|
The Folly of Job’s Three Friends 1 Corinthians 8; Job 6:14-30 INTRODUCTION TO 1
CORINTHIANS 8 “If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it is bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited. The very greatness of the subject matter will intoxicate us, and we shall come to think of ourselves as a cut above other Christians because of our interest in it and grasp of it; and we shall look down on those whose theological ideas seem to us crude and inadequate and dismiss them as very poor specimens. For, as Paul told the conceited Corinthians, “Knowledge puffs up. . . . The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know” (1 Cor 8:1–2)” (J.I. Packer, Knowing God). I. ELIPHAZ, BILDAD
AND ZOPHAR’S THEOLOGY WAS BETTER THAN SOME CHRISTIANS TODAY AND YET THEY WERE
STILL THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (cf.
Prov.26:6-7,9). A. There are six references in the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) to speeches made by Zophar, Eliphaz, and Bildad. 1. “What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?” (Job 15:14 [Eliphaz]; WCF VI:3) 2. “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise man benefit him? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless?” (Job 22:2-3 [Eliphaz]; WCF II:2; VII:1; XVI:5; see also Q.26, 142 and 145 of the Larger Catechism) 3. “So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider’s web.” (Job 8:13-14 [Bildad]; WCF XVII:1) 4. God is “infinite in being and perfection” (Job 11:7-9 [Zophar]; cf. WCF II:1; Q.4 of the Shorter Catechism)
II. JOB’S THREE FRIENDS URGE JOB TO REPENT OF HIS
SIN SO THAT GOD WILL RESTORE HIM A. Eliphaz, “You have undermined piety (Job 15:1-6)”; “Your wickedness is great and your sin is endless” (Job 22:5-11). B. Bildad, “Your sons sinned; therefore, God abandoned them” (Job 8:3-6). C. Zophar, “Repent and God will restore you” (Zophar: Job 11:13-20). D. Job pleaded with his friends to make a just judgment (Job 6:14-30). Why were Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar so sure of
themselves? What gave them the
authority to judge Job? E. Eliphaz was certain of his theology because of a dream he had (Job 4:12-21; cf. 15:14-16; 22:2-4). F. Zophar’s confidence was the tradition of past generations (Job 8:8-10; also Eliphaz in 15:10). G. Job’s three friends treated Job as their inferior (Job 11:12; 12:3; 13:2; 18:2). H. Job’s friends are like some of the professing Christians at Corinth who questioned Paul’s integrity, commitment to Christ, wisdom and Apostleship. III. HOW CAN YOU AVOID THE FOLLY OF ELIPHAZ,
BILDAD AND ZOPHAR? A. Don’t forsake truth or theology! Rather, apply the truth in love so that it builds up and edifies (Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:5).
C. Understand the difference between truth and wisdom (Job 12:2; 13:5; 26:1-4). D. Look at other Christians in the best possible light instead of the worst! Give them the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming you are superior (Philippians 2:3). A friend loves at all
times, And a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17; cf. Prov.18:24) E. Understand that your sense of superiority to other Christians is not from the Holy Spirit (James 3). QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION Take what you
have learned this morning and pray that God would grant you humility and love
and that you would be a “brother” to other Christians as Jesus is a brother
to you. What passages
of Scripture were read this morning? What is a wadi
(Job 6:15)? Why were Job’s
three friends arrogant? Why were Job’s
three friends guilty of folly (Job 42:8)? How did dreams and tradition prevent Job’s friends from accepting Job’s
testimony regarding his innocence? What is the difference between truth and wisdom? How can you
avoid the folly of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar? |
