Speak with Authority
Now what do we mean “speak with authority?” We do not mean you need to speak forcefully,
perhaps with deep intensity and passion.
No! We mean, speak TRUTH. To do that we must draw from a source that IS
TRUTH.
Before we examine the “authority” of Job and
his friends, let’s remind ourselves of two things. First, we know the content of Job 1-2; none
of the 5 primary figures in the story had that knowledge. Therefore, we can evaluate the conclusions of
those individuals. Second, we know the
end of the matter. God reproves Job, and
tells the friends to offer sacrifices so Job can pray for them. God’s wrath was aroused against them
(42:7-9). The rebuke of the friends is
more severe than the reproof of Job.
Now, let us remind ourselves about the three
friends and their sources of truth.
·
Eliphaz: His authority is based in mystical
experience (4:12-16). He had a
vision. Oh, but not just a vision; a
very scary vision. So much so that his body
hair stood up. He didn’t exactly know
what this spirit looked like but it was impressive. This was a pretty powerful authority. Who can deny or doubt a vision? Visions are personal. We are totally dependent on the
individual.
o Well,
actually, we can argue with the vision.
In the end, the question is “what did this supposed spirit say?” The answer is, he asked, “can a mortal be
more righteous than God?” That’s the
entirety of it. He said something
everyone already knows, including Job.
And what the spirit said assumed that Job had done something evil and
thus deserved the punishment. To deny it
is to show your pride against God, claiming to be more righteous than the Almighty. Thus this “spirit” is wrong. Eliphaz needed to point out the evil that was
done by Job, and that Job denied. But
Eliphaz and his “spirit” couldn’t produce the evidence. Job says this in 6:24: “Cause me to
understand wherein I have erred.” Read
that entire paragraph (6:24-30) and you will see that Job blows Eliphaz’s
argument. His words were forceful, even
scary, but they were empty! You actually
can demonstrate that the mystic’s authority is empty.
o Let
me add just one more thought here.
Remember that this story, it is believed, took place in the time of the
Patriarchs. At that time there was a man
named Joseph (son of Jacob) who had dreams and, by God’s help, was able to
interpret dreams. It was one of the “various
ways” at “various times” that God “spoke in time past to the fathers” (Heb.
1:1). But each of those dreams were
true, and were interpreted by God through Joseph. They were truly “the word of
God.” But we know that Eliphaz was
wrong. Thus, either he lied about where
he got his ideas, or he listened to a demonic spirit rather than to the Spirit
of God. Job knew Eliphaz did not speak
the truth. So, he was not swayed by
visions.
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