October 11, 2023
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Reading along with us in Job? Here’s today’s reading:
Job 22 (NIV)
Eliphaz
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2“Can a man be of benefit to God?
Can even a wise person benefit him?
3 What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?
What would he gain if your ways were blameless?…..Continue Reading
Again Eliphaz is accusing Job of being a wicked man. He thinks that God would only allow these things to happen to Job because of his sin. He can`t imagine any other reason why God would do this. He has his mind made up that is has to be the reason. So he lies to make his point calling Job guilty of social sins. He names them in verses 6-9. They are taking a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Secondly not given water to the weary to drink, and holding food from the hungry. And third sending the widows away empty., and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. I looked up what verse 6 meant. According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary this is what it means. [ If a debtor gave his outer garment to a creditor as a pledge of payment, the garment was to be returned at night to protect the debtor from the cold. Ex. 22;26-27 ; Deut. 24; 10-13. Failing to return such a garment was a sin. Latter Eliphaz compares Job to the wicked people that were overflown with a flood. For they didn`t want to have anything to do with God. They wanted to be left alone to enjoy their lives. This is probably Noah`s flood which was before this. He is just assuming that Job is wicked and therefore needs to repent and turn to God. When Job does that then he will prosper and will have fellowship with God and nothing bad will happen to him and he will also bless others. What a false belief that God never allows believers to suffer. Sometimes we don`t know why God allows things to happen to believers but we can only trust Him for He sees and knows everything. Just like Job didn`t know why God allowed these things to him. At least during his suffering. There are many sufferings and trials that Melodye and I have gone though before and since we got married by the evil in this world. It just seems like we have been attacked constantly from many different sides at the same time for years upon years. If you name the attack it probably has happened to us. And when I say before we got married I include our childhood. Of course during these times as believers we have also had many blessings. We are very grateful for Jesus Christ saving us and we look forward to His Return. With this in mind keep Israel in your prayers. That God will help and give strength to them. That many would come to Jesus the Messiah.
So Eliphaz clearly does not accept the idea that the blameless might experience trials that Job gives in the previous chapter, in fact he provides his own made up sins he feels Job is guilty of. Sad to be so narrow minded that not only will he not consider Job’s claims that this may be happening for deeper reasons we don’t understand, he makes a personal attack on his friend as well.
Again the logic of their ideas make sense and in many cases we do bring on our own suffering through our disobedience and sinful choices and need to get right before God; but the reality that God uses trials to teach or for purposes outside our understanding is also true.
Job 22; Ruth 2-4
Instead of admitting his fallacy in his arguments against Job, Eliphaz starts to double down in accusing Job of specific sins. Then he starts to preach a prosperity gospel which is similarly fallacious.
Eliphaz continues his peculiar way of being a friend here in Chapter 22…but, his accusations give me pause. Yesterday I made a comment that indicated that I had often wondered about why the wicked prosper in the earth. But in taking that perspective, I may be guilty of failing to see the log in my own eye. While we know that Job worshiped and served God, and that Eliphaz’s accusations are not fairly made…at the same time, it is so important to remember to view myself as I actually am…a wicked man, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. In our Christian walk, we have to continually remember from where God has brought us so that we might continue to walk with Him toward the person He always intended us to be. And to that end, I find some of Eliphaz’s words very helpful…
“Agree with God, and be at peace;
thereby good will come to you.
Receive instruction from his mouth,
and lay up his words in your heart.” (verse 22/23)
So much of our wickedness stems from not agreeing with God, or not acknowledging Him above all else, including ourselves. Laying up His words in our hearts is so important to successfully walking with Him in this world!
Eliphaz continues in his judgement of Job, first by describing the presumed sin that he had committed and then telling him to return to God and thereby have the judgement from Him removed and then have His blessing flow. We are all wise to follow God and receive all the benefits described here while also realizing that at times God uses trials to strengthen our faith and character. May we learn to cling to Him in good times and in bad….
Job 22
Eliphaz throws out random accusations against Job.
Job 22
Now Eliphaz tells Job what he did wrong to bring upon his downfall. What does he know of Job’s inner life and intentions? We cannont just assume that someone is going through a difficult time because of their sin. God may be preparing them for something great by putting them through a difficult trial.
Job 23