Page 81 - Reading Job to Know God

debate. That is, Eliphaz speaks, chapters 4 and 5, and then Job answers in
chapters 6 and 7. What was it that started this war of words? I believe it
was the statements of chapter 3 where we see Job cursing his birthday,
and longing for professional cursors who would rise up and curse
Leviathan. They took Job’s words at face value. His best friends were
there for seven days in silence. Then, all of a sudden, Job blurted out and
began a bitter cursing of his conception and his birth. They heard Job’s
passionate cry for death. This was their best friend! And, all of a sudden,
they said we cannot take it anymore. We have to speak.

What I would like to do first is present the facts of the debate and then
give some principles that I think will be practical for our lives. Chapter 4
and 5, Eliphaz speaks, and underlying everything he says is that
preconception that Job must have sinned.
Let me say a word about Eliphaz before we look into what he said.
Eliphaz is the oldest of all the speakers, and the wisest. He is more
dignified than the others. He is more calm. He is more composed. I
believe, as we read it, that he is very considerate of Job. The fact is, I
always took Eliphaz as one of the worst villains because he was the first
to speak, but I really got to like him this time around. He made some
grievous errors; there is no question about that. But he is not arrogant like
Zophar. He is not cocky like Bildad. He is methodical, logical and sincere,
and he is genuinely concerned for the spiritual condition of Job. He wants
Job right with God, and so he speaks.
You see, here is the idea. He fears that his dear friend Job has drifted from
the Lord. He is going to try his best to bring him back. The fact is, I
believe this first speech of Eliphaz is one of the masterpieces of the whole
book of Job. Eliphaz, the oldest, the wisest, the kindest, and probably the
most sincere. After seven days of silence, he hears this bitter lamentation
of life which he completely misinterprets. He does not have the foggiest
idea what Job is talking about in chapter 3, and he cannot hold his
tongue any longer. Let me give you a suggested outline of his sermon. As
I see it, there are only three thoughts. There are a lot of words, but he
really only said three things in these two chapters. In chapter 4:1-11, he
said this. If you are righteous, then why are you folding? Why are you
buckling under this pressure? Why are you caving in? Why are you
despairing?
Then in chapters 4:12-5:7, he said if you are really righteous, why are you
murmuring against God? Why are you complaining? The wicked gripe
and complain against God, not the righteous. The righteous bow their
head in submission and say this is the will of God, I accept it, and thank
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