Answering Eliphaz
Job 6-7
September 20, 2015
Well, hopefully you are caught up with
What has been going on in the life of Job.
Job was righteous and because of this
God selected him to be the focal point of Satan’s attack.
In a matter of minutes Job lost his wealth and his children.
On a second occasion Job lost his health.
Job suffered immensely.
Yet, through all this Job did not curse God, nor did he sin with his lips.
Even at the end of the book God will reveal that Job (and not his friends)
Has spoken what is right about God.
So Job is suffering, but he is giving us a blueprint for how to handle it.
Now the first thing we saw after Job’s suffering was Job open his mouth in a lament.
• He cursed the day of his conception and birth
• He longed for death
• And he expressed his confusion for all of this to God.
They were harsh words
They were raw words
And it is apparent that Job’s friends took offense at his lament.
For once Job was finished one of his friends (Eliphaz)
Spoke up to address the situation.
You will remember that Eliphaz had an observation and a revelation.
According to what he had seen people who suffer like this
Do so because they are sinful.
Eliphaz even heard from a spirit in the form of a vision
That assured him that no man is justified in the sight of God
And therefore no one can make the claims that Job is making
About his own righteousness.
The simple point according to Eliphaz was that Job was out of line
To lament so heavily before God.
• What Job ought to do is evaluate himself and see his own sin.
• He then should trust God who is strong and merciful and just.
• And He should turn from all his sin.
And Eliphaz promised that if Job would do that,
Then God would instantly change everything back to good.
Job, quit crying, instead repent and trust God and this will all go away.
It was the prosperity gospel and it is cruel to those who suffer.
Well tonight Job responds to the insinuations and accusations of Eliphaz.
What we learn is absolutely invaluable
As it pertains to ministering to the bereaved.
It is actually a shame that Job has to be the one to preach this sermon,
It should have been a friend reminding Job of these things,
Not the other way around.
But, let’s listen as Job addresses the strong accusations of Eliphaz.
5 points
#1 JOB REQUESTS HIS UNDERSTANDING
Job 6:1-13
Here we find Job’s initial response
To the strong handed accusations of Eliphaz.
If you want to be compassionate and one who aids those who are walking through the fire, then pay attention to what he has to say.
Let’s break this first point down a little further.
There are really two things Job asks of them.
1) DON’T DISREGARD MY CALAMITY (1-7)
• Eliphaz didn’t like the way that Job lamented after his pain.
• Eliphaz obviously thought Job’s words were unwarranted and uncalled for.
Job answers that here by saying:
(1-3) “Then Job answered, “Oh that my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity! “For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore my words have been rash.”
Job here explains why his words were so harsh.
They were harsh because his suffering was harsh.
“I wish you could step back for just a second
And see just how much I am suffering.”
“If you could weigh my grief and measure my calamity you’d see that it was enormous and maybe then you’d understand my complaint a little better.”
He continues:
(4-5) “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. “Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his fodder?”
If you failed to understand the type of pain Job is experiencing,
Here he details it for you.
It is like God has shot him with an arrow.
And not just any arrow, but a poisonous one.
In such a situation could you honestly expect a person not to lament?
Listen to Job’s questioning.
“Does a wild donkey bray over grass?” (no)
“Does the ox low over his fodder?” (no, he eats)
The point being, if you see someone lamenting so hard,
Maybe you ought to first try to grasp the depth of their pain.
Ever hear the statement, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire”?
Well, “Where there’s groaning, there’s pain”
Now I fully understand that there are some people
Who seem to moan a little easier than others,
But that sort of evaluation cannot be reached right off the bat.
All Job was asking was that before they rebuke him for crying,
They first see why he is crying and have a little pity.
And of course, that’s not too much to ask.
Don’t be quick to rebuke a person
Until you are certain you understand the depth of their pain.
Job was groaning with good reason.
He says:
(6-7) “Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? “My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.”
Now there is a good analogy for you.
• Do you want to eat bland food if it doesn’t have salt? (no)
• Do you enjoy just eating egg whites? (no)
In fact, I’m willing to bet that you refuse to do it.
And if you do have to do it, I bet it comes with a little groaning.
Well, that is Job’s point.
Do you expect me to suffer so immensely
And just sit here and take it without groaning?
• Do you expect a person to lose all he has and not weep?
• Do you expect a person to bury his children and not mourn?
• Do you expect a person to be in physical pain and not groan?
Apparently Job’s friends did
Because all Eliphaz wanted him to do was repent.
So Job’s request is simply that they wouldn’t disregard his calamity.
2) DON’T DEPRIVE ME OF CONSOLATION (8-13)
Job first repeats his desire to leave life and enter death.
(8-9) “Oh that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my longing! “Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!”
But then Job reminds them why he can look favorably upon death.
(10) “But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.”
Do you know why Job could look favorably at death?
Because he knew he was pleasing to God.
He knew that death would be better than life for him.
That was the ONLY consolation and hope he had at the moment.
And instead of comforting him,
Eliphaz tried to take that comfort from him as well.
Eliphaz tried to convince him that
• He wasn’t righteous,
• That God wasn’t pleased,
Therefore Job wouldn’t even be able to look forward to death.
Despite all Job had endured, his one consolation
Was that some day death would bring relief
And his friends wouldn’t even let him enjoy that.
They were harsh comforters.
Job goes on to say:
(11-13) “What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure? “Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze? “Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?”
Job’s friends wanted him to “suck it up” under adversity.
They wanted him to quit groaning.
And Job basically says, “Who do you think I am?”
• Do you think I’m made of stone?
• Do you think I’m made of bronze?
“No, I’m suffering and I have no help nor deliverance but you just want me to stand here and take it without so much as a whimper.”
Their expectation was clearly unreasonable and Job requests that
They show him at least an ounce of understanding.
So there is a good lesson for you.
People who are suffering don’t always expect you to explain the situation,
But they do hope to have your sympathy.
Before you go to rebuking their manner of grief
You ought to at least take careful inventory of their situation
And imagine how you might respond.
And if you had to endure what they are dealing with
You might find that you would moan a little too.
So Job requests their understanding
#2 JOB REBUKES HIS HYPOCRISY
Job 6:14-23
Job starts out by telling them
What he should have been able to expect from them.
(14) “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.”
What did Job say a person should be able to expect from a friend?
“kindness”
With the intent to encourage them to continue to walk in obedience.
When Job says to “not forsake the fear of the Almighty”
He means that which causes a man to endure.
It is reverential awe, it is a worshipful heart.
Job says his friends should have arrived with kindness
And encouraged him to keep pushing forward in his life.
Instead of attacking his integrity, they should have been encouraging it.
And then he has a comparison for them.
(15-21) “My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish, Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts. “When they become waterless, they are silent, When it is hot, they vanish from their place. “The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish. “The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them. “They were disappointed for they had trusted, They came there and were confounded. “Indeed, you have now become such, You see a terror and are afraid.”
A “wadi” was a specific type of stream that was fueled by melting snow.
This made it unreliable.
When summer arrived and you needed it the most, that is when it was gone.
And Job says, “Indeed, you have now become such”
Instead of being a refreshment to me,
When I needed it most, your encouragement was gone.
And Job even tells them why they are so harsh.
“You see a terror and are afraid.”
Do you know what is fueling Job’s friends?
• It isn’t compassion
• It is fear
They are so eager to find out what Job did wrong
Because they are afraid the same thing will happen to them.
All they are interested in is protecting their own skin, not comforting Job.
They are afraid the same might happen to them
And so they have taken opportunity to interrogate Job
To make sure they don’t suffer the same fate.
They are hypocrites in every sense of the word.
And what is worse, they are UNINVITED hypocrites.
(22-23) “Have I said, ‘Give me something,’ Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’ Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?”
Job says, “Did I even ask you to come and help?” (No)
But you came anyway and actually rubbed salt in my wound.
So you see his point don’t you?
If you’re going to come to me in the midst of my pain,
The least you can do is take the time to see how bad I am hurting
And be kind and encouraging to me in the midst of my pain.
But don’t come pretending to be my friends
When all you really care about is yourself.
Those are good lessons in regard to bereavement ministry.
So Job Requests their Understanding and He Rebukes their Hypocrosy
#3 JOB REQUIRES HIS EVIDENCE
Job 6:24-30
Now we get down to the actual accusations they made.
Eliphaz was pretty harsh with Job.
Remember?
Job 4:7-8 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed? “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it.”
Eliphaz was certain that Job had sinned
And that was the reason for his calamity.
Job here takes offense to that and says:
(24-25) “Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred. “How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?”
Just show me what I did wrong.
I told you last week that when our brother sins and we know his sin and yet he is either unaware or unrepentant of it, then we have a command and a duty to show our brother his sin.
And Job is totally ok with that.
Show me my sin!
Show me what I did wrong!
Play the recording of what I said!
But your hypothetical arguments don’t prove a thing.
You rebuke me for complaining as though I am a sinner
And you don’t have a clue what any of my sin is.
(26) “Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?”
I love this statement from Job.
He says, “You jump all over me for my complaint when you know good and well that people in pain say things they don’t mean.”
I heard the story many times growing up
About when my grandmother was in labor with my dad.
She looked at my grandpa and said, “Give me a gun, I’ll shoot him!”
Harsh, but everyone knew she didn’t mean it.
That’s what Job says.
Sure my words are harsh, I’m hurting!
But you ought to know that hurting people say drastic things sometimes.
You ought to exercise a little compassion.
Unfortunately that is not what Eliphaz came to offer
And Job points that out to them.
(27) “You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend.”
You are the cruelest of cruel.
There is no limit to the oppression you would offer.
It is the equivalent to saying, “Do you want to kick my dog while you’re at it?”
You condemn me with absolutely no evidence when I am already hurting, WHAT KIND OF A SICK AND CRUEL PERSON DOES THAT?
(28-30) “Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face. “Desist now, let there be no injustice; Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it. “Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern calamities?”
What a statement!
“look at me”
It is like what Matthew said about Jesus:
Matthew 9:36 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Job says “look at me”
See what I’m dealing with, you might have compassion too!
“Desist now”
Please stop harassing me, I’m hurting.
Do you really feel the need to add to my pain
By accusing me of sin on top of all I am enduring?
He’s got a point doesn’t he?
And you and I would do well to remember this response any time we are asked to be a voice of comfort to someone who is grieving.
• They are hurting
• Sometimes they say things they don’t really mean
• They aren’t asking for an explanation from you
All they really want is for you to sit down and weap with them.
Give them some sympathy.
Help them carry on.
Encourage their walk with God.
But if your only intent is to go and make them feel worse,
Just stay at home, they are already in pain.
So Job requests his understanding
He rebukes his hypocrisy
He requires his evidence
#4 JOB REFORMS HIS THEOLOGY
Job 7:1-10
This is actually a unique section in Scripture.
Here you have Job telling his three friends
What they should be telling him.
This is a good message to those who are
Having trouble seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
Look at what Job says:
(1-6) “Is not man forced to labor on earth, And are not his days like the days of a hired man? “As a slave who pants for the shade, And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages, So am I allotted months of vanity, And nights of trouble are appointed me. “When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn. “My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt, My skin hardens and runs. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And come to an end without hope.”
He starts out simply be acknowledging that life as a human is hard.
• He says man is “forced to labor” (thanks to the curse for that one)
• His days are “like the days of a hired man” (that means hard)
• He is like a slave “who pants for shade” (meaning he needs relief)
• He is like a hired man who “eagerly waits for his wages” (wants a payoff for his pain)
And because that is life Job says “So am I allotted months of vanity”
Life is hard, why should mine be any different.
And that is simply true.
• Is anyone in here immune from suffering?
• Does anyone in here think it won’t touch them?
There’s no need to assign a cause or a blame to every grief or pain in a person’s life, sometimes suffering does just happen.
We live in a fallen, sin cursed world,
Where people everywhere groan and seek relief.
Job is giving advice similar to that of Paul’s to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
Granted Paul there speaks of temptation, not suffering,
But the point is made that you aren’t facing anything
That everyone else doesn’t face.
Life as a human is hard (for every human)
Peter said:
1 Peter 5:9 “But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”
This is common.
That would have been a good message from Job’s friends,
If they had simply said,
“Job we’re sorry you are having to deal with this, but we don’t blame you for it. Sometimes life is just hard and bad things happen beyond our understanding.”
Job’s friends didn’t bring that counsel to Job
Because they didn’t believe it.
They held to the prosperity gospel.
But it would be nice if they had said life is just hard, this is not unusual.
And then Job continues with his second piece of advice.
(7-10) “Remember that my life is but breath; My eye will not again see good. “The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be. “When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up. “He will not return again to his house, Nor will his place know him anymore.”
Here Job reiterates that even though life is hard, it doesn’t last forever.
This life is temporary.
Even if your entire life on earth is filled with pain
And you never again see good (which is what Job expected)
Someday this life will be over
And you’ll never come back to this house again.
I’m not saying it answers every question.
I’m not saying it brings immediate joy.
But it is true and there is some solace here.
Life is hard for everyone, but it won’t last forever.
Granted that is what we would call “bare minimum” encouragement,
But it would have been far better than what Job’s friends brought.
Suffering and death are just part of the package now.
And Job wants his friends to understand that not all suffering is because a person sinned and sometimes death is a relief from suffering.
So Job quickly answers Eliphaz.
• He Requested His Comfort
• He Rebuked His Hypocrisy
• He Required His Evidence
• And He Reformed His Theology
In short, Job really put Eliphaz in his place.
He greatly addressed his failures as a comforter.
And now that Job has seemingly silenced his critics he gets back to dealing with the One he really wants to talk to, which is God.
#5 JOB RESUMES HIS LAMENT
Job 7:11-21
Because of the reasoning Job just gave his friends he says:
“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”
And then Job does just that.
Verses 12-21 are once again addressed to God.
(you can probably identify from your times of suffering)
(12) “Am I the sea, or the sea monster, that You set a guard over me?”
That is to say, “Am I evil that you feel the need to fence me in?”
Job is asking God for the reason for all this pain.
Because the pain God has afflicted on him is lingering.
(13-15) “If I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,’ Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions; So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains.”
He says “God you don’t seem to let up. You make me miserable even when I sleep. You have so oppressed me that death seems like the only deliverance.”
Am I evil that you would treat me so harshly?
(16-19) “I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath. “What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him, That You examine him every morning And try him every moment? “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?”
That is harsh isn’t it?
Job assures God that he is going to die
And so there is no need for God to keep kicking him.
“What is man that You magnify him, and that You are concerned about him, that You examine him every moment?”
“Why have You taken such an interest in me?”
Job actually says, “Leave me alone”
That is to say, “Mercy!” “I give up!” “Please stop kicking me”
How long are you going to keep afflicting me,
You win, I’m done, it’s over, I quit.
I realize that is harsh, but it is very real.
• Read the words of some of the greatest saints in Scripture.
• Moses, Elijah, and Jonah all prayed for death.
• Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1 that he had the sentence of death within himself.
Job felt crushed under life and he just wanted relief.
He also wanted to know what he did to deserve it.
(that’s honest)
(20-21) “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? “Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me, but I will not be.”
There it is.
• What did I do to anger You so much?
• Why are You shooting at me?
• And if did anger You, why didn’t You forgive me?
As it is Job says, “For now I will lie down in the dust; and You will seek me, but I will not be.”
In other words Job says,
“I’m not going to make it”
It’s hard.
So what do we learn from Job’s response to Eliphaz?
• Well, obviously we learn that sympathy is needed.
• Obviously we learn that encouragement is needed.
But by the time Job is finished we learn another very important fact.
People who are suffering have a need to hear from God, not you.
Now you may in fact be God’s vessel through which He speaks, but make sure it is God who is speaking and not your own personal wisdom.
Eliphaz spoke from his own observation and from demonic revelation,
Job needed neither.
What Job needed was a word from God.
• You and I don’t have the wisdom to address such pain.
• Secular psychology is useless for such suffering (trust me I’ve heard plenty of it)
• What those in pain need is the voice of God.
So if you speak give them God’s truth wrapped in compassion,
But if all you have is advice cloaked in selfishness and fear,
It’s best you just stay at home.
Paul said:
Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Eliphaz would have done well to understand that.
