SINNER IN THE HAND OF AN ANGRY FRIEND

.

Job 22:1-30

Edwin Stanton, secretary of war under President Abraham Lincoln, was well-known for his highly inflammable temper. The pressure of war kept his nerves ragged and his tongue sharp. Once when he complained to Lincoln about a certain general, Lincoln told him to write the man a letter. “Tell him off” Lincoln advised.

Stanton, did as the President advised by writing a letter that shredded the general to pieces. When he was finished he showed the letter to the President. Lincoln responded with “Good, first rate. You certainly gave it to him.” As Stanton started to leave, Lincoln asked, “What are you going to do with it now?” Stanton replied “Mail it, of course”. “Nonsense” said the President. “You do not want to mail that letter. Put it in the stove! That’s what I do when I have written a letter while I am angry. You had a good time writing that letter. Now write another one.”

This is wisdom we all need to hear especially in today’s social media world. Many people have been hurt by our words, instantly over a few short texts to one another. Job’s friends at this point in his life where furious with him and kept directing their attacks at him and his character. Rather than withholding their anger, they unloaded it on Job one last time. Satan loves nothing more than to see brothers and sisters fight amoung themselves. Because in the process of this anger and fighting, it takes our eyes of God and the confidence we have in God.

The Bible says anger solves nothing….. The bible says we are to be slow to anger. “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.” Prov 14:16-17. In James letter we know very well, but fail at times to obey it “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20. The bible says we are to seek ways to love. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;” 1 Cor 13:4-5. Proverbs 17:9 reminds of this truth. “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Unkind words being spoken and anger being expressed does more harm than good. Especially in a situation like this. All Job’s friends are doing is making it worse.

The bible reminds us that anger can lead to hate and murder. “In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell (he felt dejected & became angry filled with revenge). The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.” Gen 4:3-8

This chapter begins the third cycle of speeches between Job and friends. Their speeches have become shorter and shorter; while Job’s actually get longer and longer. Zophar the angriest of the three will abstain from speaking anymore. We will see Bildad’s last and brief response in chapter 25, and here is the last time Eliphaz, the eldest of the three will speak. Eliphaz in this response goes all out, no hold bar and unfortunately he says the same thing again, but this time it truly reveals his anger towards to Job. It’s too bad he didn’t have an Abraham Lincoln, to give him wisdom about what to say next. Because this is one of those responses that should be thrown into the fire. Eliphaz hammers Job with accusations of living in hidden sin, and to top it off he calls Job a unrepentant hypocrite.

Why do I say that? Look at (v15-v19)

Eliphaz said earlier “For the company of hypocrites will be barren, And fire will consume the tents of bribery.” Job 15:34

Bildad said “So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,” Job 8:13

Zophar said “That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?” Job 20:5

A hypocrite is not a person who fails to reach his desired spiritual goals, because all of us have failed at this in one way or another. A hypocrite is a person who doesn’t even try to reach any goals, but he makes people think that he has.

Their profession and their practice 

never meet or line up.

A Couple Of Things To Consider As We Go Through This Passage. Eliphaz’s angry response gives some compelling truths about the character of God. Eliphaz’s has a presupposition about Job and suffering. His assumptions about Job, his sin and suffering are completely wrong; but what he says about God is completely correct.

The First Thing He Touches On Is There Anything Good In Man That He Would Consider Him Or Her. (v2-v12)

Where else have we seen this question before asked?

David wrote “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:1-5

How inconsiderable a thing is man, if compared with the glorious Majesty of God, who is so infinite in power and wisdom? That he would be mindful, consider me, despite my sin. Were all sinners! So there is no way your profitable to God. Why? God is so high and transcendent and that He is indifferent towards sinners. Man will never draw God to himself, by his or her goodness or works. And what Eliphaz is saying is “Job you brought God no pleasure, even if you think your righteous and blameless.”

But is that true that the righteous

bring Him no pleasure?

The bible says….

In Psalm 149:4 we read “For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.”

In Psalm 37:23 we read “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”

We even see God mindfulness of his children in loving correction. “For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” Prov 3:12. These verses have to say something about God seeing something in you and me that is profitable. The truth is! Apart from Christ and the gospel, God sees nothing in us, only judgement and wrath. But in Christ, God sees us as His adopted children whom He loves with an everlasting love. As David said “O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You." Psalm 16:2

In Eliphaz’s rant, his wisdom was clouded by anger and resentment and all he was trying to do was be sarcastic and hurtful with his words. See! We are the pinnacle of God’s creation; and the only thing that separates us from His love, is our continuous rebellious hearts. We bring nothing to table that is profitable to God, but God gives us everything we need to be profitable to Him through the gospel.

  

The Second Thing He Says Is That God Is Omniscient And Omnipresent. (v12-v14)

Eliphaz charges Job with thinking that God does not see or care about his sin. God is completely omnipresent and He is completely omniscience as well.

God sees everything and knows

everything at the same time.

We need to understand that God’s “omnipresence” is unlimited with respect to time and space. Wayne Gruden said in his “Systematic Theology Book” (the big book) that “God does not have a size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with His whole being, yet God acts differently in different places.” Moses said this “Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. In Psalm 139:7-16 we read “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” There is no hiding in the shadows with God. He is everywhere. 

Not only is God omnipresent, 

He is also omniscient.

“Omniscient” means that God fully knows Himself and all things actual and possible in one simple and eternal act. This means all things that exist and all things that happen.

We will see shortly this attribute brought back with Elihu when he says God is “Perfect in Knowledge” Job 37:16. The Apostle John said this as well “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” 1 John 3:20. The Hebrew writer penned this to remind us “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Heb 4:13. What Eliphaz says here is true about God; but it isn’t that Job is hiding anything from God. Eliphaz description of God is correct that nothing will slip by Him, but his assumption of Job is incorrect and he should have thought before he spoke. His assumption is that Job must have thought he could get away with his sin, thinking God was in the dark about his life and his sin.

Job has never once felt this way

or said anything like that. Unfortunately for Eliphaz when we are angry we become judge and jury over one another hearts.

The Third Thing He Says That There Is A Peace That God Gives To The Humble Through The Gospel. (v21-v30)

Unfortunately Eliphaz gives some halve truths, or I would like to say a water downed or prosperity gospel.

What do I mean by this?

The gospel is the only thing that will bring a person genuine everlasting peace and rest. Where Eliphaz goes wrong is what he says in (v21) “good will come your way” The motivation for Eliphaz peace with God has catch to it. If you want the good life from God, basically submit to God and good things will happen. Christopher said this about Eliphaz’s comment here “This is very close to Satan’s motivation: submit to God for good things you will get from Him. But it is very subtle and treasonous.”

Look what Eliphaz says here (v23-v24)

What he is saying is this “Turn from your wicked ways, dethrone the evil idols in your heart and turn back to God, submit to His Word and His ways. And when you do all that countless blessings will be yours for the taking.” This is true in the sense that God pours out blessings into the redeemed life, though obedience and love towards Him and the gospel.

Even if and when, the cancer remains.

Even if and when your homeless and have no job.

Even if and when, you go through the trials of life and hardships.

Even if and when, life is great or terrible for a season.

Part of what Eliphaz says is true, and the other is filled with man-centered wisdom that leads much astray from the true gospel. The gospel does bring a peace! “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom 5:1. Isaiah penned “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

What are we to learn from this chapter? 

What are we to take home after this angry rant?

  

Never Play God, Meaning The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit.

We are not to convict the heart by accusing them of sin. We have no special power to bring a person to repentance, only God does. We are to speak the truth of God’s word into their hearts and allow the Spirit to convict, challenge, and bring them to repentance. I say that  because Heb 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Paul told Timothy “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim 3:16-17. As Martin Luther said “I can only bring Good’s Word to the ear, but can go no further. The Holy Spirit must bring the Word from the ear to the heart.”

Never Judge By Outward Appearances.

The bible says we do a really good job, in a negative way by judging others by their appearance. The church has learned the incredible art of judging appearances and it’s wrong. We need to stop! Now, not later, but now. Remember what we read in 1 Sam 16:7 “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." We must be extremely careful we do not judge the motives of others; this is a task that is reserved for God alone. We need to stop being experts in what others are thinking and feeling. Only God can see behind the veil of the flesh and discern the thoughts or intents of the heart.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is throw 

that note in the fire and re-write another 

one that has eternal value.