Job’s Second Reply to Eliphaz
March 25, 2022
Commentary
The exchange of insults between Job and his friends continues. These so-called friends are a great disappointment to Job. They told Job nothing new, and they were miserable comforters (vv. 1-2) . They compounded, rather than eased his troubles. He doesn’t really want their pity, but instead wants them to share his point of view that an injustice has been done (vv. 3-5). He is saying, “I would have thought you would have been ashamed to speak as you have” (v. 3). Job goes on to tell them that if their situations were reversed, he could have given a little speech of condemnation against them (v. 4). We must remember, as the reader, that we know Job is right, because we have been let in on the exchange between God and Satan in the first two chapters. If we didn’t know anymore than the three friends know, we might say things similar to what they said.
Job calls attention to his pathetic situation in spite of his innocence (vv. 6-17). Job accused God of grabbing him by the neck like a beast and crushing him (v. 9). Job was again wrong in attributing hostility to God. He could not understand why he was in such torment when he was not a terrible person. Following his denial of guilt, he called upon his heavenly witness to vindicate him (vv. 18-19). Since his friends scoffed at him Job turned to God, hoping that He would take up his cause and argue (vv. 20-21). Job’s time on earth was growing short, so He would need to decide quickly (v. 22). Job’s death was imminent.
Application
Job’s words tell me how to be a better counselor.
- Don’t talk for the sake of talking.
- Don’t preach sermons by giving pat answers.
- Don’t accuse or criticize.
- Try to put myself in the other person’s place.
Job 16:1– 22 (NET)
1 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!
3 Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6 “But if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I refrain from speaking, how much of it goes away?
7 Surely now he has worn me out, you have devastated my entire household.
8 You have seized me, and it has become a witness; my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me.
9 His anger has torn me and persecuted me; he has gnashed at me with his teeth; my adversary locks his eyes on me.
10 People have opened their mouths against me, they have struck my cheek in scorn; they unite together against me.
11 God abandons me to evil men, and throws me into the hands of wicked men.
12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me. He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;
13 his archers surround me. Without pity he pierces my kidneys and pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks through against me, time and time again; he rushes against me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and buried my horn in the dust;
16 my face is reddened because of weeping, and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,
17 although there is no violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.
18 “O earth, do not cover my blood, nor let there be a secret place for my cry.
19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend.
22 For the years that lie ahead are few, and then I will go on the way of no return.