Things Intensify

Job 15-17

            Eliphaz, the first speaker, had started gently enough, but hearing Job’s responses, he takes the gloves off. Again, his argument isn’t exactly wrong: he asks if Job sits in God’s council (15:8), a question the Lord Himself will later ask. He highlights that all humans are sinful (15:14). But sometime even the best theology, improperly applied does more harm that good. (I’m reminded of Martin Luther’s maxim: he who can properly apply Law and Gospel deserves a doctor’s cap. CFW Walter wrote a whole book of that topic!) Eliphaz reasons from the doctrine of original sin to a position in which the sufferer deserves his suffering (15:17-26); even his apparent success is doomed to be lost. The last is particularly pointed since the upright and blameless Job, outwardly successful, lost everything in chapters 1-2.

            As usual, Job will not take it lying down. His jab in 16:4 is telling: what kind of comfort would this be if our roles were reversed? In 16:6, Job stops addressing his friend and addresses himself to God instead: you’re killing me! Even in this lament, though, Job has this messianic hope: there is one in heaven who will witness for him, a true friend who will plead for him (16:19-21). Compare this to Romans 8, where Paul says that both the Holy Spirit and the Son, Jesus, both pray on our behalf. Job recognizes that only God can vindicate him (17:3).