The First Speech of Eliphaz
December 3, 2022
Commentary
The chapters that follow are made up of items of discussion between Job and his three friends. Job and his friends share the same basic theology, and most of what the friends say is true, but it just doesn’t fit Job’s case. Eliphaz, the oldest, wisest and most experienced is convinced that Job is guilty of some secret unconfessed sin. (!) He rebukes Job (vv. 1- 6). (2) He gives reasons why he thinks Job is suffering (vv. 7-11). (3) He gives support to his theological viewpoint by relating a dream (vv. 12-21). In his discussion he touches on four basic doctrinal truths).
- The righteous are never destroyed, but the wicked are sure to be punished (vv. 7-11).
- All men are imperfect in the eyes of God; therefore, even the suffering of the righteous has its justification (vv. 17-21).
- God can never be charged with the creation of sin and suffering, because evil is the direct result of the free will of man (5:6).
- Suffering serves at times to instruct the righteous and protect them from evil doing.
Eliphaz closes his discussion by asking Job to recognize and accept these four basic truths (v. 21).
He tells Job that he needs to practice what he has preached. Since nothing in Job’s circumstances points to innocence, the comforting words of Eliphaz soon turn to accusation, and the friendly discussion to a heated scene. Job is not impressed, so Eliphaz shares a personal testimony. What Eliphaz is stating is mostly truth but it is not helpful to Job.
Application
Part of what Eliphaz said was true, and part was false. It is true that those who promote sin and trouble will be punished eventually but it is false that anyone who is good and innocent will never suffer. I have no guarantee that I will not have to suffer in this life.
Job 4:1– 21 (NET)
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “If someone should attempt a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Look, you have instructed many; you have strengthened feeble hands.
4 Your words have supported those who stumbled, and you have strengthened the knees that gave way.
5 But now the same thing comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are terrified.
6 Is not your piety your confidence, and your blameless ways your hope?
7 Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished? And where were upright people ever destroyed?
8 Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 There is the roaring of the lion and the growling of the young lion, but the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The mighty lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word was stealthily brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.
13 In the troubling thoughts of the dreams in the night when a deep sleep falls on men,
14 dread gripped me and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a breath of air passes by my face; it makes the hair of my flesh stand up.
16 It stands still, but I cannot recognize its appearance; an image is before my eyes, and I hear a murmuring voice:
17 ‘Is a mortal man righteous before God? Or a man pure before his Creator?
18 If God puts no trust in his servants and attributes folly to his angels,
19 how much more to those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth?
20 They are destroyed between morning and evening; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.
21 Is not their excess wealth taken away from them? They die, yet without attaining wisdom.’