A New Creature. . . an Apostolic Pentecostal blog

  Chapter 6 Job begins to answer Eliphaz: Job 6:1 KJV  But Job answered and said,Job 6:2 KJV  Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!  At the end of chapter 5, I spoke of my experience of speaking with people in crisis in my 20+ years of working on a suicide hotline, and how the temptation to rush to problem solving must be avoided.  Here Job begins speaking, but he doesn’t respond or mention Eliphaz’s words.  His first words, “Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!”.  He’s saying that no one is hearing him, and considering what he has gone through.  Job needs to speak and be heard, without judgement, or someone offering simplistic solutions to problems, which have no answer.  Yes, God is good.  Yes, God provides, but that won’t bring back Job’s children, and his other huge losses.  Job is outraged, and in despair.  He feels right...

  Chapter 5 Eliphaz the Temanite continuing to speak: Job 5:1-27 KJV (1)  Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? In the previous chapter Eliphaz was respectful toward Job.  Here his tone begins to take on a very different flavor.  Eliphaz now becomes ridiculing, and challenging.  The Hebrew word here translated, ‘saints’, is more commonly translated ‘holy’.  Saints to me has such a strong Catholic Church saint connotation with it, I think I would prefer ‘the holy’ or ‘holy ones’ translation.  Job, if you call, will any even answer you?  (2)  For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. This is an answer to verse 1. Hebrew word translated ‘foolish’ (Strong’s H191) is always translated ‘fool’ or ‘foolish’.  It is found 26 times in the Old Testament, by far the most times in Proverbs (19 times).  A Bible study on the foolish, should probably center on that book....

  Chapter 4 Job 4:1-21 KJV (1)  Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, (2)  If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? Thus begins the intervention of Job’s friends.  They are misguided in their comments and advice to him, but. . . the energy they gave him, by their false accusations saved him.  Job was falling down a hole of despair and self-pity.  Their words to him, gave him a way out of the dark valley that he was headed for.  From Job’s repeatedly extolling the peace of death, it doesn’t appear to me that he was far from considering suicide as a very possible release from his troubles. I’m reminded of this verse: Proverbs 27:17 KJV (17)  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (3)  Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. (4)  Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the...