Travelers.Soul
Traveler; Dreamer; Warrior; Coffee lover
- Aug 15, 2010
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- United States
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- Baptist
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I think Job 3 shines a light on how truly broken and grief stricken Job was. Everything had been stripped away (except his wife and God), his children, his wealth, and his health. These are things we tend to depend on or take for granted, our families, money, and our health. He lost the children he clearly loved and that alone is enough to lay a person low. I think it should be noted that chapter 3 opens up with the phrase "After this" some translations say "Afterward", this is pointing us to a transition. After all that happened in the proceeding chapters this was Job's response. Job regretted being born but more than that he wanted that day completely wiped out. He wished to die because then he could have rest, and his grief/turmoil would cease. The lament of Job is bitter and biting. Toward the end of this chapter we see that Job compares his grief to food and what he most feared had come upon him. When we are in the midst of grief and suffering sometimes we forget that our days were not always troubled or dark. I think that is what was happening to Job. His health was in the gutter, his children were dead, and he lost everything he possessed, as if one of those wouldn't be a shock and a cause of grief, Job had to face all of them. Which of us wouldn't be grief stricken by such occasions? We see a man who believed in God but cannot comprehend his ways or his present predicament. Job was being honest about his confusion and his grief.
In chapter 4 Eliphaz starts off by reminding Job that he has a reason for confidence, his fear of God and his integrity. He points out that those who are righteous are blessed and the wicked receive what they deserve. In other words, if you have suffered it is because you have sinned or if you are blessed it's because you trusted and obeyed. In light of this sort of thinking Eliphaz had no where to place Job. He had never seen or known of any innocent person to suffer. So then Job's suffering must have been punishment for sin. Neither Eliphaz (or later on his friends) had a category for righteous suffering. v. 8 pretty much sums up his view of divine justice. The supposed vision or spiritual encounter agreed with what Eliphaz had already said...a shocker, I know. It is unclear whether this spirit, if he did indeed have a vision, was actually from the Lord or not. Just as there are righteous angels there are also fallen ones. Job's friend wraps up by speaking of the brevity of life and how all men die without wisdom. Wow, what an encouragement Eliphaz was.
In chapter 4 Eliphaz starts off by reminding Job that he has a reason for confidence, his fear of God and his integrity. He points out that those who are righteous are blessed and the wicked receive what they deserve. In other words, if you have suffered it is because you have sinned or if you are blessed it's because you trusted and obeyed. In light of this sort of thinking Eliphaz had no where to place Job. He had never seen or known of any innocent person to suffer. So then Job's suffering must have been punishment for sin. Neither Eliphaz (or later on his friends) had a category for righteous suffering. v. 8 pretty much sums up his view of divine justice. The supposed vision or spiritual encounter agreed with what Eliphaz had already said...a shocker, I know. It is unclear whether this spirit, if he did indeed have a vision, was actually from the Lord or not. Just as there are righteous angels there are also fallen ones. Job's friend wraps up by speaking of the brevity of life and how all men die without wisdom. Wow, what an encouragement Eliphaz was.
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I'm glad my observations were helpful to you.
