Eliphaz pipes up again and more directly accuses Job of sinning, now bringing up examples. Eliphaz reasons that there would be no point in God putting Job through all this suffering if Job were a righteous man. Therefore, there's only one conclusion to make.
"Is not your wickedness great?
Are not your sins endless?"
Eliphaz accuses Job of ignoring the poor while Job was a powerful and rich man. He urges Job to ""[s]ubmit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you." He promises Job that if he returns to the Almighty he will be restored.
Job maintains that he is innocent, and that if he could present his case, he would come out victorious. Yet he also says he cannot find God. He has looked in the North, East, South, West - yet cannot find Him. He maintains firmly that he "has not departed from the commands of His lips." Of course, Job also confesses that he is terrified. God stands alone, and He seems to do whatever he pleases. Job's response to this situation is a stronger fear of the Lord.
He continues to assert that the world is not fair, and suffering is not necessarily linked to evil. He brings up two types of examples. First, he laments about mankind, providing examples of innocent people (the poor) who seem to suffer and yet "God charges no one with wrongdoing." Then he provides examples of evil people (thieves, murderers, adulterers) who seem to be successful in life. Though Job adds that they actually have no assurance of life, and will be "cut off like heads of grain."
Job knows his observations are true. He challenges his listeners "[i]f this is not so, who can prove me false and reduce my words to nothing?" I like the NASB version, which I think makes it more clear"
"who can prove me a liar, and make my speech worthless?"
as if daring anyone to challenge him.
So did Job ever sin? He seems almost superhuman.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not sure. But maybe things were different in the OT? As long as you observed all of God's laws and trusted in Him? I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteI still can't imagine that Job never sinned - but certainly God did not "punish" because of his sin. Unfortunately only we knew--since we read the prologue/background :P Job and his friends were kept in the dark till the end...
ReplyDeleteHi again: So I came across this from David Guzik's commentary:
ReplyDelete***
Though Job did strongly (and rightly) argue that he was a generally godly man who was blameless and upright, he did not claim to be sinless or without transgression. Job certainly knew that he was a sinner in a general sense and could not be considered righteous compared to God.
· Therefore my words have been rash (Job 6:3)
· Why then do You not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? (Job 7:21)
· How can a man be righteous before God? (Job 9:2)
· I know that You will not hold me innocent (Job 9:28)
· For You write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth (Job 13:26)
· Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse (Job 19:20)