Podcast 36, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 22”

Podcast 36, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 22”In the previous chapter, Job ruffled the feathers of his friends, pointing out their wickedness. In Chapter 22 Eliphaz speaks.Job 22:1“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,”Eliphaz attacks Job, lists his sins, and calls him to repentance. Chapter 22 follows the familiar chiastic format—ABCCBA. As common to the chiastic format, A2 completes the thought of A1. In the Following—verses 2-4, Eliphaz speaks of the majesty of God and of the nothingness of Job. In Verses 21-30 Eliphaz admonishes Job to repent and return to God. If he does, good will be restored to Job. A1: Job 22:2-4 “Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?” The irony is, of course, that although his sermon is misplaced on Job since Job is innocent, his sermon still contains profound truths. Let’s recall the words of Isaiah. Isaiah 55:8-9“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”Eliphaz is essentially saying the same thing. God is omniscient and omnipotent, what prophet can we possible be to him. Eliphaz raises some profound questions: Can a man be profitable to God? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that we are righteous, or that we make our ways perfect? Is God afraid of us? Does God want our opinion in judgment?  These are rhetorical questions. The question is, ‘Why is God even interested in us.” Christians immediately turn to John. John 3:16-17“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”The pure love of Christ is the only answer that works. What, but obedience, do we have to offer God. God is the father of our spirits. Christ created the world and then made our physical bodies from the dust of the earth. Everything we have comes from God. When we die, our bodies turn to dust. When the world dies, it will melt with fervent heat.  We don’t have anything to bargain with. It has to be on a metaphysical level. God asks only two things of us.Matthew 22:37–40“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”God gives us love, and all he asks in return is for us to show our love to him and to his children. Christ said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” In other words, not only do all the commandments of God embrace love but also every word the prophets have said embrace the love of God. Then Eliphaz is right. That leads us to A2. If we discount the fact that Job is innocent of all charges and simply think of Eliphaz speaking to most of us, his advice is correct. Look at what he is inviting us to do. If we acquaint ourselves with God and become at peace with God, good things will follow.