14. Unbiblical Vision
Hymns: RHC 41 God Is Still On the Throne, 255 Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart, 256 The Bible Stands
Job 4:12-21
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. 13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, 14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: 16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? 18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: 19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? 20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. 21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom. (Job 4:12-21 KJV)
Unbiblical Vision
OUTLINE
(1) Unbiblically Invoking God’s Authority (v12-16)
(2) Misrepresenting God’s Name (v17-21)
INTRODUCTION
Eliphaz has begun discrediting Job, putting to question his past actions of piety. Mr Counsellor is himself troubled and despondent. It goes to show that his claim of being a God-fearer, one who places his confidence in God and lived a life of uprightness is a vain show. “Look at yourself now,” Eliphaz points out to Job, “you are now fainting and troubled. You are disquieted! What happened to your faith in God? Has it now caved-in? Goes to how shallow is that faith that you profess!” This was how Job was discredited. His testimony in God called to question – “You comforted others but now look at you, do you not now wallow in self-pity too?”
This was to force a confession from Job, a sly ploy of Satan, to persuade Job to confess himself a hypocrite. If Job had capitulated, Satan would have won his case with God against Job.
Because Job was discomfited, he showed himself impatient under pressure, this was brought as evidence against him.
If Job is indeed a good man, why would these afflictions have come to him? It is not logical. He must have sinned against God.
It was a spiritual test for Job. He was not afflicted as a judgment for sin. Eliphaz concluded that Job’s present predicament has been a result of his sin. He is reaping the evil he has sown.