91. Pride Comes Before A Fall

Three Unwise Counsellors

1. The first of Job's counsellors was Eliphaz; 
2. the second was Bildad, 
3. and now the third of Job's miserable comforters, Zophar, comes to make his "pitch".  

The problem is that he is walking down the same erroneous path that the first two miserable comforters, 16:2, had taken.  What they are saying is that the only reason people suffer is that they have sinned and God is punishing them for their sins.  Job calls their theology into question; he says, But you are imputers of lies; you are all worthless healers. Oh that you would stop speaking entirely! And it would be (show) your wisdom. 13:4-5.  Many public speakers, those that speak as though they have all the answers to everyone's problems, could take a lesson from Job's retort.

1. In 15:1 Eliphaz takes a second "stab" at instructing Job; 
2. in 18:1 Bildad takes over for Eliphaz 

but both of them are just regurgitating the same old accusations against Job, and Job is all fed up with it and says, How long will you torment my soul and break me in pieces with words? 19:2.

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall rise on the earth at the last; This is He whom The Christian Church is waiting for, and He will come with vengeance. at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven ... in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thes.1:7-8.  Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is. Rev 22:12.   Notice, He did not say He is coming soon; He said He is coming quickly!   

and even after they, the ulcers, corrupt my skin, (KJV has, And though after my skin worms destroy this body, but Bible scholars that read Hebrew say that there is nothing that substantiates that idea.  So the word they probably refers to the ulcers that are eating away at his flesh).

yet this (I know): in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself. Job 19:23-27.  This is the inextinguishable hope of the Christian Church.  If it were not for that hope, our eternal outlook would be on par with that of the ungodly.  Saint Paul said the same thing in these words if Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins. Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.1 Cor. 15:17-19.

However, we hold to the words of Job, yet this (I know): in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself.  If this is true, how is it that we have been taught that God is invisible?

A Fourth Unwise Counsellor

The book of Job continues on in the vein of accusations by his three friends and Job's retorts, till chapter 32.  Then, a younger man, Elihu, enters the dispute because his wrath burned against Job, because he had justified himself rather than God.   Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer and had condemned Job. 32:3-4.

Basically, they had just beat the wind and accomplished nothing with all their philosophising. He said to them, Yes, I listened to you, and, behold, not one of you proved Job wrong nor answered his words. 32:12.  His problem is that, using different words, he continues on the same track as the first three counsellors.

Again, according to Elihu, it is with sickness or material loss that God punishes sin. He says, If they (people) are ... held in cords of affliction, then He shows them ... their sins, that they have behaved themselves proudly. If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in blessedness, and their years in pleasures. But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 36:8-13. We know, by observation, that this teaching does not line up with the facts of life.

Jehovah's Point of View

In Chapter 38 there is a change in the monotony of the Book of Job.  Here the author finally has Jehovah stating His point of view, and He was not impressed with this young man's, Elihu's, foolish theology. Jehovah answered Job out of the tempest, and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 38:1.

Then, for four chapters, according to the author, Jehovah speaks of His mighty power and wisdom as compared to that of humans. He asks, Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? 38:4. Do you cause the various seasons to happen? Do you control the procreation of all creatures? Do you feed the animals of the earth? Did you set up the constellations of the heavens? If not, then, you should not vaunt yourself against Me!

And it happened after Jehovah had spoken these words to Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. And now take to yourselves seven young bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. And My servant Job will pray for you. 42:7-9.

How ironic! These three self-righteous "teachers" who accused Job of living a sinful life, are now in a position where they must ask him to pray for them! Surely we can all learn a lesson in humility from this turn of events.  Those who seem to be the most righteous might not be!