’s going through. Eliphaz appears to be offended by Job’s reaction. This is typical of the oriental or Middle Eastern view of the tragedies and blessings of life—they are in direct proportion to what one does. But it is not necessarily consistent with God’s viewpoint or dealings with man. Therefore Eliphaz’ counsel to Job will not be very helpful at all. To give more authority to what he says, Eliphaz actually mocks Job’s integrity to make himself look like a wise counselor. In the end though, injustice is settled and the folly of Eliphaz and the other two “friends” of Job, Bildad and Zophar, is exposed: And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has ”.—Job 42:7-8 This chapter serves as a reminder to us not to get too prideful in our own position because it is the Lord who justifies and is sovereign. As the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:12 : “ Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall ”. See also Prov. 16:118; 1 Cor. 4:7; Gal. 6:1-5.
vv. 1-6 ELIPHAZ BEGINS TO SPEAK : HE MOCKS JOB ’S WISDOM & INTEGRITY [1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands. 4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees ; 5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled. 6 Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope ?”] The fact that Eliphaz 1 speaks first is an indication that he was oldest and perceived as “wiser”. We know this because, eventually, a fourth friend, Elihu 2, speaks last and his words give us great insight into the “rest of the story”. He makes it clear that Job, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar were inadequate to come to terms with Job’s affliction because he says: Now because they [Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar ] were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite 3, answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore I was afraid, and dared not declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom’. But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice .— Job 32:4-9
1 Meaning “God of purified gold”. 2 Meaning “my God is He”. 3 Buz ; one of three tribes of northern Arabia descended from one of the three sons of Nahor [Abraham’s brother; Gen. 22:20-21 ] and ninth generation cousin of Uz [ Gen. 10:22-23 }; the land Job lived in; Job 1:1 ]. In Jer. 25:23 the following are mentioned: “Dedan, Tema, Buz , and all who are in the farthest corners.”