Job Chapters 3-14 selected verses Nov. 13, 2005

Sunday School Lesson – Carefully Evaluate Explanations – November 13, 2005

This is our second lesson in our series “When Life Cave’s in”, which is a study of Job’s suffering.

Our background scripture is Job 3:1-14:22. I will not attempt to copy this much scripture but I encourage you to read it. As usual I will copy the focus scripture.

Our focus scripture is Job 4:6-8; 5:27; 8:4-8; 11:13-15; 13:20-24

When we encounter problems in our life there are many folks who will come to us, meaning well, who offer a lot of advice.

I heard a story of a father who was having a problem with one of his sons. A friend of his told him, “If that were my son I would do “so and so””. The father replied, “Yes if that were your son I would do the same thing”. It is often easy for us to tell others how to handle a situation or grief but it is another thing when it happens to us.

We do need friends and support when life cave’s in on top of us. Job’s friends came to his aid, sat and mourned with him in silence for seven days. Job’s situation did not change, so let’s see what advice his friend’s have for him.

In Job Chapter 3, Job breaks his silence, speaks and wishes he had never been born. Job’s friends take this as Job lamenting over some sin he had either committed or some member of his family had committed. Job had suffered a great tragedy through the loss of his animals, servants, family and now his body is covered with boils.

Since Job has spoken wishing he had never been born his friends now believe they can give Job their interpretation of the events in Job’s life.

Job’s three friends are Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Bible scholars believe the order of the names of Job’s friends indicates that Eliphaz was likely the elder of his friends and presented the most words of advice to Job. (Job Chapters 4 and 5.) Job replies to Eliphaz’s advice in Chapters 6 and 7.

Bildad gives his advice in Chapter 8. Job responds to Bildad’s advice in Chapters 9 and 10.

Zophar gives his take on the situation in Chapter 11. Job responds to Zophar’s advice in Chapters 12 – 14.

Here is a general overview of the advice Job’s three friends gave him and is the focus scripture we will study:

Friend - Eliphaz

Basis for the advice – One learns by observing and experiencing life itself. So Eliphaz had observed, experienced life itself and was confident in what he was telling Job because he had this wealth of knowledge.

How did Eliphaz’s advice reflect his belief in GOD? Eliphaz was confident he had figured out how GOD works.

Friend – Bildad

Basis for the advice – One needs only know history based upon the knowledge handed down from the wise ones who have lived before us. That is we need to rely upon the wisdom handed down through tradition.

How did Bildad’s advice reflect his belief in GOD? Bildad believed their forefathers had figured GOD out and we needed to rely upon the knowledge from the past.

Friend – Zophar

Basis for the advice – Wisdom comes to those who are wise. Zophar considered himself wise therefore he had the right advice.

How did Zophar’s advice reflect his belief in GOD? Zophar thought the wise really know GOD and since he was wise he knew GOD.

The bottom line they all had the same conclusion, “We know that bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. So Job since these tragedies have fallen upon you and your family, there is sin somewhere and you need to confess.”

The selected scripture gives us a cross-section of the advice that Job’s friends gave him.

Job curses the day he was born in Chapter 3. Eliphaz tells Job GOD has an unalterable law of sin and retribution, so it is obvious that you have sinned. Job responds. Then Bildad tells Job based upon tradition your tragedy is the result of sins. Job responds. Zophar then tells Job based upon human logic, GOD is punishing you and you need to repent. Job responds.

Job rejects these explanations and tells them he is going directly to GOD, even though doing so may cost him his life. It was a common belief if a person approached GOD they would die. Job was planning to appeal to GOD to let him approach HIM and discuss his plight with GOD.
This action expresses confidence that Job did not know of any unconfessed sin in his life or the life of his family.

Let’s read Job 4:6-8 and 5:27 (Eliphaz’s advice to Job)

6 Isn’t your piety your confidence, and the integrity of your life[3] Lit ways your hope?[4] Jb 1:8; Gn 6:9; Ps 27:3 7 Consider: who has perished when he was innocent? Where have the honest been destroyed?[5] Jb 8:20; Ps 37:25; 91:9–10 8 In my experience, those who plow injustice and those who sow trouble reap the same.[6]

Job 5:27
27 We have investigated this, and it is true! Hear it and understand [it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. for yourself.

Eliphaz hears Job say he regrets he was ever born. Eliphaz takes this as an expression of guilt from Job. So Eliphaz tells Job, I know you have comforted others during their bad times so based upon your piety (your inner reverence to GOD), you should be comforted with the same comfort as you have told others about. So Job your fear (reverence) of GOD coupled with your integrity (your perfect character) should be the two things you can find hope in during this time in your life. However based upon the way you are acting, I question what you may have done to deserve this suffering in your life.

Eliphaz says, “I have never seen an innocent or honest person destroyed by GOD. Job this is a straight forward matter, “you reap what you sow”. This fact of cause and effect has been checked out and it is true. So pay attention to what is happening to you in your life and admit you have done something and confess it to GOD.”




Let’s read Job 8:4-8 (Bildad’s advice to Job)

4 Since your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.[3] Jb 1:5,19 5 But if you earnestly seek[4] Ps 63:1; 78:34; Isa 26:9 God and ask the Almighty for mercy,[5] Jb 5:8; 9:15 6 if you are pure and upright, then He will move even now on your behalf and restore the home where your righteousness dwells.[6] Jb 22:23; 33:26; 42:10,12 7 Then, even if your beginnings were modest, your final days will be full of prosperity.[7] Jb 36:11; 42:10,12; Ps 25:13 8 For ask the previous generation, and pay attention to what their fathers discovered,[8]

So Bildad approaches Job’s situation from another angle. Bildad reaffirmed the law of sin and its’ consequences. Bildad brings Job’s children into the equation. Job’s children must have sinned. So Job needs to do two things (1) earnestly seek THE LORD as he asks for mercy (2) live a righteous life.

Bildad believed a righteous person could not suffer as Job was suffering, again based upon tradition. “You reap what you sow.”

Let’s read Job 11:3-6; 13-15 (Zophar’s advice to Job)

3 Should your babbling put others to silence, so that you can keep on ridiculing with no one to humiliate you? 4 You have said, “My teaching is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.”[3] Jb 10:7 5 But if only God would speak and declare His case[4] Lit and open His lips against you, 6 He would show you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God has chosen to overlook some of your sin.[5] Ps 32:1–2; Jr 31:34; Rm 4:7–8

13 As for you, if you redirect your heart and lift up your hands to Him [in prayer]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. — 14 if there is iniquity in your hand, remove it, and don’t allow injustice to dwell in your tents[10] Jb 22:23; Jos 24:14 — 15 then you will hold your head high, free from fault. You will be firmly established and unafraid.[11]

Zophar accused Job of lying in verse 3, he wanted GOD to speak plainly to Job to let him know what sin he had committed in verse 5 and GOD was letting Job off light based upon what Job deserved for all the sins Job had committed (verse 6). But through it all Job there is hope for you.

So Zophar tells him what he has to do. Now Job “if” you will ------ “then” all will be back to normal in your life.

Again, “you reap what you sow”.

Job responds.

In Chapter 12:1-3: 1 Then Job answered: 2 No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you![1] Jb 15:8 3 But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who doesn’t know the things you are talking about?[2] Lit With whom are not such things as these [3] Jb 13:2; 15:9

Job rejected his friend’s advice but Job, also, believed that he had been subjected to suffering by GOD. So Job would take his case directly to GOD. Job’s reasoning is captured in the Job 13:14-16.

Job 13:14-16: 14 Why do I put myself at risk[11] Lit I take my flesh in my teeth and take my life in my own hands? 15 Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him.[12] Other Hb mss read I will be without hope I will still defend my ways before Him.[13] Jb 5:8; 23:3–7 16 Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person can appear before Him.

Job reaffirms he will trust GOD even if HE kills him (verse 15). If I stand before GOD and survive then that will prove that my suffering is not the result of a sin, which I or my family has committed.





Let’s read Job 13:20-24 (Job’s response continues.)

20 Only grant [these]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. Two things to me, [God]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , so that I will not have to hide from Your presence: 21 remove Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. 22 Then call, and I will answer, or I will speak, and You can respond to me.[14] Jb 9:16; 14:15; Jr 33:3 23 How many iniquities and sins have I committed?[15] Lit sins are to me Reveal to me my transgression and sin.[16] Jb 7:20; 9:21; 10:2 24

Job wanted GOD to call a truce so Job could present his case to GOD. All Job could do was try to hide from GOD.

The idea in Job’s day is that a human could not approach GOD and live. Job knew he had not knowingly sinned and is willing to risk his life to approach GOD and plead his case.

Job believes his suffering is from the hand of GOD because Job asks GOD to remove HIS hand from him and do not let him fear any additional suffering because he is bringing his case directly to HIM.

So Job offers GOD a choice. If GOD could speak first Job would answer. Or if Job spoke first, he expected GOD to answer.

Job asks GOD to give him a specific reason for his punishment – iniquities, sins, transgressions, sin.

Job wants to know what he has done to incur this suffering. To his knowledge he has nothing to hide but GOD seems to have something against him and he wants to know what it is.

Job felt like GOD had abandoned him and in fact treated him like an enemy.

Job prayed to GOD but he did not believe GOD was hearing him but Job’s faith was still in GOD.

Often when we go through situations in life we too believe GOD has abandoned us. We call and HE does not answer. We ask for resolution but resolution does not come. This is a time we can either give up on GOD or dig our heels in and do as Job did, keep our faith and trust in GOD.

I heard a wonderful Pastor years ago say in a sermon, “What you learn in the light, you have to practice in the dark”.

Dark days have either come or will likely come into our lives. What we learn during the precious moments of studying GOD’S word, praying, and fellowshipping with HIM and bathing in the sunshine of HIS presence we have to rely upon when dark days come into our life. Why do the dark days come?

Last week we considered reason’s GOD allowed this to happen to Job:
(1) It is a story handed down through the ages of a righteous person falling upon bad times, which is contrary to common belief then and even today.
(2) Job’s friends reflect this general belief that bad things happen to bad people and good happens to good people. They need to be enlightened.
(3) GOD needed a perfect example of an upright, honorable person, who many would know as a person who was prosperous, a leader, who loved, reverenced and feared GOD. This person would be the one to encounter bad circumstances to dispel the myth that only bad things happen to bad people.
(4) Job is the person GOD chose to teach Job’s friends and others who read or tell of this event that bad things can happen to good people.
(5) Never get the notion if you live close to GOD everything will go your way. GOD uses circumstances to teach us, build our character and to teach others. It may seem harsh to us but the harshness is diminished when we realize nothing is in vain when GOD allows it. There is always purpose.
(6) As we considered last week in 2 Corinthians 2:4 GOD allows us to encounter situations in life to help or comfort others encountering the same or similar situations. Job had helped many people before tragedy came into his life but after the loss of his live stock, servants, (basically lost his lively hood), children, his health but remained faithful to GOD through it all, he could advise others who encountered similar circumstances. I imagine Job appreciated each moment of his life and his family much more after he emerged from his ordeal.
(7) If carried to the end-point who better to be challenged in life than those secure in the arms of CHRIST.