The “Comforters” of Job Chapters 4-31

A. The First Round Of Debate (4-14) 1. Eliphaz (4-5) - Job’s reply (6-7) 2. Bildad (8) - Job’s reply (9-10) 3. Zophar (11) - Job’s reply (12-14) B. The Second Round Of Debate (15-21) 1. Eliphaz (15) - Job’s reply (16-17) 2. Bildad (18) - Job’s reply (19) 3. Zophar (20) - Job’s reply (21) C. The Third Round Of Debate (22-37) 1. Eliphaz (22) - Job’s reply (23-24) 2. Bildad (25) - Job’s reply (26-31)

1. They sacrificed their time

2. They humbled themselves and entered into Job’s suffering.

1. They sacrificed their time 2. They humbled themselves and entered into Job’s suffering. 3. They listened to Job’s grief.

4:7-8 "Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” “you reap what you sow.”

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Eliphaz forgets about Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. Grace is getting what you do not deserve (or unmerited favor). Grace is getting what you do not deserve (or unmerited favor). An acrostic: GRACE - God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense GRACE - God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense 2 Cor. 8:9 - “for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.”

Eliphaz based all of his beliefs and teachings on “religious experience.” Eliphaz based all of his beliefs and teachings on “religious experience.” Throughout these debates he repeatedly says “I have observed...” (4:8); “I myself have seen…” (5:3); “We have examined this…” (5:27); “…what I have seen…” (15:17). Throughout these debates he repeatedly says “I have observed...” (4:8); “I myself have seen…” (5:3); “We have examined this…” (5:27); “…what I have seen…” (15:17).

His religious experience is found in 4:12-21, "A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it. 13 Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on men, 14 fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake. 15 A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. 16 It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice: 17 'Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker? 18 If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error, 19 how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth! 20 Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces; unnoticed, they perish forever. 21 Are not the cords of their tent pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?'

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Then Bildad explains what he believes to be the foundation and source of all truth: religious traditionalism. 8:8-10, “Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned, 9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. 10 Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?” 8:8-10, “Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned, 9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. 10 Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?”

The historian Jeroslav Pelikan "tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living."

Eliphaz - religious experience. Eliphaz - religious experience. Bildad - religious traditionalism. Bildad - religious traditionalism. Zophar - religious dogma. Zophar - religious dogma. Dogma - a belief or set of beliefs that is to be accepted without being questioned or doubted. Dogma - a belief or set of beliefs that is to be accepted without being questioned or doubted.

11:2-6 “Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated? 3 Will your idle talk reduce men to silence? Will no one rebuke you when you mock? 4 You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.' 5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you 6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.”

11:13-14 “Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, 14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,”

“Though talking face to face, their hearts are a thousand miles apart.”

But there was a gradual change in the way he talked about dying. 7:9–10 Job was sure that death is the end of everything, “ As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not return.” 10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.." 7:9–10 Job was sure that death is the end of everything, “ As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not return.” 10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.."

But there was a gradual change in the way he talked about dying. 14:13–14 Job again cries out for death to release his from suffering (v. 13). But this time he asks a question in verse 14: “If a man dies, will he live again?” 14:13–14 Job again cries out for death to release his from suffering (v. 13). But this time he asks a question in verse 14: “If a man dies, will he live again?”

But there was a gradual change in the way he talked about dying. 19:25–27 “ I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes- - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” 19:25–27 “ I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes- - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”

 Eliphaz thought that his religious experience would solve Job’s problem of suffering.

 Bildad thought that his religious traditionalism would solve Job’s problem of suffering.

 Eliphaz thought that his religious experience would solve Job’s problem of suffering.  Bildad thought that his religious traditionalism would solve Job’s problem of suffering.  Zophar thought that his religious dogma would solve Job’s problem of suffering.

When we see others suffering: We must be available to help them through the difficulty. We must be available to help them through the difficulty. We must be slow to speak and quick to listen. We must be slow to speak and quick to listen. When we do speak we must be sure that our wisdom is based on the Word of God. When we do speak we must be sure that our wisdom is based on the Word of God.

When we ourselves are suffering: We must remember that God is in full control and has allowed this suffering to happen. We must remember that God is in full control and has allowed this suffering to happen. We must remember that God is good and He allows this suffering for a good purpose. We must remember that God is good and He allows this suffering for a good purpose. We must remember that no matter how great our suffering becomes God is always worthy of our worship and praise. We must remember that no matter how great our suffering becomes God is always worthy of our worship and praise.