(The previous post covered the causes for Job's suffering (God handled a causal disagreement with Satan in a contrastive fashion) and the Job's initial statement to his three comforters.)
(Within this day's chapters, we will see three "TRUTHS" presented. These three TRUTHS were fundamental to understanding the interactions Job had with his three "comforters," Elihu, and God. Job's three "comforters" began a series of interactions with Job. There were three "Rounds." Chapter 4 began the "First Round.")
Job 4
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
(Eliphaz was the first "comforter" to answer Job. Some scholars believe Eliphaz was mentioned in Genesis 36:2-4 as a son of Esau. In fact, Genesis 36:11 stated one of Eliphaz's five sons was Teman.)
2 If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.
5 But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
(Eliphaz was implying that Job was a hypocrite. Eliphaz said that Job was troubled. Job was troubled because he did not know why he was suffering.)
6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, And the integrity of thy ways thy hope?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.
(Verses 7-8 presented TRUTH #1: Progress proved profitability. What was the cause of Job's lack of profitability?)
9 By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones to shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
(Verses 13-17 presented TRUTH #2: God was Just and MORE Just than man.)
18 Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants; And his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!
20 Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed: They perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.
(Eliphaz was telling Job that Job could not understand why this was happening to him.)
(This first half of Eliphaz's response can be summed up by this statement: "Job, you are a hypocrite and you can't understand why this happened to you.")
Job 5
1 Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?
2 For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root: But suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate, Neither is there any to deliver them:
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns; And the snare gapeth for their substance.
6 For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
7 But man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.
8 But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;
(Eliphaz told Job to ask God why this was happening to him. This was hypocritical. Eliphaz just got done telling Job that he could not understand: Job 4:21. Eliphaz was contradictory.)
9 Who doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number:
10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields;
11 So that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety.
12 He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
(Paul referenced this verse in 1 Corinthians 3:19.)
14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
(Eliphaz told Job not to despise the chastening (correction, discipline) of God. The chastening was a what. Was Job despising God's chastening?)
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19 He will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and dearth thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24 And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing.
25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, Like as a shock of grain cometh in in its season.
27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
(This second half of Eliphaz's response can be summed up by this statement: "Job, feel good about your trauma."
Eliphaz told Job to feel good even though things were bad. Basically, to deny causality and fake an effect.)
Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!
(Job answered back. He wanted to know the why. He was not denying his suffering.)
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.
8 Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
(Job wanted to die so the pain would end, but he was not against God. Job did not deny the what. Job admitted a painful calamity had come upon him. He did not know the cause: why/how.)
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
(Job admitted he did not know why he was suffering. Job stated that his friends ought to help him.)
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.
21 For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?
26 Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?
(Job had not complained. Job wanted understanding (vs. 24: "Teach me...cause me to understand wherein I have erred."). Job stated that right words were powerful, yet Eliphaz's words were as desperate as the wind.)
27 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
(Verses 29-30 presented TRUTH #3: Job had NOT caused his suffering. Job wanted his friends to leave before they did something unjust. Job was still being perfect by thinking about his friends.)
(Job's response to Eliphaz can be summed up by this statement: "Help me figure out why this happened.")
(This post covered Eliphaz's First Round statement and Job's response.)
Day 143
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