Job 4

Chapter 4 Eliphaz, the first of the three friends is first to speak up. All three at this point of been patiently waiting for Job to speak first and he has done so, so Eliphaz no doubt has prepared his piece. Eliphaz explains that Job in the past has held up the weak and troubled with his words (v4) and quite possibly Eliphaz himself was formerly in a time of trouble where Job had come to console and instruct in ways of righteousness. Eliphaz feels the tables are turned now however and Job is the one in need of instruction and rebuke (v5). Eliphaz feels that anyone who perishes miserably or meets misfortune is guilty of some great sin, and rhetorically makes this to be the case for Job (v7), but readers should know already this is not the truth of the matter. Eliphaz uses analogy as his reasoning and explains that even the mightiest of beasts such as lions (Job) will suffer, and the lions cubs (Job’s children).

Eliphaz uses another tactic that perhaps many in our day try to use to bolster the authority of their speaking. Eliphaz claims to have seen a vision of a spirit. Whether or not the vision is true or not we know that all of Job’s friends are wrong in their accusations. I might say as a bible teacher that I detest any sort of “special revelation” tactics people may use to convince others. This sort of reasoning only draw attention to the speaker and not to God’s word which is certainly enough revelation for man. Though the chapter ends, Eliphaz’s first rebuke is not finished until the end of chapter 5, more next week.