Job 2, Introduction to Job (3)

One thing that I find helpful in reading Job is to pay attention to his friends.  They are representative “humans,’ if you will.  We have people seeking to advise us that are like those friends.  So my suggestion is, as you read Job, to make notes on their character, and especially, their source of knowledge and authority.  We will give you some descriptions, first from Prof. Mitchell, then my own thoughts on the subject.

From Prof. Mitchell:

·       Eliphaz: He is an empiricist (agnostic).  In 4:4-5 he indicts Job for having comforted others and now not upholding his own advice.  Thus, Job is not justified.  In 4:7 Job is suffering because he is a sinner.  Note 15:5,13,14; 27:5-9, where Eliphaz still accuses Job of sin. 

o   Job’s reply in Ch. 6-7 is that he wishes he could die.  That is never a good thing to wish for, although what he is saying is that his suffering is difficult.

·       Bildad: He is a rationalist (traditional wisdom).  In 8:5-6 he says if Job were innocent then God would help him.

o     In Ch. 9-10 Job’s reply is that he feels unable to meet God’s requirement.  Job maintains his innocence (9:17); he is not aware of his own sin.  He wants an umpire (9:33).

·       Zophar: He is a moralist.  He believes Job is getting what he deserves.  He says Job is a sinner.  In 11:7 he says Job searches for God but doesn’t really know God.  Job should repent (11:13-17).

o   In Ch. 12-14 Job answers them all.  “I know as much as you do” (12:3).  “You have accused me falsely” (12:4).  He wonders if they think they represent God (13:7-9).  He reiterates his innocence (13:18).  Ch. 14:1,7,19 are oft quoted.

·       Elihu: He speaks in Ch. 32-37.  He is younger and thus waited for the old men to finish.  He rebukes Job for not defending God; he rebukes the three friends for not having an answer for Job.  His purpose for speaking is to help them answer God (33:6-7).  He speaks hastily and without wisdom.  In 33:12-14,34 he condemns Job for questioning God.

From my own studies:

·       Eliphaz: He is the mystic, a man of dreams and visions, always speaking for God.

·       Bildad: He is the man of wisdom, speaking for the ancients, speaking more slowly and with deep thought.

·       Zophar: He is the simple and simplistic man, generally agreeing with the others.  He is not a deep thinker himself, perhaps the least polished as a speaker.

·       Elihu: He is confident, although I think “brash” is a better word.  I have heard people state that Elihu was basically right in his words.  I do not believe that.  He sounds like God’s words (Ch. 38-41) in 37:14-18 but so does Zophar in 11:7-9.  Elihu’s big point is that God is “just.”  But the justice of God is not at stake here (as we can tell from Ch. 1-2).  What motivates God, if it’s proper to use that term with God, is His glory, not justice.  In the case of Job, Job it not being punished.  He has been “promoted,” if you will!  In the end, Elihu also believes like the rest, that Job is suffering because of his sin (34:5-15,34-37).  Note especially 34:11 (God repays man according to his work) and 34:37 (Job adds rebellion to his sin).