Mark A. Copeland
The Book Of Job
The Great Debate: 1st Cycle Of Speeches (4-14)


OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION

1) To examine the counsel of Job's friends, what their observations were, and upon what they based
their conclusions regarding Job's suffering

2) To consider Job's response to his friends, how he took their "advice", and how he continued to vent
his complaint over his suffering

SUMMARY

Following Job's outburst in which he cursed the day of his birth and wondered why those who long for
death continue to live, his three friends begin offering their counsel. Eliphaz the Temanite starts with
expressing his view that the innocent don't suffer, the wicked do. As support for his position, he refers
to a vision that he had. Chastening Job, Eliphaz then directs Job to seek God's forgiveness, reminding
him of the blessings that would come if Job repented (4:1-5:22). Job defends his rash words as being
prompted by his grief, and again expresses his desire for death. Reproaching his friends as being a
"deceitful brook", he challenges them to show him where he has sinned. He then resumes his complaint,
asking God a multitude of questions (6:1-7:21).

Bildad the Shuhite now steps in and rebukes Job for his strong words. Maintaining that God is just, he
implies that Job's sons died because of their own transgressions, and if Job were only pure and upright
he would be blessed by God. Appealing to wisdom of the ancients, he contends the wicked are without
support, and that God will not cast away the blameless. If Job would only repent, God would fill him
once again with laughter and rejoicing (8:1-22). Job basically agrees, but wonders who can really be
righteous in God's sight in view of His wisdom and strength. He then complains of God's
inaccessibility, and maintains his own integrity while concluding that God destroys the blameless along
with the wicked. Feeling hopeless, Job bemoans the lack of a mediator between him and God. Once
again, he gives free course to his complaint as he lashes out with more questions directed toward God
(9:1-10:22).

Finally, Zophar the Naamathite enters the dialogue with his own rebuke of Job for his rash words.
Indicating that Job has actually received less suffering than he deserves, he reproaches Job trying to
search out the deep things of God. Instead, Job should be putting away iniquity and wickedness, for
then he would abide in brightness, security and hope (11:1-20). In response, Job chides his friends for
their attempt to impart wisdom but succeeding only in mocking him. Affirming the wisdom of God, Job
says the advice of his friends has been of little help. He calls them "forgers of lies" and "worthless
physicians" who have only given him "proverbs of ashes" and "defenses of clay". Confident of his own
integrity, Job again expresses his desire to speak with God to ask Him what he has done to deserve such
suffering. Once again despairing of hope, he longs for death (12:1-14:22).

OUTLINE


The Book Of Job 15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45