Have You Considered My Servant Job? Lesson 6 Job : Eliphaz and Job

Transcription

1 Have You Considered My Servant Job? Lesson 6 Job : Eliphaz and Job

2 Job Outline Chapter 15 Job Self-condemned (15:1-6) A series of questions intended to ridicule Job (15:7-16) The state of the wicked as affirmed by Eliphaz and verified by the ancients (15:17-35) Chapter 16 The friends summarily dismissed (16:1-5) Renewal of Complaint: God s treatment of him (16:6-14) Job s reaction to all this (16:15-17) Chapter 17 Continuation of Chapter 16 (17:1-5) Job lamented his condition (17:6-10) Job s gloomy prospects: hope buried in the grave (17:11-16)

3 Lessons Be careful about making judgments when ignorant of all the facts We can be sure of God's help during the times when we're tested For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear (Hebrews 13:5,6) Faith and spiritual maturity can grow by enduring adversity

4 In this second round of discussion, Eliphaz displayed a remarkable change of tone and spirit. Instead of showing the kind, friendly, and forbearing attitude displayed in his first speech, he now manifested a harsh and severe mood toward Job. (Homer Hailey)

5 Chapter 15 Eliphaz 2 nd Speech Job Self-condemned (15:1-6): Eliphaz regarding Job s wisdom Had considered Job wise like himself, but what he hears Job say contradicts this Job has empty knowledge Job s speech like a harsh dry wind Job reasons with unprofitable talk and speeches that do no good

6 Chapter 15 Eliphaz 2 nd Speech Series of questions intended to ridicule Job (15:7-16): Eliphaz implies: Job is not wiser than they He can t reject the wisdom of the ancients wasn t there Shouldn t presume to correct us The consolations of God (v. 11) Referring to the words of Eliphaz and his two companions Through the words of these friends, God had sought to teach and console Job Agree? Hardly. Consolations certainly does not describe

7 Chapter 15 Eliphaz 2 nd Speech The state of the wicked as affirmed by Eliphaz and verified by the ancients (15:17-35): Eliphaz appeals to: Wise men who were their forebears Traditions of the fathers Basic doctrine: Those who are wicked will suffer loss and destruction in this life.

8 Chapter 15 Eliphaz 2 nd Speech Wicked man thinks or does: Stretches his hand against God Acts defiantly against the Almighty Runs stubbornly against God Makes himself fat with plenty Trusts in futile things, deceiving himself Is hypocrite & one who bribes Conceives trouble; prepares deceit What happens to the wicked: Writhes with pain all his days Trouble and anguish make him fearful Will not be rich; wealth will not continue Will be destroyed by God Futility will be his reward Will die before his time Will suffer trouble and anguish

9 Chapter 16 Job Responds The friends summarily dismissed (16:1-5): What Job says of three friends: Miserable (or troublesome) comforters Consolations are nothing of the sort (15:11) Refers to Eliphaz words as wind Just as Eliphaz had considered Job s (15:2) Void of true substance or fact Job could do (if in their place): Heap up words against them; shake his head at them But Job would instead: Strengthen them and relieve their grief with the comfort of his lips

10 Chapter 16 Job Responds Renewal of Complaint: God s treatment of him (16:6-14): Job says about God: Worn me out, made family desolate, shriveled me up Tears me, hates me, gnashes at me, sharpens gaze at me Delivered me to the ungodly, turned over to hands of the wicked Shattered me, taken me by neck and shaken me to pieces Set me up as a target His archers surround me, pierces my heart and does not pity Pours out my gall on the ground Breaks me with wound upon wound, runs at me like a warrior

11 Chapter 16 Job Responds Renewal of Complaint: God s treatment of him (16:6-14): Basically charges God with being his enemy Makes similar mistake to his friends - ignorant of the truth, but charges God with causing his condition We must be careful about judging when ignorant of the facts How could a righteous man make such a charge? Consider again Job s condition: Perplexed; calamities obviously not coincidental Can only attribute them to God Now, no answer from God

12 Chapter 16 Job Responds Job s reaction to all this (16:15-17): Job describes his condition Wearing sackcloth on his skin Lost his pride and honor (laid his horn in the dust) Face is red from weeping Eyes are dark from grief Spirit is broken and ready to die Again affirms his innocence (v. 17) Only hope for vindication; witness in heaven (16:18 17:5): Only one who can vindicate Job - his witness in heaven Probably refers to God

13 Chapter 17 Job Responds Job lamented his condition (17:6-10): Further description of Job s suffering (vv. 6-8) A byword of the people One in whose face men spit Dimness of eye from weeping Bodily members wasted away from disease Upright men astonished at what has happened to Job Righteous deal with and benefit from suffering (v. 9) Will hold to his way stay faithful through it all Will actually grow stronger from such adversity An astonishing statement for a man in the depths of suffering

14 Chapter 17 Job Responds Job s gloomy prospects: hope buried in the grave (17:11-16): Has lost all hope What will it take for him to find hope again? Some reassurance from God that he has not been cast off and forgotten Some vindication of his innocence in spite of his suffering For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear (Hebrews 13:5,6)

15 Lessons Be careful about making judgments when ignorant of all the facts We can be sure of God's help during the times when we're tested Faith and spiritual maturity can grow by enduring adversity