"CAN. VIGOROUS MAN BE OF USE TO GOD": "In his previous discourse, Job argued that God's punishments are indiscriminate, that is, they come upon the wicked and righteous alike (Job 21:23-26). Eliphaz now speaks to that point, and his object is to show that punishment does imply guilt. He claims that... [ Continue Reading ]
He argues that the strongest of men are not useful to God and certainly. professional wise man cannot give an instruction to the Almighty. He claims that Job's uprightness could not please or benefit God. "It was only because Job had sinned that God's alarm system went off, causing Him to penalize J... [ Continue Reading ]
The assumption is that God would not intervene is. man were righteous, God would simply send His blessings, that God would only intervene if. man were wicked.... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeing that Job has been punished severely this is taken as proof that Job is not simply. sinner, but. sinner with transgressions without numbers. "If your suffering is limitless and God is just, then your sins must also be boundless" _(Strauss p. 221). _... [ Continue Reading ]
Specific sins are now charged against Job. "Without any evidence whatsoever, Eliphaz openly charged Job with several social evils" _(Zuck p. 103)._ In the Law of Moses it was decreed that if. man was forced to give his outer garment to. creditor as. pledge of payment, the garment was to be returned... [ Continue Reading ]
Job is accused of refusing to care for weary travelers or give. meal to the hungry.... [ Continue Reading ]
One view of this verse is that "Eliphaz was saying that the reason for Job's inhospitable actions towards travelers was his arrogance in thinking he owned the earth" _(Zuck p. 104)._ In spite of the fact that Job was the honorable and mighty man, Eliphaz claimed that Job refused to help those in nee... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is the claim that Job rejected the widows and crushed the orphans. This sin is condemned throughout the Old Testament (Exodus 22:22; Deut. Job 27:19; Jeremiah 7:9; Job 22:3; Ezekiel 7:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
As. result Job was ensnared by such sins (compare with Job 18:9).... [ Continue Reading ]
"ABUNDANCE OF WATER COVERS YOU": Calamity has simply overwhelmed Job, like the waters of. flood. Crushing misfortunes are figuratively referred to as blinding darkness and destructive floods (Psalms 69:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
Again Eliphaz stresses God's distance above man (see Job 4:17-19; Job 5:9; Job 15:14-16). God is even higher than the farthest star.... [ Continue Reading ]
"YOU SAY, "WHAT DOES GOD HOW?'": Eliphaz claimed that Job had been very insolent to question God's knowledge and His awareness of man. Actually, Job had said that God did know, and that was the very thing that was so frustrating to him. "Job had not said God cannot see man; in fact he affirmed just... [ Continue Reading ]
The idea here could be that Eliphaz is accusing Job of saying that God is ignorant of the affairs of men, that somehow the clouds obscure His sight.... [ Continue Reading ]
Some believe that this is. reference to the flood during Noah's time. "The foundations of their existence collapsed from beneath them, swept away as by. flood (Matthew 7:26). They were snatched away without warning" _(Strauss p. 225)._... [ Continue Reading ]
"WHAT CAN THE ALMIGHTY DO TO THEM?" Compare with Job 21:14-16. Here is. sample of the words that unbelievers in the past have said (Jude 1:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
Eliphaz argues that the prosperity of the wicked, that God caused, was only. prelude to disaster, like fattening up animals before the slaughter. JOB 22:18 "BUT THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED IS FAR FROM ME": This is actually something that Job himself had said (Job 21:16). "Eliphaz wanted it known that... [ Continue Reading ]
The righteous rejoice over the destruction of the wicked. Job had said that his friends had been mocking him (Job 21:3), now Eliphaz counters that righteous men like himself gladly mock the downfall of sinners (like Job). Notice the reference to "fire" consuming one's possessions, another reference... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is. call to repent. Job needs to yield to God and the result will be that Job will find peace.... [ Continue Reading ]
"PLACE YOUR GOLD IN THE DUST": Which appears to mean, "quit trusting in your wealth". "How could Eliphaz prove that Job trusted in his material things? In fact he now had no gold in which to trust!" _(Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 746)._ Or, does this verse suggest that Job still had some personal wealth... [ Continue Reading ]
The following blessings are promised if Job will only repent: Prosperity,. relationship with God, answered prayers, success of his plans, confidence, and deliverance. God's silence will only be ended, when Job repents.. light of constant success would shine on his way.... [ Continue Reading ]
"AND HE WILL BE DELIVERED THROUGH THE CLEANNESS OF YOUR HANDS": The idea is that the righteous man has influence with God, and through his prayers others will be delivered (see Genesis 18:21-33). Yet God reminds us that such "influence" only goes so far (Ezekiel 14:12-18; Jeremiah 31:29-30). Later i... [ Continue Reading ]