Job 4:1-11

First, Eliphaz wonders that Job, who had comforted so many in trouble, and who was a righteous man, should fall into such despair under his afflictions, forgetting the great principle that the righteous never perish under affliction. Calamity destroys only the wicked; the affliction of the righteous is designed to have a very different issue.

12 5:7. Second, proceeding with deeper earnestness he must advert to Job's murmurs against Heaven and warn him from them. For can any man have right on his side in complaining of God? Only the ungodly resent the dealing of God with them. By their impatience under affliction they bring down God's final anger upon them, so that they perish.

Ch. Job 4:1-11. Eliphaz wonders that Job, who had comforted so many in trouble, and was a righteous man, should fall into such despair under his afflictions

Eliphaz would gladly have kept silence in the circumstances of his friend, but the tone of Job's words constrains him to speak (Job 4:2). He wonders at the despondency of Job, one who had shewn himself so skilful in comforting other good men in affliction (Job 4:3), and who was himself a righteous man. He should place confidence in his righteousness, and remember that the righteous never perishunder affliction. God does not send trouble upon them to destroy them, but for very different ends (Job 4:6). It is only the wicked whom He chastises unto death, and causes to reap the trouble which they sow (Job 4:8), and perish like beasts of prey (Job 4:10). Eliphaz's doctrine of the meaning of suffering or evil comes out in the very forefront of his remonstrance with Job.