Daily Scripture Reading Job 4:15 - 5:27

Suffering is a common feature of the human experience. Our pain might be physical, mental, or emotional. It might be caused by sickness, finances, or other people.

Some people believe that the reason people suffer is because they sinned. In other words, when something bad happens, they assume they are being punished. A similar belief is something called the health and wealth philosophy, also called the prosperity gospel. Basically, the prosperity gospel claims that if people obey God, then they will be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous.

Today’s passage articulates both the idea that suffering is caused by sin and that obeying God will yield prosperity. The overall story of Job proves both of those ideas wrong, because we know that Job was not suffering because he had sinned. He suffered because Satan was trying to prove a point to Yahweh. Today, we pick up reading in the middle of the third section of Job.

The third section is Eliphaz’s first speech to Job. Eliphaz expressed his belief that people suffer because they did something wrong. Eliphaz was implying that Job had lost everything because Job had sinned. Then Eliphaz claimed he had received a message in the night. In the following verses we read Eliphaz’s description of a spirit and the message he received from the spirit.

Keep in mind the book of Job merely records what Eliphaz said. The inerrancy of Scripture means the book of Job accurately records what Eliphaz said, it does not mean Eliphaz was correct in everything he said.

Job 4:15 Then a spirit swept by my face;

The hair of my flesh bristled up.

Job 4:16 It stood still, but I could not recognize its appearance;

A form was before my eyes;

There was silence, then I heard a voice:

Job 4:17 ‘Can mankind be right before God?

Can a man be pure before his Maker?

These are great questions. Is it possible for a human to be righteous?

The third chapter of Romans says all humans have sinned and none are righteous, so the answer to this question is no, no human can be right before God. Having said that, the first verse of Job says Job was blameless and upright. That does not mean Job was perfect and never sinned. It means, overall, Job mostly obeyed God. It also means Job was more upright than most people. It would have been hard for another human to point out something Job was doing wrong.

The following verses are Eliphaz’s opinion of God’s character. The inerrancy of Scripture means the Bible accurately records Eliphaz’s opinion. It does not mean everything Eliphaz believed was correct. Therefore, the following verses should not to establish our beliefs regarding the character of God.

Job 4:18 He puts no trust even in His slaves;

And against His angels He charges error.

Job 4:19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,

Whose foundation is in the dust,

Who are crushed before the moth!

Job 4:20 Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;

Unobserved, they perish forever.

Job 4:21 Is not their tent-cord pulled up within them?

They die, yet without wisdom.’

Job 5:1 ¶ “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?

And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

Job 5:2 For vexation kills the ignorant fool,

And jealousy puts to death the simple.

Job 5:3 I have seen the ignorant fool taking root,

And I cursed his abode suddenly.

Job 5:4 His sons are far from salvation,

They are even crushed in the gate,

And there is no deliverer.

Job 5:5 His harvest the hungry devour

And take it to a place of thorns,

And the schemer pants after their wealth.

Job 5:6 For wickedness does not come out from the dust,

Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

The implication of this verse is that wickedness and trouble come from sin; therefore, Job was suffering because he had sinned.

Job 5:7 For man is born for trouble,

As sparks fly upward.

Verse 7 concludes Eliphaz’s argument that human suffering is always the result of sin. In the following verses, Eliphaz gave Job his recommendation for how to escape his suffering.

Job 5:8 ¶ “But as for me, I would seek God,

And I would set my cause before God,

Job 5:9 Who does great and unsearchable things,

Wonders without number.

Job 5:10 He gives rain on the earth

And sends water on the fields outside,

Job 5:11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly,

And those who mourn are lifted to salvation.

It is true that God can lift the lowly and sometimes does. However, Eliphaz was implying that if Job would seek God, then God would definitely elevate Job. That is not a correct belief. We know that because Job’s calamity was solely the result of Satan trying to prove a point to Yahweh.

Job 5:12 He frustrates the thoughts of the crafty,

So that their hands cannot attain success of sound wisdom.

Job 5:13 He catches the wise by their own craftiness,

And the counsel of the twisted is quickly thwarted.

Job 5:14 By day they meet with darkness

And grope at noon as in the night.

Job 5:15 But He saves from the sword of their mouth,

And the needy from the hand of the strong.

Job 5:16 So the poor has hope,

And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.

Job 5:17 ¶ “Behold, how blessed is the man whom God reproves,

So do not reject the discipline of the Almighty.

This is in line with verses in the New Testament that talk about God disciplining those whom He loves.

Job 5:18 For He inflicts pain and gives relief;

He wounds, and His hands also heal.

Job 5:19 From six distresses He will deliver you,

Even in seven evil will not touch you.

In this and following verses, Eliphaz claimed God would restore Job and protect him from disaster if Job sought God.

Job 5:20 In famine He will redeem you from death,

And in war from hands with swords.

Job 5:21 You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,

And you will not be afraid of devastation when it comes.

Job 5:22 You will laugh at devastation and starvation,

And you will not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

Job 5:23 For your covenant will be with the stones of the field,

And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

Job 5:24 You will know that your tent is at peace,

For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.

Job 5:25 You will know also that your seed will be many,

And your offspring as the vegetation of the land.

Job 5:26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,

Like the stacking of grain in its season.

Job 5:27 Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.

Hear it, and know for yourself.”

Eliphaz claimed that Job was suffering because he had sinned. Furthermore, Eliphaz promised that if Job would repent, then he would prosper.

These are common beliefs today. Many people assume pain and suffering are punishment for sin. Others believe that obeying God will bring wealth and prosperity.

The overall story of Job disproves both of those ideas. Job was not suffering because he had sinned. He suffered because Satan was trying to prove a point to Yahweh.

The Bible says God disciplines those He loves; therefore, pain, suffering and other obstacles might be the result of sin. However, we should not always assume that trials and tribulations are the result of sin.

What are some tribulations you have endured that were not the result of your errors or shortcomings?

What is an example of God using a trial to discipline you and remove sin from your life?

When we encounter pain and suffering, how can we know whether it is discipline or not discipline?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”