Innocent Incorrectness
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Job is enduring great suffering at the hand of Satan. Job has some good friends that have come and sat with him while going through those sufferings...yet when they start talking and offering advice they begin to say many things that are not true.
Job 5 is a continuation of Eliphaz's speech. Eliphaz tells Job that God is punishing him for a reason and that he needs to be happy for the "chastening" of God. Eliphaz advises Job to turn back to God and that God will relieve his sufferings.
Yet sin is not the reason that Job is suffering and Job has not turned away from God. The reality is that sometimes righteous people suffer and the righteous may never know why. At times the righteous suffer because of the evil of others. Other times the righteous suffer at the hand of Satan or in the form of temptations. Yet suffering does not mean one has done something wrong or something to deserve the suffering.
We must be careful in offering advice to people...especially spiritual advice that might have eternal consequences. Eliphaz was dead wrong in his advice...yet he believed with all of his heart that he was right.
Job 5, "Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? [2] For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. [3] I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. [4] His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. [5] Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.[6] Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; [7] Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. [8] I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: [9] Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: [10] Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: [11] To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. [12] He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. [13] He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. [14] They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. [15] But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. [16] So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.[17] Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: [18] For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. [19] He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. [20] In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. [21] Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. [22] At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. [23] For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. [24] And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. [25] Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. [26] Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. [27] Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good."
