ELIPHAZ REBUKES JOB

Job 22:1-30 / Keywords 22:21

Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.

 

Eliphaz

22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2 “Can a man be of benefit to God?

    Can even a wise person benefit him?

3 What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?

    What would he gain if your ways were blameless?

4 “Is it for your piety that he rebukes you

    and brings charges against you?

5 Is not your wickedness great?

    Are not your sins endless?

6 You demanded security from your relatives for no reason;

    you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.

7 You gave no water to the weary

    and you withheld food from the hungry,

8 though you were a powerful man, owning land—

    an honored man, living on it.

9 And you sent widows away empty-handed

    and broke the strength of the fatherless.

10 That is why snares are all around you,

    why sudden peril terrifies you,

11 why it is so dark you cannot see,

    and why a flood of water covers you.

12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven?

    And see how lofty are the highest stars!

13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know?

    Does he judge through such darkness?

14 Thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us

    as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.’

15 Will you keep to the old path

    that the wicked have trod?

16 They were carried off before their time,

    their foundations washed away by a flood.

17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone!

    What can the Almighty do to us?’

18 Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things,

    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

19 The righteous see their ruin and rejoice;

    the innocent mock them, saying,

20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed,

    and fire devours their wealth.’

21 “Submit to God and be at peace with him;

    in this way prosperity will come to you.

22 Accept instruction from his mouth

    and lay up his words in your heart.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored:

    If you remove wickedness far from your tent

24 and assign your nuggets to the dust,

    your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,

25 then the Almighty will be your gold,

    the choicest silver for you.

26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty

    and will lift up your face to God.

27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,

    and you will fulfill your vows.

28 What you decide on will be done,

    and light will shine on your ways.

29 When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’

    then he will save the downcast.

30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent,

    who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”

1. Eliphaz had spoken to Job previously. At that time, he was patient. This time his words are harsh. He asks Job, “Is it for piety that he rebukes you?” Eliphaz accuses Job of wrongdoing. He assumed that Job had used his position and wealth to trample on the needs of the poor. He assumed that Job’s current suffering was the result of God’s judgment on his transgressions. Eliphaz looked at Job as if Job had lived assuming God does not see or will not judge. He saw Job’s misery and inferred that God was punishing Job for his unrighteousness.

 

2. Eliphaz then instructed Job to submit to God in repentance and accept his word. He encouraged Job to depend on God for his restoration and blessing. His words were meant to inspire Job to come to God who delivers. Eliphaz spoke truthfully, but he also spoke from ignorance. He had no idea who God was in the matter of Job, or what God was doing at this time. Eliphaz also needed to submit to God. Otherwise, his words are empty.

 

Prayer Lord, help me not to speak empty words, but submit to you in every aspect of my life. Help me to know the depth of your work. Make me useful for revealing you to others.

One Word Submit to God