Job 22

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Third Speech of Eliphaz to Job

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. In his third speech, Eliphaz again blames Job for practicing his sins.

  2. In his third speech, Eliphaz again accuses Job of hiding his sins.

  3. In his third speech, Eliphaz again urges Job to confess his sins.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Make sure your tender counsel is theologically correct!

QUESTIONS

  1. In his third speech to Job, in verse 6, what does Eliphaz mean when he accuses Job of “stripping the naked of their clothing?”

  2. What is the “gold of Ophir” that Eliphaz refers to in verse 24?

  3. What are the social sins that Eliphaz accuses Job (vs 6-11)?

  4. What is the false assertion that Eliphaz makes about God (vs 12-14)?

  5. How does Eliphaz describe himself and his two counselor friends (vs 19, 20)?

  6. Eliphaz admonishes Job to take what actions in order to correct his plight (vs 21-25)? If Job were to do these things, what results is Eliphaz suggesting would come to Job (vs 26-28)?

ANSWERS

  1. In verse 6, Eliphaz accuses Job of the wrongful practice of keeping a man’s outer cloak overnight as a pledge when a loan was made. This was taking advantage of a poor man because he would need his cloak at night for warmth. Later, when the law was given, this action was prohibited, and Amos condemned Israel for this wrong practice in Amos 2:8.

  2. The “gold of Ophir” that Eliphaz refers to in verse 24, is gold from Ophir, which was probably located in southern Arabia. Job apparently had some of this gold, and Eliphaz is accusing Job of being a materialist, urging him to get rid of his gold and let the Lord be his gold and silver.

  3. Eliphaz accuses Job of six social sins in verses 6-11. They are: a. The sin of keeping a man’s cloak overnight as a pledge (v 6). b. The sin of withholding bread and water from the hungry and thirsty (v 7). c. The sin of believing that might makes right (v 8). d. The sin of taking advantage of widows and orphans (v 9).

  4. In verses 12-14 Eliphaz falsely describes God as being so far removed from the events of the earth that Job could get away with his hidden wickedness.

  5. Eliphaz, in his gloating, strongly infers that he and his three friends are the innocent and righteous ones in this dialog with Job. It is Job who they associate with the wicked.

  6. Eliphaz admonishes Job to return to the Lord and submit to him (vs 21-23), and give up his materialism and hoarding of gold and silver (vs 24-25). According to Eliphaz, this would result in a renewed fellowship and delight with the Almighty (v 26), answered prayers (v 27), and success (v 28) for Job.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Job considered Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar to be his friends, and yet they continually made false assumptions which led them to give Job bad counsel. Discuss ways that you might properly identify a person who is quick to give advice that is often based on erroneous biblical interpretation. From the positive perspective, consider those in your church who you know can be trusted to give good biblical counsel, so that you can turn to them in a time of need.

CHALLENGE

  1. When you have had the opportunity to counsel a friend, have you been trustworthy to seek out theological counsel yourself rather than offer words of advice that are theologically incorrect? Always make sure your tender counsel is theologically correct!

KEY VERSES

  • “Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars!” Job 22:12

Job, Old Testament, TalksDeb HarmsJob 22