2. First Cycle of Speeches Job 4 - 14

3. Introductory Note on Suffering Suffering may come from various sources: Devil (Job 1:12-19; 2:6-7) Result of one’s own sin (Psa. 107:17) Result of someone else’s sin (Prov. 14:11) Chastening from God (Heb. 12:5-11) “Time and chance happens to them all” (Eccl. 9:11)

4. Speech of Eliphaz (4 - 5) Tone is more subtle & veiled than others Commends Job's former life (4:1-6) (3,4) Eliphaz states his philosophy (4:7-11) (7,8) Eliphaz relates dream & message (4:12-21) Warns Job of anger against God (5:1-7) (1,2) Gives advice to Job about action Eliphaz would take if in Job’s place (5:8-16) (8-13,16) Directs Job back to God (5:17-27) (17,18)

5. Response of Job (6 - 7) Describes wretched condition to explain reason for his rashness & despair (6:1-7) (1,2) Cry for God to finish his suffering by bringing him to death (6:8-13) (8-10) Notes deceit of his friends & their failure to take pity on him in suffering (6:14-21) Attacks friend’s central fallacy: challenges them to prove his sin (6:22-27) (22-26) Appeals for honest examination declaring himself just and righteous (6:28-30) (28,29)

6. Response of Job (continued) Describes magnitude of despair & continual nature of his suffering (7:1-10) (2-5) Affirms the right to complain over his bitter plight wherein he cannot be happy (7:11) (11) Job says he has become object of friends’ stares & dreams to prove his guilt (7:12-16) Job seeks from God a reason for his affliction (7:17-21) (20-21)

7. Speech of Bildad (8) More blunt & rude in tone than Eliphaz Asserts that neither Job nor his children were innocent (8:1-7) (2-6) Appeals to tradition of wisdom as proof of Job’s sin (8:8-19) States God’s care for the righteous & holds out hope for Job if he repents (8:20-22) (20-22)

8. Response of Job (9 - 10) Agrees with fact of God’s care for the righteous (9:1-4) (2-3) Affirms the absolute sovereignty of God (9:5-12) (12) Job's confusion voiced regarding how one can effectively plead innocence (9:13-24) (14-15, 20-21) Wishes for mediator because he is unable to come before God as an equal (9:25-35) (32-33) Addresses God with more confusion resulting from his of despair (10:1-17) (1-2) Laments ever being born & hopes for rest in death (10:18-22)

9. Speech of Zophar (11) Harshest of all the friends in his rebukes Says Job’s word must be answered (11:1-4) (2-4) Wants God to speak against Job & claims punishment is less than he deserved (11:5-6) (5-6) Reproves Job for questioning God (11:7-12) (10-11) Accuses Job of hiding his sins, but promises restoration if Job repents (11:13-19) (13-15) Claims desire for death is proof of Job's wickedness (11:20) (20)

10. Response of Job (12 - 14) Begins by noting arrogance of friends responses & saying he also knows wisdom (12:1-12) (2-3) Affirms greater wisdom and power of God compared to all men, ancients included (12:13-25) (13) Accuses friends of forging lies, making false charges and lacking wisdom (13:1-12) (4-12) Calls on any to prove his sin while affirming his faith in God and in his own innocence (13:13-28) (15-19, 23) Laments frailty of man & lack of hope in this life (14:1-12) (1-2, 10-12) Hope is in eternal life and forgiveness of sins (14:13-17) (13-17) But for now, life continues as it has in the past (14:18-22)

11. Conclusion Some lessons Basic fallacy of all friends was belief that righteous do not suffer — perfect justice meted out on earth Innocent suffering is not inconsistent with absolute power & wisdom of God Job’s friends brought no evidence that charges of sin were true, but assumed they were true Job did not fault exposing sin & reproving evil shown present, but assuming guilt without cause Showing of pity on those in suffering & distress is a responsibility all of us must meet Remember principles of Galatians 6:1 & Luke 6:31 Advice not requested is best not given