Preface

The Book of Job is an excellent Book to study to get insight, comfort and spiritual strength to get through the rough days on the way to Heaven. Job's experience tells us how bad things can get on the journey. We are living on earth, not in heaven, and earth is a battleground. Job got through the days of suffering and the nights of sorrow - how ? This Book tells us how. We learn from it not only how to understand and help others, but also how to get help from God for ourselves. Perhaps the greatest lessons of the Book are to prove that Christians can have a ' disinterested faith ' ( contrary to Satan's sneer in ch.1:9) and that God's promise will be kept, the promise to keep them enduring to the end ( Heb. 7:25). - Someone prays for us, and His prayer never fails ( John 17:24).

My thanks again to my friend Harry Woods for all the technical aspects of putting this book together.

James Clark. MA MSc MEd MTh.

FEBRUARY 1

" I should have slept, then had I been at rest."   Job 3:13

There is a calm, a stillness at death ; not of extinction but like that of sleep. At death the believing soul enters its Rest ( Heb.4:9). There is no permanent rest in this world ( Heb.4:8,11). It is not here that ' the weary are at rest .'( Job 3:17)." It is the people of God who enter into this Rest ( of which the Sabbath Day was a foretaste and type). Not only is the Rest a work of God but also our entering into it is ; it is not by our own works that we do so. Death is the entering into this Promised Land, the crossing of the Jordan, the Covenant blessing." ( John Owen). Many would prefer not to leave this world, but Job had the eyes of faith on the next world, the end of his journey. While we are here, in a state of grace, we simultaneously are in a condition whereby we have continuing indwelling sin. This is a time for labour and not for rest ( Rev.2:2). But when time ends, sin will end with it." The future state of glory is all of rest ; our present state of believing and obeying is a mixed one, partly of labour and partly of rest. It is labour in ourselves, in the world, against sin. But it is also rest in Christ ; in His love, worship and grace. And these things have a great mutual respect to one another. Our labour makes our rest sweet, and our rest makes our labour easy."( John Owen). Faith in time gives rest in eternity ( Matt.11:28)

FEBRUARY 2

" There the wicked cease from troubling...the small and the great are there."    Job 3:17-19

" What does it avail us if we put the thought of our own departure far from this world, while we do not forget the deaths of those close to us ? And why do we complain that the mention of death at church disturbs us, when by the light of faith it leads to serious and yet also comforting thoughts ? It was certainly so to Job, who thought of his last resting-place in such friendly terms. There is much contained in these few words. The grave is the boundary line of wrongdoing - the wicked then cease from troubling. The grave is the close of our labour - there the weary are at rest. The grave is the refuge for the oppressed - there the prisoners rest together, no more afraid. The grave marks the triumph of equality - the small and the great are there ; there are no distinctions of pedigree or attainment. Against the grave the mightiest become equally defenceless with the most feeble, when death points the finger. The sufferer looks beyond death with homesickness, and blesses the change, blesses Christ who ' makes all things new.'

( J.J. Van Oosterzee )

FEBRUARY 3

" Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul ?  " Job 3:20.

The misery is because we must interact with all the forces in the world that cause us misery ; we cannot go out of the world, we are hedged in for a while. Misery, in some seasons and to some degree, is therefore inevitable. Job spoke from the dark depths of sorrow. The only response to Job's question is " Thy Will be done." We are commanded in that prayer to ask for unimaginable things ( to us ) to be done. It was the prayer of Christ also in the pressures of Gethsemane." Some reasons may be adduced for Job's question, eg. we learn life here by obedience and sufferings ( Heb.5:8), and thereby grace is increased. Another reason is that God magnifies His power in supporting and delivering those whom He sets up as patterns for posterity. ( 2 Corinth.4:7). Here is Job, a man weary of life and light - the best things in the world may become burdens to us. ...When you are weary of all other things, faith and patience will support you. It is a trouble to possess good things when we cannot enjoy them ; this can apply to spiritual matters also.However, the full enjoyment of Christ ...shall come to those who have the trust to wait."  ( J.Caryl ) Job cries out against life's emptiness and fears that pain shall always be there as his daily bread. He is anxious because he has lost his sense of purpose. Life as he knew it has been lost, and what shall take its place ? Each dawn, David hoped, ' He shall restore my soul.' ...' Still trust in God. ' ( Ps.23:3. Ps.42: 5 ) - there is no other choice left for those who belong to Christ.

FEBRUARY 4

" Who long for death, but it does not come."  Job 3:21.

Death - this is what they are waiting for. Christ came into this world to die, and in one sense, so do we, because, in the final analysis, we were not made for this world but for the next. Job, like Moses and Elijah later, was asking for death as he felt he was no longer useful, and was frustrated in his desire to serve God. But they were wrong, as God had further opportunities for them to serve Him, but they had to go through certain ( perhaps dreadful ) experiences ( cf. Acts 9:16) in order to be equipped to do so. Their minds were too bound up in their own plans, and they could not see how they could glorify God in the future, but God could ! Death would be the easy road to find rest ( vs.22 ), and it requires less faith. Greater faith would stay here as long as we have the strength to glorify God and help others on their rough journey also.( Philipp. 1:23,24). Nowadays Job may have become a leader in a ' survival group.' Like Ezekiel he could say of the afflicted, " I sat where they sat..astonished among them." (Ezek.3:15).

In Ecclesiastes 2:20 Solomon was tempted to give away his hope and 'give his heart to despair.' This temptation always comes from the devil ( 2 Corinth.  ) but when God puts the hope into the heart ( Ps.22 :9  ) he preserves it, and the man inside with it, alive. " Christ in you the hope of glory, " ( Coloss.1:27) and He will not be driven out. Meanwhile the devil will continue to throw his buckets of water upon the fire in the wall, but,unseen, there is One who pours in more oil. ( Pilgrim's  Progress) Each day when Job awaked, he would say, ' I am still here ! ', yet, despite all, he has the faith to add with David, ' but I am still with Thee ! '  ( Ps.139:18).

FEBRUARY 5

" A man...whom God has hedged in."   Job 3:23.

A hedge not only keeps things out ( ch.1:10) but also keeps things in. Job feels that his hedge has turned into a cage ; he cannot break out of his condition and cannot see a way of escape. He sighs and groans not only for pain but because he can do nothing to stop it ; he is a prisoner, on a diet of bread and water ( vs. 24). He feels insecure, his confidence has gone, it is safer to sit still. Feeling fragile and vulnerable, it is natural for him to be angry. He has been trying to do what was right and this is what happens ! He is a man who has been deprived of all choices, hedged in to whatever is sent to meet him. His experience is one of cries, and " he calls into question his own purpose for being in the world." ( K. Dell) Job is coming perilously close to despair. NO WAY OUT was written everywhere he looked.

Hedges are often made of thorns and when you try to get through, you not only fail but feel more pain than you did before. Each effort drives you closer to despair. The counsel which God gives to such is to ' wait upon the Lord ' ( Ps. 27:14 ) - not easy when you are suffering and want to do something, anything - and this is why it is said twice in verse 14. David knew from experience that it is the right thing to do ( vs.13). Later, when it was all over, Job could agree with David and say, " I'm glad I waited..." - and so will we.

FEBRUARY 6

" What I greatly feared has come upon me."  Job 3:25.

What he did not want, what he had tried to guard against (ch.1:5), had struck him down to the ground. He felt cut off. If God did not intervene and help him ( and there was no sign of that), who could ? He seemed to have had a premonition that his peacefulness would not last ; and with a devil on the loose in this world that is a healthy reminder for believers. Satan is like a vicious dog on a lead ( Luther ), but it is a long lead ! Satan was giving Job his personal attention, and this experience of Job is what that is like. His preparations for conflict came to nothing, he was swept aside by an evil torrent. How often the sorrowful mind goes back to happier days ( vs.26), but also cannot stop  the replaying of the distressing events, the hurtful cycle of memories ( PTSD ) which torture him." Job's fear was grounded on the uncertainty of creature comforts. He knew that wealth was a brittle substance and might swiftly receive a crack. This kind of fear we ought to carry about with us, it keeps us from being high-minded. This holy fear helps regulate our lives, and prepare for the ' evil day ' ( Ephes.6). The Lord taught us wisdom when He said, ' Behold I have told you beforehand.' (Matt.24:25). We are not like the world who, when they have a good day, think it will last forever ; ' they put the evil day far from them.' ( Amos 6:3) ...Dangers unknown easily surprise us, whereas those we fear may be either prevented or prepared for. Now, my soul, are you prepared for changes ? "  ( J. Caryl)

FEBRUARY 7

" Yet trouble came ! "  Job 3:26.

God commended Job, and sent trouble ; it did not come by chance. Over the centuries many godly people have suffered here more than the unbelieving ( cf. Ps.73). When the world sees this, it confirms their unbelief. When the godly experience it, it tests their faith. Faith holds out ( and not without pain ) that God has a purpose to glorify Himself in such dealings with us ; and we have to remember that our glory is not enjoyed here ( John 17:24). But we have been given to Christ to see His, after ' much tribulation '  ( Acts.14:22   Rev. 7:14 ). Why does trouble come ? The appearance of our weaknesses shows the need for and the manifestation of God's power in our lives, to ' keep us from falling ' ( Jude 24 ). Troubles also teach us that we ought to wait with reverence ,until the devil's final defeat. God's faithfulness will overcome the devil's boast in Job's case and in ours. " God's aim was that Job would be a pattern for the ages to come, and therefore his infirmities must be exposed. Thus other saints may not be discouraged or despair although their condition should be like his. Job's infirmities have often proven to be a comfort to the people of God as they see their own." ( J.Durham)

We see in Job that grace must live with corruption while we live in this world. Job was not perfect, and neither was his response to troubles, but he prayed to be nevertheless. Symptoms of unbelief are found in those who have a sound faith and holy resolutions. " The heart of Job manifested much dross, which no one would have thought to be in Job. There was patience, but also impatience."( J.Durham) We shall make the same discovery in ourselves. But it is how we finish the race, the battle, that matters. Job died in faith, as does every pilgrim, after some erratic progress, as Bunyan has reminded us.

FEBRUARY 8

" Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered."  Job 4:1.

He was probably the oldest of the three. They came with good intentions but their empathy lacked depth, because their thoughts about Job and God were wrong. They had " a fixed formula for every problem. " ( W. Wiersbe) However, their arguments ( and they became angry with Job's responses) were built on a false foundation, on works and not grace. They had a ' mechanistic ' view of God's Providence ie. man's action led to God's reaction - they thought they could understand the mysterious, when the Apostle Paul couldn't ! (Rom.11: 33,34) As Dorothy L. Sayers said," There is nothing you can't prove if your outlook is only sufficiently limited ! "It all began courteously, but Eliphaz began to politely argue that if Job suffered it was because of a specific sin ( as the disciples mistakenly thought also, John.9:3). Eliphaz uttered some accepted truths, but he omitted some important ones also. We should be aware of this when ' theologians ' speak. Eliphaz also, politely, rebukes Job for his outcry against his sufferings. Eliphaz breaks the seven days of silence " not with words of comfort but with the words of a legal mind, the words of a moralist and not of a comforter. " ( J.Strahan) What Eliphaz saw in Job and what God saw in Job were quite different. In the end it is God's opinion alone that matters.

FEBRUARY 9

" Thy words have upheld him that was falling."  Job 4:4.

The words of Job in the past helped others to keep going and not give up ; they were ' words in season.' However, we must be careful with how we say something and not just what we say ; both affect the impression made on others. Proverbs has much to say about words eg. Prov.16:24. We need wisdom about what to say, when to say it, how to say it and how much to say. Despite Eliphaz's  politeness, Job perceived what was in his mind by his words. Not everyone has this kind of perception ; looking at their eyes as they speak can assist our judgement.

Job, like Paul later ( Heb.12:12,13) encouraged others ; hands and weak knees need to be strengthened to bear the burdens of life. It was said of John Knox that his words and prayers were worth 10,000 soldiers. It was natural for Job to expect that others would show the same kindness to himself as he had shown to others ( which is often the case ) but his ' friends ' did not ; a further discouragement. David suffered likewise ( Ps.42:10. Ephes.6:16 ). However, the shield of faith held out,and his Physician was nearer than he thought ( Ps.34: 19,22). Words are important, God uses them to comfort us

( Hosea 14:2).

FEBRUARY 10

" But now it [ trouble ] has come upon thee, and thou art fainting."   Job 4:5

Eliphaz is teaching Job what he should be saying when he is suffering. But this cannot make Job feel better. The sufferers must be allowed to express their own grief ; we cannot put words into their mouths, as we cannot fathom the depth of any person's suffering. Only the individual ' heart knows its own bitterness.' No stranger can.  Certainly we shall be tempted to have hard thoughts of God, and in such a case we can often act wisely by saying nothing, as Aaron and David did ( Levit.10:3. Ps.39:9 ) Sorrow can sound aggressive when it bursts out into open expression, and Eliphaz was an untrained counsellor ; his misguided words only made things worse. Job's anger did show that he was not despairing ( despair has no energy ), he was looking for meaning in his suffering, not a lesson in how to grieve properly!  A discourse on Divine retribution did not help Job in seeking his Father.

Eliphaz was right to encourage Job to find the same encouragement which he gave to others, but he was doing it in an unfriendly fault-finding way. It is true that we must remember our ' Ebenezers '. Samuel encouraged the people, " Hitherto has the Lord helped us," and the Lord does not change. What He has been to us He will be, " I am what I am." ( Exod.3:14). We must ' remember in the darkness what we learned and experienced in the light.' We cannot forget our sorrow, but let us not forget God either ( Ps.103:2).

FEBRUARY 11

" Behold, thou hast instructed many ...but now it touches thee, and thou art troubled."  Job 4:3,5.

Eliphaz highlights something we can all identify with, ie. the difference between teaching others something and practising it ourselves, the difference between doctrine and practice. Job had encouraged others, a ministry of consolation, but when trouble knocks him over, his strength of mind and heart faints, and he struggles to get back on his feet. He preached to others effectively, but in chapter 3 we see his struggle to cope, not only with his circumstances but with himself. He was aware of the words of God but was failing to apply them to himself with any benefit. His heart was " like a bucket without a bottom " ( Thomas Shepard ), the Word of God simply went through him ; it did not lodge inside with good effect. He had always been so ready to bind up the wounds of others, but had no bandages left for his own wounds !

It is easy to tell others what they should do, but are we examples of it ourselves ? All in a teaching position, especially parents, have a duty to be good examples and patterns to those whom they advise, correct and encourage. Some respond with, ' I cannot hear you because I am deafened by what I see you doing.' Eliphaz was saying to Job, ' Physician, heal thyself.' We can be so busy looking after the vineyards of others that " my own vineyard I have not kept. " ( Song of Songs1:6). Some are so busy with ' fellowships ' with others that they neglect their fellowship with God. This deficiency soon becomes apparent in the life. We must always apply the Word to ourselves first ; this will also be apparent to others. If we are going to encourage others consistently, we must ' encourage ourselves in the Lord ' first, as David ( 1 Samuel 30:6).

FEBRUARY 12

" Is not thy fear [ of God ]  thy confidence, thy hope ? "  Job 4:6.

Eliphaz points out that the fear of God will keep him from departing from God ; he will persevere through suffering and not fall into deathly despair. Such a fear is not in the reprobate ( Rom.3:18), but is planted in the new heart by the Holy Spirit ( Ezek.36:26. Isaiah 11:2 ) ; this is the same Spirit who dwells in Christ without measure ( John 3:34). Because this fear of the LORD is not in us by nature, it was an assurance to Job, and to us, that we have the evidence of really knowing God ( Luke 1:50), that we therefore belong to Him and will be kept ; despite other fears ( Jerem.32:40). It is also our motivation to serve Him." Punishment has of itself no regenerating or converting power. The fear of God in which godliness consists ( 2 Corinth.7:1. Coloss.3:22) is the fear which constrains adoration and love. It is the fear which consists in awe, reverence, honour and worship, and all of these on the highest level of exercise. It is the reflex in our consciousness of the transcendent majesty and holiness of God. The essence of sin may be said to be the negation of the fear of God." (Prof. John Murray).The fear of God is rooted in faith, a true knowledge and reverence  of God, but Job is also cautioned here not to trust in the strength of his faith, but in God's faithfulness.

FEBRUARY 13

" Who ever perished being innocent, or when were the righteous cut off? "Job 4:7.

Because Job's lost his property, his children, his health, his mental health and his public reputation, Eliphaz found ' proof ' in this that Job was being punished by God for sin, and that his defiance showed him to be a hypocrite, as he would not admit it ! He believed that God always rewarded the good, and always punished the wicked here ( vs.8,9). But the word of God contradicts this ' prosperity theology '. The righteous are cut off, but for wise reasons ( Isaiah 57:1 ), reasons the worldly do not understand. Asaph also noted that notoriously wicked persons ' die peacefully ' ( Ps.73:4 ), but this does not signify it was peace with God ; they die unreconciled to God. The unbeliever does perish ( John 3:16 ), but this is not perceived until after death, seldom before. Samson died in the same disaster as the Philistines, but not as one of them, he had faith ( Heb.11: 32). Likewise, some godly people died at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Outwardly there seemed nothing to distinguish them from the others who died, but there was an inner difference ( Lament.3:32).

Eliphaz believed that sinners must be punished for every sin, but that would leave us without a Gospel. The Law demands satisfaction, death, but the demands of the Law have been met by Christ on behalf of sinners ; and all these sinners are justified by faith ( Rom.3:22-26 ). Many do not believe Christ or trust in Him. such must be warned that ' justice delayed is not justice denied ' and that ' sin forgotten is not sin forgiven.' But what a Friend the sinner has in Jesus !

FEBRUARY 14

" By the breath of God they perish."  Job 4:9.

There can be no disputing that God has wrath against sin ( Isaiah 30:33) or that He " is a consuming fire " ( Heb.12:29). It is only in modern times that these facts have been denied by many in the ' visible church '. However, believers escape punishment for sin, they have ' fled to Christ from the wrath to come ' ( John 3:36). The people of God are not punished for sin, but they can be chastised for sins ( Heb.12:6). All are born into this world as " children of wrath "( Ephes.2:2) and the unforgiven, from whom the wrath of God is not removed ( Ps.103:12), die without hope. To question this is to question the authority of the Bible as the Word of God, as many do nowadays ( and yet such remain, for their own reasons) in the ' church'. A survey of the Gospels shows us that Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else ! He warned sinners as well as invited them." The wrath of God is an unpopular topic. The attribute of love in the Divine Being is magnified at the expense of His attribute of holy justice.

The consequence of this is, that a one sided view of the character of God is presented before the eyes of men...But from the words of the Son of God there can be no appeal." ( W.S.Allen ) Sin must be punished by God, either upon us or upon an accepted Substitute by God ( Isaiah 53:6). John 3:36 ' stands written ' ( Luther ) - it is our comfort and our future, one way or the other.

FEBRUARY 15

" In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men."      Job 4:13.

Eliphaz said he had a vision - from God or a nightmare from himself ? He is not explicit, and His dream simply confirms Scripture ; that man is sinful and God is not, that man is unjust but is always just in His judgements ( including against Job he thought ! ). All dreams must be checked by the Word of God, as the Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself ie. dreams cannot add to God's revelation ( Ps.119:9). The devil has led many astray by influencing them to rely on dreams and visions ; he uses man's sleep and emotions against him. He also uses man's pride against him ; Eliphaz is proud that he had this ' vision ' and Job did not (12). This is how people gain attention for themselves, by announcing that they are special ; comparisons are often used to fuel pride.

Eliphaz uses his ' vision ' to rebuke Job, as if Job ever claimed to be ' more pure than his Maker ' ! (17) It is strange how he did not direct his ' vision ' against himself first ( as his 'vision' names no particular man) ; alas, the wish is the father of the dream. Eliiphaz will later be rebuked by God for his speech, and God himself will pronounce the verdict on Job. John Wesley was very jealous of George Whitfield, and when he heard that Whitefiield was sailing to the USA to preach, he wrote to him, saying, ' The Lord has told me you are not to go ! ' Whitefield wrote back, ' Well, John, He didn't tell me ! ' We must be guided by God's Word and not by man's word or dreams.

FEBRUARY 16

" Shall mortal man be more just than God ? "  Job 4:17.

Eliphaz believes that if Job had not committed some great sin, then it would be unjust of God to send him great punishment. Thus, because Job defends himself against such an accusation of wrongdoing, Eliphaz concludes that Job is judging God, when it should be vice-versa ! Certainly, no sinner ( Rom.9:19, 20) can sit in judgement upon God ; we are accountable to Him ( Heb. 4:4:13), but not He to us. Man may deny this, but the fact that we shall all be judged proves that we are all responsible to HIm. The people of the world constantly complain about God, and also resent the absolute purity of His Being ; as this nullifies their complaints about injustice, unfairness etc.." A man naturally prefers himself, not only above other men, but also before God Himself.

A principle of pride dwells in our heart by nature and inclines us to have better thoughts of ourselves than of God...In troubles and temptations, when things do not go according to the sinner's mind, he thinks that he is more just than God, that he could order things better than God." ( J.Caryl)  And who has not had this temptation, to think himself more wise and more merciful than God ? Let us remember that, if human sin were absent, no one would be discussing justice or mercy, blame or comparisons !

FEBRUARY 17

" Them that dwell in houses of clay. " Job 4:19.

How fragile is the house in which we dwell ( 33:6). Our body is liable to crack, wear away and collapse, and finally be removed from the earth at the resurrection. It is weak in its strength and must look to its Maker for strength ( 2 Corinth.4:7). " Human souls are housed ; it is a house of clay, mean and mouldering, an earthen vessel soon broken, according to the good pleasure of the Potter. ( Matthew Henry ) Though we have immortal spirits, these spirits dwell in mortal bodies, which sometimes become obstacles and are  also subject to a variety of temptations. " These ' houses ' are noted for their great frailty and mutability. The body must return to the dust, lie down and sleep in it ( Dan.12:2)."  ( Matthew Poole )

These houses of clay, bodies, can deceive others ( and ourselves ) about the character of the soul inside of them. The visible impression made by someone's body has a swifter effect on the observer, as it takes more time to perceive the character of the soul inside. Human nature is adept at using the bodily appearance to attract, but also an unattractive casket can conceal a great jewel inside. " All that glitters is not gold," said a wise man. But we live in a world which is more influenced by the visible, the material, the temporary. It takes faith ( in exercise ) to appreciate what is not seen and what is more in harmony with God's perception and approval. The house of clay shall return to the dust, and believers shall look forward to a glorious body. ( Philipp.3:21 ). Meanwhile, let us look well to the foundation of our ' house ' ( Matt.7:25. 1 Corinth.3:11).

FEBRUARY 18

" They die even without wisdom."  Job 4:21.

Natural wisdom does not prevent death, many still die as ' fools ', not wise ( Luke 12:20. Ps.49:20). Sinners do not attain to the wisdom they once had in Eden ( when sinless Adam lived), and have by sin lost the knowledge of God. However, the Spirit can make them wise again, lead them into truth, and so die in order to live ( John 17:3). Eliphaz is denying ( vs.17) that Job has this latter wisdom ( 2 Tim.3:15 ). If men were wise they would prepare for their deaths ( Ps.90:12), " but  we know well from experience that men deceive themselves and run to ruin when they imagine...that they will always remain on this earth." ( Calvin) It is a common thought that ' all are mortal except ourselves.' We look at others and predict death for them soon, but exclude ourselves from what is inevitable and often occurs suddenly and unexpected ! There is no question about death, only of what we shall die of.

There were five ' foolish virgins ' who died without wisdom ( Matt.25). Their folly was to think that they could enter heaven with ' no oil in their lamps ' They had a religion without the Holy Spirit ( of whom oil is a symbol ), a fatal error. They thought that simply being in the company of those who had the Spirit of Christ would suffice, but it did not. We must check our wisdom with the infallible and revealed wisdom of God, written in the Bible. We cannot read it too often.

FEBRUARY 19

" For wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the foolish one. "  Job 5:2.

Some people are angry with God lifelong, others never have enough and are discontented until the end ; both use their condition to deny God's goodness. Some have experienced a bitter disappointment and loss, and link God with injustice towards them, and make sure others hear about it. Others are never content, deny others, and spend their days lamenting that they did not get their own way, resenting the prosperity of those ' less deserving.' Paul reminds us that this constant comparing ourselves with others is not a 'wise 'way to live ( 2 Corinth.10:12). To say,' but count your blessings ' to these people is to invite their hatred. This constant anger and envy of these people not only puts a physical strain upon the heart but keeps them alienated in their hearts from God. The heart is not right with God, there is no ' waiting upon the Lord.' Was Eliphaz pointing the finger at Job here ? Was he implying that Job was guilty of impatience with God and resentment ? It seems so, as Job refers to this insinuation in the first words of his reply to him ( ch.6:1)." The prominent idea in the term ' wrath ' is that of indignation against the Governor of human destiny. It is the object of Eliphaz to depict at once the supreme unhappiness of the fool as the victim of his own evil passions, and the appalling destiny of the fool which is that of moral self - destruction. His destruction, when it comes, is not only inflicted by the stroke of God's hand, but also as  worked out by the inward violence of his own sinful passions." ( Thomas Whitelaw). Whatever the loss, let us remember always, " The Lord is able to give you much more than this." ( 2 Chron.25:9)

FEBRUARY 20

" I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation."    Job 5:3.

Eliphaz is arguing from his own experience and such a conclusion is not infallible. The problem with arguing from observations is that our observation is limited; the future is not always ( indeed seldom ) as we predict. Some 'habitations' suddenly fall down and disappear, but many others prosper throughout life, despite their foolish beliefs. However, it is true that trusting in their prosperity does kill many fools ( Psalm 73. Ecclesiastes 8 :10-14), and therefore circumstances of prosperity can be a curse and not a blessing. " Affliction has killed its thousands, and prosperity its ten thousands." ( Spurgeon). Some people spiritually 'prosper' in affliction ( Ps.119:71,75)  but decline when they have prosperity, eg King Uzziah or the church at Laodicea

( Rev.3).Eliphaz thought that what he saw in his life was the rule for others ; he was full of ' expert ' self-importance ( vs.27). " As a physician, `Eliphaz only irritated the wounds he intended to heal." ( J.Strahan) He even insinuates that Job's sin caused the death of his children ( vs.4, 24) !!  No wonder Job calls them " miserable comforters."

Eliphaz describes the sudden destruction of the fool's habitation in verses 4 and 5, but this is not the universal pattern of how God deals with fools. " His ignorance, not only of Job but of God, was ignorance parading as knowledge, Eliphaz will himself need a mediator later ( ch.42). So completely does the real differ from the actual ! " ( S.Terrien)

FEBRUARY 21

" Affliction comes not forth from the dust."  Job 5:6.

" Something beyond Job's understanding is happening to him - Job's faith  is therefore being tested. Eliphaz and the others are trying to establish Job's guilt by the equation ' suffering = sin has been committed ' ; but this proves too much, as all have sinned. Job, like David in his suffering ( Ps.22:1), is looking for an answer. But he will not call upon experts or angels for help (vs.1), he will seek answers from his Redeemer ( ch.19). " We are saved in hope, and God loves them that hope in His mercy ( Ps.33:18. Ps.50:15)." Afflictions are not to be ascribed to chance. They have a cause, and are under the direction of God. Eliphaz makes this statement to show Job that it was improper to murmur, and that he should commit his case to a God of infinite power and wisdom ( vs.8,9). Afflictions, he says, cannot be avoided...and when they come they should be submitted to, as ordered by an intelligent, wise and good Being - they always have a purpose." ( Albert Barnes) While it is true that we should examine ourselves first for any cause which brings affliction upon us ( as Eliiphaz reminds us), sometimes the reason is not in us, but comes for a sovereign, external reason, as in the case of Job. If it can happen to him, it can happen to us. ( ( Isaiah 50:10. John 9:2,3).

FEBRUARY 22 

" Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward."   Job 5:7.

Trouble is as predictable as sparks going upward, because we are born into a world of sin, our own and everyone else's. This makes for a world full of troubles, much of it interpersonal ; people do hurt each other here. Man;s fallen nature will produce trouble, for himself and others. " Man naturally works his own trouble, he needs no tutor ; sinning and sorrowing are not his art but his nature. This is our inheritance ! We do not need to await the death of our parents to enter into it." ( J.Caryl) We should therefore accept this fact, submit to God, and have confidence in Him and His purpose for us. Faith will believe that God has a plan for us ; and holding on to that comfort will be tested, sometimes severely, like Job was. But " to rage against God's judgements is more dangerous to a soul than are the judgements themselves." ( T.Whitelaw)

God's power of grace can overcome our rebellious nature ( which can deceive us into thinking that the rebellious power in us is heroic - as many novels and dramas portray it ). But it is our spiritual response to troubles that will prove if we have the Holy Spirit ; troubles will come. "But will prayerful dependence on God come with it ?" , " Thy way, not mine, O Lord." is a good prayer, and conforms to Christ's prayer in Gethsemane. We have sparks in us, and we should therefore be reluctant to condemn others without knowing all the facts. " If we become so involved in judging others, we may forget what kind of people we are ourselves." ( Calvin)

FEBRUARY 23

" I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause." Job 5:8

Some people have a way with words. How subtly does Eliphaz imply that Job has been deficient in praying to God ! To seek God implies that you feel a distance between you and God. But there is the distance of alienation and the distance of misunderstanding ; for Job it was the latter. The distance of the Prodigal son was the former, for Job it was the latter. Nor was it the distance experienced by  the backslider, like Samson or David. Job had been commended by God, to the devil himself ! In Job's case, his sense of nearness to God had been blunted by his circumstances.

We are to seek God daily ( Ps.25:5 ) and not just to wait until we ' feel moved ' to pray. It is always our duty to ' draw near to God ' ( Ps.73:28. James 4:8). But we should ask ourselves, is it pleasure or duty, or both ? Our prayer life is a good indicator of our spiritual condition ; the Lord showed the character of two men by their prayers, in Luke ch.18.

The fact of, and call to, prayer is a proof that God can be ' found '. This is an encouragement to fight despair, for the sinner and the saint. Seemingly hopeless cases called out to God for help, and God did not pass them by ; even Eliiphaz has recognised this from his observations. God gives many encouragements in the Bible to seekers, not only by what He says ( Ps.69:32)  but by what He has not said ! ( Isaiah 45:19)

FEBRUARY 24

" Who does great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number."     Job 5:9

The reason given here for seeking God is that " He governs the world in a more profound way than we can comprehend." ( Luther). Reverence and confidence should therefore be our response to Him ( Rom.11:33). God does ' great things ', beyond the power and beyond the imagination of man. We have but to look up into the night sky to be reminded of His infinite greatness, and how small we are. It is impossible to ' search out ' fully what He is and what He does ; we must set a limit to our questions, as some are unanswerable by the human mind ; it takes a ' university degree ' in humility to accept this. " His mysterious dealings with us are to be expected, and they should not be allowed to shake our confidence in Him." ( A.Barnes) Eliphaz says he agrees, and yet Eliphaz believed he could diagnose Job's condition !

Why do we not expect mysterious things from God ? " One reason is that we go too much by past experience. We often read our past experience in an imperfect, careless way ; not perceiving the important aspects and misinterpreting others also. But we have no right to measure God by our experience." ( J. Leckie) Some, like Eliphaz, impose the laws of their own mind upon God, restricting His freedom. Others have settled down to small expectations, expecting no great things from God. Luther said to Erasmus, " Your God is too like a human." JB Philips wrote, " Your God is too small." Like many, Eliphaz thought he knew more than he actually did know ; often mistaking his own thinking for God's thoughts. The Lord Jesus said that we must think like children, we shall never be old enough to leave God's school.

FEBRUARY 25

" He disappoints the devices ( what they devise ) of the crafty."  Job 5:12

The Apostle Paul refers to this act of God in 1 Corinth. 3:19, that he restrains the purposes of the cunning sinner. They may indeed accomplish something that pleases them, but they shall see disappointment at the end. God not only rules, He overrules. God's restraint prevents ' hell on earth '. The devil himself is restrained ; he can go so far, and no further. God also prevents the sins intended by backsliders, ' thus far and no further ' ! ( cf. Gen. 20:6,7,10 ). Even a ' man after God's own heart ' ( David ) had to be restrained from the potential of indwelling sin. His plan for Bathsheba and Uriah was cunning, but he did not get away with it, and neither did his conscience and memory in the future. We must progress to heaven despite ourselves ! - such is grace.

We must not forget that sin does not change its nature, even in the forgiven. It shall still fight, tempt, blind, harden  and hinder us when it can. ( Galat.5:17). We think we are making poor progress in sanctification, and we are, but we would be worse without the Spirit's subduing power ( Philipp.3:21. 2 Corinth.4:16). Job cried out in anguish and said some harsh things, but he was restrained from saying worse ( as the devil wanted him to do, ch.1:11). He was often impatient, but he did not go back. Impatience does not prevent endurance.

FEBRUARY 26

" He takes the wise in their own craftiness."  Job 5:13.

This is the only direct quotation from the Book of Job in the New Testament ( 1 Corinth.3:19), although there are allusions to other verses from Job. God causes the plots of the wicked to backfire, they often fall into the ditches they dig for others or the gallows they build for others ( like Haman). The best-laid plans, like strong doors, are often overturned by little insignificant hinges. God uses the wind against the Spanish Armada, Absalom's vanity against Ahithophel's counsel. The wicked wise shall yet meet with ' darkness in the daytime ' (vs.14), and the poor can still hope in seemingly hopeless situations (vs.15). At the Red Sea there seemed no way to escape from the enemy, no,not until God made the way to escape ( 1 Corinth.10:13). Moreover, the believer must sometimes need to go through something in order to get out of it.

Every believer can look back and remember how God delivered her from what seemed a hopeless situation, when she could only imagine the worst outcome. Yet it came to a happy conclusion. Such painful waiting magnifies the deliverance of God when it comes. " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us ", said Samuel, ie. not me alone. " Hold out faith and patience, " said the Pilgrim as he went through the waters.

FEBRUARY 27

"   So the poor has hope."  Job 5:16.

The verses preceding emphasize how God often reverses the expectations of the world. The world thinks that the man who loses every hope but one is poor, but the poor man's one hope has great expectation ( vs.15.  1 Tim.1:1). It iis a great blessing to have such poverty ( Matt.5:3). This one hope, implanted at the new birth by the Holy Spirit ( with faith and love ) does not rely on its strength but on the One who gave it. ( Ps.22:9,10) It has no ' maybe ' attached, but with expectation sees the end which God has promised to such who have it. We have read the end of the Book ( Revelation 21 and 22), and we know how the story ends.

To be without Christ is hopeless ( Ephes.2:12), but for the believer, even when things look hopeless, hope abides ( Rom.4:18), and Christ is honoured by our trust ( Ps.107:41,42). The poor have a Friend, who will intervene to deliver them when His time comes. God has given the Book of Job to encourage His suffering people to hope on. " To the poor there is hope, expectation of being carried through and with hope of deliverance. But the man who takes another way, and laughs at the poor who trust in God, shall be brought down, and his mouth stopped to his shame." ( J.Durham) The Lord thinks upon such who see their true condition without Him ( Ps.40:17). Are we good students of affliction, learning our lessons in the classroom of hope ?

FEBRUARY 28

" Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects."  Job 5: 17.

This correction is an ongoing process throughout life, as there is a deviant power within us which needs to be kept on course daily ; like a ship with a damaged rudder  which needs constant corrections by the helmsman, The view given here that suffering for the believer is chastisement presupposes that chastisement is necessary ;that we need it as God's children, that we shall not make progress in the spiritual life without it ( James 1:12). As it gives us such benefits, we must submit to it without murmuring ; another hard lesson for us to learn. " In chastisement God uses many ways to call men back from their sins into ' the paths of righteousness'...It is not that there is happiness in the suffering, but it is a blessing that God does not allow them to go on to their ruin.(vs.18) "  ( A.Barnes). It takes faith to believe this when suffering, that it is ' for our good ' ( Rom.8:28). " Lord, Help Thou my unbelief." was well said.

Eliphaz misapplied this excellent doctrine to Job, Job was not backslidden ; it is easy for us to mistake the cause of our sufferings. Christ's sufferings have also been misunderstood, but He Himself knew that it had to be ( Luke 24:26). There is a right and a wrong way to view affliction, and Christ died as more than a mere example. " He was lifted up on the cross for the sin-bitten soul ( John 3:14). ( Horatius Bonar)

FEBRUARY 29

" Therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty."  Job 5:17.

Eliphaz advised Job not to misconstrue God's chastisement and take it in a negative way. Discipline is always remedial ( something the church should remember) ; we see the blessing " afterwards " ( Heb.12:11). Then we can say with David, ' It was good for me that I was afflicted.' ( Ps.119:71). In times of trouble we should be asking, as an old Puritan said, not just ' How can I get out of it ? ' but also ' What can I get out of it ? ' We should pray that we shall not be discouraged ( the natural reaction), and remember what Luther prayed, " Smite, Lord, for Thou hast forgiven." " Crosses are not curses, and frowns are sometimes favours. The Almighty never corrects but for faults, sometimes faults of which we are not yet aware. His corrections are intended to draw out our graces and improve our principles. If the Lord chastens us it is because He loves us ( Heb.12:6). Let us not then mistake the character of our afflictions, they are really mercies. They are indispensable if we are to avoid serious injury. Let us bow before our Father's throne. The Lord's rod often blossoms and bears fruit  [like Aaron's rod ]. Our present discipline is to prepare us for future duties, enjoyments and glories. It is a kindness ( Ps.141:5) ; the rod is not in the hand of a stranger or an enemy. There shall be future fruit ( Heb.12:11 ).