5:4 - More words of comfort from Job's incredibly compassionate friends (dripping with sarcasm). Eliphaz basically calls Job a fool when he uses crushed children as an example of things that happen to fools who turn away from God. Very sensitive example to use seeing that Job's own children had been crushed when the building they were in collapsed. This is one of those times, when it's better not to say anything at all, if this is all you have to offer. As Christians we should comfort with presence and actions rather then filling up the silence with blathering until we say something as stupid as Eliphaz did.
5:8 - He keeps going - giving advice that is not wanted at this point. Eliphaz says, "If I were you, I'd go to God." Job has got to be thinking to himself, "That is what I've been doing you idiot!" In situations like this, people are not always looking for answers and advice (In fact they probably aren't!)...Eliphaz is right, people should go to God when they need help, but he doesn't know the whole story and the timing is completely off. Job's friends have a lot to teach the Christians of the world about how not to interact with people going through tough times...we are often some of the most arrogant, big-mouthed people when others are hurting. We know what everybody needs to do and we are willing to tell them about it...let's try not to be like that anymore, okay?
5:17-18 - Again, he is saying things that are right - yes the discipline of God can will eventually be a good thing - but he is saying it in a way that is completely out of context. He believes that Job has done something horribly wrong to bring this upon himself, but it just doesn't apply here as we, the readers, know very well.
6:8-10 - At this point Job is still not accusing or blaming God for anything - he simply wants to be dead. He is crying out to God saying, "My comfort will come when you finish the job you started by taking everything away from me and kill me!" His anguish is obvious...he doesn't understand what is going on and he just wants it to be over. I think we can all probably relate.
6:24-25 - Job tells his friend, "If there is something useful you can tell me...go ahead and do it! But so far all the righteous words you have been spewing out are not the answer to my problems! (Self-righteous words are more like it)
7:20-21 - Now Job has moved to questioning God. He is saying, "What did I do God? Why is this happening to me? Whatever I have done, please forgive me!" But we can see, that suffering is not such a simple equation. Naturally Job does not understand why he is going through such tragedy, but God does know what is going on and it has nothing to do with a lack of righteousness in Job.
8:3 - Again, his friend is right. Does God pervert justice? No, of course not. But Bildad is wrong in the context of his use of this truth...he is not helping Job. Another example of jamming truth down a suffering persons throat when it isn't going to help and doesn't really apply.
8:6 (8:20) - His friend says, "Job, if you are so blameless, God will make things right...he will give you more than you ever had." Guess what - this is prophetic...this does happen! Bildad is once again right and wrong at the same time. He believes that Job has done something wrong because God has allowed such terrible things to happen to him, but Job is actually blameless and God will eventually give him more than he ever had...it just so happens that God works on a timetable that is different from our own.
8:13-14 - They are absolutely convinced that Job has rejected God and they are absolutely wrong.
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