Eliphaz Speaks Again Job 15

Job 15:2 "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?"

Eliphaz could have well asked himself the same question. All together he launched into a series of questions, 16 in all, plus one included in a statement. I don't know about people who always ask a question in response to a question. Perhaps, we are all looking for answers.

Eliphaz is quick to condemn Job but does not mention his own shortfalls.

v6 "Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; yea, thine own lips testify against thee."

Forgotten is the trip to come see Job and comfort him in his distress. It has become a battle of words and debate over wisdom and who possesses the most. We could call it a sad scene.

Eliphaz does give some insight into the longevity of the people back then and the time frame this story fits into.

v10 "With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father."

The verse speaks of long life. It tells us that Job's father may still be alive but that some of the people with Eliphaz are even older than he. Another verse hints at this:

v18&19 "Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it: Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them."

This seems to tell me that the wise men spoken of b Eliphaz received their wisdom from men who got it from the beginning and that they all knew each other (no stranger passed among them). It would have been quite a time to live when everyone knew each other and live hundreds of years and the earth was yet young.

Eliphaz continues with the general theme of all the 'friends' that bad things only come on the wicked.

v20 "The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor."

v21 "A dreadful sound is in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him."

If Job was not depressed, he surely must be now after hearing all that.

Eliphaz must not let us forget the hypocrites: v34&35 "For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery, They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity and their belly prepareth deceit."

We probably could call this the "They brought it on themselves." chapter. I have often heard it in church circles. Some people believe that everyone who has lung cancer was a heavy smoker. It is possible that the environment or place of work caused the illness. There are a lot of dangerous chemicals around, at work and at home. Other health problems are not always caused by what appears to be. We should be careful not to judge but instead show compassion.

Jesus is our example. He did not jump on the woman at the well but instead offered her eternal life. He did not ask if the boy was a good boy before he died but instead had compassion. We ought to 'take the high road' when dealing with the sick and downtrodden, it may be us next time.

Jude 22 "And of some have compassion, making a difference."

Eliphaz speaks again.

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