Job 22 Study Notes

22:17 The defiant ones Job said were permitted to prosper (21:14) were the very ones Eliphaz said died prematurely. Experience shows that neither man was entirely correct.

22:18 Eliphaz may here be agreeing with Job (21:16) that God filled the houses of the wicked with good things, but since they did not acknowledge God, their prosperity was short-lived. Their defiance of God (v. 17) is repulsive. Alternately, Eliphaz is saying that Job’s statement that God had blessed the wicked is the counsel of the wicked that is to be repudiated.

22:19-20 Eliphaz confirmed Zophar’s counsel (20:26-29) that the wicked would lose everything in a fiery end. The righteous would rejoice at this justice (Ps 52:1-7).

22:21-22 Eliphaz argued it was in Job’s best interest to learn from God’s discipline (5:17-26). Job should take to heart God’s wisdom that his friends had conveyed to him (Ps 78:2-4). Knowledge comes from God’s mouth (Pr 2:6).

22:23-25 The verb return connotes turning from self to God with a deliberate choice to abandon sin and godlessness in order to live in submission to God and his standards (Jr 23:5; Ac 2:38). The verb translated renewed is literally “be built up.” It implies a successful, godly lifestyle. The gold of Ophir was highly prized in the ancient Near East (1Kg 9:28), but Job should throw away his precious gold and let God be his treasure (Ps 16:5; Is 33:6; Mt 13:44; 19:21; Php 3:7-9; 1Tm 6:6).

22:26-27 Job had complained that he could get no answer from God when he prayed (13:20-24; 19:7-8). Eliphaz restated that when Job had submitted to God’s discipline and had been renewed, he would enjoy restored fellowship with God (5:17-26).

22:28 Eliphaz suggested that when Job was restored, his plans would no longer be frustrated. Rather than the darkness he now experienced (vv. 10-11; 19:8), the light of God’s presence and guidance would shine on all he did (Ps 27:1; 56:13; 89:15; 1Jn 1:7).

22:29-30 With renewed fellowship with God, Job would become a blessing to others. God would hear Job’s prayers, and Job would be a winsome example of godliness.