Job part 6-Your Own Mouth Condemns You


This section begins the second cycle of argument between Job and his friends as they debate suffering.  Eliphaz, the same person who spoke to him begins the response.  Remember he was the one who claimed he knew of suffering because of a vision he received in the night and what he’d obserbed about life.  The second time around, he no longer wants to appeal for him to repent; he’s seen Job’s other responses and that argument seems pointless now.  His words intensify and his argument too, that Job is wicked and is being punished.  He goes so far as to say that his response to his suffering is rebellion against God (Job 15:13).  Remember as you study that this book is poetic and should be interpreted as such.  When Eliphaz hammers his points, they tend to repeat as in poetry this adds emphasis and intensity to his argument.

 

Job’s response in chapters 16 and 17 can be summed up by our key verse this week:

 

My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God.  I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends. Job 16:20-21 NLT

 

Read Job 15-17

 

1.      Chapter 15 Eliphaz

·         Has Eliphaz changed his approach? 

·         What is his main point? 

·         What reason does he say that Job doesn’t understand?

·         What does he mean when he says in verse 6 Your own mouth condemns you?

·         What does he base his judgment of the wicked on in verses 17-35?  Can his reasons be trusted based on this source?

 

2.      Chapters 16-17 Job

·         Does Job have a specific response to Eliphaz?

·         What does he call his friends? Does this mean their approach in comforting him is affective?

·         How does Job describe his relationship with God at this point?

·         What does Job hope in? Are his desires any different than past laments(see chapter 3, 14)?

 

Journal Prompt:  In verse 17:4 Job has a unique insight into his friends reasoning.  He realizes that God has closed their minds to understanding and won’t let them triumph in the argument.  Read Psalm 36.  This psalm describes the limited sight we have and how blind the self-righteous are. Have you ever had a disagreement with someone and felt like their view of God made it difficult to get them to see your side? Read 1 Corinthians chapter 2.  Does this shed any light into discussions you’ve had with Christians and non-Christians that couldn’t understand your perspective?

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