Job 22 - Introduction

TODAY'S ENGLISH VERSION

The Third Dialogue

Eliphaz

1-2 Is there any man, even the wisest,

who could ever be of use to God?

3 Does your doing right benefit God,

or does your being good help him?

4 It is not because you fear God

that he reprimands you and brings you to trial.

5 No, it's because you have sinned so much,

and because of all the evil you do.

6 To make your brother pay you the money he owed,

you took away his clothes and left him nothing to wear.

7 You refused water to those who were tired,

and refused to feed those who were hungry.

8 You used your power and your position

to take over the whole land.

9 You not only refused to help widows,

but you also robbed and mistreated orphans.

10 So now there are pitfalls all around you,

and suddenly you are full of fear.

11 It has grown so dark you cannot see,

and a flood overwhelms you.

12 Doesn-'t God live in the highest heavens

and look down on the stars, even though they are high?

13 And yet you ask, What does God know?

He is covered by cloudshow can he judge us?

14 You think the thick clouds keep him from seeing,

as he walks on the boundary between earth and sky.

15 Is your mind made up to walk in the paths

that evil men have always followed?

16 Even before their time had come,

a flood washed them away.

17 These are the men who rejected God

and believed that he could do nothing to them.

18 And yet it was God who made them prosperous

I can-'t understand the thoughts of the wicked.

19 Good men are glad and innocent men laugh

when they see the wicked punished.

20 All that the wicked own is destroyed,

and fire burns up anything that is left.

21 Now, Job, make peace with God

and stop treating him like an enemy;
if you do, then he will bless you.

22 Accept the teaching he gives;

keep his words in your heart.

23 Yes, you must humbly return to God,

and put an end to all the evil
that is done in your house.

24 Throw away your gold;

dump your finest gold in the dry stream bed.

25 Let Almighty God be your gold

and let him be silver, piled high for you.

26 Then you will always trust in God

and find that he is the source of your joy.

27 When you pray, he will answer you,

and you will keep the vows you made.

28 You will succeed in all you do,

and light will shine on your path.

29 God brings down the proud

and saves the humble.

30 He will rescue you if you are innocent,

if what you do is right.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 22:1-30

445.

The third cycle of speeches begins in this chapter. Give the three lines of thought.

446.

What is the essential issue in this speech of Eliphaz?

447.

How does Eliphaz distort the entire relationship between God and man?

448.

Can God receive anything from man? i.e., that God does not already have?

449.

What is the assumption made by Eliphaz in verse four?

450.

There are two words used for sin in verse five. What are they and how are they used?

451.

How could Eliphaz be so specific with his charges against Job?

452.

The list of sins is somewhat standard. Explain. It is also serious.

453.

Job is described as a land-grabber and a man of lifted face. What is meant?

454.

Job is in a trap. What does this prove?

455.

Explain in your own words the meaning of Job 22:11.

456.

How is the transcendence of God used in Job 22:12? i.e., by Eliphaz.

457.

Job's theology is distorted by Eliphaz. How so?

458.

There seems to be a contradiction of who says what in in Job 22:14. Who is speaking? What is the point?

459.

Job is walking in a way that brought destruction(according to Eliphaz) destruction upon whom? Cf. Job 22:15-16.

460.

Show how vs. Job 21:1 b is distorted by Eliphaz.

461.

Would it ever be right for the righteous to rejoice over the destruction of the wicked?

462.

What is the recommendation in Job 22:21?

463.

The only occurrence of the word Torah is in Job 22:22. What is meant by its use here?

464.

What is Eliphaz saying about gold in Job 22:24?

465.

If Job will make God his gold what will happen?

466.

What is meant by the expression delight thyself in the Almighty?