In Job chapter 22 we finally hear the “end” of Eliphaz’s long-winded censure of Job. This is his third relatively lengthy “speech” in the Book! Let’s review his last thoughts.
In essence Eliphaz thinks that no mere man can help make God “pleased” anyway. Under no circumstances, ever! “Can a man be profitable unto God? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou (Job) art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?” Job 22:2-3
But Hebrews 11:6 (just using here one of several viable examples) says it IS possible for man to “please” God! “But without faith it is impossible to PLEASE him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Yes, Eliphaz is wrong again!
Job’s holy living DID bring God pleasure!
God “bragged” on Job repeatedly, in fact! As in Job 1:8 … “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
Oh, to think we might do things to put a smile on God’s Face!
Next … Eliphaz (with no compassion whatsoever) attacks Job with these insinuations. “Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?” Job 22:5
But … God certainly did NOT agree with Eliphaz at the end of the Book! The Almighty speaking, directly to Eliphaz: “Ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.” Job 42:8
Wow!
Then, still in Job 22, Eliphaz restates the wrong-headed philosophy that he and Bildad and Zophar (and Elihu as well, during his upcoming chapter-after-chapter oration) held so tenaciously. Here it is: “For thou (Job) hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.” Job 22:6-11, Job the sinner.
But Elihu has no evidence! Lie after lie, falsely accusing Job of wrongdoing. (As we shall eventually see, in Job chapter 31 the Patriarch defends himself against such libel!)
Solomon wrote it correctly, Proverbs 18:8. “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Stabs after stab, verbally!
Then Elihu proceeds, thinking he is now giving the “invitation” in his “Sins of Job” Sermon … “Acquaint now thyself (Job) with him (God), and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” No mercy whatsoever, Job 22:21-28 (Job, get right with God and He will bless you! All your “problems” will be solved.)
But, may I observe, thousands of years later (2016 as I write) … Elihu is just a “vestige” of days past. While God’s servant JOB is still a household word, a paragon of faith!
I study Elihu and want to better learn how … to keep my mouth shut!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell