Job 15-17
Today we continue in the New American Standard Bible. We are in the Wisdom Stream and back into the sufferings of Job. We are entering the 2nd cycle of speeches this week. A quick overview of the Wisdom Stream as outlined by Oswald Chambers:
- Job teaches us how to suffer.
- Psalms teaches us how to pray.
- Proverbs teaches us how to act.
- Ecclesiastes teaches us how to enjoy.
- Song of Solomon teaches us how to love.
Prayer
Lord of Heaven and Earth, we just read through the most horrid of accusations and insinuations. Perhaps we have received some of the same or similar while on our own life’s journey. Lord may we receive our eternal comfort from you and receive it here on this earth and when we need comfort from you may we find it right away. Amen.
Commentary
Eliphaz-the-Fizzy-Commentator starts the second round of speeches as we read Job 15-17 today. This second series of speeches runs for seven chapters. Let’s continue to brace ourselves for more blather. And before we itemize and define what was said today, my husband reminded me of a day he spent with an off-kilter minister for a day of hiking in the early 2000’s. Mind you my husband has three biblical degrees, and three ordinations. He has met and dined with not just a few of the world’s greatest Bible scholars, missionaries and ministers, Christians in Hollywood and world renown political leaders. And with his borderline photographic memory and he said that the most helpful guidance ever received since commencing in ministry in 1979 (or even becoming a Christian in 1967) was uttered by this peculiar self-taught minister that didn’t finish High School! He told my husband “when we do our ministry we are to meet needs. Just give people what they need. We need to do that – meet needs. The hungry need to be fed. The thirsty need to drink. The ignorant need it explained. The eager need guidance. The callous need a kind word. Meet people’s needs. There’s too much “talking only” in Christendom and too much of it is just hot air. And if it is talking while not meeting needs, our talk is only hot air.”
Job 15
15 – on that cheery note, Eliphaz begins by talking about hot air. The hot east winds in this region come from the long term seasonal winds that blow across Arabia. They will dry you up and blow you away. Well it appears that Eliphaz is the windbag here, yet he seems to think that the windbag is someone else. No, … it’s him. And he is the leader of the windbags. He talks of piety and devotion to God, as if he has it and Job doesn’t. Remember skunks smell nothing and fish are not aware that they are wet. Do you perceive this? Water cannot be explained to a fish and cruel folly cannot be explained to Eliphaz. His accusations of Job are ruthless. He goes on implying that he knows what is holy and wise, hinting at what a sage he is. And he claims that Job has quite-the-attitude according to him; Eliphaz. And Eliphaz is not just all that and a bag of chips to go, he is the moral anchor man who can elucidate things for Job who is just below a rodent on the virtue scale. His litany of what a wicked man is and what his life and lot and plight is all about is too much to take. He is clearly making this illustration to couple the perception of evil on earth and Job’s plight as the equivocal explanation of it all. It’s outrageous. Eliphaz has more to deliver: Job’s suffering torment, terror, despair, violence, distress, destitute, dark, deceived, empty, stripped, barren, ashen … He is trying to get all to conclude that Job is all this evil and likely is finally reaping what he has been all along. It’s probably a good time for us to re-read Job 1:1. Job was none of Eliphaz’s description and deserved none of this treatment that the devil insisted for him to walk through. The conversations between God and Satan (Job 1:6ff & 2:1ff) remains pivotal while reading Job in its entirety.
Job 16
16 – Ever wonder where the label, “Job’s comforters” comes from? 16:2 gives us that phrase heard round the world. Wouldn’t it be better if Eliphaz just gave Job what he needed? Maybe Eliphaz could bring some shade from the day, a jug of cold water, or gauze and oil for his sores. Does this cross Eliphaz’s mind? No, Eliphaz is here to accuse. So Job replies again. His complaint is about their speaking being so discouraging for him. Job speaks some theology in vv. 7-14. He does lapse here a moment and label God as the one who laid all this burden on him. The Bible claims it was Satan who brought this pain but Job is directing all to God here. Part of Job’s journey is to work this through. It seems that all heaven and earth is against Job – according to Job. Yes but, –> but God. Job claims his core belief at the end of chapter 16 and that part is theological truth that supersedes his own perception. If Job can pull this off, we can too.
Job 17
17 – Job’s testimony is so sad here; so filled with pathos. His grief has “pulled the blinds” on his whole life. As for us, if I may interject here, when tempted to stray from our Savior, read Job 17:9 anew and again; remember 17:9. OK, back to where we were, Job begins talking of finality, the grave, darkness and decay and death. He is really feeling at the end of his rope; at the end of his life as he finishes his reply to Eliphaz’s speech part II. Genesis 2 and 3 talk of us going back to dust. Well Job feels like that day has come for him or is very close. Could he use an encouraging word instead of the accusations from these n’ere-do-well “comforters”? Satan walked in to God’s realm to accuse God and Job about having some privileged partnership that he would like to disrupt. He pressed his case through accusation. He accused Job before he was allowed to strike his world and his body. Now people on earth are accusing him. I wonder if it ever occurs to his accusers whose speech they are continuing to echo. Take heed of this and meet the needs of the suffering especially, do not accuse, meet needs.