Today's passage: Job 5
Helpful thoughts:
- Eliphaz reiterates what he believes to be the general cause of calamity, sin and foolishness.
- He speaks of God as bringing swift justice on the earth and help to those in need.
- Finally, he encourages Job to receive the discipline of the Lord as a blessing. Eliphaz believes Job needs to repent of his sin so that God will give Him a long life and take away all the hardship.
Questions to consider:
- What parts of Eliphaz's counsel sounded right? What passages from elsewhere in Scripture came to mind as you read (Perhaps something like Hebrews 12:7-11)?
- What is the general argument Eliphaz is making? If you do good, then your life will be…what? If you sin, then your life will be…what? In what ways can this be true? In what ways could this be wrong? If Job had sinned and repented, would that have guaranteed the return of wealth and health?
- Read John 9:1-3. Is everything as clear cut as Eliphaz is making it? How could he have asked questions instead of making assertions in a way that could have helped him to give better counsel to Job?