Read the Passage: Job 3-14

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Job 3-14

Eliphaz’s Speech (3:1–7:21)

Before the speeches of Job’s friends begin, in Job 3:1–26 Job despairs of his life. In the preceding chapters, Job’s response to his suffering was commendable, as he recognized God’s sovereignty (cf. Job 1:20–22) and the fact that both good and adversity come from the Lord (cf. Job 2:10). While it is understandable, it is nevertheless surprising that, at Job 3:1, “Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” In this chapter Job does not curse God; rather, he simply wishes to not exist so as to be able to escape his present pain. In this chapter Job wishes that he was never born (cf. Job. 3:1–10), or that he was stillborn (cf. Job 3:11–19), or that he was dead (cf. Job 3:20–26). Job says that if he had never been born, or if he did not exist, then he would not see sorrow or trouble (cf. Job 3:10, 17), and he would be still, quiet, asleep, at rest, and free (cf. Job 3:13, 16–19, 26).

Job 4–5 contains the first of Job’s friends’ speeches to him. In this passage, Eliphaz urges Job to repent of his sins. While this first speech is basically gentle in tone, the most effective ministry of Eliphaz occurred when he was silent. Eliphaz begins his speech by praising Job’s character (cf. Job 4:1–6). Yet, in these verses Eliphaz’s general perspective is revealed when he tells Job, “The integrity of your ways [is] your hope” (Job 1:6). Next, in Job 4:7–11, Eliphaz unfolds his belief that all suffering is the result of sin—an idea he claims he learned from God (cf. Job 4:12–21). In Job 5:1–7 Eliphaz again argues that sin leads to suffering, and in Job 5:8–27 Eliphaz assures Job that God is ready to forgive and to bless if Job would repent. Specifically, in Job 5:8–16 Eliphaz extols God’s character, and in Job 5:17–27 Eliphaz describes the blessedness of turning to God in repentance.

Job’s reply to Eliphaz, as well as to his other friends, is recorded in Job 6–7. Within Job’s response, chapter 6 is directed towards his friends, while chapter 7 is directed towards God. Job 6:1–7 records Job’s claim that his previous complaints (cf. Job 3) are reasonable and rational. At Job 6:8–10, as he had done earlier, so again here Job expresses his desire to die in order to escape unbearable suffering. Next, Job complains that his friends’ so-called counsel is useless, for while they should have been sympathetic toward him, they were accusatory. Finally, at Job 6:24–30, Job invited his friends to identify his sin, as he pleaded with them, “Cause me to understand wherein I have erred” (Job 6:24). In chapter 7 Job spoke to God. First, in Job 7:1–10, Job lamented over his intolerable physical suffering. Second, in Job 7:11–21 Job complained to God concerning his excruciating emotional turmoil.

Bildad’s Speech (8:1–10:22)

Chapter 8 narrates the first of Bildad’s three speeches in this book. The thrust of Bildad’s address to Job is similar to that of Eliphaz, as he urges Job to repent of his sins. Indeed, the idea the God punishes sin is Bildad’s main point in Job 8:1–7. Whereas at Job 4:12–21 Eliphaz appealed to experience to support this idea, Bildad’s cited authority is tradition (cf. Job 8:8–10) and nature (cf. Job 8:11–18). Moreover, like Eliphaz did at Job 5:17–27, so here at Job 8:19–22 Bildad describes the joy of returning to God. In Job 9–10 Job’s reply to Bildad is recorded. Just as he had done in responding to Eliphaz, so here in Job 9 Job speaks to his friends, and in Job 10 Job addresses God. In Job 9, while Job recognizes that God is sovereign (cf. Job 9:1–13), Job also believes this makes God unapproachable (cf. Job 9:14–20) and perhaps even unjust in His dealings with man (cf. Job 9:21–35).

Zophar’s Speech (11:1–14:22)

The first speech of Zophar is record in Job 11. Like Eliphaz and Bildad, Zophar urges Job to repent of his sins. Note that while Zophar’s speech is shorter than that of Eliphaz and Bildad, his tone is more abrasive and polemic than that of his colleagues. Zophar says that Job is guilty of sin (cf. Job 11:1–6), that he cannot know God (cf. Job 11:7–12), and that he would only be blessed if he repents of his iniquity (cf. Job 11:13–20). Note that Job’s response to Zophar is longer than his other replies. In fact, Job’s speech in Job 12–14 is directed toward all of his friends, not just to Zophar. In Job 12, Job confronts his friends’ view of suffering, as he recognizes that sometimes God blesses the unjust. Next, in Job 13, Job expresses his desire to speak with God and to defend himself from his friends’ charges. Finally, in Job 14, Job again expresses his desire to die so as to escape present suffering.

Application Questions:

1. If Job and his three friends had knowledge of the events in Job 1–2, how would their discussion have differed?
2. Is Job’s wish that he did not exist reasonable? How can we best counsel someone who is in despair?
3. Is there any truth to the idea that suffering is caused by sin, and flourishing is the result of righteousness?
4. What are the primary causes of suffering and evil in the world? What are some practical benefits of suffering?
5. In the face of suffering in the world, as well as criticism by others, how can we avoid getting spiritually worn-down?