Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
Job 22 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Job, marking the beginning of the third round of speeches from Job's friends. Notably, Zophar remains silent this time, and a new voice, Elihu, will soon emerge to offer his perspective (Job 33:1–37:24). In this chapter, Eliphaz intensifies his accusations against Job, presenting a distorted view of God's justice and Job's supposed wickedness.
God's Self-Sufficiency (Job 22:1-3)
Eliphaz starts by stating a fundamental truth: humanity adds nothing to God. He emphasizes that God receives no benefit from us. This is sound theology. God is completely self-sufficient and doesn't need anything from His creation to validate or enhance His being. We are the ones who are dependent on Him, not the other way around. God's perfection and completeness are intrinsic to His nature. This understanding is crucial in approaching God with humility and recognizing our place in relation to Him.
A Catalogue of False Accusations (Job 22:4-12)
However, Eliphaz doesn’t stop at this theological truth. He proceeds to build a case against Job based on assumptions and conjecture. He lists a series of alleged sins that he is convinced Job has committed. These accusations paint Job as a ruthless and heartless man who exploited the vulnerable.
Eliphaz accuses Job of oppressing his brothers, even to the point of leaving them naked (Job 22:6). He claims Job refused to provide water to the thirsty and food to the hungry, despite his wealth and power (Job 22:7-8). He further asserts that Job mistreated widows and orphans, the most defenseless members of society (Job 22:9).
These accusations, if true, would indeed justify Eliphaz's belief that Job's suffering is a righteous punishment from God. Eliphaz believes Job is simply reaping the consequences of his wicked actions. However, these are all assumptions based on Eliphaz's limited understanding of God's ways and Job's character.
An Appeal to Repentance (Job 22:21-30)
Based on his accusations, Eliphaz issues a call to repentance. He essentially presents Job with an "altar call," urging him to turn away from his supposed sins (Job 22:21-30). Eliphaz believes that if Job would simply admit the truth of his friends' accusations, God would restore and forgive him.
This appeal, however, is based on a flawed premise. It assumes that Job's suffering is a direct result of specific sins, which is not necessarily the case. While repentance is always a necessary component of a healthy relationship with God, it cannot be coerced or based on false accusations.
Understanding the Context
It's crucial to remember that Eliphaz's perspective is limited by his understanding of God's justice. He operates under the assumption that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin. While this can sometimes be true, the book of Job challenges this simplistic view. Job's suffering is far more complex, involving spiritual warfare and God's sovereign purposes.
Practical Application
Job 22 serves as a reminder to be cautious in our judgments of others. We should avoid making assumptions about the causes of their suffering and refrain from leveling accusations without solid evidence. Instead, we should approach those who are suffering with compassion, empathy, and a willingness to listen.
Moreover, Eliphaz's initial statement about God's self-sufficiency is a valuable reminder of our dependence on Him. We should approach God with humility and gratitude, recognizing that we have nothing to offer Him that He needs.
Finally, while Eliphaz's accusations are unfounded, his call to repentance highlights the importance of examining our own hearts and seeking God's forgiveness for our sins. We should always be open to correction and willing to turn away from any wrongdoing.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
Job 22 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Job, marking the beginning of the third round of speeches from Job's friends. Notably, Zophar remains silent this time, and a new voice, Elihu, will soon emerge to offer his perspective (Job 33:1–37:24). In this chapter, Eliphaz intensifies his accusations against Job, presenting a distorted view of God's justice and Job's supposed wickedness.
God's Self-Sufficiency (Job 22:1-3)
Eliphaz starts by stating a fundamental truth: humanity adds nothing to God. He emphasizes that God receives no benefit from us. This is sound theology. God is completely self-sufficient and doesn't need anything from His creation to validate or enhance His being. We are the ones who are dependent on Him, not the other way around. God's perfection and completeness are intrinsic to His nature. This understanding is crucial in approaching God with humility and recognizing our place in relation to Him.
A Catalogue of False Accusations (Job 22:4-12)
However, Eliphaz doesn’t stop at this theological truth. He proceeds to build a case against Job based on assumptions and conjecture. He lists a series of alleged sins that he is convinced Job has committed. These accusations paint Job as a ruthless and heartless man who exploited the vulnerable.
Eliphaz accuses Job of oppressing his brothers, even to the point of leaving them naked (Job 22:6). He claims Job refused to provide water to the thirsty and food to the hungry, despite his wealth and power (Job 22:7-8). He further asserts that Job mistreated widows and orphans, the most defenseless members of society (Job 22:9).
These accusations, if true, would indeed justify Eliphaz's belief that Job's suffering is a righteous punishment from God. Eliphaz believes Job is simply reaping the consequences of his wicked actions. However, these are all assumptions based on Eliphaz's limited understanding of God's ways and Job's character.
An Appeal to Repentance (Job 22:21-30)
Based on his accusations, Eliphaz issues a call to repentance. He essentially presents Job with an "altar call," urging him to turn away from his supposed sins (Job 22:21-30). Eliphaz believes that if Job would simply admit the truth of his friends' accusations, God would restore and forgive him.
This appeal, however, is based on a flawed premise. It assumes that Job's suffering is a direct result of specific sins, which is not necessarily the case. While repentance is always a necessary component of a healthy relationship with God, it cannot be coerced or based on false accusations.
Understanding the Context
It's crucial to remember that Eliphaz's perspective is limited by his understanding of God's justice. He operates under the assumption that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin. While this can sometimes be true, the book of Job challenges this simplistic view. Job's suffering is far more complex, involving spiritual warfare and God's sovereign purposes.
Practical Application
Job 22 serves as a reminder to be cautious in our judgments of others. We should avoid making assumptions about the causes of their suffering and refrain from leveling accusations without solid evidence. Instead, we should approach those who are suffering with compassion, empathy, and a willingness to listen.
Moreover, Eliphaz's initial statement about God's self-sufficiency is a valuable reminder of our dependence on Him. We should approach God with humility and gratitude, recognizing that we have nothing to offer Him that He needs.
Finally, while Eliphaz's accusations are unfounded, his call to repentance highlights the importance of examining our own hearts and seeking God's forgiveness for our sins. We should always be open to correction and willing to turn away from any wrongdoing.