WHAT NOT TO SAY TO A SUFFERING BELIEVER PART 1

Job 4:1-21

“A Flock of crows flew into a farmer’s cornfield. His very sociable parrot flew over and the joined the crows. The farmer loaded his shotgun, took careful aim, and fired at the unwanted birds. When he crawled under the fence to pick up the fallen crows, there was his parrot, barely alive. His children saw him carrying the parrot home and tearfully asked, “Papa, what happened?” Before the farmer could answer, the parrot spoke up “Bad Company” When you hear a story like this I’m always reminded of what the Apostle said “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Cor 15:33 Steve Lawson said in his commentary “While Job withstood the collapse of his business, the death his children and infliction of disease, what came closest to defeating him was the adverse influence of his friends. These three associates were the devil’s deadly instruments. They beat Job down and wore him out. Never underestimate the power of bad company.” This was going to be Job’s downfall for the remainder of this letter until God comes onto the scene. Job would suffer from bad company in the form of three friends who had great intentions but failed on their execution. These three men are going to have a negative effect on Job’s faith in God. What Satan failed to do by taking away Job’s wealth, his family, assaulting his health he would now try to accomplish by using his friends to destroy his faith. A faith according to the Hebrew writer; that without it you will never see God. Heb 11:1-6

What were about to encounter is biblical truth, applied and misrepresented at times incorrectly by his close friends. We will see some great theology about God and His greatness, glory and sovereignty, but poorly executed by his three friends who paint God in a somewhat negative light. One Theologian said “We must keep in mind that the overall purpose of the book includes the concept that the counselors were basically wrong even though their words were often right.” We see this in the end of this letter “After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." Job 42:7-8

This shows that some of the things they said were correct, but they also misrepresented God’s truth and His character to their friend, along with allegations accusing Job that he sinned. Throughout the conversations we are going to see that these three men maintain a faulty theological position that the righteous are always rewarded and the unrighteous are always punished. And! Right out the gate these godly men forgot why they came in the first place. “They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.” Job 2:11

So let’s set the scene for the rest of this book!

The seven days of silence is over Job has unleashed a deep seated lament that would make any seasoned pastor speechless. One would think! What do I say in this moment to a hurting brother who wishes God reversed the created order of darkness and light?

What do I say to a friend who…..

Wished that God would have destroyed the seed of a woman who bore him. 

Wishing that God would have killed him the moment he entered into the light of day.

Wishing that God would take him right now to relieve him of his pain and suffering as he sits in his personal “Gehenna Valley”. Job, is in such bad shape, that he feels God’s provision in the midst of his suffering, feels like, a prison that has no way of escaping. He sees this hedge as way of suffocation and no way out, instead of a hedge of protection. (Job 3:23) So Eliphaz has to proceed with great caution to bring wisdom for his hurting friend. So he says to himself! “I know what I can do to comfort my friend” I will start by challenging him and then encourage him and then insult and accuse him of doing something wrong to receive this judgement from God. That will work perfectly, Eliphaz says to himself. (v1-v6)

First! What do we know about Eliphaz?

He comes from Teman, an Edomite city noted as a center of wisdom.Jer 49:7 we read God questioning this truth about their wisdom “Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? Eliphaz is probably the eldest of these three friends. Eliphaz is probably the most spiritually mature of the three; this maturity comes from years of experience as he shares wisdom with his hurting friend. He tells Job this later in this letter “What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, older than your father.” Job 15:9-10. Eliphaz went on to say “I will show you; hear me, and what I have seen I will declare.” Job 15:17. What is he saying? “I’ve seen the hurting and the struggles people have face over the years, Job, so listen to me “I been around the block a few times” “This is not first rodeo dear brother” We also see his lifelong experience in (v8) “As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” Eliphaz is approaching this with an experience perspective to help his friend. 

That’s good! The one with the most experience should be the first to speak to share wisdom to a man who is hurting beyond words. This is probably why he was the first to speak after the week long silence. The opening statement is already starting off on the wrong foot though! He asks Job a question “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?” (v1) What he is asking is don’t blow up at me if I share a few words to wisdom to encourage you. It’s like he is saying “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I must speak about the troubling word you just lamented about.” 

“impatient”  here is referring to “be, or make, one disgusted.” That’s fine, but does Eliphaz do that? A t first no! But later, yes! Eliphaz does a great job encouraging Job by reminding him of all the things he has done for others, when they go through tragedy. (v3-v4) How you gave wonderful instruction and wisdom to the hurting. How you strengthened the weak in their midst of their suffering. How your encouraging words of wisdom uplifted the down spirited and made it helpful for them to stand. This is great words of encouragement for a hurting Job to meditate on. This is all great until he gets his next breath and sentence together to runs his last statement over like a freight train. (v5-v6) It’s like Eliphaz is saying “Job you used to be the one offering comfort and supporting others and you did such a great job; until it happened to you and you were faced with difficult times.” It’s almost if Eliphaz is calling Job “a hypocrite.” Now, he’s not! But this is one of those moments that you don’t kick someone when their already down and have failed at this moment to practice what they preached to others.

Eliphaz doesn’t stop there he begins to elevate his interrogation of Job’s faith. (v7-v11) In this section Eliphaz believes that Job had sinned against God and should confess his sin if he is to be restored. Eliphaz uses lions to describe the natural strength of human being. The evil person may seem strong, but God will destroy the strength of men. What Eliphaz is saying is “The righteous are never punished; only the unrighteousness suffers.” Who that was innocent ever perish or an evil man succeed? It’s very subtle what Eliphaz is doing without being so blatant in his questioning. Why would he say this? When the children of God are doing well they prosper, but when they do wrong (rebel) they don’t prosper at all. In a, not so, subtle way, Eliphaz, is accusing Job of hiding sin his life. If Job is suffering he must have sinned, because these things don’t happen to the upright, the innocent.

Is that statement true? (v7) Yes & no! 

No, we are not innocent; we are all guilty in the court of God’s Holy Place. Has an innocent person died? Yes! The sinless spotless Lamb of God. Peter penned “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:22-25. This is the only way we are able to stand upright and never be cut off from His wrath and judgement….The precious gospel.

The next statement that Eliphaz says should cause us to pump the brakes and proceed with caution. (v12-v21) Remember the greatest of attacks on Job was on his spiritual state and these men were being used as instruments of unrighteousness. This is one of those”Berean moments” where we need to test the scriptures to see if these things are so. Acts 17:11. What Eliphaz describes in this portion of Scripture needs to be scrutinized by the reader, and Job.

Some of the things Eliphaz says should make us throw up caution flag to whether this is a messenger of God or a demonic spirit. Things like: A spirit glided past, could not discern its appearance, it had no form but spoke in a whispering voice.” (v15-16) Let’s discern this portion of this dark, somewhat horror movie encounter! When an angel appears in Scripture, they usually appear as men, not some vague formless spirit.

Examples:

When Abraham was visited by three angels, one of them the Pre-Incarnate Christ.

“He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth” Gen 18:2

When Lot had an encounter with two angels at Sodom.

“The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet.” Gen 19:1-2

The only thing that Eliphaz describes in this encounter that is somewhat acknowledged in Scripture, is the fact that he was scared to death. (v14) Would an encounter with an angel be frightening? Yes, But what always follows the fear after the encounter?

“Do Not Be Afraid”

Hagar’s encounter with the angle of God “And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.” Gen 21:17

Elijah’s encounter “Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king.” 2 Kings 1:15

Zechariah’s encounter in the Temple “But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Luke 1:13

Joseph’s encounter with an angel “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matt 1:20

Mary’s encounter with an angel “And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30

The Shepherds in the field encounter “And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10

The women at the tomb of Jesus “And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” Mark 16:6

Even the Lord Jesus had to remind John when a great fear came upon him. “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Rev 1:17-18

Where did this spirit come from that visited Eliphaz? One would have to ask! Is this the kind of message that God would send out to help comfort his servant Job? Because! This spirit’s message has nothing to comfort a man going through so much at the moment. This would be a good indicator that this isn’t a spirit coming from God. Remember Satan and his angels can give the impressions of being light! As Paul warned “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 

2 Cor 11:14-15

  

This spirit is a prime example of what Paul is saying! Because this spirit told Eliphaz to say what? Answer (v17-v21). Eliphaz is remind Job human beings are nothing and have no personal interest or significance with a holy God. Eliphaz asks: Can a mortal man be right before God? Answer! No. Eliphaz asks: Can a man be pure before God? Answer! No. The human’s natural dispositional answer is “No”, not one is able to stand at the foot hill of God and live because we are all sinners. Positionally for you and me! When asked these questions we can say “yes”. Based solely on the grounds of the finished work found in the gospel. Paul penned these words “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him….” Col 1:20-23

  

This spirt even tells Eliphaz to attack mankind as unworthy and useless, even God’s messengers are nothing to Him. (v18-V21) “Foundation is in the dust” speaks that humans are insignificant to God. (v19) What does this have to do with ways to encourage a man who is already down for the count sitting in the Gehenna Valley? A man who need spiritual re-fueling! Not a tearing down counselling session. Job feels low already and your encouraging words of wisdom are “God see’s you as nothing of concern and could care less about you or anyone because we are all corrupt in nature.” If that’s true? Then why did God send His Son to die in human form for people who are insignificant? Eliphaz is correct in saying this! We are all depraved, wretched sinners by the standards of Scripture. (v17) he absolutely correct. But this is where we need to question this spirits instruction given to Eliphaz. This is another clue that this is an evil spirt and not a spirit sent by God for Job’s edification. Does that mean that God looks at His creation as nothing, as a moth to be crushed? A true spirit would never portray God as indifferent to His creation. A true spirit would never portray God’s image bearers as unworthy of notice. Psalm 33: 14-15 we read “The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. Jesus said “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Luke 12:7. Does this display a God who in indifferent to His creation and cares nothing about the fallen state of His created image bearers? 

This spirit encounter that Eliphaz has to share with a broken man named Job reminds me of a song that Shane & Shane wrote a few years ago. It’s a song called “Embracing Accusation”

  

"The father of lies coming to steal, kill and destroy

All my hopes of being good enough

I hear him saying, "Cursed are the ones who can't abide"

He's right, Hallelujah, he's right

The devil is preaching the song of the redeemed

That I am cursed and gone astray

I cannot gain salvation, embracing accusation

Could the father of lies be telling the truth

Of God to me tonight?

If the penalty of sin is death, then death is mine

I hear him saying, "Cursed are the ones who can't abide"

He's right, Hallelujah, he's right

The devil is preaching the song of the redeemed

That I am cursed and gone astray

I cannot gain salvation

Oh, the devil's singing over me an age old song

That I am cursed and gone astray

Singing the first verse so conveniently over me

He's forgotten the refrain"

Jesus Saves!

Gal 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" 

Eliphaz points out our downfall, our depravity, our lost state, our inability to be equal or to be accepted by God. We are all sinners, but this is far as the spirit instructs Eliphaz to go. That little bit of truth with a whole lot of nothing that leads more despair and crushing faith.

Can a mortal man be more righteous than God?

Can a mortal man be more pure than his Maker?

The answer is NO! If we were to end the conversation there. No, means…..you are still lost, and have no hope of eternity and God doesn’t care about your soul. This is exactly what Satan desires on the earth! No hope of restoration and no hope for eternity, to be with a holy God who created us for His glory and His purposes. 

What we learn so far from this counselling session by a seasoned veteran is that….

Our assumptions can cause more harm than good when someone is going through a trying time. 

Placing shame on a person when their down hinders relief and recovery with a hope to find relief for a weary soul.

A prideful friend overshadows mercy and compassion with thinking they have the answers to everyone’s problems.

  

The danger of this is…. A little bit of truth with a whole lot of error has the ability to take your eyes of the hope with have in Christ. Eliphaz, just like Satan, has forgotten the refrain! 

Jesus Saves.