Bible Talks: Job 15

From: Messages of God's Love: 1959

The debate between Job and his three friends continues, and, as we have observed, the discussions became very heated at times. The fault with Job was that he had a very good opinion of himself, and he got no little pleasure in that he was so highly respected by others. How often we find ourselves allowing such thoughts as these in our own hearts! Surely we ought to profit by the lesson God was seeking to teach Job. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning...” Rom. 15:4⁴For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4). Job was a righteous man, for God Himself had said at the beginning that he was perfect and upright, but He would not have Job to think this of himself. How much less ought we who have the light of the gospel and have seen ourselves and all that we might boast in as men, all judged in the cross of Christ. The gospel makes nothing of man, but everything of Christ. “That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:29-31²⁹That no flesh should glory in his presence. ³⁰But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:29‑31).

At times Job used very improper language in replying to his friends, and went so far as to accuse God of dealing harshly with him. No doubt his friends deserved to be rebuked, but certainly no one ought to call in question God’s dealings with him. And this is one of the lessons we ought to learn from this wonderful book: that when God sends a trial, we ought to submit to it without questioning the wisdom that allowed it, but rather seek to learn what He has for us in it, remembering that it is a hand of love that sent it; “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,” (Heb. 12:6⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)).

In chapter 15 Eliphaz says, “Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I.” He refers to “the grayheaded and very aged men,” and still draws from his experiences and those of others in attempting to find the answer to Job’s case. He chides Job for his impatience under the hand of God and treats him as an evil-doer. He asks, “What is man (mortal man), that he should be clean?” He also says of God, “He putteth no trust in His holy ones;... How much more abominable and corrupt is man, which drinketh unrighteousness like water.” Evidently he includes Job in this class. He also refers to what wise men have said as to God’s ways with man, but all is based on the trials of the wicked. He does not consider that the righteous could have trials also in the purposes of God. How far he missed the mind of the Lord we know, when we consider the life of David, for exale. He could say, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psa. 34:19¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19). And this proved to be the expernce of Job.

In this speech of Eliphaz we are reminded of the words of the Apostle when addressing the Athenians (Acts 17), where he speaks of men feeling after God though He be not far from every one of us. And again in 1 Corinthians 1:21²¹For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21), “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” We ought always to turn away from the reasonings of men, no matter who they may be, but rather listen for the voice of God, speaking from His Word.

ML 11/29/1959

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