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MAN’S IMPERFECT WISDOM
TUESDAY, MAY 3
Job 15:14-24

Isaiah 6:1-7

 

“…I am undone: because

I am a man of unclean lips…”

 

MAN’S IMPERFECT WISDOM
 
Eliphaz had a good understanding of the sinfulness of mankind. He used this as a charge against Job who claimed to be right before God. No human is righteous enough to stand before the Creator. If the angels of God are not perfect in God’s sight, what hope does man have? (Job 4:18; 5:1; 15:14-16).
 
Again, we have the recurring theme of Job: man needs a Mediator to arbitrate with God (Job 9:33). Whenever man sees the righteousness of God, he sees his own sinfulness (Isa 6:1-5).
 
Eliphaz insisted that only the wicked suffer. In his first speech, he based his dogma on a dream revelation. Now, he based it on the wisdom of the ancients which was supposedly pure because they lived in their own land and did not mingle with strangers. Thus, their opinions were derived from their own experiences, undisturbed by foreign influences (Job 15:17-19).
 
Eliphaz restated his premise that the wicked would live in pain all of their days. Even in times of prosperity, there would be “a dreadful sound…in his ears” (Job 15:21), i.e. an inward anxiety and lack of peace. The Psalmist spoke of the prosperity of the wicked (Ps 73:3) and, in Luke 16, we see the truth that wealth does not fully satisfy. In times of trouble, this becomes apparent (Isa 55:2; Prov 28:22).
 
We have a horrible picture painted of the wealthy who are unsaved. They worry about becoming poor and are always searching for more wealth, power and prestige. Their actions show that these things do not bring true satisfaction (Job 15:20-24).
 
Therefore, while Eliphaz was wrong in saying that Job’s suffering came because of sin, in this portion, he did give us an accurate picture of the unsaved man and his lack of true satisfaction. Let us not be drawn into the world’s battle for wealth and prestige but, like the Psalmist, find our rest in God (Ps 62:1-2).
 
THOUGHT: Why does wealth not bring satisfaction?

PRAYER: Father, I believe that Thy blessing alone brings contentment.

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