Vicious!

That’s how I would characterize the speech (his second in the Book) of Eliphaz, hurling insult after insult toward Job, the Lord’s servant. (I really can’t decide which of “the three” are most cruel to Job, this man or Bildad or Zophar. But I think my vote is on Eliphaz, so far.)

In Job chapter 15 … listen as I give you one phrase or clause after another, heaped upon the suffering Job … all because of a theology (which is true 90% of the time) falsely applied to Job, he being one of the Bible’s first “innocent” sufferers.

Eliphaz to Job:

You “utter vain (empty) knowledge.”

Your words are like the … “east wind!”

“Unprofitable talk.”

Job, “thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity.”

“Thine own mouth condemneth thee.”  (It’s not ME, said Eliphaz in verse 6, who is accusing you of wrong!) By the way, Eliphaz just lied. He denounces Job for chapters!

“Thine own lips testify against thee.”

Then listen to Eliphaz’s pride: “What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us? With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.” Verses 9-10 of Job chapter 15.

Job, there is some sin at which “thy eyes wink.” You’re playing with some kind of iniquity, excusing or encouraging it, incognito.

“The wicked man (like you, Job), “travaileth with pain all his days.”

When he is in prosperity, “the destroyer shall come upon him.” (A direct slam at Job!)

“Trouble and anguish” have attacked you, and are winning the war, as two “kings to the battle.”

Job (verse 25), you are “against God, against the Almighty.”

Furthermore, your heritage is gone forever, his (10 dead) children being in view. The wicked man (like Job, or so believes Eliphaz) … “his branch shall not be green.”  His “offspring.”

No grapes from your vines, Job. And no olives from your trees! “He (the wicked) shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.” Even the produce from his farm will wither and die!

Job, you are among “the congregation of hypocrites.” Verse 34

You’ve even been dishonest with you money! You have lived in “tabernacles of bribery.”

You’re a man of “mischief, vanity and deceit.” Taken from the last verse of the chapter. Maybe Eliphaz will “shut up” for a few minutes now.

Wow!

And poor Job has to listen to all this.

No wonder he defended his integrity so much!

But I can think of another great Man Who was falsely accused like this, and worse!

Another Innocent Sufferer!

Yes, Jesus.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell