R
|
emember, Job had 3 "friends" who came to comfort
him in his tribulations. Comfort! That was their aim... but they missed (Job
16:2). Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar were the 3 contemporaries of Job who set out
to help him (Job 2:11). In this chapter and the next we will read the
"great wisdom and insight" of Eliphaz... NOT! You need to know that God was not at all
impressed with, and was very much "disappointed" in and expressed
considerable disapproval concerning that which Job's friends had to say to him
(Job 42:7). So, as we read their words, consider their source. God inspired the
accuracy of the record of the words of these men... but he certainly did not
endorse their positions or attitudes.
In this chapter, Eliphaz wastes no time getting to his
point. He accuses Job of being guilty of some vice that brought his misery upon
him. Now, while it is true enough that many times a man's secret faults earn for
him public humiliation, this was not the cause with Job. We know of a certainty
that it was Job's faithfulness, piety and sincerity which occasioned the
attention of God and Satan. So, just the opposite of Eliphaz’s conclusions was
the case.
Eliphaz had a philosophy that was weakly veiled in piety but
which reeked of affluence and naivety. "Whoever perished, being
innocent?" he asked foolishly (Job 4:7). Anyone who has had any measure of
exposure to the reality of the harshness of life has seen many of God's
creatures perish in relative innocence. Innocence is surely no guarantee that
we will be granted overall that only blessings and protection will be our
companions. The reward for righteousness
is great, yet the yoke can become quite heavy at times.
No comments:
Post a Comment