Read Job 22
Questions from the Scripture text: Who answers (Job 22:1)? What rhetorical questions does he ask (Job 22:2-3)? What is the implied answer? What does he imply about Job’s behavior in Job 22:4? What point does he make in Job 22:5? But what specific accusations does he make in Job 22:6-7, Job 22:9? What evidence does he suggest for the superiority of the mighty and honorable man (Job 22:8)? And what evidence for Job’s supposed wickedness (Job 22:10-11)? What truth about God does he declare in Job 22:12? But how does he accuse Job of responding to this (Job 22:13-14)? Whom else does Eliphaz say have done this (Job 22:15-16)? What did they do to God (Job 22:17), despite His having done what for them (Job 22:18)? Who have what response when God cuts down such wicked (Job 22:19-20)? What does this imply the “righteous” would do about Job’s suffering? What does Eliphaz tell Job to do (Job 22:21a)? With what promised result (verse 21b)? What does he tell him to do in Job 22:22? By taking what action (Job 22:23)? What does Eliphaz say he would then have (Job 22:24)? With what ultimate pleasure (Job 22:25-26)? And what spiritual ability (Job 22:27-28)? Even in what case (Job 22:29-30)?
How does one come to delight in the Lord? Job 22 looks forward to the opening portion of the public worship of God on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that one comes to delight in the Lord, not by works, but by grace.
Ironically, Eliphaz makes the true point that God needs nothing from men (Job 22:1-3). So, how can the friends’ message of “earn blessing by doing better” be true, if man can do nothing for God? Eliphaz is actually wrong about his implied question in Job 22:3a. The Almighty does take pleasure in Job’s righteousness. We saw that in Job 1:8 and Job 2:3. And the reason that He takes pleasure in it, as we know from Scripture as a whole, is because it is God’s grace that has produced this righteousness. God’s pleasure is not only in the righteousness, but especially in His own grace that has produced it.
Sadly, Eliphaz concludes, from Job’s suffering, that God has no pleasure in Job (Job 22:4-5). The specific accusations in Job 22:6-7 and Job 22:9 are desperately wicked, despising the image of God in men. Job is exactly opposite this (cf. Job 29:12–13). Eliphaz accuses Job of thinking that he can get away with evil because he thinks God is not paying attention (Job 22:12-14), and warns that those who have done so in the past (Job 22:15-18) have perished, to the delight of the righteous (Job 22:19-20).
So, one more time, Eliphaz suggests that Job return to the Almighty by rejecting iniquity (Job 22:21-23), in order to get material (Job 22:24) and spiritual (Job 22:25-26) blessing, and become the sort of person whose prayers God hears (Job 22:27-29), even when he prays for the wicked (Job 22:30).
This is actually true (cf. Job 42:7–8)! But if Eliphaz actually believed that he himself is righteous, and that the righteous can do this, why didn’t he just pray for Job?
Oh, let us be careful about drawing conclusions about others based upon difficult providences coming upon them! Many a Pharisee probably thought his opinions about Christ were confirmed at the cross, but he couldn’t have been more wrong.
God does delight in the grace-produced righteousness of His saints, even when His mysterious providence includes much suffering for them. Let us not be “Eliphazes” who merely talk about having the Almighty as our delight, but let us be “Jobs” who actually persist in faith to have Him as our delight, until He graciously hears us and brings us into the experience of that joy.
What Christians do you know who have suffered much? What conclusions should you be careful not to draw about this? What righteousness is there in your own character and conduct? Why would/does God actually delight in this righteousness? For what blatantly wicked people are you praying?
Sample prayer: Lord, how merciful and gracious You are to us sinners, for indeed our wickedness is great, and apart from Christ, our iniquity is without end. But, Your grace brings us to repentance and faith, and makes us more and more holy like Christ. We are amazed that You do take pleasure when we are righteous, because it is Your grace which produces it, and You delight in that grace. Grant that You, the Almighty, would be our delight! Lift up our faces to You. Give us to make our prayer to You, and hear us. And make Your light shine on our ways, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am with You” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace!”
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