Job replies to Eliphaz
Job says in essence, I am going to say what I say. When I finish you go ahead and continue to mock me. Take a good look at me, Job says. You should be appalled at what you see! What you see is so appalling it should make you clap your hands over your mouth.
Good for Evil
Job wants to know why do the wicked have a good life. Basically, they do evil things but they go to the grave in peace. They live long, and increase in the good things like power and wealth. Their homes are safe and their children do well. Their little ones dance and sing; and they get to party and have a good time. God's rod is not on them. They turned to God and say, "leave us alone!" Who is God that we need to serve. So I stand aloof from them.
Unfortunately it seems that things have not changed with man since Job's time. They are still saying the same thing about God. Job, in all of his wisdom, recognized this way back then.
Job goes on to say that the wicked do not realize that their prosperity is not in their hands. Their lamp is snuffed out and calamity does come upon them. They are like straw that gets swept up by a gale of wind. God stores up the punishments of the fathers and passes them on to the children. Let the wicked see the destruction of their hand and the wrath of God.
No one can teach God but he sits as the judge for all. And who does he judge? He judges the two types of people who go to the grave. One dies in good physical shape and is at ease. The other dies with bitterness in his soul not having enjoyed any good thing. When they die, they are both covered in worms.
To me, what Job is saying is that how we live and die are judged by God. The judgment of man has no influence. So, he saying to these friends, your opinion doesn't matter. In the end, it is what God thinks and does that counts. I like that. It frees you up from being concerned about the opinions of people.
Then Job says to them, deep down inside you know how you are doing me wrong.
At the end of his speech, Job asks them, "how can you console me with your nonsense?" Nothing is valuable in your answers. They are all falsehood.
Eliphaz responds
God does not gain anything if you are righteous. Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you? Isn't your wickedness great and your sins endless?
Then Eliphaz reviews a list of accusations. Didn't you take security from your relatives? Didn't you strip clothing from people and leave them naked? You let the weary thirst and left the hungry without food. You sent widows away empty-handed. That is why snares are around you and perils terrify you.
It is like you are in the dark. You look at the heavens and see the highest star. Yet you wonder about God's judgment. You say, "What does God know?" Do you really think that he judges through such darkness?
The next line of statements carry a tone of mockery. Eliphaz asks him, "Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod? They say to God, 'Leave us alone! What can God do to us." He mockingly uses the same words that Job just spoke but he turns it around and applies it to Job as though he is one of the wicked people.
Eliphaz says that the righteous see their ruin and rejoice. I'm guessing that for Job to hear these words, only added to the weight in his heart. How can Eliphaz stare in Job's face and insinuate the Eliphaz (the righteous one) can look at Job (the wicked one) and rejoice? However, the text does not indicate that he even hesitates to speak these statements.
He tells Job to submit to God and be at peace. This will bring Job prosperity. Accept his instruction and put God's words in Job's heart. "If you give to the Almighty, you will be restored," he says. God will remove your wickedness from your tent. Then God will be your gold and you will delight in him. Then, when you pray, He will hear you. God will deliver... even those who are not innocent.
Once Again Job Speaks
Job really wants to talk to God about all of this. However, he does not know where God lives or how to find him. He wants to fill his mouth with arguments and state his case. Then he would know what God thinks. "Would He oppose me?" he asks. Then he answers, "No!" He would not press charges. The upright can establish his or her innocence to God; and there I would be delivered.
Job expounds on the search of God but he cannot catch a glimpse of him. But God knows where Job is; and if God tested him, he would come out of the test like pure gold that has been purified by fire. Wow! Job has no idea that he just described what is actually going on with him. Such strong and beautiful words that still inspire many folks who study the book of Job.
Job Declares His Innocence
Job is unwavering in holding on to his innocence. He says that his feet have closely followed the footsteps of God and he has not wavered from them. He doesn't take side paths; rather he sticks to the very commands that come from the lips of God. He treasures God's words more than his daily bread.
Job says in essence, I am going to say what I say. When I finish you go ahead and continue to mock me. Take a good look at me, Job says. You should be appalled at what you see! What you see is so appalling it should make you clap your hands over your mouth.
Good for Evil
Job wants to know why do the wicked have a good life. Basically, they do evil things but they go to the grave in peace. They live long, and increase in the good things like power and wealth. Their homes are safe and their children do well. Their little ones dance and sing; and they get to party and have a good time. God's rod is not on them. They turned to God and say, "leave us alone!" Who is God that we need to serve. So I stand aloof from them.
Unfortunately it seems that things have not changed with man since Job's time. They are still saying the same thing about God. Job, in all of his wisdom, recognized this way back then.
Job goes on to say that the wicked do not realize that their prosperity is not in their hands. Their lamp is snuffed out and calamity does come upon them. They are like straw that gets swept up by a gale of wind. God stores up the punishments of the fathers and passes them on to the children. Let the wicked see the destruction of their hand and the wrath of God.
No one can teach God but he sits as the judge for all. And who does he judge? He judges the two types of people who go to the grave. One dies in good physical shape and is at ease. The other dies with bitterness in his soul not having enjoyed any good thing. When they die, they are both covered in worms.
To me, what Job is saying is that how we live and die are judged by God. The judgment of man has no influence. So, he saying to these friends, your opinion doesn't matter. In the end, it is what God thinks and does that counts. I like that. It frees you up from being concerned about the opinions of people.
Then Job says to them, deep down inside you know how you are doing me wrong.
At the end of his speech, Job asks them, "how can you console me with your nonsense?" Nothing is valuable in your answers. They are all falsehood.
Eliphaz responds
God does not gain anything if you are righteous. Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you? Isn't your wickedness great and your sins endless?
Then Eliphaz reviews a list of accusations. Didn't you take security from your relatives? Didn't you strip clothing from people and leave them naked? You let the weary thirst and left the hungry without food. You sent widows away empty-handed. That is why snares are around you and perils terrify you.
It is like you are in the dark. You look at the heavens and see the highest star. Yet you wonder about God's judgment. You say, "What does God know?" Do you really think that he judges through such darkness?
The next line of statements carry a tone of mockery. Eliphaz asks him, "Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod? They say to God, 'Leave us alone! What can God do to us." He mockingly uses the same words that Job just spoke but he turns it around and applies it to Job as though he is one of the wicked people.
Eliphaz says that the righteous see their ruin and rejoice. I'm guessing that for Job to hear these words, only added to the weight in his heart. How can Eliphaz stare in Job's face and insinuate the Eliphaz (the righteous one) can look at Job (the wicked one) and rejoice? However, the text does not indicate that he even hesitates to speak these statements.
He tells Job to submit to God and be at peace. This will bring Job prosperity. Accept his instruction and put God's words in Job's heart. "If you give to the Almighty, you will be restored," he says. God will remove your wickedness from your tent. Then God will be your gold and you will delight in him. Then, when you pray, He will hear you. God will deliver... even those who are not innocent.
Once Again Job Speaks
Job really wants to talk to God about all of this. However, he does not know where God lives or how to find him. He wants to fill his mouth with arguments and state his case. Then he would know what God thinks. "Would He oppose me?" he asks. Then he answers, "No!" He would not press charges. The upright can establish his or her innocence to God; and there I would be delivered.
Job expounds on the search of God but he cannot catch a glimpse of him. But God knows where Job is; and if God tested him, he would come out of the test like pure gold that has been purified by fire. Wow! Job has no idea that he just described what is actually going on with him. Such strong and beautiful words that still inspire many folks who study the book of Job.
Job Declares His Innocence
Job is unwavering in holding on to his innocence. He says that his feet have closely followed the footsteps of God and he has not wavered from them. He doesn't take side paths; rather he sticks to the very commands that come from the lips of God. He treasures God's words more than his daily bread.
But God, Job says, who can ever oppose him successfully. He does whatever he pleases and I am terrified of him. God has made my heart faint, he says. In spite of this, Job is not silenced by darkness nor the darkness that covers his face.
My Thoughts
I must say, I like the courage of Job. All he knows is that he is suffering greatly and there are annoying men who keep returning to him to put him down. But Job knows what he has done and not done. No outsider can tell him that he is a wicked man and have Job act on his words. Job has visited the bottom of the barrel of pain and suffering. He can't see what God is doing with him... so the darkness covers his face. But yet he stands and still says what he knows to be true... without flinching. I can really learn a lot from Job.
That's it for today.
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