The Words of Eliphaz
Job 22
In Job chapter 22 there are the words of Eliphaz. Like the others, Bildad and
Zophar, Eliphaz assumes that all suffering is punishment for wrong doing. His
thinking is: Job is suffering, therefore Job is being punished for wrong doing.
In this study of the words of Eliphaz, we will discover things he said that we
believe reflected his wrong concepts and his erroneous theology of suffering. We
can learn from his error. But we should also consider, not every word spoken by
these men was wrong! Their basic concept of suffering and their repeated
accusations against Job were wrong - and they stand corrected and rebuked at the
end of the book. But I believe we can learn from their error, but also we can
certainly learn from what they said that was true. Having said that - notice,
this speech of Eliphaz begins with...
FIVE QUESTIONS (Job 22:2-5)
1. "Can a man be profitable unto God?"
The implied answer would seem to be - NO; the wisest of men, even those of
insight and understanding, of prudence and education, cannot benefit or help
God. God is perfectly self-sufficient; He has such power and holy character, He
does not need to look to us for any benefit or profit.
This may be similar to the thought expressed by Job, back in chapter 21, where
he said, "Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing He judgeth those that are high?"
The highest of men are accountable to and should submit to God - therefore,
nobody can teach God anything.
Now here in Job 22:2 - what this question means, in regard to Job's suffering -
is unclear.
It may be Eliphaz is saying: it wouldn't be profitable for God; He wouldn't have
anything to learn or gain, by testing someone who hadn't sinned. That may be
what Eliphaz means - yet, when we just study the question; the question itself
demands a negative answer; God doesn't need any benefit or profit from any man.
God doesn't need us for His existence; we cannot teach Him; we cannot help Him
or guide Him or make Him complete. He loves us. Yes! He wants us to come to Him,
and serve Him and glorify His name. But we need to keep all this in perspective
- it is not the case that we offer God some benefit or profit; or that we make
him complete. He makes us complete through Christ.
Viewed outside the accusations against Job, this becomes a good,
thought-provoking question: CAN A MAN BE PROFITABLE UNTO GOD? And we believe the
answer is "No!"
2. "Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art
righteous?
Now this is troublesome. There is the insinuation of Eliphaz's question, that
God derived neither pleasure nor gain from Job's righteousness. It is true, that
God gets no pleasure from wickedness or the folly of fools (Psa. 5:4 & Eccl.
5:4). But it is NOT TRUE that God derives no pleasure from the righteousness of
His people.
David said that Jehovah "hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant" (Psa.
35:27), and in Psa. 147:11 - "Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear Him." In
Psa. 149:4 - "Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people." So, either Eliphaz
misjudged God - or he judged Job's righteousness as feigned and hypocritical.
But again -- for us, outside the context of Eliphaz misconceptions -- the
question can provoke worthwhile thought. Our answer would be YES. When we behave
right, that pleases God. And I think that should be an important motive for us -
to know that when we love and obey God, that pleases him.
3. "...is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways
perfect?" Well, this is about the same thing and the implication troubles
us. He seems to be saying or implying - God realizes no pleasure or gain from
the uprightness of man. I suppose - in a sense, there is no "gain," depending
upon how you define that. But we have cited a number of passages showing - God
wants us to be righteous, and he takes pleasure in our uprightness.
4. "Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, that
he entereth with thee into judgment?" Here's the question in verse 4, as
rendered in the NIV - "Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings
charges against you?" It seems Elipaz begins with the assumptions, ONE, that God
is rebuking Job and TWO, that Job is guilty of various sins. This fourth
question, here in verse four, seems rather sarcastic - "Job, do you think God is
rebuking you for your piety?" Is it for wickedness and sin that he has brought
you into judgment?
5. "Is not thy wickedness great?" Well, this
question reflects what all three of these men have been saying since they opened
their mouth to their suffering friend. In this question, Eliphaz implied that
Job's wickedness was great and his iniquities endless. Here again we clearly see
the doctrine or theology of suffering advanced by the friends of Job. Their idea
was, IF JOB IS SUFFERING, JOB HAS SINNED and if he is suffering horribly, he
must have really been bad; his wickedness was great.
Job 22 begins with these five questions and with each question, Eliphaz implies
that Job has sinned; that's why he is suffering; "Is not thy wickedness great?"
In Job 22, the Holy Spirit is reported to us what a man said. Given the context
of the story about Job, we believe Eliphaz was wrong in his perspective and
accusations. But as we read and study his questions, it becomes a good exercise
for us to think about these things.
Finally we have some specific and direct accusations. NO EVIDENCE, but
accusations in verses 6-11.
ACCUSATIONS (6-11)
ACCUSATION #1 -- Taking pledges for nothing (6).
According to the Mosaic Law and apparently before that, in the Patriarchal
dispensation -- it was wrong to take a pledge or security from someone un-justly
or without cause or reason.
An extreme or exaggerated example of this would be: "I'll loan you some money,
but you must give me your best clothing." So I've helped you with the cash you
need, but I've left you naked. This was wrong and this is what Eliphaz said Job
had done: "You demanded security from your brothers for no reason; you stripped
men of their clothing, leaving them naked."
Is there any evidence Job was guilty of this charge? No evidence or proof was
given.
And in fact what did God say about Job just before the tragedy? "...there is
none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and
shuns evil," (1:8). We conclude -- the charge was unfounded.
ACCUSATION #2 -- Unmerciful; lack of hospitality (7).
NIV: "You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry."
Again, there is no evidence of this. We know, in the desert country hospitality
was an unwritten law and to withhold water from the weary and bread from the
hungry, was a grievous breach of kindness (Abraham, Gen. 18; Lot, Gen. 19). Yet,
no evidence exists - to establish Job was guilty of this.
ACCUSATION #3 - The unscrupulous exercise of power (8).
NIV: "though you were a powerful man, owning land -- an honoured man, living on
it." KJV: "But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man
dwelt in it." I include this as an accusation because I think there is an
implication here, that in these things Job allegedly did, Job was misusing his
position of influence, wealth and power. But again - no evidence.
ACCUSATION #4 - Heartless cruelty to widows and orphans
(9).
Verse 9 (NIV) - "And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of
the fatherless." This was probably the cruelest charge of all, declaring that
Job acquired his vast estate by robbing the widows and fatherless of what was
theirs. Job will later deny this - and of course, Eliphaz made the charge but
gave no evidence. Eliphaz just knows Job has done something horrible to cause
all this suffering, so he just pulls the accusations out from his imagination;
offering no evidence.
Conclusion - "snares are round about thee," etc. (vss.
10,11).
Verses 10,11 is the conclusion, in the mind of Eliphaz:
That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you, why it is
so dark that you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you. (Job 22:10-11,
NIV).
This makes the position of Eliphaz pretty clear, doesn't it? His questions and
his accusations have a purpose, and the purpose is - TO PUT JOB IN HIS PLACE; TO
PERSUADE HIM THAT HE IS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE HORRIBLE THINGS HE HAS DONE. We
believe Eliphaz is wrong; indeed this human theology of suffering is denied near
the end of the book and Job's character is vindicated at the first of the book.
But I say again - it is good for us to read and study the speech of Eliphaz; it
provokes thoughts and challenges us to consider things worthwhile. Next ...
JOB IS CHALLENGED TO RETHINK HIS POSITION
(12-20).
"Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars!
Yet you say, `What does God know? Does he judge through such darkness? Thick
clouds veil him, so he does not see us as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.'
Will you keep to the old path that evil men have trod? They were carried off
before their time, their foundations washed away by a flood. They said to God,
`Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?' Yet it was he who filled their
houses with good things, so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked. "The
righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying, `Surely
our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.' (Job 22:12-20, NIV).
Certainly, God is in the heights of heavens; without any doubt the stars are
lofty. BUT JOB DIDN'T DENY THIS. Job had expressed his doubts, and had said some
unwise things - but he hadn't turned away from God...
Yet, Eliphaz admonished Job: "Will you keep to the old path that evil men have
trod? They were carried off before their time, their foundations washed away by
a flood."
Notice some of the things Eliphaz said about THE WICKED in this section:
In Verse 17 the wicked are those who say to God, "DEPART FROM US." The wicked
are those who boast, "WHAT CAN THE ALMIGHTY DO FOR US?" Now, Job had not lived
this way; Job had not adopted these rebellious attitudes, but Eliphaz was right;
this is the attitude of the wicked; it is like they say to God: "Depart from us.
What can God do for us?"
Sinners do not want God. God disturbs their plans, their thoughts, dreams and
life style. Their attitude is, WHAT CAN THE ALMIGHTY DO FOR US? "Yet he filled
their houses with good things," in verse 18. In spite of the sinner's claim that
God can do nothing for them, IT WAS GOD WHO FILLED THEIR HOUSES WITH GOOD THINGS
!!
They took good things from God, and then claimed they didn't need God and lived
sinful lives. That happened back then, and it happens today. JOB WAS NOT GUILTY
OF THIS KIND OF WICKEDNESS, but what Eliphaz said about the wicked is true.
Verses 19,20:
"The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying,
`Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth'."
Eliphaz believes the wicked people always come to ruin and when they do, the
righteous rejoice and those who are innocent mock them. They say: "Surely our
foes are destroyed and fire devours their wealth." The doctrine and attitude of
Eliphaz is clear in these verses but he has failed to prove that Job's
wickedness caused his suffering. And he offers no evidence that wicked people
always suffer while righteous people never suffer. Now, here's the part of Job
22 that I really like to study...
A FINAL APPEAL TO JOB: Return to God (21-30)
Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.
Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you
return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from
your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks
in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for
you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your
face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfil
your vows. What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.
When men are brought low and you say, `Lift them up!' then he will save the
downcast. He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered
through the cleanness of your hands." (Job 22:21-30, NIV).
After you expose someone's sin; and after you point out the end of the wicked,
YOU CLOSE THE SERMON WITH AN INVITATION TO REPENT. That's what this is! This is
an Old Testament example of an invitation, although offered from one who needed
to respond!
Eliphaz thinks he has settled the matter, that he has established Job's sin; now
he calls upon Job to submit to God, repent, be at peace with god . . and thereby
good shall come unto thee. This sounds like a preaching at the end of a sermon
...
"If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness
far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to
the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest
silver for you." {While together we stand and sing...-added, web!}
Eloquently expressed. I could use this as an invitation or exhortation when I
preach. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS - Job did not have wickedness in his tent; God said
of him: "...there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man,
one who fears God and shuns evil," (1:8).
"Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to
God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfil your vows.
What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. When men are
brought low and you say, `Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast. He will
deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the
cleanness of your hands."
Take these words outside the context of Job's situation and outside the context
of the doctrine of Eliphaz, and you have a moving, impressive invitation to
sinners - to give up their sin and be delivered by God!
JOB 22 - one of the speeches of Eliphaz; and there are four things I would like
for us to think about:
The fact that a man knows some truth about God does not mean all his conclusions
are correct. All of these friends of Job - all of them manifest some knowledge
of God. It cannot be argued that everything they said was false. We believe some
of the things they said to Job and about Job were wrong - but all of them knew
some truth about God.
We may hear men; we may read books written by men, and we are convinced - they
know some truth about God. But this does not mean all their conclusions and
doctrines are correct. This brings me to an old truth that needs to be reviewed
- we need to do what the Bereans did - those were the people in Acts 17 who
searched the Scriptures daily to find out if what they were hearing was true.
Though Eliphaz was wrong about Job - He said some true things about God. And one
thing he said was - GOD IS PERFECTLY SELF-SUFFICIENT; that truth needs to be
part of our concept of God. God does not need our help, our instruction, our
guidance or counsel. He is the Almighty, All wise omnipotent God who Created the
heavens and the earth ... what counsel can we give Him? None. But we can and
should listen to Him, study His Word ... out of our reverence for Him, we ought
to think what He wants us to think, and act and He wants us to act. He doesn't
need us to be complete, but we need to Him to be complete - a promise we enjoy
in Christ.
Though Job was not guilty of these things, Eliphaz did expose some horrible sins
in the sight of God. Those who engage in these things may not suffer immediate
retribution in physical suffering - as Eliphaz and the others believed; but
these are horrible things - and perhaps this passage can help us think about and
recognize the repugnance of this kind of behavior. This is what happens when we
do not think and act as God directs - selfishness takes over ... and we may
eventually abuse and use our fellow man, as Eliphaz describes.
4. Finally, in verses 21-26 - there is rich teaching for each one of us to take
to heart. Everything here - we ought to do:
Submit to God.
Be at peace with Him - through Christ that's possible!
Accept instruction from His mouth.
Lay up his words in your heart.
Verse 23 describe repentance: "If you return to the Almighty, you will
be restored: if you remove wickedness
far from your tent..."
We need to regard God as precious and
valuable - find our delight in Him, and
lift our face toward Him ... pray to Him,
"and he will hear you."
And verse 30 is an eloquent statement
of God's power to deliver us and save
us EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT
BEEN INNOCENT.
I guess you can tell, I just think this is a marvelous passage; and I'm
persuaded that our problem may be -- WHEN WE READ THE BOOK OF JOB, WE GO INTO IT
WITH AN ATTITUDE ABOUT THESE FRIENDS, AND THAT ATTITUDE MAY KEEP US FROM
LEARNING SOME VALUABLE THINGS. Yes -- they were wrong in some of the things they
said. At the end of the book, God says to Eliphaz: "I am angry with you and your
two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job
has." So God said they were wrong - they repented (Job 42:9), and Job prayed for
them. All of this granted - there are some things these men said which were true
and are true... and from those things we are afforded an opportunity to think
about some things we need to consider today.
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 5.11; November 1998
