Did Any of Job’s Friends Speak the Truth?
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One of the Bible’s wisdom books narrates some of the history of Job, a man who was, “blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1). We learn Job is rich in property, family, and faithfulness. But tragedy befalls Job; he is left bereft of his children and all he owned and is covered in boils. Job’s three friends come to console him. After seven days of silent support, they each speak to Job of his suffering. Do any of Job’s friends speak truth?
Backstory of the Book of Job
A conversation in heaven between God and Satan explains all the ills that befall Job (Job 1:6-2:10). Satan presents himself before God, and God initiates the dialogue as He questions Satan about where he’s come from. Satan tells God he has come “from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it” (Job 1:7) God calls Satan’s attention to His servant, Job, “one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).
The back-and-forth continues with Satan questioning God, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan makes a dare to God and tells Him Job will curse God to His face if Job loses what He has (Job 1:11). God then allows Satan to bring disaster on Job’s belongings, including his children. Yet when tragedy struck, Job lamented and then worshiped God. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22).
In chapter two, we see Satan once again before the Lord God. Satan thinks he’s going to deliver a final blow to Job’s status as a “blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 2:3). God allows Satan to touch Job’s physical body yet spare his life (Job 2:6).
Satan leaves God’s presence and inflicts Job with boils “from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7). As Job scraped his skin with a potsherd while on a pile of ashes, his wife told him to betray his integrity and to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). Job said, “’Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).
What Do Job’s Three Friends Do to Console Him?
When Job’s three friends (Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite) heard of his adversity, they gathered together and came to Job to “mourn with him, and to comfort him” (Job 2:11). Job 2:13 reveals the best thing his friends did for him, “Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.”
After their period of silent comfort, Job speaks to them of his grief. Thus begin the speeches between Job and his friends (Job 3:1-31:40).
What Do Job’s Friends Say to Him?
We will see that Job’s well-meaning friends indeed speak truth, but each of them gets the truth wrong according to their application. They also have no earthly idea what’s going on, so they rely on human wisdom to discern what they decide must be Job’s error(s). Let’s look at how each friend addresses Job.
Eliphaz
Chapters 4, 5, 15, and 22
Eliphaz begins with words of encouragement, stating good deeds Job has done (instructed and encouraged many, and strengthened the feeble). He then goes on the attack, asking Job why the integrity of his ways isn’t his hope. In Job 4:8, Eliphaz quotes Proverbs 22:8, which says, “Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” The proverb is a true word from the Lord, but Eliphaz applies it to Job, basically saying Job’s problems are because he’s an immoral and troublesome man.
Eliphaz later tells Job to go to God and repent, for God, “does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.” Eliphaz doesn’t relent in his stance that Job has done something wrong, yet he extols God’s character with a truthful utterance. He continues in verse 17, telling Job he will be happy again once he accepts God’s discipline and repents of his wrongdoing.
Eliphaz continues his accusations against Job in chapter 15, telling Job all he’s said is worthless and it’s “unprofitable talk.” Eliphaz’s last recorded words are in chapter 22, where he once again calls Job wicked, which he accuses Job of trying to hide from God. He also wrongly asserts that all suffering comes from committed sin. His speeches are completed by telling Job he did not believe Job was innocent.
Bildad
Chapters 8,18, and 25
Bildad is ruthless in his diatribe against what he perceives as Job’s sin(s).
He is correct in that God does not subvert judgment or pervert justice. He too says if Job were pure and upright, God would arise in Job’s defense. In chapter 18, Bildad hardens his tone even more when he questions how long Job will complain. He tells Job to get some sense. Like Eliphaz, Bildad speaks of the demise of the wicked, but he too is wrong in his assumption Job’s sin has warranted God’s affliction on him. Bildad’s last speech is found in chapter 25, where he exalts God in His majesty and calls men sinful, yet he points especially at Job.
Zophar
Chapters 11 and 20
The third spate of “friendly” accusations belong to Zophar. Indignant with indictments, Bildad tells Job he speaks empty words and God’s rebuke is necessary. He says once Job repents, God will shower him with rest and comfort. Zophar ends his speeches in chapter 20 by reiterating what will befall the wicked. He, like his friends before him, spends much time speaking of the truth of what happens to the wicked, but wrongfully places Job among them.
Job
Chapters 3, 6-7, 9-10, 12-14, 16-17,19, 21, 23-24, 26-31, 40:3-5, and 42:1-6
Job states his case throughout his discourses. He grieves his lowly state and at one point wishes he’d never been born (chapter 3) but not once does he sin against the Lord in what he says. Job’s first reply (to Eliphaz) may be seen in chapters 6-7. In his rebuttal, he boldly asks, “Have I sinned?” (v. 20). This question sets the tone for the rest of his friends’ remarks and accusations. Throughout his replies, Job pleads to the Lord and reproaches his friends.
Who Is Elihu and What Does He Offer?
In Job 32:1-37:24, we read Elihu’s diatribe against Job. Elihu had been a non-speaking spectator up to that point, but could no longer sit in silence (Job 32:2-3). He sat in as much wrongness toward Job as did Job’s three friends, even though he expressed anger toward them. This young man was full of himself as shown by his words and by the length of his speech.
In Job 32:8, Elihu states truth when he says, “But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” But Elihu posits himself as a wise one as he tells them to listen to his opinion he claimed was inspired by God (Job 32:8; 33:6,33). In Job 34:9, Elihu asserted Job said something he didn’t.
At one point (Job 36:4), Elihu is so offensive as to declare, “one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.”
Elihu ends his tirade with an admonition for Job to consider God’s wondrous works and be silent. But the ending of his words directs both Job and us to the Lord God.
What Is God’s Response to Job and His Friends?
(Chapters 38:1-40:2; 40:6-41:34):
The Lord had had enough of the four men’s erroneous counsel. He speaks out of the whirlwind beginning in Job 38:1 through Job 41:34 (with a brief reply by Job in 40:3-5).
God begins his cross-examination regarding some of Job’s responses to his friends. God brings proper understanding of Himself to the five men before he exonerates Job. In all he said, God didn’t give the reason behind Job’s suffering.
Basically, God asked Job if he was as wise, powerful, perfect, and eternal as God. He posed a long list of His creation and asked Job where he was when they were created.
Job’s interjection in 40:4 reveals Job’s humility, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.”
As God speaks, the chasm of contrast between man and God is widened. And yet God intervened and spoke.
What Is the Overarching Theme of Job?
When God confronts Job, all Job can do is strike a mute pose as he puts his hands over his mouth. Pastor John MacArthur gives us a remarkable principle, [Job’s response] “underscores the importance of trusting God’s purposes in the midst of suffering because suffering, like all other human experiences, is directed by perfect divine wisdom.”
The themes we see in the book of Job are:
1. True faith in the Lord cannot be ruined, no matter what suffering is wrought on that person of faith.
2. No matter what, God’s perfect will is enacted for our good and for His glory.
Each of the friends’ accusations fall right into the argument Satan brought before God. He said if Job’s possessions and health were ripped from him, Job would blame and curse God. We all know that didn’t happen; Job questioned but never cursed God. Job’s friends spoke of God’s holiness and righteousness, but they were wrong to assume and accuse Job of wrongdoing. Pastor Paul Carter tells us, “The Book of Job is arguably the most demanding and rewarding book in the Old Testament. It is demanding because Job’s friends make a poor case well while Job makes a good case poorly; meaning that no one has the full picture and no one is telling the whole truth until God shows up at the end.”
Job and his friends never learn the reason for Job’s suffering. God chose to keep them ignorant. The book ends with God rebuking Job’s friends and telling them to repent with a sacrifice and have Job pray for them. We also read of Job’s repentance and God’s restoration of him. “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” (Job 42:12).
For us today, we need to remember what true faith looks like according to the Bible. Yes, we will all suffer, but God is faithful and just. We may not know the reasons for our ills, but God does, and He wastes nothing. Instead, He uses it for our good and for His glory.
Here are a few passages to help us as we ponder the truth of God’s sovereign will:
As you worship the Lord this day, a wonderful way to sing of the Lord’s sovereignty is with Sovereign Grace Music’s, “Behold Our God.” May we sing it in praise as God grows our faith.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Jon Tyson
