Job 15:16

_HOW MUCH MORE ABOMINABLE AND FILTHY IS MAN, WHICH DRINKETH INIQUITY LIKE WATER?_ Filthy - in Arabic, sour (Psalms 14:3; Psalms 53:3); corrupted from his original purity. DRINKETH - (Proverbs 19:28, "The mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity;" cf. Job 34:7; Psalms 73:10)....

1-16 Eliphaz begins a second attack upon Job, instead of being softened by his complaints. He unjustly charges Job with casting off the fear of God, and all regard to him, and restraining prayer. See in what religion is summed up, fearing God, and praying to him; the former the most needful principle, the latter the most needful practice. Eliphaz charges Job with self-conceit. He charges him with contempt of the counsels and comforts given him by his friends. We are apt to think that which we ourselves say is important, when others, with reason, think little of it. He charges him with opposition to God. Eliphaz ought not to have put harsh constructions upon the words of one well known for piety, and now in temptation. It is plain that these disputants were deeply convinced of the doctrine of original sin, and the total depravity of human nature. Shall we not admire the patience of God i...

Verse Job 15:16. _HOW MUCH MORE ABOMINABLE AND FILTHY_ IS _MAN_] As in the preceding verse it is said, _he putteth no trust in his saints_, it has appeared both to translators and commentators that the original words, אף כי _aph ki_, should be rendered _how much LESS_, not _how much MORE_: How much less would he put confidence in man, who is filthy and abominable in his natures and profligate in his practice, as he _drinks down iniquity like water_? A man who is under the power of sinful propensities commits sin as greedily as the _thirsty man_ or _camel_ drinks down water. He thinks he can never have enough. This is a finished character of a _BAD man; he hungers_ _and thirsts after SIN_: on the contrary, the _GOOD man hungers and_ _thirsts after RIGHTEOUSNESS_....

HOW MUCH MORE ABOMINABLE AND FILTHY IS MAN - How much more than the angels, and than the heavens. In Job 4:19, the image is somewhat different. There it is, how can man be the object of the divine confidence since he lives in a house of clay, and is so frail? Here the image is more striking and forcible. The word rendered filthy (אלח _'âlach_) means, in Arabic, to be sour, as milk, and then to be corrupt, in a moral sense; Psalms 14:3; Psalms 53:4. Here it means that man is defiled and polluted, and this declaration is a remarkable illustration of the ancient belief of the depravity of man. WHICH DRINKETH INIQUITY LIKE WATER - Thi

EXPOSITION The second colloquy between Job and his friends is, like the first (ch. 3-14.), one in which all of them take part, and the same order of speakers is maintained. Job answers each speaker in turn; Eliphaz at some length (Job 16:1; Job 17:1.), the other two more briefly. The present chapter contains the second speech of Eliphaz. Compared with the first, it is harsh and violent in tone, assuming Job's guilt, and reproaching him fiercely and rudely. It naturally divides into three portions: (1) a direct reproof of Job for presumption and impiety (verses 1-6); (2) a sarcastic reflection on him for conceit and arrogance (verses 7-16); (3) an exposition of God's ways with man, based upon the experience of ancient sages (verses 17-3

HOW MUCH MORE ABOMINABLE AND FILTHY [IS] MAN,.... In his natural, corrupt, and unregenerate estate; man, as a creature, was not abominable, but becoming sinful he is; he is so in himself, cast out to the loathing of his person, being full of wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, yea, like a dead corrupted carcass, for he is dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1; and he appears to be corrupt by the abominable works done by him, as all the works of the flesh are; yea, he is abominable to himself, when made sensible of his state and case; he then abhors himself, and repents of his sins, he loathes his sins, and himself for them; and must be much more so in the sight of God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, as man is nothing else than a mass of sin, and therefore must be "filthy"; for sin is of a defiling nature, it defiles the body and all its members, and the soul with a...

THE SECOND SERIES OF CONTROVERSIES CHAPTER 15 Eliphaz's Second Address _ 1. Tells Job that he is self-condemned (Job 15:1)_ 2. Charges him with pride (Job 15:7) 3. The wicked and their lot (Job 15:17) Job 15:1. His second address is not as lofty as his first. Job's language has evidently annoyed him very much. He characterizes his words as vain, unprofitable, which can do no good. He charges him with having cast off fear and having become one who restrained devotion before God. He tells Job that what he has spoken only confirms their views of him, that he is a wicked man and suffers justly for his sins. Thine own m

JOB 15:2 is a polemic against Job's arrogance and pretence of wisdom. Job's words are empty and violent (Job 15:2 f.). He does away with all religion (Job 15:4) and breaks the reverential stillness, which should be observed in the presence of God. It is his wickedness that inspires his words and gives to his tongue the craft of the serpent (Genesis 31) (Job 15:5). So he stands self-condemned (Job 15:6). Is he the primæ val man of whom the myths tell, who sat in the council of God? (Job 15:7 f.). This mythical figure is

Eliphaz rebukes Job's contemptuous treatment of the opinions of his friends, and his irreverence towards God First, starting with Job's claim to a wisdom beyond that of his friends (ch. Job 12:3; Job 12:7 _seq_., Job 13:2), Eliphaz asks if it be in the manner of a wise man to use loud and empty words as arguments (Job 15:2). But in truth Job was more than unwise, he was impious. His demeanour and sentiments did away with all devoutness and religion. Such language as he uttered could be inspired only by deep evil in his heart; and was proof enough without anything more of his wickedness (Job 15:4

II. CRISIS IN COMMUNICATION OR THE MIRACLE OF DIALOGUE? (Job 15:1, Job 21:34). A. THE GOODNESS OF GOD AND THE FATE OF THE WICKEDELIPHAZ'S REBUTTAL (Job 15:1-35). 1. Job's speech and conduct are perverted and show that he is guilty. (Job 15:1-16) TEXT 15:1-16 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, 2 Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind? 3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? 4 Yea, thou doest away with fear, And hindered devotion before God. 5 For thine iniquity teac