Thursday, January 19, 2017
Daily reading assignment: Job 5-6
We continue our reading of Job and the calamities that befell this righteous man of antiquity. Remember how Job has suffered the loss of his children, home, servants, possessions (Job 1), and health (Job 2). So grave were his losses that his wife admonished him to “curse God, and die” (2:9) and his friends that came to comfort him were so stunned at his appearance they sat in silence (2:11-13).
In the midst of Job’s distress, his friend Eliphaz reasoned the calamities that had come upon Job were a result of sin demanding God’s judgment (Job 4). Continuing his argument in Job 5, Eliphaz suggested the sorrows and losses Job suffered must be the result of some wickedness he has concealed (the word “foolish” in this chapter is indicative of wickedness).
Eliphaz’s argument does reflect some truth; however, his suggestion that Job’s losses were God’s judgment upon the man was at best a presumption. The wicked do suffer loss as a result of God’s punitive judgment; however, God chastens the righteous with the love of a Father (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19). God also allows trials and suffering, not because of sin, but as a means of deepening a believer’s walk of grace and dependence on the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:32; Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 5:11).
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Friend, let us be cautious when counseling or judging another who is in the midst of trials and sorrows. Eliphaz meant well in his counsel; however, he did not know that Job’s trials were a result of a heavenly challenge and the devil’s contention with God the Father. God’s purpose was to prove his servant Job.
Matthew 7:1-2 – Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Copyright 2017 – Travis D. Smith