The Reasoning of Eliphaz - pt.1

Introduction

Today we continue our series in the book of Job - ‘On the Job Training’.

In my studies yesterday, I was as Paul ‘In a straight betwixt two’. I was debating whether to walk through three points, or run through six. I have chosen to walk through three for these reasons:

I sometimes feel that I try to put too much into a message, and because of that some good stuff gets lost in the shuffle.

On the other hand, I am fearful that if I present less, that I am inadequate to flesh it out thoroughly enough to where you leave here unsatisfied.

That being said, I desire to give you three points from Eliphaz’s response today, and plan to give the other three from Chapter 5 next Sunday.

Before we continue, let’s glance back at where we’ve been:

Basics from the Beginning - pt.1

We have an Adversary

He has Freedom to Travel; He has Formidable Influence; His Fellowships are Disguised; His Form is Deceptive; He has a Focus of Attack; His Future is Assured

We have an Advocate

He Controls the Wall; His is the Wellspring; He is a Witness

We have Autonomy

The Truth of It; The Test of It; The Terror of It

Basics from the Beginning - pt.2

Prayer isn’t always Answered as We Like (v1:5)

The Intercession; The Intention; The Dedication; The Rejection

Bad Things Happen to Good People

The Surmise of Job’s Friends; Job was Special, yet Job was a Sinner; Job Suffered; The Saviour Speaks; The Saviour Suffered

We Know but Half the Story

Job knew the What, but not the Why; He knew Neither the Cause nor Purpose; nor the Outcome

The Godly will Worship through Tragedy (v1:20-21)

Because of their Focus; Their Faith in God’s Character & God’s Plan

Thoughts on Fortunes, Family & Friends

Fortunes

They are Impartial; They are Insecure

Family

Should be Cherished, for they are not Certain; Should be Forgiven, for they are Fallible

Friends

They Showed Pity; They were Present; They were Patient; They Weren’t Perfect

The Trials of the Saint

The Pain of the Saint

Is Without Doubt; Can be Debilitating; Must be Dealt With

The Perseverance of the Saint

Through Patience, not Parting (Job 3:1-11; 6:8-13; 10:18-19); Through All Peril & Pain (Job. 13:15)

The Perspective of the Saint

His Manner of Life (Job 19:25-27)

His Method of Interpretation (Job 6:24; 34:32)

The Might of His God (Job 38-41)

The Pleasure of the Saint

In Due Time

A Recognition (Job 42:7-9); A Requiting (Job 42:10-16)

Before we conclude our studies in this book, we are going to look at some of the interactions & arguments of these friends of Job’s.

With the reputation that these men have - which is not good - many people skip over the arguements that they present. This would be wrong to do, as there is some vital truths (intermingled with error) that we can learn from if we set our minds to it.

The first that we will look at is the one who speaks first - Eliphaz the Temanite, which brings up some valuable insight.

The First of which is the Truth that It’s Different when it’s You

I. It’s Different When It’s You (v4:3-6)

Eliphaz begins by recalling good that Job has done in the past - that in which when others were struggling through heartache & hard times, Job was there to help.

Look at the adjectives used when speaking of Job:

Instructed many (v3a)

Strengthened weak hands (v3b) and feeble knees (v4b)

Upholden him that was fallen (v4a)

So let’s examine Job’s testimony for a moment: The book begins with and God describes Job as a ‘perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil’ eschew (def) to flee from; to shun; to avoid

Eliphaz is now acknowledging that Job was one to encourage, edify and help others who were either struggling or fallen into sin.

IN OTHER WORDS, JOB WASN’T JUST AN IMAGE OF GODLINESS, HE WAS THE HANDS AND FEET OF GOD AS WELL!

However, with that being said, Eliphaz observes something: Job 4:5 “But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.”

In other words - you had all the answers when it was another that was experiencing hurt, but now you’re the one who is going through it, and you are struggling.

Church, it’s different when it’s you.

I have seen and experienced this truth.

It’s easy to have all the answers when someone else is struggling. Someone is going through something and you’re like ‘Well, if they’d just do this, everything would be fine’ or something along those lines… only to find that when the same thing comes our way, the answers aren’t as easy as we thought them to be.

So that brings me to the first point - the Limit of Empathy

The Limit of Empathy

Sympathy (def) Knowing how another feels

Empathy (def) Feeling as another feels - ‘Your pain in my heart’

We’re called to be empathetic:

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”

Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Empathy is not a casting of Judgment, its an effort to feel what another feels. I think for 7 days, these friends of Job tried their best to be empathetic to Job’s situation: Job 2:12–13 “And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 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.”

But as we see, their empathy failed them. They ceased from an empathetic heart to a judging heart at Job 4:7, and it just went downhill from there.

However, as we consider the words of Eliphaz concerning Job, we see that Job when dealing with other WAS empathetic.

BUT HERE’S THE PROBLEM - EMPATHY HAS IT’S LIMITS.

(Ill.) My wife is a very empathetic person. Most every funeral we attend, as she hugs the bereaved, she weeps. She holds their hurt in her heart. But empathy has it’s limits.

Next we see that there’s value in Experience

The Value of Experience

(Ill.) My wife can have empathy for one who’s lost a child. But that empathy lacks understanding as she has never experienced that. However, she has experienced the loss of a parent - she has a deeper understanding of what that is like - one that I don’t have, regardless of how empathetic I am.

While empathy is noted and honorable - and called of by God, it can only take us so far. However, when we experience something, it brings us to a deeper understanding of that thing.

(Ill.) We spoke a few weeks ago I spoke of how Job was experiencing what we would call ‘Clinical Depression’. Some of you have never experienced depression such as that. Because of such, you might be able to empathize with one who is going through it, but unless you experience it yourself, you’ll never truly understand the effect it has on your life.

So here’s the thing: We experience things for a REASON. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” It’s our experiences that shape and mold us - and when we experience things, we mustn’t let them go to waste, but use them to help others!

Job had empathy for others prior to Job 2, but afterwards, he was able to help others through his experiences.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

No one desires to experience the trials of life - but our experiences can be a help to others.

The Value of Experience

It’s Different when it’s You. Secondly in the Reasoning of Eliphaz we see a Deceptive Stance

II. A Deceptive Stance (v4:7-11)

This is where error is mingled with truth.

The Premise of It

What is Eliphaz saying in these verses? The implication is that God is just, and God only brings judgment upon sinners. So, what Eliphaz is saying is that ‘Job, you’re guilty. You would not be enduring this judgment if you weren’t’.

This is where Empathy takes a back seat to correction.

I think all of us have probably experienced this. There are times when we’re hurting for whatever reason, and when we talk to someone, we’re looking for empathy, not answers. (Ill.) I recall an instance where I was guilty of this. My father-in-law was getting ready to leave this world and go home to Heaven. The moment he took his last breath, my wife (understandably) burst into tears as sorrow filled her heart. I’m wanting to console her, so I tell her ‘It’s ok, he’s in Heaven with Jesus now’ - and she didn’t want to hear that. She KNEW that - but what she needed at that moment was consolation, not answers.

Job reminds Eliphaz this in his response in Job 6:14 “To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; But he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.”

Eliphaz is now telling Job that the reason he’s experiencing this Judgment is because of some sin in Job’s life.

That’s the Premise of what he’s saying, but there’s a Problem with that

The Problem with It

First off, we might show some grace to Eliphaz because he didn’t have access to the book of Job. Job certainly suffered though he was innocent. However, I believe that there were probably many prior to Job who would have been a refutation to verse 7.

The Bible tells us: Matthew 5:44–45 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

We’ve already examined in this series the truth that ‘Bad things happen to Good people’ and in like manner, ‘Good things happen to bad people’. Solomon said: Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”

So one problem is that Bad things happen regardless

But here’s another problem - there’s truth to is as well. Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - doesn’t that sound an awful lot like Job 4:8?

So how does this all work? Lastly, we’ll look at the Precision of it

The Precision of It

It IS True - but not as Eliphaz thought it.

As we study the arguments of Job’s friends, what we see oftentimes is that they were right in their Estimations, but wrong in their Application.

What you have between v7-8 is truth and error mashed together then misapplied to Job

The questions posed: Job 4:7 “Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off?”

The Answer: Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

So Eliphaz was wrong in v7, but he was right in v8

Proverbs 22:8 “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: And the rod of his anger shall fail.”

Galatians 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

And here’s where the misapplication comes in: Eliphaz was looking at the here & now physical world we live in today. But this truth isn’t limited to today, but to our eternity!

Those that die in their sins will reap the punishment that that deserves - an everlasting damnation in eternal flames

Those that die with their sins forgiven through the shed blood of Christ will reap life everlasting - because the righteousness of Christ is imparted unto them!

So there is some truth as to what he said, if you apply it correctly

The Precision of it

It’s Different when it’s You; A Deceptive Stance

III. A Discernment of Truth (v4:12-21)

In this last passage in chapter 4, we see it split in two: The first five verses here speak of a dream that Eliphaz had.

Now, whether or not this dream was valid is not for me to say. God used dreams in the past - such as with Joseph, but the miraculous things were to be done away with once the Word of God was complete.

Either way, what was revealed is not necessarily revelation - but something that we all should understand.

The Faultlessness of God (v17)

Job 4:17 “Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker?”

This is so simple, yet so profound. It’s a truth that escapes most men.

(Ill.) I was eating supper with coworkers once years ago when I sold farm equipment. I can’t remember the conversation, nor can I remember the details. What I remember is that I was trying to witness to them and was speaking of the things of God. What sticks out to me is the response from one of those men. I’d just finished sharing a truth, and he said “Well I think…” And what he said audibly is what many / most people feel.

God says one thing, yet man has their own opinions on it, and it’s their own opinions that mean more to them than those of their Creator.

(Ill.) Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Yet, when our wives ask ‘does this dress make me look fat? What do you say? Do you rationalize and say ‘well, it’s ok to stretch the truth a little here… Or how about this one: Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Yet, we say ‘Oh, but God understands MY situation. Or what about: Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Yet we say ‘God knows that I’m not a good speaker’.

Do you know what we’re saying? We’re saying that we know better than God. We are more just & pure - we know better than God!

Church, I’m here to tell you that you don’t!

And we see better the faultlessness of God when we compare Him to the Fragility of Man

The Fragility of Man (v18-21)

We see in v17-18 the first comparison to God is against the angels. He put no trust in them, and charged them with folly.

The angels - these great immortal angelic beings have not the knowledge of Him, and were Judged by God when they forsook their first estate. (Ill.) You have God <up here>, then the angels <down here>, then we see such an illustrative truth of who man is in comparison.

Job 4:19 “How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Which are crushed before the moth?”

This verse struck me. (Ill.) As I began to consider a foundation, I thought of a house. How that man will strengthen a foundation - build it out of cement and cinder blocks so that it is structurally sound. When a fire occurs, the structure will oftentimes be burnt up, but the foundation is still there. Well, what’s man’s foundation? DUST!

(Ill.) We’ve all seen urns of those who’ve died & been cremated - what are they reduced to? Their foundation - DUST!

THE STRONGEST PART OF MAN IS NOTHING BUT DUST!

1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” We need to remember just what we really are! At our best, we are but DUST!

Job 4:20–21 “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.”

You may think you’re something today - but know this: One day, you’ll realize just how fragile your existence really is. You will come to that realization sooner or later, but you will come to it for sure!

Conclusion

Let me ask you: How has the Spirit of God used this message to speak to you?

I. It’s Different when it’s You

Maybe it’s concerning the lack of empathy for your fellow man? Instead of pity, you cast Judgment.

Maybe you’ve experienced things and you realize that God wants to use you to help others?

II. A Deceptive Stance

Maybe you’ve taken for granted how Jesus became sin for you

Maybe you’ve experienced the blessings of God, yet you know that you’re not right with him. Maybe you need to repent before it’s too late and you experience the Just Hand of God upon your never-dying soul.

III. A Discernment of Truth

Maybe you’re guilty of thinking you know better than God

Maybe you’ve forgotten that one day you’ll be dust

1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

In all this, simply humble yourself before God.

If you’re lost, stop trusting in your goodness and put your trust in the only thing that can save you - the Sacrificial atonement of Christ