Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
Job
Chapter 5
Job 5:1-27
I. ELIPHAZ CHALLENGES JOB TO FIND ANYONE TO DEFEND HIM - vv. 1-2
5:1 - Call now . . . = a challenge for Job to see if God or angels or any of His people will defend him.
saints = angels or God's people
5:2 - Eliphaz accuses Job of being angry/wrathful towards God and envious of those who are still in prosperity.
For = because; i.e., God and angels and God's people know that guilt for personal sin is the ruin of sinners.
wrath = of God; or, most probably here, of the complainer against God, as Job was, which only increases the misery
envy = of the prosperity of others - cf. Pr 14:30
II. ELIPHAZ HAD OBSERVED THE PROSPERITY OF A WICKED MAN - vv. 3-5
5:3 - taking root = secure in the present and foreseeable future
suddenly I cursed = his ruin came suddenly (as had Job's) and Eliphaz saw in that the curse of God upon his house - cf. Pr 3:33; Ps 37:35-36
5:4-5 - children; harvest; substance = all that he had was taken from him, as was Job's
even out of the thorns = absolute gleaning leaving nothing
III. ELIPHAZ SHOWS THAT IT IS UNWISE TO COMPLAIN AGAINST GOD IN AFFLICTIONS - vv. 6-16
5:6 - cometh not . . . dust . . . neither . . . ground = not by chance, but, implied, by the design of God; though it may seem by chance when events are not anticipated and/or planned for from the strictly human viewpoint - cf. Ec 9:11; Luk 10:31
5:7 - as the sparks . . . = it is inevitable that man born of woman (in sin) will have trouble
5:8-16 - Instead of complaining against God, seek Him
5:8 - commit my cause = committing the situation into His hands; resting in Him; trusting Him - cf Ja 5:13a; Ro 8:28
5:9 - who does numberless great, unsearchable and marvelous things
Job's situation was one from which he had no way of escaping by his own will and power, so God was his only hope in his impossible situation - cf. Mat 19:26; Lu 18:27
5:10 - rain - cf. Mat 5:45
5:11a - low = humble - cf. Lu 14:11; Lu 1:52; Lu 18:14; Ja 1:9; 1 Pe 5:6
5:11b - mourn = cf. Mat 5:4
safety = no doubt the thought foremost in Eliphaz' mind was safety from physical and material loss and discomfort; but Jesus stated comfort in the ultimate sense; i.e., as a forgiven sinner comforted by the grace and mercy of God
5:12 - crafty = those that would take advantage of the poor or anyone at a disadvantage to them, e.g., in drought - cf. Pr 11:26
Eliphaz had probably seen such crafty people thwarted by the providence of God.
5:13a - wise = the wisdom of the world, not the wisdom of God - cf. 1 Co 3:19
5:13b - carried headlong - cf. Pr 26:27
5:14 - darkness = ignorance; erring in plain things; frustrated by God - cf. De 28:29
Example: Watergate
5:15 - poor = destitute - cf. Pr 14:21; Pr 14:31; Pr 19:17; Pr 21:13; Pr 22:9; Pr 22:16; Pr 28:8; Pr 28:15; Pr 28:27; Pr 29:7; Pr 29:14; Pr 31:9; Ga 6:10
5:16a - poor hath hope = of God's righteous dealing with them. cf. 1 Co 1:26-29; Mat 5:3
5:16b - iniquity . . . mouth = the wicked have and will have nothing to say when they see God's righteous dealings with the poor - cf. Ps 107:40-42
The spiritual application is obvious; i.e., those among the poor, which are the majority of God's people materially and all of God's people spiritually, will be established in glory with the Lord Jesus Christ. But, the temporal application is not much less obvious and can be applied across the board; i.e., those who are honest in their dealings will not fall into the traps crafty, dishonest people set for themselves. Honesty is the best policy is good for all. - cf. Pr 19:1
The wicked are confounded when they see all their plans foiled, and find themselves entangled in the snares which they have laid for others. - Barnes' Notes
IV. ELIPHAZ DESCRIBES THE RESULT OF GOD'S CORRECTION - vv. 17-27
5:17a - happy = blessed, happiness beyond mere sensual feeling
5:17b - It must not be despised/regretted - cf. Pr 3:11-12; He 12:5-6,11; Ja 1:12
5:18 - He never afflicts more than He can heal
5:19 - He never afflicts more than we can bear - 1 Co 10:13
- shall deliver . . . thee = from eternal harm/damage in an indefinite number of troubles - cf. Dan 3:23-27; 2 Ti 3:11
5:20 - In famine and war
5:21 - From slander and natural or man-made disasters - cf. Ps 112:7
5:22a - laugh = mockingly at the futility of destruction and famine to do its intended damage - cf. Ps 2:4; Ps 37:13; see also Ps 22:7; Ps 52:6; Ps 59:8
5:22b-23 - From wild animals and harmful stones in your fields which make the ground difficult to till and generally fruitless; Or, traveling by foot over the rocky ground which was and perhaps still is common in that part of the world.
The temporal blessings mentioned here will find complete fulfillment in the Millennium - cf. Is 65:23-25; Ho 2:18
5:24 - tabernacle = tent
habitation = home; abode
not sin = Heb. = miss the mark = not fail to return home safely after being away on a journey; not fail to carry out home responsibilities as husband and father, head of the household
5:25 - shalt know = assurance of numerous posterity
5:26 - full age = in the time allotted by God, not before
5:27 - We = Eliphaz and his companions
have searched it = and now present it for Job's benefit