Job 4:2

2 If we assay [nacah] to commune [dabar] with thee, wilt thou be grieved [la'ah]? but who can [yakol] withhold [`atsar] himself from speaking [millah]? KJV-Interlinear

2 'If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking? NASB

When someone has been hurting and suffering for an extended period of time, then the last thing they want is criticism in conversation. They just want the suffering to stop. Good luck in trying to get someone in misery, to patiently reason with you.

Job's three friends have been waiting patiently and in silence for seven days. Job breaks the silence and complains of his misery. Without hesitating even a minute, Eliphaz tests the emotional waters with Job, to see if he is even willing to listen.

For seven days, everyone has had more than enough time to figure things out in their own minds. Or at least figure things out as they see them.

Now remember the time in which these events occur. We are only a handful of generations following the flood of Noah. The population of the world is not that large. The tower of Babel has risen and fallen, and thus we have the various regions where folks have traveled to live.

Eliphaz is a Temanite, which means southerner. So we presume that he is from the south, or south of where Job lives.

We know that great wealth accumulation was possible in his day, we know that there were groups or gangs who raid and murder and steal, and we know that great and violent storms come along from time to time, such as the one that killed Job's children and his vast herds of sheep.

And, just as in our day, so too in Job's day, people can be sensitive toward verbal instruction and correction.

Eliphaz begins his first speech with a question. 'Job, will you get angry if I speak to you? Job will you get angry if I offer you my opinion? Job, will you get angry with me if I offer you some advice?'

Eliphaz wanted to test the waters before speaking. His perception is that Job has offended the Almighty, and he, Eliphaz, just had to say something. What Eliphaz has to say, might well be unwelcome to Job's ears. Therefore, the apology or caution in advance.

But, nonetheless, God has been offended and Eliphaz feels the need to rise to Gods defense.

Of course, we know that God is more than able to defend his own honor, but often times, it is the people who become offended, either by behavior, or vocabulary, or something that they just do not think should be said or done.

When the standards of people get in the way of truth, then we have the beginnings of political correctness, which is a shallow, superficial, and phony offense, which in turn becomes the breeding ground for correction or control, by means of peer pressure, intimidation, or worse.

This concept will develop as we progress through this study, but we can certainly see examples of this from the behavior of people around the world, as mere words can lead to great, even violent reactions in many forms.

Previous Page

Table of Contents

Donation

Next Page

Now is the time to post a prayer.