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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2014 December 26



Wounded Soldiers Retreating from Russia (c. 1814)
Theodore Gericault (1791-1824)
Romanticism Style
Musee des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Job 5 Eliphaz concluded his argument against Job. The image above reminds us of verse 18 (where God is described as the one who wounds and who heals those whom he has wounded), and of verse 20 (were God delivers from the power of the sword). The chapter discusses deliverance from many other types of afflictions, as well. [Traditional Patriarchal Timeline. Judges Period Chronology. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: Job 4].
     In the previous chapter Eliphaz began to chide Job for his supposed sins. He concluded his attack in this chapter. He presented three basic points on how Job could obtain deliverance: he must not trust someone else, not even the holy ones, for deliverance; he must not trust himself; he must trust God alone.
     1. Trusting Others. To make his first point, Eliphaz asked who, even among the holy ones, could help Job (1).
     2. Trusting Himself. To make his second point, Eliphaz denigrated Job's morality. Eliphaz began his attack on Job's morality with some implied comparisons: he told Job that fools and (moral) simpletons perish. Eliphaz also cited his personal experience, saying that he had seen fools taking root only to be cursed -- their children being unsafe and slain, and their food and goods stolen. These things happened to Job, so the clear implication is that Job was a fool and a moral simpleton. For these reasons Job could not trust his morality for deliverance (2-5).
     3. Trusting God. To make his third point, Eliphaz told Job that Job must trust God because Job is weak (6-7), and because God is strong (8-27). Job is weak (6-7). In illustration of that fact, Eliphaz said that affliction does not grow naturally out of the ground like a plant (6); but it is natural to man because he is born into it, in much the way that sparks (literally, "the sons of coals") are naturally thrust into the air (7). God is strong (8-27). Eliphaz offered several illustrations of this fact. Eliphaz said that he sought God (and, implicitly, so should Job) because God does great and unsearchable things in nature and in the affairs of men, giving rain, watering the fields, exalting the low, disappointing the crafty, and saving the poor from the violent and the mighty (8-16). Eliphaz also told Job to trust God because God's discipline brings blessing (17-27). He told Job not to despise the chastening of the Almighty because God makes sore and binds up; he wounds and makes whole (17-18). God also will deliver him from multiple troubles so that no evil can touch him (19). He will deliver him from famine and war (20). He will deliver him from the scourge of the tongue and from destruction (21). He will make Job to be in league with nature ("the stones of the field") and will deliver him from the beasts of the earth (22-23). His habitation will be in peace and we will be free from sin (24). His children will be great and numerous (25). He will live long and prosper (26). This, says Eliphaz, is true; and Job should know it for his good (27).


Job 5

     1 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? 2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. 5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. 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.
     17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. 22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. 25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. 27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.




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