Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
Job 4 marks the commencement of the dialogue between Job and his friends, a discourse that attempts to grapple with the profound mystery of suffering. Eliphaz, likely the eldest and most respected of the three visitors, initiates the conversation with a measured and seemingly compassionate approach. He begins by acknowledging Job's past reputation as a source of wisdom and strength for others (Job 4:3-4). Eliphaz gently reminds Job of the comfort and guidance he once offered to the weak and faltering.
However, beneath the surface of his courteous demeanor lies a rigid theological framework. Eliphaz operates under a strict belief in the doctrine of retribution, a concept that suggests a direct correlation between righteousness and prosperity, and between sin and suffering. In essence, he believes that good people are always rewarded and bad people are always punished. He articulates this view in Job 4:7, questioning, "Who has ever perished being innocent?"
Eliphaz's argument, while containing a kernel of truth, falls short of capturing the full complexity of God's ways. While the principle of reaping what you sow is indeed a biblical truth (Galatians 6:7-9), it is not an exhaustive explanation for all suffering. Life is far more nuanced than a simple equation of cause and effect. Not every misfortune is a direct consequence of personal sin, and sometimes, God allows suffering for purposes that transcend our immediate understanding (John 9:1-3). Jesus Christ Himself, the epitome of righteousness, endured immense suffering, setting an example for believers facing unjust trials (1 Peter 2:19-23).
Eliphaz's experience-based theology leads him to conclude that Job's suffering must be a direct result of some hidden transgression. He states in Job 4:8-9, that those who sow injustice and trouble will inevitably reap the same. Based on this conviction, Eliphaz urges Job to confess his sins, accept God's discipline, and seek restoration (Job 5:17). He firmly believes that Job's only path to healing and reconciliation lies in acknowledging his supposed wrongdoing and embracing God's correction (Job 5:17-26). In Job 5:27, Eliphaz declares his confidence in his assessment, presenting it as an undeniable truth that Job must accept.
It's important to recognize that Eliphaz's perspective, while well-intentioned, represents a limited understanding of God's character and purposes. His inability to account for the complexities of suffering ultimately leads him to misjudge Job's situation and offer counsel that, while seemingly wise, is ultimately unhelpful and even harmful. The book of Job challenges readers to move beyond simplistic explanations and embrace the mystery of God's sovereignty in the face of human suffering.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
Job 4 marks the commencement of the dialogue between Job and his friends, a discourse that attempts to grapple with the profound mystery of suffering. Eliphaz, likely the eldest and most respected of the three visitors, initiates the conversation with a measured and seemingly compassionate approach. He begins by acknowledging Job's past reputation as a source of wisdom and strength for others (Job 4:3-4). Eliphaz gently reminds Job of the comfort and guidance he once offered to the weak and faltering.
However, beneath the surface of his courteous demeanor lies a rigid theological framework. Eliphaz operates under a strict belief in the doctrine of retribution, a concept that suggests a direct correlation between righteousness and prosperity, and between sin and suffering. In essence, he believes that good people are always rewarded and bad people are always punished. He articulates this view in Job 4:7, questioning, "Who has ever perished being innocent?"
Eliphaz's argument, while containing a kernel of truth, falls short of capturing the full complexity of God's ways. While the principle of reaping what you sow is indeed a biblical truth (Galatians 6:7-9), it is not an exhaustive explanation for all suffering. Life is far more nuanced than a simple equation of cause and effect. Not every misfortune is a direct consequence of personal sin, and sometimes, God allows suffering for purposes that transcend our immediate understanding (John 9:1-3). Jesus Christ Himself, the epitome of righteousness, endured immense suffering, setting an example for believers facing unjust trials (1 Peter 2:19-23).
Eliphaz's experience-based theology leads him to conclude that Job's suffering must be a direct result of some hidden transgression. He states in Job 4:8-9, that those who sow injustice and trouble will inevitably reap the same. Based on this conviction, Eliphaz urges Job to confess his sins, accept God's discipline, and seek restoration (Job 5:17). He firmly believes that Job's only path to healing and reconciliation lies in acknowledging his supposed wrongdoing and embracing God's correction (Job 5:17-26). In Job 5:27, Eliphaz declares his confidence in his assessment, presenting it as an undeniable truth that Job must accept.
It's important to recognize that Eliphaz's perspective, while well-intentioned, represents a limited understanding of God's character and purposes. His inability to account for the complexities of suffering ultimately leads him to misjudge Job's situation and offer counsel that, while seemingly wise, is ultimately unhelpful and even harmful. The book of Job challenges readers to move beyond simplistic explanations and embrace the mystery of God's sovereignty in the face of human suffering.