Reading: Job 4-7, Psalm 136
Towards the end of yesterday’s reading, Job is visited by his three friends. They show and and sit with him for seven days before speaking at all. I have heard it said that this was the most helpful thing they do in the book, for as Job will say later in the story, they are sorry comforters. But let’s remember what we are told about these three before we jump into what the first one says. They are all from far away, and they undertake a significant journey to visit Job. They mourn and wail at his present circumstances, because they do not even recognize him in his deformity. They sit and are present with him for a week. The story tells us these are true friends, good friends. They are willing to put their lives on hold to be with their wounded friend. It is only when Job opens his mouth and curses the day of his birth in chapter 3 that they begin to speak. They don’t show up and dump advice on Job out the gate. They hear Job wish he were dead or had never been born, and then they feel compelled to respond.
Today we get the first speech from Eliphaz and Job’s retort. Eliphaz makes three points and gives a conclusion. First, he declares that the God blesses the righteous and judges the wicked. Then he asks can a mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his maker? Finally, he asks who then should Job turn to in his distress, if not that maker? Eliphaz concludes that Job’s suffering is from God due to Job’s necessary impurity before God, and that Job should despise not the discipline of the Almighty. God has disciplined Job for his own good, and he should accept it and learn from it.
Now, before we move on to Job’s response, lets consider: according to all we know from the Biblical story so far, is Eliphaz wrong? Everything we know about God from the Law and the Prophets appears to support Eliphaz’s point. He’s a pretty good theologian, having reasoned out God’s actions based on what he knows. But that of course is the problem. We have information Eliphaz does not have: the divine council scenes where Job’s sufferings are the result of his righteousness, not his disobedience. Eliphaz is presuming to understand the actions of God and their cause. While he asks can a man be pure before his maker? He does not embrace with humility his own lack of knowledge of where Job’s suffering comes from.
Job’s response is about what we’d expect from a suffering man- emotional, angry, and disappointed. Still, he does not exactly disagree with Eliphaz’s point. He also makes three points. First, he defends his right to speak in his agony, as a donkey or ox might to the herdsman. He puts himself firmly in the place of creature and God in the place of creator. Second he speaks to God, asking to be relieved of the pain and suffering of his life. He acknowledges that this is God’s purview, but says he has reached his limits of endurance. Finally, he turns to Eliphaz’s words. He does not debate him, instead attacking his lack of empathy. What is the point, Job asks, of reproving speech that is wind? Job is saying his own words are but wind, a momentary outburst soon carried away. He says his friends have been no comfort, but that he did not ask them for any. He asks them to look carefully at him and see if there is nothing more useful they can tell him.
Chapter 7 is another outburst like chapter 3, complaining about his condition and directed towards God. Job foresees his own death in misery, and asks God why it must be so. He asks what is man, that you make so much of him… and test him every moment? Job asks what harm he is doing to God, even if he does sin? Though he does not know what offense he has committed, he asks why do you not pardon my transgression? Job seems convinced that his experience will end with death, but wishes to know why he is so tormented. His categories for his own actions and God’s responses are breaking down. He wonders why God bothers with humans. He asks the question suffering always brings to the fore: Why, God?!
As readers, we have the privilege of knowing the answer: Job’s suffering is because he is righteous! It is essential to remember this as we proceed through the book in order to get the point the author is trying to make. The desperate attempt of Job and his friends to understand what is happening never approach the astonishing reality.