Sunday, March 1, 2015

Job 15: "Who Do You Think You Are?"

It's Eliphaz's turn to torment - I mean, comfort - Job.

Eliphaz begins his second discourse by questioning Job's motives.  According to Eliphaz, Job is uttering words without knowledge - he is full of hot air.  His attempts at self-justification and rationalization are undermining the established understanding of living righteous lives to please God.  Eliphaz suspects that Job is not doing this out of a sincere quest for truth, but is twisting things to make himself look as if he has been unjustly wronged by God.

"Just who do you think you are, Job?"  That's Eliphaz's implied taunt as he unleashes a barrage of rhetorical questions Job's way: "Are you the firstborn of the human race?  Were you brought forth before the hills?"  etc.

Eliphaz wraps up this diatribe by testifying to what he has personally observed.  The wicked writhe in pain all their days (like Job), the unrighteous are terrified by distress and anguish (like Job), and they lose everything they ever had (like Job).

Thanks for the encouragement, Eliphaz!




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