Eliphaz Reveals Hidden Pain

Eliphaz is the first of Job's friend to speak to him.  He really sets the tone for the other 2 friends.  The summary of his message to Job in so many words is "you have sinned . . . how could you?!"  The underlying message, or I should say "emotion," that I perceive on this reading of Job is sort of a sense of disappointment and disillusionment from Eliphaz.  It seems to me that Job's condition is far and away worse than Eliphaz even imagined.  Remember they sat with him for 7 days and were silent. 

"So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great." -- Job 2:13

They were able to fully take in his woeful state.  I don't get the sense that they physically ministered unto job during this time.  I think they used this time to speculate as to how in the world this righteous man could come into such utter misfortune.  They had plenty of time to ponder this before any of them spoke a word and it is Elephaz we hear from first.  I think these words summarize the opinions of the group and also show a bit of a let down for them because it seems they took Job to be the perfect model of a strong man.  He clearly had a history of leadership and was viewed as a example to follow:

"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." -- Job 4:3-4

In this chapter you hear a little bit of anger coming from Eliphaz because I believe for him Job was his Superman and now he appears to have been somewhat of a charlatan and a hypocrate.  This all appears to be based on a strong belief that God would never only allow such tradgedy to come to a righeous man -- therefore Job was really NOT righteous.  These things only happen to the wicked!

"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." -- Job 4:7-8

Therefore, and here's the ire for Eliphaz, Job must have been faking it all along.  How could he!  Who did he think he was kidding?!  How could I have put this man so high on a pedestal!  This causes, I think, some psychological pain for Eliphaz (for Bildad and Zophar as well).  They wanted Job to be real.  They couldn't stomach him as they now say him.  Could it be that they fail to truely minister to their friend because they were so let down by him?

Exquisite Poetry

This chapter captures the aguish of Job.  It is commonly thought of as Job's lament or sorrow.  It is the monolog of his pain after having endured unspeakable misfortune.  Here Job famously curses his day.

Let the day perish wherein I was born -- Job 3:3

 



After having read and heard these words multiple times over the years I am struck today by not so much the pain they convey, but the artistry of words used to express this pain.  This is really an incredible piece of poetry.  Many scholars believe that Job represents the first recorded words of the Bible and Hebrew Torah.  As such this book represents one of the oldest pieces of literature in human history.  Just to read these words of Job in chapter 3 as he lays out his heart in pain and torment.  It is pure poetry more exquisite than any of Shakespeare, Keats, Tennyson, Kipling, Browning, or Whitman, Yet these were written thousands of years before! 

I'm tempted here to cite an example from this chapter, but where do I begin?  You have to consider the whole text.  Here are the entire words of Job from chapter 3 taken from the King James Version.  Read them aloud and take in all in.

 

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves;
Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Job 3:3-26

What poetry! 



The Perfect View of God

Job 2

This is a short chapter (only 13 verses) yet it is very potent.  I’m getting a sense of what God means when he refers to Job as “perfect” and “upright”. It has nothing to do really with what he does in his life (his charity, his acts of worship, etc.).  It is really more about how Job views God I think.  He has the most perfect and upright view of God.  God is to be praised, trusted, and honored no matter what.  In other words, Job’s reverence to God is unconditional.  This is the complete opposite of what Satan had claimed in chapter 1 when he said

“Doth Job fear God for nought?” – Job 1:9

Satan claimed that Job’s view of God was conditioned by all the blessing in his life.  Not only was this not true, but Job’s view of God was even higher than what Satan could imagine.  Job accepts the fact that God does whatever He wishes and without explanation.

This is clear by Job’s actions, but it really comes to light by the words he speaks in this chapter when he says

“What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” – Job 2:10

Wow!  This is Job’s response to his wife who tell him to “curse God and die” (exactly what Satan wanted him to do).  Job is saying here that he’s not holding God to some kind of contract agreement where God will blesses him and he in turn serves Him.  Instead, Job is showing us that God is sovereign in all things and owes no one anything.  It is this view of God I think that God refers to as Perfect and upright.

This is not just faith . . . not just obedience . . . this is the proper view of God.  He is sovereign in all things both good and evil.  This is why God held Job is such high regard in the first place.  If only we could attain a mere portion of that view of God!  This is where we should seek to be.

God's Confidence in Job

Job 1

There are so many ideas introduced in the chapter that it’s easy to go in several directions as your ponder the contents.  It amazes me to think that this book could quite possibly be the oldest book of the Bible and as such, this first chapter would then be the first thing ever penned from the collection of writings that would ultimately form our Bible.  I’m also fascinated by the meeting of these “sons of God” and the apparent familiarity Satan has with God and his holy angels.  I’m intrigued by Satan’s response,

“From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” – Job 1:7

 After God inquires of him as to what he has been up to (so to speak).  There is so much insight to gleam from the fact that Satan’s preoccupation at this time is roaming the earth. 

However, this time around, I can’t help but to revisit the overwhelming thought I had once before as I read this chapter in the past which is this – what incredible confidence God has in his servant Job!  It’s interesting to note that it was God who brought up the subject of Job to Satan.  God is clearly pleased with Job and confident that he can withstand the direct attack of Satan.   God proudly declares

“there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” – Job 1:12

and is willing to put Job to the test to demonstrate to Satan exactly how upright his servant is.

It’s also interesting to me how this whole concept of “cursing God” is explored in this book.  Notice Job prays for his children just in case they may

“have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts” – Job 1:5

. . . which is apparently what people they day would do when they lost faith in God.  Notice Satan claims of Job that

“he will curse thee to thy face” – Job 1:11

I’m moved by the great confidence of God in Job as He removes all restrictions from Satan concerning Job (except for causing physical harm to Job) and allows anything to be done unto him.  What Satan does to Job is devastating, cruel, and swift.  Still Job’s immediate response is as God had predicted – perfect and upright.   He doesn’t charge God, he worships God instead.  This man’s faith is incredible and God’s confidence in him is astounding!

75 Years of Darkness

It's always a joy to read 2 Chronicles 34 and revisit the story of how the ancient scripture was discovered in the temple after years of idolatry and evil had become common practise.  I like to image how the law (I imagine was in the form of a scroll) was first found in some dark corner under heaps of debris and dusted off and handed to Hilkiah the high priest.  Perhaps a worker who had no idea what was handed it to him.  Of course Hilkiah knew exactly what it was. What must that moment have felt like for him.  I suspect it had been quite some time since he even entered into the House of the Lord (remember the temple has basically become a place of heathen worship).  It must have been like returning to an old abandoned house where someone once grew up.  Next he carefully hands the scroll over to Shaphan the scribe who I suspect knew even more than anyone just what they had found.  What must that moment been like for him and the people around him who watched his emotions swell up as he held the book.  Finally the book is shown to king Josiah and he responses with such reverance and leadership as he calls have the words read out loud (it would appear right on the spot).

It's worth recalling just how long it had been since these sacred had been heard.  Remember Hezekiah was the last king that observed the law of Moses and active practiced temple worship.  His son Manasseh was notoriously evil and he reigned for 55 years in Jerusalem and clearly wanted nothing to do with his father's religion.  2 Chronicles 34:2-9 details the extent of his evil administration.  He practised just about everything that God hated (looks like "you name it . . . he did it").

"So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel."  -- 2 Chron 34:9

After Menasseh, his son Amon rules for 2 years -- equally wicked.  So now you have 55 + 2 years = 57 years of darkness.  Next comes the righteous Josiah who takes the throne at the tender age of 8 and 18 years later he begins the massive project to cleanse and restore the temple.  So 57 years + 18 more years = 75 years of darkness.  Let this sink in -- this was a long time!  75 years of no reading of the law, no temple worship, no observance of the holy days.  It's a wonder that this culture could produce a Josiah!

It reminds us of the power of the word of God to transform darkness into light and keep evil at bay.  As David said,

 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" --- Psalm 119:11

No Regard for Passing the Torch!

I can't understand it no matter how many times I read it or hear it read.  It seems so glaringly obvious that these kings of Judah who were entrusted with the sober responsibilty to rule over God's people with great care to serve their God and obey his law failed so miserable over and over at one very crucial thing -- passing the torch to the next in line to rule as king.

How could it be that for all his righteousness and strict adherence to the commandments of God that Hezekiah could produce a son who would rule after him and yet we read . . .

"Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen" -- 2 Chronicles 33:9

I must be honest . . . it baffles me!  Yes, I'm still grappling myself with the awesome responsibility of fatherhood as a father of just one 5 year old (it's challenging I'm learning everyday) and I know you can't always control the choices made by your children because in the end they are individual people and have to chart their own course in life.  But for goodness sake could not the kings of God's chosen people put a little bit more effort in the grooming of their hiers to the throne!

It would seem that the preparation to because the leader of Israel would have been held with the highest regard and have been met with the most diligent care.  Yet, as we approach the end of the long line of kings in Judah we find one bad seed after another recklessly aquiring the most sacred trust of leading God's people with very little regard (or none at all) for the gravity of the position thrust upon them.  Even after really good men ruled the land and served God with all their hearts it's shocking that surprisingly little regard was made for the critical preparation of the next man who would one day fill their shoes.  It's such a sad refrain that we read over and over again of the next new king in the history of Israel . . .

". . . But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD"

It's easy to gloss over the significance of this constant straying away from God (sometimes in dractic measure), but as you stop to think about what this says about the culture and the royal families it jumps out as incredibly odd.  Of course we know this was all part of God's plan for Israel (and Judah in particular), but in retrospect, it's still really stunning when you think of it -- what lack of foresight!  What reckless disregard for what seems from this vantage to be so crucial.