4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
In ancient cultures, the eldest spoke first. Eliphaz means “God is strength” or “God is fine gold.” Eliphaz was the voice of experience. After glaring at Job with a “sin-finally-got-you” stare for seven days, and after listening to Job’s complaint, Eliphaz was now ready to give his human philosophy.
It is important to note that all human philosophy outside of the written Word of God is satanic. Eliphaz will not attempt to comfort Job. He will attack his theology. This will become a spiritual battle between two intellectual athletes. There could have been a great crowd who assembled to hear this debate. Debates were major entertainment in ancient days. They would receive higher attendance than an athletic contest.
4:2 “If someone should attempt a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?
Eliphaz was the voice of experience. He began with a sharp diplomatic introduction.“After listening to you, do you mind if I make a comment? If not, I cannot hold my tongue. I must speak what is on my mind, even if you do not want to hear it.”
4:3 Look, you have instructed many; you have strengthened feeble hands.
“Job, you have given a lot of good advice and helped others.”
4:4 Your words have supported those who stumbled, and you have strengthened the knees that gave way.
“Your words have helped out so many who have sinned.”
4:5 But now the same thing comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are terrified.
“Now you have committed a terrible sin. You are discouraged, weak, and afraid.”
4:6 Is not your piety your confidence, and your blameless ways your hope?
“Can’t you follow the same advice in which you gave to others?”
4:7 Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished? And where were upright people ever destroyed?
“You are not innocent of some great sin. Because you have sinned, you are suffering. Righteous people do not suffer like you are suffering.”
After a soft introduction, Eliphaz proposed his human viewpoint solution to the cause of Job’s suffering. The righteous do not suffer. Therefore, Job must have committed some terrible sin and is being punished for it. He and the other two friends will keep repeating this same satanic theory over and over throughout the entire discussion.
God has already declared Job innocent, so this is simple human philosophy of the satanic world system. Eliphaz will be no more help to Job. He does not possess enough bible doctrine to advise Job on these spiritual matters.
Most secular psychologists are in the same boat as Eliphaz. They do not have enough bible doctrine to counsel people. The message of the psychologist should be, “You do not need my secular advise. Go study the Bible at the deepest level and ask God to solve your problems. There is only one mediator between man and God, and that is not me. Christ is your mediator.”
4:8 Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
“I am a man of experience. I have learned that those who do evil will receive evil.”
This is more man-made philosophy of the satanic world system. The Hindu and the Buddhist call this “karma.” What goes around comes around. Eliphaz is looking down his nose at Job and telling him that he has reaped what he has sowed.
4:9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
“God destroys those who sin.”
Eliphaz has poor theology. God disciplines His children, but He never destroys them. Like so many unbelievers and baby Christians, Eliphaz likes to give advice in a nice and pleasant manner, but he does not have enough bible doctrine to know what he is talking about.
4:10 There is the roaring of the lion and the growling of the young lion, but the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11 The mighty lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
Eliphaz was saying that those who plant evil seeds are going to grow and reap an evil crop. Those who reap an evil crop are going to perish like the young lions who have broken their teeth and like the old lions who can no longer stalk their prey. Although wicked men may be strong like a lion, they cannot ultimately prosper.
4:12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.
“Listen carefully. I have a very important message which you need to hear.”
4:13 In the troubling thoughts of the dreams in the night when a deep sleep falls on men,
“Job, I had a dream in the middle of the night which revealed to me a supernatural message.”
This man is far from God. He is not relying on bible doctrine from the written Word of God. There are many cults, isms, and charismatics who use this same strategy. They are saying: “The written Bible is not enough. You should study it, but listen to our prophets as well. The Bible is old and incomplete. We charismatics have complete new knowledge. God still speaks today in our churches. He does not teach in these dead fundamentalist churches that teach nothing but bible doctrine. Bible doctrine is boring. No wonder no one attends those dry churches. We teach the full-gospel, not the half-gospel of the fundamentalists. Listen to my word of knowledge which I received from the Lord. I had a dream from God. I saw a vision. Listen to this interpretation of tongues. God spoke to me in a quiet, inner voice. I died, went to heaven, and I want you to buy my book.” All of these cults, isms, and charismatics want to add to the written Word of God.
4:14 a trembling gripped me—and a terror!— and made all my bones shake.
God does not speak through dreams and visions today. He speaks through the written Word of God.
4:15 Then a breath of air passes by my face; it makes the hair of my flesh stand up.
Eliphaz is building up the suspense. What important word does he have for Job? The angelic world must be getting very upset at this deception.
If a spirit did talk to Eliphaz, it was not a good spirit, a new age spirit, or a spiritual guide. This was an evil spirit, maybe even Satan himself. Demons speak through false prophets today in cults, isms, and charismatic churches. They mix truth with error and give a message that says nothing. There is just enough truth mixed into these messages to hook the biblically-ignorant charismatic into deeper occultic teachings. What a charismatic needs to do is stop listening to the seductive false prophets and study the entire counsel of the Word of God at the deepest level.
4:16 It stands still, but I cannot recognize its appearance; an image is before my eyes, and I hear a murmuring voice:
What did this mysterious voice say? It could have been a demon disguising itself as a spirit guide, a pagan god, or as an angel from Jehovah.
4:17 “Is a mortal man righteous before God? Or a man pure before his Creator?
That’s it? Everyone knows that man is not righteous before God. Everyone knows that man is not pure before God. This is basic doctrine 101. Even the pagan knows this simple theological truth. Eliphaz was a man of experience, but without strong biblical doctrine. This is the best that the biblically ignorant man can do. Their dreams and visions are nothing but ideas from the satanic world system in which they live.
4:18 If God puts no trust in his servants and attributes folly to his angels, 4:19 how much more to those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth?
There is some partial truth in Eliphaz’s personal bible doctrine. The enemy always mixed truth with error; otherwise, he would never deceive anyone.
The third of the angels who rebelled with Satan were foolish. However, they are still God’s servants. They just do no know it. Satan was serving God at this time by testing Job.
This demon may have been expressing his bitterness over the fate of those fallen angels who invaded the bodies of human women in the antediluvian world and were banished to Tatarus to await their final judgment.
Those who live in houses of clay are human beings. God cannot trust human beings. Their hearts are deceitfully wicked. This is why God made so many unconditional covenants with His chosen people. He knew that they would not keep their end of the bargain.
All houses of clay would be crushed like a moth, if God allowed it. However, God places a hedge around His houses of clay so that they can do great things for the Kingdom of God.
4:20 They are destroyed between morning and evening; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.
It is true that the clay bodies of man are destroyed all the day long. Once they die, they are eventually forgotten.
4:21 Is not their excess wealth taken away from them? They die, yet without attaining wisdom.
It is true that when a man dies, his wealth is taken away from him. Job has already addressed this point. A man comes naked into the world. He leaves this world just as naked. The only thing that a man takes with him to the afterlife is the lessons he learned on earth. Eliphaz is mixing truth with error. He is speaking as a man of experience, but he is not telling Job anything that he does not know. He was attacking the character and wisdom of Job.
5:1 “Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
Eliphaz was a man of experience, but he lacked bible doctrine. He continued his first discourse (which started in chapter four).
Eliphaz asked a good question. “Job, now that you have committed such a great evil, and God has left you, who are you going to call?” Abraham and Isaac were probably dead at this time. Jacob may have been living, but he may have run away to his Uncle Laban’s house.
It is also possible that Eliphaz believed that angels could answer prayers. He could have picked up this false theology from the Babylonian Religious system which was passed down to all mankind after the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel.
The Catholics adopted this Babylonian religious system through the Greek and Roman mystery religions. The Catholics still pray to Mary, angels, and saints. According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. All prayers are to be directed to the Father through the Son.
5:2 For wrath kills the foolish person, and anger slays the silly one.
Eliphaz was very nicely calling Job a foolish person who was being slain by a wrathful God.
5:3 I myself have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his place of residence.
Eliphaz was a man speaking from experience. He had watched God take down many evil men. This was a true statement. God eventually does take down evil men, but Job was not one of them. Eliphaz was telling Job that evil had taken root in his life, so God cursed his house.
5:4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed at the place where judgment is rendered, nor is there anyone to deliver them.
Eliphaz was saying that Job committed some terrible sin, so God killed his children.
5:5 The hungry eat up his harvest, and take it even from behind the thorns, and the thirsty swallow up their fortune.
Eliphaz was saying that Job committed some terrible sin, so he lost his house. Now, the poor that he did not take care of were eating the crops at his house.
5:6 For evil does not come up from the dust, nor does trouble spring up from the ground,
Eliphaz was saying that evil does not come naturally. This is bad theology. Man is born into sin, so trouble and evil will come, especially to the righteous ones who follow God. Job was the most righteous man on earth, but that did not keep evil from him. The greatest evil came to him in the form of Satan himself.
5:7 but people are born to trouble, as surely as the sparks fly upward.
Every man who is born will experience death, taxes, and trouble. According to the first law of thermodynamics, sparks fly upward. It isn’t by chance or by luck. The updraft caused by heat on a cool night causes the sparks to fly upward. Just as sparks fly naturally upward, people are born into trouble. Eliphaz may have been referring to the curse which was placed upon Adam, Eve, and their offspring.
5:8 “But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case.
Eliphaz was telling Job that he needs to seek God and ask Him to judge his case. Job knew God much better than Eliphaz.
5:9 He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number;
Eliphaz told Job that God does great things, but Job already knew these things much better than Eliphaz.
5:10 he gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields;
Eliphaz told Job that God gives rain upon the earth, but Job already knew this concept..
5:11 he sets the lowly on high, that those who mourn are raised to safety.
Eliphaz told Job that it was God who elevates and humbles an individual, but Job knew this better than Eliphaz.
5:12 He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned!
Eliphaz told Job that God frustrates the plans of evil and sneaky men, but Job knew this better than Eliphaz.
5:13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.
God outsmarts those who think that they are too smart for God, but Job knew this better than Eliphaz.
Paul quoted this verse in one of his epistles, meaning that the Book of Job was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Even though God would later in this book say that the counsel of Eliphaz was wrong, this verse was good theology. Some of sowed statements were true, but his conclusion was wrong.
5:14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night.
Evil men will receive darkness from God, but Job knew this better than Eliphaz.
5:15 So he saves from the sword that comes from their mouth, even the poor from the hand of the powerful.
God saves the poor from the death blow of the sword, but Job knew this better than Eliphaz.
5:16 Thus the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts its mouth.
God gives hope to the poor and death to the evil ones, but Job knew this doctrine better than Eliphaz. Eliphaz was not telling Job anything that he already did not know.
5:17 “Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Eliphaz told Job that a man is blessed when God corrects him. He told Job that one should not despise the discipline of God. These things were true, but they did not apply to Job in this instance. Eliphaz was using these biblical principles as an attack on Job.
This is another statement by Eliphaz which the Lord has acknowledged as inspired. It was quoted in Proverbs 3:11-12 and in Hebrews 12:5-6. Again, the statement is correct, but Eliphaz’s conclusion was wrong.
5:18 For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal.
When God strikes in discipline, He also heals. Job knew this biblical principle as well, but it did not apply to him at this time. Sometimes God’s discipline is to allow the sin to run its course.
5:19 He will deliver you from six calamities; yes, in seven no evil will touch you.
Seven is the number of completeness. God will deliver His own completely from evil. Job knows this as well.
5:20 In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword.
God will deliver the righteous man from famine or sword, but Job already knew this.
5:21 You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.
God will protect the righteous man from his enemy’s tongue. The tongue causes more damage than the sword. Job knew this as well.
5:22 You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
It is interesting to note that wherever the Word of God goes, famine disappears. Whenever the Word of God leaves, famine appears.
5:23 For you will have a pact with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
If Job will quit acting in an evil manner, then God will bring him agricultural wealth. His livestock will be protected from wolves.
5:24 And you will know that your home will be secure, and when you inspect your domains, you will not be missing anything.
If Job will quit acting in an evil manner, then God will keep his home secure and protect his property.
5:25 You will also know that your children will be numerous, and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
If Job will quit acting in an evil manner, then Job will give birth to a large and fruitful family.
5:26 You will come to your grave in a full age, As stacks of grain are harvested in their season.
If Job will quit acting in an evil manner, then Job will live a long time and prosper.
5:27 Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good.”
Eliphaz was a man of experience. He had investigated these things, so he knew them to be true. He thought that he had heard from a spirit of God, so he falsely claimed supernatural confirmation of his message. His message to Job was to stop sinning, so that God could bless him. Eliphaz was telling Job these things for his own good.
Eliphaz did not know what he was talking about. He did not know that Job was being persecuted because of his righteousness. This was the wrong message by the wrong man. Eliphaz hurt Job with his secular advice. He certainly did not help him. Mature believers should never accept spiritual advice from unbelievers or baby Christians. Neither of these groups have enough bible doctrine stored in their soul to give out good advice. They can only spit out what they have learned from the satanic world system. This is what Eliphaz did. Job did not listen to it.