Surely God will never do wickedly, nor the Almighty pervert justice. Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? If He should set His heart on it, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. “If you have understanding hear this; listen to the sound of My words: Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,?’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked?’ Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands…” Job 34: 12-19, NKJV.
Merciful Father, today as we continue our study in Your Holy Word, may our souls be filled to overflowing, as You speak to our hearts. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Today we will look at Job’s response to the words of Eliphaz. Whether the story of Job is the story of a real person, or, whether it is, as some Bible commentators have rated it, “an ancient folktale,” (*The New Oxford Annotated Bible-New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha, 726 Hebrew Bible), there are lessons to be learned, in dealing with human suffering.
One of the first comments Job makes in regards to Eliphaz’s first discourse, should tell us something, “Even if I were guilty, my punishment would be greater than my sin” (6: 1-7, paraphrased)! Mercy! Listen to the depths of his pain! In other words, I could not have done anything, evil enough, to deserve what has befallen me! He is willing to be silent, if they can bring proof of his guilt (24); but if not, do not try to make light of my anguish! There is power in truth, but there is no merit in the charges you have brought against me (25). “Do you think that you can reprove words, as if the speech of the desperate were wind” (26)? Emphasis provided. There is much more to my words than you hear; there is despair! Do not dismiss my words, as if they were empty; they are charged with feelings!
At the end of Eliphaz’s *first discourse, Job can hardly contain himself; he begins to describe his feelings of misery. He compares his misery to the lot of humanity; the difference is that his situation is extreme. The laborer waits for the day of his pay to receive the wages for his labor; and the slave longs for an opportunity to rest for a while in the shade. But for Job, there is nothing to look forward to; there is no rest. The days of his suffering go by relentlessly. The night brings nothing but tossing and turning. He longs for the day to dawn! He compares the weaver’s shuttle to his days. As the thread in the shuttle runs out; so his hope has run out (Job 7: 1-6)!
He asks the question, “Am I the Sea, or the Dragon that [Y]ou set guard over me” (12)? In other words, am I some cosmic evil that is to be feared? This is in reference to Near Eastern Mythology; in the Bible these two (the sea and the dragon), represent cosmic chaos; he complains that God is treating him as if he were any of these evil forces (*TNOAB-NRSV, WTA, 734 HB). He admits that he would rather die than endure his physical, and I am sure, emotional, anguish.
Speaking similarly to the psalmist in Psalm 8, he asks God, “What are human beings, that you make so much of them, that you set your mind on them, visit them every morning, test them every moment” (17, 18)? Emphasis provided. There seems to be some ridiculing intended in the paraphrase of Psalm 8. Is he implying that God is watching over His creation, not to protect, but to punish? If that is the case, why notice me? This is the magnitude of his dilemma!
He feels as if God has made him a target. He would rather God left him alone. Why not just pardon my sin, and take away my wrong doing? At this rate, I will soon cease to be, anyway (19-21)! In instances such as these, may God help us to hear the pain, not necessarily the words!