No 40 Eliphaz Finishes His First Speech

 

Job 5.19-27. Here are the words ending his first speech:

 

19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles:
yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death:
and in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue:
neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh:
neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field:
and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace;
and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great,
and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age,
like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is;
hear it, and know thou it for thy good. 

 

Deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven (verse 19) is a poetic way of saying that God will deliver from all trouble. To count six and to count seven is not necessarily the intent. If six implies many—then seven implies more.

 

This poetic construction was used by other Bible writers. Amos was particularly fond of the style―he used it eight times in a row. In Amos chapter 1 and 2, note

For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away (1:3). 

For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away (1:6). 

For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away (1:9).

For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away (1:11).

The construction remained the same through 1:13, 2:1, 2:4, and 2:6, all he did was insert

a different group of people in each usage.

While it is poetic style, it still bears his message. (The style simply beautifies the message.) There is meaning to six and to seven . . . He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee (Job 5:19, KJV).

 

Notice these six translations:

CJB He will rescue you from six disasters; yes, in seven no harm will touch you.

GW He will keep you safe from six troubles, and when the seventh one comes, no harm will touch you:

ICB He will save you from six troubles. Even seven troubles will not harm you.

NOG He will keep you safe from six troubles, and when the seventh one comes, no harm will touch you:

NIRV From six troubles he will save you. Even if you are in trouble seven times, no harm will come to you.

NLT From six disasters he will rescue you; even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil.   

 

What are the six Eliphaz does name? What are the six we are saved from?

20 ❶ from death by famine

     ❷ from the sword in war

21 ❸ from the scourge (lash, slander, malicious gossip) of the tongue

     ❹ from destruction however it may come

22 ❺ (you will laugh at) hunger and starvation whenever you face them

     ❻ from threat of wild beasts

 

In addition to being saved from these six dangers, seven good things will come your way:

23 ❶ your land will produce

     ❷ your farm animals will work for you

24 ❸ you will live peacefully in your home

     ❹ your possessions will be safe

25 ❺ your children will be many

26 ❻ your life will be long

     ❼ you will die only of old age 

 

We Have Searched This Matter Out 

Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good (Job 5:27). Eliphaz proudly includes the other two friends in his final declaration. We have thought about this. We have examined the issues. Through much study, inquiry, observation and experience, we are sure of the validity of our conclusions. Meditate upon what we have said. Reflect. Consider. Do some real heart searching. And if you have done anything wrong (which they assuredly were certain he had), then make things right with God. Check to see what you have done wrong to deserve these things. We expect you to accept them, therefore, and act upon the advice given, without further question. Know that what we have said is for thy good (verse 27). So, listen to what we have to say and apply it to yourself.

 

So―Job Takes Stock 

What Eliphaz has said is Beautiful! ! Simply beautiful! Very poetic, Eliphaz! He will save you from famine. He will save you from the sword. He will save you from destruction. Your home will always be secure.

 

So Job listens. He looks around. Job takes stock of his animals and possessions and finds it all to be missing. And all his stuff is gone.

        7000 sheep

        3000 camels

        1000 oxen (yoke of)

        500 donkeys

        A large number of servants

        7 sons

        3 daughters

 

The greatest man among all the people of the East―had nothing left. Eliphaz had said, "When you are right with God your children will be many and safe! When you are right with God your descendants will be many and safe! You will live and good and long life and go to the grave with strength. Your life will be a full-fledged harvest of goodness. So if you look around and see that all your stuff is gone, then know that you are not right with God. It, therefore, becomes your fault! You must return to God, He will soften His heart, remove His chastening hand, deliver you from your troubles, and, perhaps even restore all that he has taken away. 

 

This is, in fact, what happens at the end of the story. But there is no indication that it worked out that way because Job repented (for he had nothing to repent of) or that God had softened His heart (for He had never hardened it in the first place). All three friends were convinced Job was hiding something that must be confessed in order to appease God’s wrath. Open-and-shut case!

 

The Speech Eliphaz Makes May Fit Everybody Else―But Job

The speech Eliphaz makes demonstrates considerable knowledge of natural and spiritual things. There are some profound insights in his words.There is a good deal of truth in his arguments. Yet, he completely misses the mark in job’s situation. Eliphaz misapplies many truths. His applications may fit a certain sinner in Teman, for example, but not Job in Uz. Much of what Eliphaz has said is correct. It is how he applies "his truths" to Job that is wrong. He speaks the truth at the wrong time and in the wrong spirit. He demeans while he claims to uphold. He not only cuts, but then pours salt in the wounds he has inflicted. He lacks warmth, compassion and sympathy. 

 

Eliphaz is certain he can describe God's ways―the hand God of in human events―and even in Job's life. Yet he does not know anything about what Satan's hands do.

 

Here is the Plan of Study  

We have completed the first of three speeches Eliphaz makes in the Book of Job. Before we consider Job's responses to what Eliphaz has said, we will study Eliphaz's remaining two speeches. And then Bildad's three speeches. And then Zophar's two speeches. Upon completion, we will then consider Job's responses to all speeches.

 

The next lesson will begin with a summary of the points Eliphaz has made thus far (chapters 4 and 5). Then if anything new (or different) is made in his subsequent speeches (or their's), that will be noted. I choose this route to take in our studies for two reasons:

1) not much new will be said by any of them―just a rehash of prior statements, and

2) the sheer volume, for our devotional purposes, would be formidable.

I am very interested in how Job will respond to their words. Aren't you?

 

 

Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359 or use the comments via Google section below.