6 ¶ Although affliction cometh not forth of the
dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; 7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks
fly upward. 8 I would seek unto God, and
unto God would I commit my cause: 9
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without
number: 10 Who giveth rain upon the
earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: 11
To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be
exalted to safety. 12 He disappointeth
the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and
grope in the noonday as in the night. 15
But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the
hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor hath
hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
Eliphaz continues to say that disaster doesn’t just come for
no reason, out of nowhere, as a random accident of things. Man is born to it.
This is a great and true statement that, “man is born unto trouble, as the
sparks fly upward.” Life can be very difficult at times, even for the person
who lives their life trying to please God. But the sinner cannot blame his
troubles on the stars or the seasons or things outside of his own sinful
nature. Man is born to sin and therefore born to trouble as Matthew Henry
pointed out in his commentary on Job.
Then Eliphaz goes on to say that if this had happened to him
he would submit to God’s will and accept God’s will. Job should accept God’s
judgment on him and stop his whining. Eliphaz points out how great God is and
how merciful and good He is. God is gracious.
Paul declared;
Romans 11:33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past
finding out!
God is merciful to all, even to those who oppose Him on
earth. Jesus makes this call to His followers in the, “Sermon on the Mount.”
Matthew 5:43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye
love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the
same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren
only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.
In the context of verse 11, God has the power and the will
to protect those who are in any danger, if it be within His purposes. A
Psalmist said;
Psalm 46:1 ¶ « To the chief Musician for the sons of
Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. » God is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble. 2 Therefore
will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea; 3
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains
shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be
moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 ¶
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the
earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is
with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what
desolations he hath made in the earth. 9
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow,
and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be
exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of
Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
As Eliphaz in verse 12 points out, God can foil the
intentions of the cleverest of men and women who are too clever for their own
good;
Psalm 33:10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen
to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
Eliphaz’s statement in verse 13 is quoted by Paul in
1Corinthians 3:19. It may have been a well-known saying even when Eliphaz said
it.
Paul also wrote for us;
1Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom
of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Examples would be Ahithophel, Sanballat, and Haman. Look
them up.
But God favors the poor among His people.
Psalm 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the
sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in
safety from him that puffeth at him.
Those who dominate and exploit God’s poor will be silenced.
Psalm 76:8
Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and
was still,
9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the
meek of the earth. Selah.
What Eliphaz is saying is true. How does it apply to Job?
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