Greetings Sisters and Brothers of hope…
Job 4:1-6
4 Then Eliphaz the
Temanite replied:
“If someone ventures a
word with you, will you be impatient?
But
who can keep from speaking?
Think how you have instructed many,
how
you have strengthened feeble hands.
Your words have supported those who
stumbled;
you
have strengthened faltering knees.
But now trouble comes to you, and you
are discouraged;
it
strikes you, and you are dismayed.
Should not your piety be your
confidence
and
your blameless ways your hope?
We already knew from God’s own words that
Job was pious and blameless…”he is blameless and upright, a man who
fears God and shuns evil.”
Eliphaz has probably seen similar situations. You offer to speak
your opinion about the matter, and people get upset with you. But you just have
to have your “2 cents worth” in it!
Eliphaz praises Job for his good deeds and character.
And then Eliphaz points out that when Job has suffered, he has
become disappointed.
In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us this encouragement…
Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Job, because he was righteous, was persecuted
by Satan. Eliphaz reminds Job that we
are not rewarded with ease and comfort for our piety and blamelessness,
sometimes calamity falls upon us Yet we are blessed, yet we have hope.
Please know that nowhere in the Book of Job does God
speak of Job as anything less than righteous and considered Job his servant.
Continue in your good character and deeds for these
make us servants. And being pious and righteous during times of trial makes us
Christ-like servants!
Peace, Mike
