Lessons from Job 3

1
Lessons from Job (3)

• First Cycle of Speeches
• Job 4 - 14

2
Introductory Note on Suffering

• Suffering may come from various sources
• Devil (Job 112-19 26-7)
• Result of ones own sin (Psa. 10717)
• Result of someone elses sin (Prov. 1411)
• Chastening from God (Heb. 125-11)
• Time and chance happens to them all (Eccl. 911)

3
Speech of Eliphaz (4 - 5)

• Tone is more subtle veiled than others
• Commends Job's former life (41-6)
• Eliphaz states his philosophy (47-11)
• Eliphaz relates dream message (412-21)
• Warns Job of anger against God (51-7)
• Gives advice to Job about action Eliphaz would
  take if in Jobs place (58-16)
• Directs Job back to God (517-27)

4
Response of Job (6 - 7)

• Describes wretched condition to explain reason
  for his rashness despair (61-7)
• Cry for God to finish his suffering by bringing
  him to death (68-13)
• Notes deceit of his friends their failure to
  take pity on him in suffering (614-23)
• Attacks friends central fallacy challenges them
  to prove his sin (624-27)
• Appeals for honest examination declaring himself
  just and righteous (628-30)

5
Response of Job (continued)

• Describes magnitude of despair continual nature
  of his suffering (71-10)
• Affirms the right to complain over his bitter
  plight wherein he cannot be happy (711)
• Job says he has become object of friends stares
  dreams to prove his guilt (712-16)
• Job seeks from God a reason for his affliction
  (717-21)

6
Speech of Bildad (8)

• More blunt rude in tone than Eliphaz
• Asserts that neither Job nor his children were
  innocent (81-7)
• Appeals to tradition of wisdom as proof of Jobs
  sin (88-19)
• States Gods care for the righteous holds out
  hope for Job if he repents (820-22)

7
Response of Job (9 - 10)

• Agrees with fact of Gods care for the righteous
  (91-4)
• Affirms the absolute sovereignty of God (95-12)
• Job's confusion voiced regarding how one can
  effectively plead innocence (913-24)
• Wishes for mediator because he is unable to come
  before God as an equal (925-35)
• Addresses God with more confusion resulting from
  his of despair (101-17)
• Laments ever being born hopes for rest in death
  (1018-22)

8
Speech of Zophar (11)

• Most harsh of all the friends in his rebukes
• Says Jobs word must be answered, but does not
  show any wrong done (111-4)
• Wants God to speak against Job claims
  punishment is less than he deserved (115-6)
• Reproves Job for questioning God (117-12)
• Accuses Job of hiding his sins, but promises
  restoration if Job repents (1113-20)

9
Response of Job (12 - 14)

• Begins by noting arrogance of friends responses
  saying he also knows wisdom
• Affirms greater wisdom of God compared to all
  men, ancients included
• Affirms the absolute power of God
• Affirms the mystery of Gods ways
• Affirms his own faith in God, his own
  righteousness his own innocence
• Accuses friends of forging lies, making false
  charges and lacking wisdom
• Calls on any to prove his sin
• Laments frailty of man lack of hope amidst
  lifes trials

10
Some Observations

• Basic fallacy of all friends was belief that
  righteous do not suffer perfect justice meted
  out on earth
• Innocent suffering is not inconsistent with
  absolute power wisdom of God
• Jobs friends brought no evidence that charges of
  sin were true, but assumed they were true
• Job did not fault exposing sin reproving evil
  shown present, but assuming guilt without cause
• Principle of guilt at 2 or 3 witnesses prevents
  problem
• Showing of pity on those in suffering distress
  is a responsibility all of us must meet
• Remember principles of Galatians 61 Luke 631
• Advice not requested is best not given

11
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