Lesson 26: Job Chs. 18,20,22,25
Job 17:5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
· Flattery: False praise; commendation bestowed for the purpose of gaining favor and influence, or to accomplish some purpose. And or, commendation which gratifies self-love.
Chapters 18: Bildad
18:2a Bildad asked Job the same thing Job asked Eliphaz in 16:3 when will these words stop.
18-2a Bildad told Job to “mark” (pay special attention to) what to what you (Job) had been saying.” Bildad wanted Job to be sure take stock of what he (Job) had said before they answered him.
18:3 Why should Job take stock? Bildad understood that Job felt the three men had met and conspired to attack his reputation among all who knew him. Tear him apart.
· Vs 10:16-17; 13:24; 16:9-10 Job felt they had made him their enemy that had to be destroyed.
18:4a Who is the “he” in this verse? The wicked in V5. Bildad speaks of Job. I believe Bibdad was using his own words of 13:14 against him telling Job his anger was actually tearing himself apart.
18:4b Remember Job’s friends wanted him to accept their accusation that he had committed some great unknown sin that caused God to bring judgment upon him. Bildad uses God’s creation (the earth and rocks) to ask Job if he felt he was above God judgment.
18:5-21 Bildad once again speaks of the plight of the wicked. What he says is ultimately true of the wicked, but Job knows Bildad considers him to be the wicked.
· Remember Job’s accusation in 13:7. Is Bildad using the knowledge wickedly for God?
· Note Vs18:13,15 with 1:18; V18 with 3:4-5; V19 with 1:19
· V21 what else could Job believe but Bildad believe him to be a wicked man who did not know God. (8:13).
Chapter 20: Zophar
Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
· V4 this is old knowledge: The flood, tower Babel
Job 20:29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
· 20:11 with 13:6-7 speaking wickedness
· 20:13 with 15:26; 20:22 with 1:15, 17 And 20:23 with 1:13, 16
Chapter 22: Eliphaz
V2-3 again the argument what is man; what does any man, even a righteous man, have to offer God that God needs
V4 Interesting question. Did Eliphaz ask Job if he thought God was keeping him in the ashes become God was afraid as one fears a powerful enemy and did Job believe God should bargain or come to some compromise. 4b with 9:32 Job own words out of context.
V5-7, 9 Eliphaz made direct clear accusations against Job. He did not share his wealth. He ignored the needs of those suffering and refused to help needy.
· V22:10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; with 20:18-19.
· Was Eliphaz saying because God was forced to bring judgment upon Job because he refused to share his wealth?
· These verses tie directly to one who gained his wealth through crafty devices and bribery.
Vs 21-30 Eliphaz told Job to get right with God and everything will return back to it was before God judged him.
· In 5:17-26 Eliphaz made basiclly the same speech.
· In V4:3-4 Eliphaz stated how Job, before all the troubles came upon him, lifted up men who were cast down. In 22:29-30 Eliphaz told Job if he would return to the Almighty he would once again be able to lift up those again.
Chapter 25: Bildad
This was the shortest argument made by the three men. Bildad seems to be for a loss of words over Job’s continued denial that he was guilty of the sins theses men accused him of committing. Job continued say God was his judge and he would stand before Him in the latter days.
Bildad stated a common thought in the book of Job, “How then can man be justified with God?”
I believe Bildad be stating that there was no way Job could be justified before God. Why? Because he agreed with the claims Eliphaz made in 22:5-7,9.
His friends were not going to let Job put the past behind him. They continue to use the events on Ch1 to prove that Job was a man of iniquity and all around him suffered because God was forced to punish him.