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The Dialogues (Chapters 4-26)Job's friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, have gathered around him to grieve with him. There immediate response to Job is one that serves as an example. For seven days they just sit and grieve with him in silence (2:13). For most who are suffering, what is not needed are platitudes or explanations, but just a silent presence. Unfortunately, after seven days Job's friends grow impatient with Job's grief and they open their mouth to try to offer an explanation as to why he is suffering. Round One (Chapters 4-14)Eliphaz (Chapters 4-5)Eliphaz the Temanite begins. His explanation for Job's suffering is that it is a result of some hidden sin. He believes in the doctrine of karma. You reap what you sow. God doesn't punish the innocent (4:7). Instead those who plow iniquity will sow suffering (3:8). Clearly Job suffers because he has sinned against God. Therefore, Job should not be upset with God. Instead, he should see God's discipline as an act of love from God (5:17). This is certainly a biblical concept. Does not the Lord discipline those whom he loves (Hebrews 12:6, Proverbs 3:11)? Job (Chapters 6-7)Job responds, first by wishing that God would just be done with him and kill him (6:8-9). But in the midst of his grief he denies Eliphaz's contention that the suffering is a result of some sin. Job believes that suffering is universal. We are all condemned to a life of hard labor (7:1), and we are all condemned to die (7:7). Good or bad, righteous or evil, all will suffer labor and death. Furthermore, if he is guilty, he asks Eliphaz to show him where how he has sinned (6:24, 7:20-21). Bildad (Chapter 8)Bildad responds to Job by proclaiming that Job is being blasphemous towards God. If God allows the innocent to suffer, that makes God out to be unfair and unjust (8:4). No, God does not reject the innocent, nor does his support the guilty (8:20). Job (Chapter 9-10)Job affirms that God is just and that we cannot argue with God's righteous judgments (9:2-4, 15). God is all-powerful, making the stars of the heavens (9:9), and we cannot fathom the greatness of God (9:10). Nonetheless, Job maintains his innocence (9:21, 10:7). Zophar (Chapter 11)Zophar responds that if nothing else, Job is guilty of being boastful and arrogant (11:1-4). Indeed, all Job needs to do is repent and God would forgive him and cause his suffering to become a distant memory (11:13-16). Job (Chapter 12-14)Job responds by telling his would be comforters that they aren't the only smart people around, and that he too has some intelligence (12:1-3, 13:2). Job knows that God is in control of all things and he gives and takes away according to his purposes. Indeed he makes nations great and weakens kings (12:23-24). He is struggling with God, and their platitudes are of no help (13:3-5). Indeed, Job calls their maxims as “proverbs of ashes” (13:12). While he does not understand why God has done this to him, nonetheless he does not loose faith in God. Indeed, even if God kills him, he will not loose his hope in God (13:15). Nonetheless, he is still in a debate and dispute with God (13:15). No one, even the righteous, escape suffering. All people end up dying (14:1-2). When you die, that is it. There is no healing or restoration (14:7, 10, 12). Therefore you cannot say that only the guilty suffer, for all must go through the suffering of death. Round Two (Chapters 15-21)Eliphaz (Chapter 15)Round two starts in chapter 15 as Eliphaz responds to Job's final speech in round one. Like Bildad and Zophar, Eliphaz contents that such a belief is blasphemous and that Job is guilty of arrogance to think that he doesn't deserve what he has received from God. (15:1-6). Who does Job think he is? Is he the only one who can hear God (15:7-8)? After all, everyone knows that it is only the wicked that receive tribulation (15:17-20). Job (Chapter 16-17)Job calls his friend “sorry comforters” with “no limit to windy words” (16:1-3). God has shattered him and caused his suffering (16:11-12). His friends don't believe his innocence, and so he appeals to God as a witness to his innocence (16:19-21), but God cannot respond. Job wonders, then who will be his advocate (17:3)? Since God will not stand up for him, he is ready to die (17:15-16). Bildad (Chapter 18)Bildad is offended. Does Job think that they are all stupid (18:3)? Clearly it is only the wicked who are punished (18:5ff). Job (Chapter 19)Bildad's words torture and insult Job (19:1-3). If the wicked are the ones who are punished, then why is there so much injustice in the world (19:7)? Nobody wants to believe that the innocent suffer, and so Job has become an embarrassment to his friends and family (19:13-14). Even his wife is offended by him (19:17). While his friends have abandoned him, Job knows where to place his trust: in the Lord. He declares: As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, There may be no justice in the current life, but his redeemer will come and raise him from the dead. While the wicked may prosper in this life and the innocent suffer in the here and now, justice and judgment are coming (19:29). Zophar (Chapter 20)Zophar counter Job that it may seem that the wicked prosper in this life, but such prosperity is short lived (20:5). In time their iniquity will be revealed and their prosperity will be taken from them (20:27-28). He is implying that Job, who was prosperous for a time, is just now getting what he deserves from God. Job (Chapter 21)Job counters that experience shows that the wicked often remain powerful throughout their lifetime and even the descendents of the wicked remain well off (21:7-8). It is rare for us to see the wicked punished in this lifetime (21:17). No, true justice will only come on judgment day (21:30). Round Three (Chapters 22-26)Eliphaz (Chapter 22)Eliphaz takes up the argument again as we begin round three. If Job is innocent, then is God punishing him for being righteous (22:4)? Come on, Job, don't you realize that it is because of your great and unending wickedness (22:5)? Eliphaz lists off an imaginary list of Job's sins. So convinced is Eliphaz that God only allows the wicked to suffer, that he ignores the righteous life of Job and invents sins for him! Job needs to stop denying his sin, for he can't hide his in from God (22:12-15). If only Job would give up and yield to God, then he would be at peace (22:21-23). Job (Chapter 23-24)Job can no longer plead his case to his friends, for they've lost all sense of reality. If only he could present his case to God (23:3-7). But unfortunately he cannot appeal to God, for God seems distant and unresponsive to him (23:8-9). Yet, nonetheless, he maintains his innocence of Eliphaz's charges (23:12). It is a puzzle to Job that God should allow those who do not know Him would prosper (24:1). The only hope for justice is that someday they will die and be condemned to Sheol (23:19). Bildad (Chapter 25)Bildad responds in abbreviated fashion. God is great, and man is sinful. Job just needs to acknowledge his proper place before the Lord. Job (Chapter 26)Job responds with sarcasm. “What a help you are to the weak” (26:1). He does not deny the greatness or the justice of God. He only contends that this justice will come to the wicked after their spirits depart (26:5-6). |
