Job 15

Written on 11/04/2024

Verses 1-13

  • Here Eliphaz accuses Job of many things, but largely of ignoring God's wisdom and instead believing that only his own wisdom was valid. Eliphaz thought that Job was not repentant, nor a man of prayer. All of this was false.

    • Verse 7. Interestingly enough, here Eliphaz uses language to rebuke Job that's similar to what God uses to confront Job later in the book (chapters 38-39). This means that some of Eliphaz' words were correct, but mingled with opinions, and thus misapplied. So, he spoke to a fault in Job that didn't exist.

      • It's common for people to find a fault in someone that doesn't actually exist because of an underlying fallacy. Don't confront or correct others merely because of a personal opinion you have about what you think a Scripture means. You could be wrong. Do your best to speak from clear, indisputable facts in the Word, not ambiguous interpretations.

  • Verse 11. Though Eliphaz uses these words wrongly, there is an application to our own lives today. Whenever you seek answers or solutions during times of trouble, make sure that you're not ignoring “the consolations of God”. In others words, don't think the truths of Scripture are too small of a comfort. Understand that the Word is the most important thing to hear at all times! Don't limit wisdom to your own thoughts or the thoughts of others. Look to the Word first!

 

Verses 14-16

  • Here Eliphaz says to Job, essentially, “All men are sinful, so you must be sinful too!” He argues that humans cannot be pure, so Job must have some sin he is being punished for. 

    • Do not use the doctrine that all men are sinners (which is true) to accuse an individual of some particular sin that may not exist.

 

Verses 17-35

  • In verses 17-18, Eliphaz shows that he is basing his argument on his personal experience and on the common teachings of other wise people he knows. In verse 10 he implied that all the old men in his life agree with him. All in all, he believes that he must be right because lots of old and wise people agree with him. 

    • Following tradition and common opinion is dangerous. It is true that when many wise people agree on a point it's much more likely to be true. For “there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors” (Proverbs 11:14). But wise people can still be wrong. Any human can be wrong. Do listen to many wise people, but give Scripture the final say for your beliefs and decisions.

    • And when you are teaching others, don't say, “You can see this true because all the wise people I know agree with me.” Instead, say, “This is true because the Word says it.”

  • In discussing the pride, suffering, and end of the wicked in this passage, Eliphaz is implying that since Job is suffering, he must be one of the wicked. Again, he is making a blanket-statement claim that doesn't apply to Job.