Chapter 5
I would seek unto God,
and unto God would I commit my cause:
Job 5:8
Eliphaz continues his first speech
The end of an evil man who was successful
v1 If anyone will answer you, Job, then call! See whether a holy person will reply!
v2 An evil man dies because he is angry. But a stupid man dies because he is jealous.
v3 I have seen an evil man who was successful. But his troubles came suddenly. v4 His children are in danger. They are in court, and nobody will help them. v5 Hungry people eat that man’s harvest. They even take the crops that grow between the weeds. And other people claim that evil man’s wealth.
v6 The soil does not cause our problems. The ground does not cause our troubles. v7 But, from his birth, a man will suffer troubles. He cannot choose to avoid trouble. A flame does not choose to burn upwards.
Verse 1
Eliphaz heard when Job complained (in Job chapter 3). But Eliphaz thought that Job’s words achieved nothing.
Eliphaz’s words were partly correct. God does not listen if we merely complain to him (Job 35:14-16). Nobody should complain about God (Job 34:29). God is good! God is fair!
Verse 2
This is a clever verse.
An evil man is angry because he hates God.
So, God punishes the evil man for his behavior.
This is why the evil man dies.
A stupid man might not hate God.
This man does not really know about God.
And this man has not learned to do the right things.
But the stupid man is jealous of other people.
So, he copies their evil behavior.
Then God punishes the stupid man for his evil behavior.
This is why the stupid man dies.
Verses 3-5
Eliphaz saw these events. So, Eliphaz thought, ‘God is punishing this man.’ And Eliphaz thought that this was fair. Eliphaz was sure that this evil man deserved these troubles.
Verses 6-7
Here, Eliphaz linked his dream (Job 4:12-21) with his story (Job 5:1-5). If nobody is innocent, then everybody deserves troubles! So, Job could not be an innocent man.
God is great
v8 So, I would ask God to help. v9 God does so many great things. We cannot count his wonderful deeds. v10 He sends the rain. He provides water for the fields. v11 He makes humble people important. And he protects people who are very sad. v12 He causes evil plans to fail, so that evil people cannot succeed. v13 He stops clever people who have evil schemes. And their plans fail. v14 They will think that the day has become the night. At midday, they will trip and fall like blind people.
v15 God saves poor people from death. And he protects them from the evil schemes of powerful
people. v16 So, poor people have hope. And cruelty must end.
Verses 8-11
This is true. These words are wonderful words. Verse 11 is like James 4:10 and Luke 1:46-55.
Verses 12-14
These words are also true. But we can see Eliphaz’s mistake again. Eliphaz did not realize that some evil plans succeed. And Eliphaz thought that God would punish these evil people immediately.
Verses 15-16
God cares about poor people. Rich people might be cruel to poor people. But God defends poor people. And Christians should help poor people too (Proverbs 22:22-23; Galatians 2:10; Matthew 11:5).
Eliphaz’s advice to Job
v17 But a man should be glad when God shows to that man his errors. Job, do not hate the discipline that God is teaching to you.
v18 God causes you to suffer. But he will also cure you. v19 He will rescue you if you have 6 terrible troubles. You will even be safe if you have 7 terrible troubles.
v20 When other people are hungry, God will save you from death. And in a battle, God will protect you from the swords of your enemy. v21 People’s words will not hurt you. You will not be afraid when terrible things happen. v22 You will laugh when other people suffer loss or hunger. You will not be afraid of dangerous animals. v23 You will have good crops. And wild animals will not cause problems for you. v24 You will be safe in your home. You will not lose anything that you own.
v25 You will have many children. And your grandchildren will have so many children that you cannot count them. v26 You will die at a good age. So, you will have a successful life, which will end at the right time. You will be like ripe grain at harvest.
v27 We have checked this advice and it is right. So, Job, listen to this advice! Do the things that I advise you.
Verse 17
Eliphaz thought that God was teaching Job about Job’s errors. So, Eliphaz urged Job to learn discipline from God.
Verse 18
God did not cause Job to suffer.
The devil caused these problems.
Verse 19
This verse is right. God cares for the people who trust him. He will rescue them, even if they suffer many terrible troubles (Psalm 40:1-3; Psalm 46:1-3; Proverbs 24:16).
Verses 20-24
Eliphaz promised many good things if Job would trust God. God cares about his people. See Deuteronomy 28:1-14.
In our lives on this earth, we may suffer many troubles (Mark 8:34-38). God will provide for us (Matthew 6:28-34). But we should not imagine that we must be wealthy to be successful (Luke 12:15; Proverbs 3:13-15; James 2:1-5).
Verse 25
This is like God’s promise to Abraham. See Genesis 12:2; Genesis 15:2-5; Hebrews 11:11-12.
Verse 26
A farmer must collect his grain at the right time. Then the grain will be useful and valuable. But grain is not useful if the farmer collects it too early.
Eliphaz wanted Job to live until he was old. Job would achieve many good things. And Job would have a large family. So Job would be like the harvest.
Eliphaz was not careful with his words in verses 25-26. Job was probably already an old man. And all Job’s children were dead (Job 1:19). Eliphaz wanted to encourage Job. But Eliphaz’s words could only upset Job. Before these troubles, Job had a good life. But now Job’s life was terrible.
Verse 27
Eliphaz thought that his advice was good. But Eliphaz’s advice was too simple. He made many mistakes. He upset Job.
So Job was very sad. He even wanted to die. And Job was sure that his friends could not help him.
Keith Simons