Introduction:

Have you ever stayed up late watching an infomercial selling a useless product? Or have you walked through a Walmart and found a gadget that was just too dumb to buy? Well, the Internet has compiled a list of some of the worst faulty designs of a product. I will share a few. First, the Car Exhaust Grill; just what every- one needs. This invention allows users to make nice savory burgers with car exhaust. Just insert the patty in the pan and attach the exhaust pipe connector and off you go. The makers say the fumes stay away from the burger, but really, is it worth the risk? By the way it made in Iran. How about this one? Air Conditioned Shoes, yep you heard me right. They provide extra fresh air in your soles however it’s just a pair of shoes with holes in them. Not only is it not a real upgrade, it’s an incomplete product they are trying to pass on as a deluxe item. They claim the product has “unique filter technology.” Yeah, we can put holes in our own shoes and not pay $175 for it.

Last one is the kicker, Diet Water. It’s a problem we didn’t know about. So many people are getting tons of calories from water. Gee it must be true, why else would someone try to sell a diet version of something that already doesn’t have any calories? This was marketed by Sapporo’s a product made in Japan. Water is good for us but what we don’t need is the supposition that there is a diet brand of water. Folks, that sort of what Eliphaz was dishing out to Job. The truths he was declaring were true but the supposition upon which he gave them did not apply, like diet water it doesn’t apply. We come to chapter five and Eliphaz is still ranting.

I. Eliphaz Speaks Suppositions (5:1-7)

1. Eliphaz has a second argument for his reasoning based on his own life experiences. Much of what he declares has great spiritual value but he was just saying it to the wrong man and making a false judgement. Again I remind you of the fact that it can be cumbersome to translate and to develop congruent thoughts in English because much of this is in the forms of parallelism. These will take shape and are a fine example of hymn diversity in OT poetry.

2. The second argument starts (v.1) with Eliphaz saying, go ahead cry out, no one will listen to you not even the holy ones can help you. Job you are so exasperated you speak as a foolish man and that could get you killed. Eliphaz did not directly accuse Job; he suggested that Job do all he could not be like a foolish person who would be killed by wrath.

3. In verse three Eliphaz says that he has seen sinners prosper, only to lose everything in the end. A closer examination of what Eliphaz is saying is that the death of Job’s children is the result of his sin. What Job needed was assurance from his friend Eliphaz not judgement but more compassion. Eliphaz believed that this trouble did not come to Job from nowhere; it didn’t just spring from the ground. The implication in verse 6 is clear: this affliction came upon Job from God. You brought this upon yourself and God is punishing you now.

4. Verse 7 is a famous quote that states, “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. This is a truth that is quite clear to most but they are the wrong words at the wrong time to the wrong man. He knew that sorrow and tragedy were part of life.

Application:
Folks, we need to speak the right words at the right time to be effective in ministry.

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! Proverbs 15:3
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

II. Eliphaz Defends God (5:8-16 )

1. Eliphaz has finished telling Job why he is suffering; now he is going to tell Job what he is supposed to do about it. He appears to be self-righteous in saying in verse 8, “As for me, (8) I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause: It sounds good but the truth is none of us know just how we would react if we were in Job’s shoe. Eliphaz makes an assumption– that Job was not seeking God and was not committing his cause to God in his affliction.

However, he does defend the nature of God and in this section we see some great attributes of the Lord. God does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number…
Even the apostle Paul cited from Job 5:13 in 1 Corinthians 3:19; He catches the wise in their craftiness. We have many wonderful truths here but misapplied.

2. According to the counsel of Eliphaz, this is why Job should seek God and commit his way to Him. It is because God is a great God, great in both His power over creation (He gives rain on the earth) and in His moral justice (he frustrates the devices of the crafty . . . injustice shuts her mouth). Again, the implication is clear. Eliphaz believed that the justice of God, at this present time, worked against Job because Job was in sin and refused to see it. Yet, if Job would only see this and repent, perhaps the justice of God would work once again on his behalf. Eliphaz’ advice is not relevant to Job’s situation. Job is not being punished for sins but molten by God as His life has glorified the Lord.

It is not what happens to us that determine what kind of people we will be but how we react that makes all the difference.

Application:
As someone has said, “the same sun that hardens clay also melts butter. Why is it that the same cause produces different effects‘? The reason is the reaction of the substance. This is especially true when related to human beings. We are different from clay or butter in that we have a choice as to how we will react to the heat of adversity and suffering. We have no control over what happens to us, but we can control how we react to what happens to us. We decide whether the bad things that happen to us in life make us better or bitter.
The best person I have ever heard teach this truth is Joni Ericson Tada. She is a quadriplegic of almost 50 years, and she shares the lessons she’s learned from her battle against breast cancer and daily chronic pain. Her hardships have taught her to trust the Lord and obey. This passage has been a blessing to her I hope it is to you.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. – Psalm 119:71

Joni states in her web-site lessons, “Never should we think that we suffer for nothing or that we suffer alone. The stakes are too high for that. Everyday…remember our life is elevated upon a cosmic stage not unlike Job. God allows what he hates to accomplish that which he loves”. Maybe God is allowing affliction that you might be saved?
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? — Mark 8:36

III. Eliphaz Exalts God (17-27)

1. In verses 17 we find a verse that is built upon in Hebrews chapter 6. That whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth therefore Eliphaz emphasized his point that Job’s problems are because God corrects His sinful children. Job is hiding his sin, he just won’t admit it. Therefore Job does not despise God correcting work upon your life, but instead humble yourself under it, forsake your sin, and learn from it. All this is good advice but to the wrong man.

Eliphaz continues with a resume of the wonderful truths that God does for His children. This is a beautiful passage and conveys God’s love for us in 18-26; all things to ponder of God.

2. Eliphaz wanted to persuade Job, so he gave his statement the authority in verse 27… we have searched out; sort of communal knowledge. “Job, we are all together here – your friends and counselors have investigated this carefully and know what we are talking about.”

Dr. Mason once stated, “Aspirin is a good and effective medicine. But it is useless against cancer. Likewise, much of the advice that dole out is, in its own right, correct and good and true. But because it is wrongly applied it becomes useless.

Eliphaz fault is not that his doctrine is unsound; it is his ineffectiveness as a counselor. Dr. Andersen made this proverbial statement, “True words may be thin medicine for a man in the depths.” The words of Eliphaz had good intentions but fall short of their mark. Bible truth after truth has been articulated by him. But these truths do not bring comfort to his afflicted friend Job.

Conclusion:

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. — Psalms 34:19