Book of Job: Overview of Chapters 4-37 The story of Job gives a clear picture that sometimes God allows suffering, even to those who appear to have lived perfect lives. In the overview of these chapters we see Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu go through a series of interchanges with Job on why he is suffering. Each time the exchange of words becomes more direct as Job, confused and in severe pain tries to defend himself. What Job’s friends do not understand is that God has allowed Satan to attack Job to show Satan that Job’s faithfulness to God is strong. Satan accuses Job of only serving God because of Job’s prosperity. God’s confidence in Job is evidence to us today that God will allow suffering in our lives for purposes we may not understand. We do know that trials produces patience, which produces a stronger faith. James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” God’s purposes for our lives as quite simply, God’s purposes. We may or will not always understand God’s purposes but they are intended for our good. James 5:9-11 “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” As we study the interchange between Job and his friends perhaps the best lesson we can learn is that when we see someone suffering, quietly support our friends, without judgment and with understanding, compassion and love.

 
Key Verses: Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”

Job’s Friends Accuse Him of Sin in His Life: Selected Scriptures:

Job 4:1-5 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?But who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands. 4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees; 5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled. 6 Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope? 7 “ Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? 8 Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
Job 8:1-7 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you speak these things,And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? 3 Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If your sons have sinned against Him,He has cast them away for their transgression. 5 If you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty, 6 If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place. 7 Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
Job 11:1-7 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “ Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? 3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? 4 For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.’ 5 But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you, 6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.
Job 15:1-8 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “ Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind? 3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or by speeches with which he can do no good? 4 Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God. 5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the tongue of the crafty. 6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you. 7 “Are you the first man who was born? Or were you made before the hills? 8 Have you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
Job 18:1-6,18-21 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.3 Why are we counted as beasts, And regarded as stupid in your sight? 4 You who tear yourself in anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place? 5 “The light of the wicked indeed goes out,And the flame of his fire does not shine. 6 The light is dark in his tent, And his lamp beside him is put out 18 He is driven from light into darkness,And chased out of the world. 19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people,Nor any remaining in his dwellings. 20 Those in the west are astonished at his day, As those in the east are frightened. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God.”
Job 20:1-8 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “ Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer,Because of the turmoil within me.3 I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. 4 “Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, 5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? 6 Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,And his head reaches to the clouds, 7 Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse;Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’8 He will fly away like a dream, and not be found;Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
Job 22:1-8 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself? 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless? 4 “Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you? 5 Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end? 6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason,And stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 You have not given the weary water to drink,And you have withheld bread from the hungry. 8 But the mighty man possessed the land,And the honorable man dwelt in it. 9 You have sent widows away empty,And the strength of the fatherless was crushed. Job 25:1-6 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “ Dominion and fear belong to Him;He makes peace in His high places. 3 Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise? 4 How then can man be righteous before God?Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? 5 If even the moon does not shine,And the stars are not pure in His sight, 6 How much less man, who is a maggot,And a son of man, who is a worm?” Job 35:1-9 Moreover Elihu answered and said: 2 “Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? 3 For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’4 “I will answer you, And your companions with you. 5 Look to the heavens and see, And behold the clouds— They are higher than you. 6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man. 9 “ Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.

Personal Application: The crowd tried to get Jesus to say that God punished people for sinful behavior. Even though their actions were wrong Jesus wanted them to take a close look at their lives and repent of their sins. Luke 13:1-5 “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Perhaps the best lesson for believers when we see our friends suffering is to follow the words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Rome. Romans 12:9-16 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”