Job 4

CHAPTER 4

Eliphaz (4:1–21)

1 All three of Job's friends—Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar—genuinely desired to console Job, at least in the beginning. And their speeches to Job contained much truth. Their main points were based on logic: God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked; God is punishing Job; therefore, Job must be wicked.

However, the three friends—like Job—didn't know everything. They didn't realize that God might have another purpose in afflicting Job, a purpose other than punishment. So even though their statements were generally true, they did not apply to Job.

Furthermore, the three friends didn't really enter into Job's suffering; they were more interested in giving him lectures. They failed to truly sympathize with him; they spent most of their time justifying their own positions. They give us an example of how not to talk to someone who is suffering! How often we are tempted to say to a suffering believer: “You are suffering on account of some sin.” Yes, maybe it's so—but maybe it's not. When we say things like that, we are acting like Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. A sufferer needs not only counsel but also love and assurance.¹⁸

2–6 Though all three friends had basically the same message, they each delivered it differently. Eliphaz, for example, based his arguments on experience and observation.¹⁹ He was the most kind and respectful of the three friends; indeed, he starts out by praising Job (verses 3–4). He assumes that Job is basically righteous but that he is being punished for some sin; and he tells Job that because of his righteousness—his piety, or fear of God—he can be confident that things will turn out all right in the end (verse 6). Job merely has to accept God's discipline, and all will be well (Job 5:17).

7–11 In these verses, Eliphaz offers the observation that the upright are never destroyed, and therefore Job has nothing to fear (verse 7). Evildoers and troublemakers reap what they sow (verse 8); but since Job isn't one of them, he needn't worry (see Galatians 6:7). But evildoers do need to worry; just as the strongest lions eventually perish, so will evildoers perish as well²⁰ (verses 9–11).

12–21 In these verses, Eliphaz describes a night vision he once had. A form stood before his eyes (verse 16) and spoke to him (verses 17–21). The “form” said that mortals couldn't possibly be more righteous than God (verse 17); after all, even angels—God's servants—were fallible (verse 18). Mere mortals live in houses of clay (verse 19); they are made from dust (Genesis 2:7). Their life span is so short that they seem to live only from dawn to dusk (verse 20). Their bodily tent is soon removed; its cords are pulled up²¹ (verse 21). Eliphaz's point is that all mortals are weak and sinful—even “righteous” mortals; their lives are fleeting. Since this is so, Job should not seek any special consideration; let him simply accept God's judgment.