Job 26:1 says, But Job answered and said,  Job was still responding to the claims that his friends were making against him.  In verse two Job asks, How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?  Job was basically asking Bildad how what he had said could help those in need.  We may know the truth of God, but if we try to use His truth to condemn others instead of to comfort and offer hope to them, the what have we accomplished?  God expects His people to reach out to the world with His love and not with His condemnation.  We as followers of Christ can only be effective by sharing God's love with the world.  Verse three asks, How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?  Job asked Bildad if he thought he was counseling someone who had no wisdom by his words which were plentiful.  We may at times believe that we know more about God than those around us, but may instead be attempting to counsel someone who has a better understanding of God than we do.  We cannot assume that we are morally superior to those around us.  Verse four asks, To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?  Job asked Bildad who he thought he was talking to, and more importantly whose spirit he was speaking from.  We need to understand that we do not alone understand God's word, and we certainly need to make sure that what we say comes from the Spirit of God.  In the following verses, Job speaks of the majesty of God, something his friends and he could agree on.  Verse five states, Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.  Though I am not sure at the wording that dead things are formed, I believe that it means that God formed the creatures of the sea from nothing.  They have no life without Him.  Verse six states, Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.  I believe that Job was saying that even if a person were in hell, he would not be out of God's view.  Even for the lost, the soul is everlasting, and never truly escapes from the knowledge of the existence of God.  Verse seven says, He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.  Job said that God created everything from nothing and that He sustains it.  God keeps everything in its proper place.  Verse eight says, He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.  Job said that God controls the rain.  We may wonder at times when we have a flood or a drought why God allows this, but we know that He has it in His power to flood the world if He decided to, so we have to acknowledge His greatness in not allowing this to happen.  Verse nine states, He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.  I believe that Job was saying that in this life we can never see the full majesty of God. Verse ten says, He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.  Verse eleven declares, The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.  God can indeed shake the heavens and the earth, as they are His creation.  Verse twelve says, He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.  I believe that the proud would be those who felt that they were above living by the knowledge of God.  There are people today who proudly claim that there is no God, but one day they will be struck down forever.  Verse thirteen says, By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.  We know that God created the heavens and the earth, and Matthew Henry says that the crooked serpent likely refers to the Milky Way.  This is the part of the heavens that the earth is in, but even the Milky Way is not the extent of God's creation.  In verse fourteen Job declares, Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?  Job said that we can see parts of God's work, but that we see only a small part of the majesty of God.  When Christ returns to claim His followers, the we will begin to see the full majesty of God.

Job 25:1 states, Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,  Bildad still was unwilling to acknowledge that what Job had been saying was the truth.  He was still determined to prove that Job was being punished by God for some unconfessed sin.  We may encounter people today who see us suffering and are certain that the suffering is caused by some sin in their lives, but we may be just as wrong as Bildad was.  He didn't have as much to say this time though.  What Bildad had to say was true, but it just didn't apply to Job's situation.  We cannot attempt to to force God's truths to support our beliefs, but must align our beliefs with God's truth.  Verse two states, Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.  God does have dominion over all the world, but He sometimes allows Satan to exercise power.  We can rest assured in the final outcome.  Since God is the ultimate authority, we need to always stand amazed in His presence.  I do not believe that we have to come to God fearing that He will suddenly strike us down if we are His followers, but instead in awe of the fact that He loves us enough to redeem us.  God does make peace in His high places. Verse three asks, Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?  Bildad asked if God was limited in His ability to defeat those that opposed Him. Though God may have an unlimited army, He has the power to overcome His enemies simply by His word.  God does indeed shine His light on the whole world.  In verse four Bildad asks, How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?  Bildad's implication was that people cannot be justified before God by their own merit.  There is no way that we can ever justify ourselves, which is why Christ came to the world to make our justification available through our faith in Him.  Verse five declares, Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.  Bildad said that even the heavenly bodies were not pure in the sight of God.  Just as the moon only reflects light, so it is that people can only reflect the Light of God.  We can never be a light unto ourselves, or bring about our own salvation in other words.  Verse six asks, How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?  When compared to God, we are no more than a worm.  We may like to think that we are rich and powerful, but before God we are nothing.  Bildad did not apply these truths to Job directly this time.  He was as running out of arguments, and Zophar had nothing to add this time.

Job 24:13 says, They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.  Job is speaking of those that he had referred to in the previous verses.  Those who stole from and oppressed the poor did not have the light of God in their lives.  They did not follow what God's Law taught.  I don't believe that we can claim to be followers of God today and look down on those less fortunate than we are with a lack of concern at best or contempt at worst.  We certainly should not be attempting to use them for our own benefit or profit.  Verse fourteen says, The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.  I believe that Job was saying that it didn't matter what the time of day was, morning or night, that there were always those who would murder others for what they had.  Verse fifteen states, The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.  Job said that the adulterer would wait until dark was coming to commit their crime, thinking that no one would see them.  They could not hide their evil deeds from God, and neither can we.  Still, they were not immediately struck down by God.  Verse sixteen states, In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.  Job said that those who intended to rob a house at night often used the light of day to plan their crimes.  We know that as followers of Christ that we live in the light, and we need to make sure that we never attempt to use that light to justify taking what belongs to another.  Verse seventeen says, For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.  Job said that those who steal from others don't want to be recognized in the light of day.  I believe that we can likewise say that those who sin against God do not want to be caught in His light, but it is unavoidable.  Verse eighteen states, He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.  Job appears to be speaking of pirates in this verse.  They boldly take what belongs to others.  We still hear of piracy today, and the pirates really act without concern for being caught.  Verse nineteen says, Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.  In this verse through verse twenty four, Job speaks of the certainty that the wicked will ultimately be judged and found guilty by God.  They may hide in the darkness or outrun judgment in this life, but as surely as drought and heat consume the water from melted snow, the wicked will be judged after death.  Verse twenty states, The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.  Job states that even the mother of a truly wicked person would rather forget them.  Verse twenty one says, He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.  Job once more begins to state some of the evil things that the wicked do.  They have no compassion for the childless couple or for the widows.  Having children in this time frame was important for carrying on the family name and for security in old age.  Verse twenty two says, He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.  I believe that Job was saying that even those that were mighty in the world were not exempt from falling into the power of the wicked, but still the wicked were not always punished in this lifetime.  Verse twenty three says, Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. Then verse twenty four concludes, They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.  I believe that Job was saying that even though the wicked, those who refused to acknowledge and follow God, might die prosperous in the eyes of the world, they faced the ultimate judgment of God.  We cannot hide sin from God, nor can we outrun His ultimate judgment, but that does not mean that the wicked will always be punished in this lifetime.  In verse twenty five, Job asked, And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?  Job challenged his friends to prove him wrong if they thought he was.  If we are living by the truth of God, we like Job need never worry that someone can prove that what we say is wrong.  Even if people oppose what we say, we can stand firm in God's truth.

Job 24:1 says, Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?  Job now stops defending himself and starts to again dispute his friends claim that the wicked are always punished in this life.  Job said that nothing was hidden from God and those who knew Him should always acknowledge that God was at work in the world every day.  Verse two states, Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.  Job was speaking of the ways that the wicked prospered.  They changed the markers that defined property boundaries and stole the flocks of others through violent means.  We do not have to look far today to see the poor being oppressed by those in power.  They don't even have to use violence to do it, though often they may.  Verse three states, They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.  Job said that instead of protecting the orphans and widows that the wicked who were in power took away what little they had.  Since wicked people will never be concerned with the welfare of the less fortunate, it is up to God's followers to care for their wellbeing.  Still, even as the wicked took away from the poor, they were not struck down by God, as Job's friends had claimed would happen.  Verse four continues this thought stating, They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.  When those with the riches and power in the world act only in ways that enrich themselves, then the poor do end up huddled together.  Poor people do tend to hide away from the rich, especially if they feel that they are only going to be used for the benefit of the rich.  The concept that if we can only make the rich even richer that they will suddenly do what is best for the poor I believe is based on a lie.  If people have not used their vast riches to help those in need giving them more riches is not going to change their nature.  Verse five states, Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.  I believe that Job was saying that even when the poor were up early and working that they were still preyed upon by the wicked of the world, who were up even earlier planning how to take what was not theirs.  The wicked hid out from the righteous of God, like a scrounge in the desert.  We may hide the evil that we do from the world, but we can never hide it from God.  Verse twenty four says, They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.  Job said that even the wicked bravely stole the crops of the righteous.  We hear so many times today of people being robbed, yet God does not immediately strike down the robber, even if the one being robbed is one of God's followers.  We also hear of very rich people being caught cheating the poor through dishonest business practices, but again they are not immediately punished by God as Job's friends were claiming would happen.  Verse seven states, They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.  Job said the wicked would leave people naked and out in the cold.  Verse eight says, They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.  Job said often people were left to try and find shelter under the rocks to escape the rain, and that this was not a punishment from God.  God's people are called on to help those in need, but often we instead look down on them and are afraid that helping them will cost us too much.  If this is the attitude of God's people, imagine how the wicked view the poor.  Verse nine states, They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.  Then verse ten continues, They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;  I believe in these verses that Job was saying that the wicked of the world have a total lack of concern for the welfare of others.  A lot of what Job was referring to was what could be considered legally taking what belonged to others without returning it or leaving them with basic necessities.  If a cloak were pledged for security, it was to be returned at night so the person would not go cold.  Verse eleven says, Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.  I believe that Job was saying that the rich continued to enjoy life with no concern for the poor.  As they enjoyed their wine, they were not concerned about those who go thirsty.  Verse twelve declares, Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.  Job said that even as those around the rich of the world who did not follow God suffered, that God did not strike them down.  God did not immediately hold them accountable for their folly, as Job's friends were contending would happen.

Job 23:1 says, Then Job answered and said,  Job was still stating his basic claim, and that was that he didn't know why God was punishing him and that he didn't feel that God was listening to him.   We need to learn to put our faith in God, even if the world seems to be collapsing around us.  Verse two states, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.  I believe that Job was claiming that due to his suffering, which he felt God was the direct cause of, that he had a right to be bitter toward God.  We can never allow what is going on in our lives to determine how we feel about God.  Even in the worst of suffering, we must still praise God for His forgiveness and know that we are safe in His arms for evermore.  In verse three Job declares, Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!  I believe that Job thought that since his condition was not improving that God was not listening to him.  If we are suffering in life, we need to simply pray that God's will shall be done in our lives.  When we pray honestly under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we can be certain that God hears our prayers.  If we are sincerely praying that God's will be done, we can rest assured that it will be, even if we don't understand how God is accomplishing this.  Verse four states, I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.  Job said that if God would listen, then he could present his case to God.  Job should have understood that God was already listening to him.  We need to pray with that understanding.  If we are followers of Christ, not only will God always hear our prayers, but He will often hear our prayers when we do not even know what to pray.  Job said that he could present his arguments to God, but he nor we can prove ourselves worthy of God's forgiveness, no matter how long we argue.  Verse five says, I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.  We cannot presume, as Job seemed to, that we know the right words to say to God in all situations, and we certainly cannot assume to know what God's answer is going to be.  We need to simply put our trust in God's everlasting security.  Even if we feel that we are being unjustly punished by God, we need to remember that God is never unjust in His dealing with people.   In verse six Job says, Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.  I believe that Job may have been pointing out that God, unlike his friends, would not argue that Job had done something to deserve his current suffering.  Job said that if he could present his case to God that God would strengthen him, unlike Job's friends who were condemning him.  God is indeed our source of strength, and He will never abandon us.  Verse seven states, There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.  We need to realize that even if the righteous could dispute with God as Job said, that we are told by God that there is none who is righteous.  We cannot claim deliverance from the penalty of sin based on our own righteousness, but must accept it based on God's gift of salvation through Christ. Verse eight says, Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: Job said that no matter if which direction he went, forward or backward, he could not find God.  Job continues in verse nine, On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:  Job was looking every where for an answer from God, but believed that God was not to be found.  The problem was not with God not being with Job, but with Job equating his condition as God's punishment for reasons that Job did not understand.  As followers of Christ, if we feel God has abandoned us or is treating us unfairly, we need to correct our thinking.  God never acts unfairly.   Verse ten states, But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  Job stated that God knew that he had remained true to God, and that even as he was being tried by suffering, he would be purified like gold.  Our suffering for our faith should only purify that faith.  Verse eleven says,  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  Job said that he had not departed from the way of God, no matter what his friends might say.  This should be our testimony about our faith in God.  In verse twelve Job declares, Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.  Job said that God's word, that spiritual feeding, was more important to him than food itself.  We need that same understanding today.  God's word and will come above everything else.  Verse thirteen says, But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.  Job was correct that if God has truly decided to do something that no one can force Him to change His mind, but we are not the ones to determine when that has happened.  If everything is already determined by God, then prayer would be foolish, in my opinion.  Verse fourteen states, For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.  Job said that God was going to do with him whatever He wanted to do, but Job misunderstood why God was allowing these things to happen.  Verse fifteen says, Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.  I believe that Job's fear of God came because he was not truly trusting in God in his current state.  If we really know God, we will have no reason to fear Him if we are doing our best to live by faith in Christ.  Verse sixteen states, For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:  Job was troubled because he didn't understand why these things were happening to him.  Verse seventeen states, Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.  Job felt that he had access to God before his suffering started, but that now he was left in darkness.  We can know beyond a doubt that God will never leave His people in darkness, and that our physical condition will never dictate our spiritual relationship with God.

Job 22:15 says, Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?  I believe that Eliphaz was asking Job to look at the history of evil people being destroyed for their sins.  Though many were destroyed, there were also many who were not.  Verse sixteen says, Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:  Eliphaz was probably referring to the flood as an example of God's direct punishment of evil people in the world.  When God acted to directly destroy evil, He made it known that is was His action that caused the destruction.  Verse seventeen states, Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?  The flood came because people had decided that they did not need God, if He even existed.  Job never questioned the existence and sovereignty of God.  Verse eighteen states, Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.  Eliphaz was again attributing all material wealth to being a direct action of God.  He was implying that God had allowed Job to become rich, as did many people in the past, but that since Job had not truly followed God's will for his life that he had been struck down just like sinners of old who had been destroyed by God.  Verse nineteen says, The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.  Eliphaz said that when the righteous saw evil people being destroyed that they delighted in their destruction and laughed at them.  This would be the view that they got what they deserved, and would justify Eliphaz's attitude about Job.  Instead of rejoicing at the destruction of evil people we should be heartbroken by their going away to everlasting punishment.  In verse twenty Eliphaz declares, Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.  Eliphaz was still contending that the wealth of the righteous would never fail, but that the wealth of the wicked would be consumed by the fire of God, as it was with Sodom and Gommorah.  This is once more a prosperity gospel, stating that God would bless His people with wealth while destroying the wealth of the wicked.  In verse twenty one Eliphaz says, Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.  Eliphaz was telling Job that Job needed to acquaint himself with God, the implication being that Job until this point had been hypocritical about his relationship with God.  He said if Job did this, Job would be at peace and good things would come to Him.  We cannot promise riches to those who come to God in faith, nor can we promise destruction to those who won't come to Him.  Verse twenty two advised Job, Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.  I believe that Eliphaz was still judging Job to be a hypocrite and was telling him that he really needed to make things right between God and himself.  Verse twenty three states, If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.  Eliphaz told Job that if he would return to God, he would once again be built up, or be prosperous.  He said that Job would then need to remove sin from his life.  This still assumes Job was being punished for his sins and that being faithful to God always brought material rewards, when both assumptions were wrong.  We cannot judge people's relationship to God on material possessions, nor can we promise them prosperity if they follow God's will for their lives.  Verse twenty four says, Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, band the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.  Then verse twenty five continues, Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.  These two verses continue to express the idea that serving God always brings material wealth.  Verse twenty six says, For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. I believe that Eliphaz was saying that once Job was prosperous again, then he would praise God.  If we base our praise of God on material wealth, then we are doomed to failure.  Nothing can come between God and us if we are truly His.  Verse twenty seven declares, Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.  Eliphaz stated that when Job was restored to a prosperous state and prayed that God would hear him, if Job fulfilled his vows to God.  This once more bases God's forgiveness on our actions, and not on the action of God.  We cannot become right with God based on anything other than our faith in Him.  Verse twenty eight declares, Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.  This is a name it and claim it declaration.  Eliphaz was saying that when Job was in the right relationship with God that all he had to do is declare what he wanted and he would get it.  We know that this is not what God promised.  God promises to meet our needs and not our wants and desires.  We must align our needs with God's will, and never claim that all we have to do is desire something strongly enough and God will give it to us.  Verse twenty nine says, When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.  I believe that Eliphaz was saying that once Job was restored that he could attest to those who were cast down that if they would humble themselves before God that they would be restored to material wealth.  Eliphaz was basically telling Job that he would then understand that Eliphaz was right in what he was saying.  Verse thirty concludes, He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.  Eliphaz said that God would deliver the innocent based on the pureness of their hands, or works.  As followers of Christ, we know that none is innocent, and also that we cannot become pure enough by our own abilities to be restored to a right relationship with God.  Only God can restore us, and that is only possible by our faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Job 22:1 says, Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,  Eliphaz still believed that he was right and Job was wrong.  Sometimes people will hang on to their preconceived ideas about God even if it is pointed out by someone else, or even the working of the world itself, that they are wrong.  Verse two asks, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?  There is nothing wrong with the question that Eliphaz asks.  Man can never be profitable to God from his own nature.  People have nothing that God needs, but God will make a person profitable to Himself if they follow His will.  Verse three asks, Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?  Our righteousness does not give God anything that He doesn't already have.  If we live a righteous life to the best of our ability, it is not God Who profits, but we ourselves who profit.  We need to always remember that God already owns it all.  In verse four Eliphaz asks, Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?  Again, these are all good questions about the nature of God, but they are being applied wrong.  God does not enter into any relationship out of fear.  We are to serve God in fear, which I believe means acknowledging God's greatness.  I do not believe that we should serve God out of fear of His punishment, but out of love for His forgiveness.  Verse five asks, Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?  Job's friends had been speaking in more general terms about sin and hypocrisy being punished in this life, but now Eliphaz makes it more personal.  Eliphaz asks Job if he doesn't realize that his wickedness and iniquity were infinite.  Eliphaz was basically saying that Job's sins were immeasurable.  His attack was now very personal.  Even if we are stating the truth about God's nature, we cannot do so simply to condemn someone else.  Verse six states, For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.  Eliphaz was now making up false accusations to accuse Job with.  Eliphaz said that Job was not dealing fairly with those he helped, but was really out to strip them bare for his own benefit.  Hopefully, if someone attempts to judge us as wicked and hypocritical today they will have to base their judgment on lies.  In verse seven, Eliphaz continues to condemn Job by asking, Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.  Eliphaz had supposedly come to comfort Job and at first accused Job of being guilty of some secret sin, but now he was accusing Job of deliberately sinning in all his actions.  Eliphaz was again attempting to prove that Job's suffering was a direct result of God's punishment for Jobs sins, so he now began to invent reasons for it.  It is bad enough if we prejudge people without adding lying about them to the list.  Verse eight says, But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.  Eliphaz accused Job of allowing the rich to get away with crimes while he punished the poor.  We see this seemingly happen a lot in the world today, but hopefully it is not the case with those who are God's people.  Verse nine states, Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.  Eliphaz was saying that not only did Job not help the poor, but he made it impossible for them to help themselves.  Verse ten states, Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;  I believe that Eliphaz was saying that God had set up situations where Job could prove he was righteous, and that Job's failure to act in a righteous manner became a snare to him.  God will never tempt us to do evil to prove us unworthy of His love and forgiveness, because we already are.  Only through accepting Christ as Savior and Lord can we find forgiveness and restoration with God, and when we do the Holy Spirit will be with us to keep us from temptation.  Verse eleven says, Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.  Eliphaz was still telling Job that his suffering was of his own making due to sin in his life and that Job could not see the light of truth.  Verse twelve says, Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!  Eliphaz was reminding Job of how much higher God and His ways were compared to man's ways.  Though true, Elipaz was applying this truth in the wrong manner.  Verse thirteen says, And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Then verse fourteen states, Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.  I believe in these two verses Eliphaz was asking Job if he thought his sins were hidden from God.  We can be sure that our sins will never be hidden from God, but we can only account for our own sins.  We should never attempt to judge anyone else's suffering in life to be a result of God's punishment for some sin in their life.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.   It seems that Thanksgiving Day seems to almost be forgotten.  It has been turned into a day of commerce by some, and almost as a day to get through for Black Friday sales for others. I was watching the local news earlier when someone wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and nothing was said by them about Thanksgiving.  We need to recapture the true reason for celebrating Thanksgiving Day.  It should be a day to thank God for all our blessings, even if they seem small as they did when the Pilgrims celebrated that first Thanksgiving.  It should be a day of joy, not a day of stressing over how we are going to beat everyone else to the bargains tomorrow.  So, I will say a simple thank you to God and hope everyone else will to.  Thanksgiving Day is to important to be lost in commercialization or even swallowed up by Christmas.  Again, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Job 21:17 asks, How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.  Job asked his friends if they could give him examples of the wicked, even those who denied and defied God, always being cut down.  Job knew that many wicked people did live long and prosperous lives, but that in the day of judgment they would be cut down.  God sees things from an eternal point and not from a material, temporary one. Verse eighteen says, They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. I believe that Job was speaking about the judgment of God that would come one day.  The wicked may have felt secure and denied God's existence, but the day was coming when the would be no more powerful than stubble in the wind.  Their status in this world would not matter.  Verse nineteen states, God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.  I believe that Job was saying that one day those who denied God would know that He not only existed, but that He would judge their actions in this life.  Matthew Henry says that this means the children of the wicked will be punished for the sins of the fathers, but I don't believe that anyone is punished for the sins of another.  Verse twenty says, His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.  I believe that this is like the rich man looking up from hell.  Those who were rich and denied God will one day see how foolish they really were.  In verse twenty one Job asks, For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?   Job asked what a person would benefit from their material possessions when they died.  We can be certain that we will take nothing of this world into everlasting life.  Any treasure we have there will be simply those laid up by serving God, and even they won't matter.  Verse twenty two asks, Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.  Though someone might think that they are the most intelligent person in the world, there is nothing that they can teach God.  As Job states, God will judge even those who feel that they are above believing in Him.  Verse twenty three states, One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.  Then verse twenty four continues, His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.  Job said that some people, in the midst of health looking forward to a long life in contentment, die suddenly.  We can never guarantee that we have even another minute in this life, no matter how young or healthy we may be.  Verse twenty five says, And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.  Some people do indeed live long lives and seem to feel nothing but bitterness in life.  If a person is denying God, then they should feel bitter about life, because without God, there is no hope.  Then, verse twenty six states, They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.  Job said that the grave is the great equalizer.  It is the place where all will go until the return of Christ in victory.  Age and wealth cannot save a person from the grave.  In verse twenty seven Job declares, Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.  Job was telling his friends that he knew they already had their minds made up about Him, but that they were wrong.  We should never approach anyone with preconceived ideas about them, but must be willing to really listen to what they have to say.  Verse twenty eight says, For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?  Job said that his friends were asking where his house or his son's house was, and stating that they were torn down as were the houses of the wicked.  Once more, this was based on serving God for material rewards and not for spiritual rewards.  In verse twenty nine Job says, Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,  Job asks his three friends to ask anyone passing by, anyone who was not attempting to apply their preconceived ideas to Job, what they thought of the idea that his friends were claiming as God's teaching.  It would indeed be sad if just anyone passing by could give us a better understanding of God than those who are supposedly acting in His name.  Verse thirty states, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.  Job said that there was a day of judgment coming for the wicked, but it was not necessarily in this life.  Verse thirty one says, Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?  I believe that Job was saying that the wickedness of people might not be checked or punished during their lifetime.  Verse thirty two then adds, Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.  Job said that the grave equalized everything.  It doesn't matter how rich or how poor a person is.  The grave awaits everyone until Christ returns, and beyond the grave there will be the true judgment of God.  Verse thirty three states, The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.  Job said that many people had died before him and many would die after him, but this was not the final resting place of the soul.  Material things, even the body, may pass away, but the soul of people live forever.  In verse thirty four Job concludes, How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? Job asked his friends how long they were going to attempt to comfort him with words based on lies.  If we are to be a help and comfort to those who are suffering around us today, we need to make sure that what we are telling them is God's truth and not just our own truth.  I believe that Job's friends were sincere in what they were saying, but they were wrong.

Job 21:1 states, But Job answered and said,  Zophar may have thought that he had convinced Job that Job's iniquity was the source of his situation because God was punishing him, but Job knew this was not true.  If we are suffering and know that we have not brought the suffering on ourselves because of disobedience to God, we should always be ready to defend our faith.  Verse two says, Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.  Job once more asked his friends to really listen to what he had to say.  They had shown no evidence of really listening yet.  It is hard to get those with predetermined ideas to really listen to anyone else's ideas or understanding of the truth.  Verse three says, Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.  Job said listen to me, and if you don't agree, then continue to mock me.  In verse four Job asks, As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?  I believe that Job was asking if his suffering was only based on his relationship to other people, then why would his spirit, or his soul, be troubled.  As followers of Christ, we know when trouble in our life is a result of our failure in our relationship to God.  I believe that Job was saying his spirit was troubled because he didn't know what he had done to suffer so.  Verse five says, Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.  Job asked his friends to look at his situation, but to be astonished at what he had to say.  What Job was saying was totally in opposition to what his friends were saying, and Job said they needed to listen carefully to what he was saying.  God's truth will always astounded the sinner, even if they do not believe it.  Verse six says, Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.  I believe that Job was saying that when he remembered all that had happened to him he still was left trembling in fear.  I believe this was because he didn't think God was listening to him, so he could not understand why it was happening.  In verse seven Job asks, Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?  I believe that Job was saying that the evidence of the world disputed what his friends were saying.  The wicked did live long lives and were often mighty in their power over others, even those who were faithful to God.  We only need to look around us today to realize that this is true.  Verse eight says, Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.  Job declared that unlike what his friends were saying that the wicked did have children to carry on their name.  We know this is true.  God does not necessarily cut off evil people from having children.  Verse nine says, Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.  Job said that evil people felt secure at home and did not fear punishment from God.  There are many truly evil people who do not fear punishment from God today and who even deny His existence.  We might think that God would strike them down, but I believe that He would rather see them converted.  In verse ten, Job continues, Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.  Job had said they had children, were secure at home and prospered in spite of being evil by nature.  Verse eleven says, They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.  Then verse twelve states, They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.  I believe in these two verses Job was saying that not only did the wicked or evil people not suffer, but that they celebrated.  We can see so much celebrating by those who deny God today that we do not have to question Job's conclusion.  Sometimes, even those who follow Christ celebrate in ways that do not honor God.  Verse thirteen says, They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.  Job said the wicked often live their lives wealthy until the day they die.  In verse fourteen Job states, Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.  Job said that the wicked who lived successful lives defied God.  This would not be the case if God always struck down the wicked people of the world.  Verse fifteen continues this thought stating, What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?  I believe that Job was saying that these wicked people who were rich felt that they had attained their status by their own power and could see no profit, or benefit, from serving God.  Verse sixteen states, Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.  I believe that Job was saying that even if they didn't believe in God that their riches were ultimately in His hands.  It all belongs to God, whether we acknowledge that or not.

Job 20:16 says, He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.  Zophar warns that what had seemed the sweetness of sin would turn into a bitter poison in the end.  No matter how sweet the fruit of sin may taste to a person, it is still deadly, not only to the body, but to the everlasting torment of the soul as well.  Verse seventeen says, He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.  This was another way of saying that the sinner and hypocrite would not prosper, but we know this is not always the truth in this life, though it is true in the life to come.  Verse eighteen says, That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.  Basically, Zophar was saying that the sinner would not long enjoy the rewards of his labor.  We may wish that those who profit by dealing unfairly with others would always have their wealth taken away and returned to those they cheated or abused, but it doesn't often happen.  Verse nineteen states, Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;  This is a continuation of the warning to the wicked, listing some of their sins against others. Zophar said they oppressed the poor and violently took away what the poor had.  Zophar was still applying this to Job and his situation.  Verse twenty says, Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.  I believe this was another way of saying that there could be no peace and contentment for the sinner.  If sin always left us dissatisfied, poor and suffering, it would be easy to avoid, but often it is just the opposite at least in worldly terms.  Verse twenty one says, There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.  Once more, this is not always the fate of sinners, but would be if our relationship with God determined our material wealth.  Verse twenty two states, In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.  Now it is possible that Zophar was more accurate in this statement.  There will always be those who wish to take what belongs to someone else as their own, but it should not be God's people.  If we as followers of Christ are to have what belongs to another, there will be no doubt that God is giving it to us, and even then it is not to be because we covet what is someone else's.  Verse twenty three declares, When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.  Zophar, still referring to Job's status really, said that when the sinner became wealthy and felt secure that God would strike him down.  In verse twenty four Zophar states, He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.   I believe he was basically saying there is no escaping the wrath of God, but we know that through Christ we can.  Even our relationship with Christ does not guarantee material success.  Verse twenty five says, It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.  Zophar continued to speak of the horror of God's punishment, and saw this as what was happening to Job.  Verse twenty six states, All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.  I believe that Zophar was saying that even the descendants of sinners would suffer for the sins of a sinner, but we will each be judged for our sins alone.  Verse twenty seven says, The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.  Then, verse twenty eight says, The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.  These verses continue Zophar's basing of material wealth on faithfulness to God.  He said those secret inequities, which he felt Job was guilty of, would ultimately lead to material destruction.  Verse twenty nine declares, This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.  Zophar was correct from a spiritual view, but not from just a material one. If we only serve God because we think that is going to bring us material wealth, the we will ultimately be disappointed.  As followers of Christ, we are called on to take up our cross daily.

Job 20:1 says, Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,  Job's friends could not just remain quiet.  Zophar felt that he knew the nature and the works of God better than Job did.  We, like Zophar, would be better off listening for God's understanding of a situation than attempting to apply our own understanding.  Verse two says, Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. Zophar said that his thoughts forced him as to not only answer, but to do quickly.  He was correct about them being his thoughts, and he wasn't even going to take the time to consider what Job had said.  When we judge without considering what God tells us in any situation, we are indeed in danger of sharing only our own thoughts, and not God's teachings.  In verse three Zophar continues, I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.  Zophar was basically saying to Job that Job had reproached what he had said earlier, so now he felt compelled to set Job straight.  If someone questions what we feel to be the truth, we often cannot wait for them to be quiet so we can correct them.  Instead of waiting to declare Job wrong, Zophar would have been better off to wait and listen sincerely to what God had to say.  If our objective is to defend our belief about a particular situation, we may be too busy just waiting for the opportunity to respond to hear what God has to say.  We need to be certain that we, like Zophar, are not replying just on our own understanding.  In verse four Zophar asks, Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,  Zophar questions Job's understanding of the way the world had worked throughout history.  If we are going to base our arguments on the history of people and their relationship to God since the beginning of time, we need to make sure that our understanding comes from God, and not just our own interpretation of events.  In verse five Zophar continues, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?  Though what Zophar said was true from an everlasting prospective, that the triumph of evil over good is short, this did not apply to Job.  Even the truth can be used from a wrong understanding to attempt to justify our beliefs and dispute someone else's beliefs.  In verse six Zophar states, Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;  Zophar implies that the sinner can become so proud of themselves that they feel that they are in heaven.  Then, verse eight warns, Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?  Though speaking of sinners in general being brought down to destruction, I believe that Zophar was attempting to apply this to Job in particular.  Job had been brought from his position of wealth and influence to suffering and abandonment by his friends.  We cannot assume that when a person suffers in life that they are being punished by God, nor does success mean that they are being blessed by God.  Verse eight says, He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.  Zophar said that the sinners life would be as lasting as a dream.  Verse nine says, The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.  Zophar said that sinners would no longer be looked on with respect.  Verse ten says, His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.  Often, the children of the rich, instead of seeking to help the poor simply continue to attempt to further enrich themselves.  Verse eleven says, His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.  Zophar was saying that the sinner would not give up on the sins of his youth, which I believe meant the lusts of youth.  As a rule, young people do tend to be more self centered.  I believe Zophar was saying this should change as a person matures, especially spiritually.  Verse twelve says, Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;   Zophar said that wickedness tasted sweet to the sinner and they tried to hide it under their tongue to enjoy longer.  Verse thirteen states, Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:  I believe that Zophar was really referring to the hypocrite, who knew that certain things were wrong but continued to do them because they brought pleasure in life.  Verse fourteen says,  Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.  I believe that Zophar was saying that deep within the hypocrite, there was no real peace.  If we are living life based on the lies of hypocrisy, we will never be at ease.  Verse fifteen declares, He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.  Riches can never bring everlasting satisfaction to anyone.  Only following God's will can.  We may think we can live in the riches and sweetness of sin, but God will eventually cast them out.  It may not be in this life, but anything built on sin will ultimately be cast away by God.

Job 19:15 says, They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.  Job said that even those who lived in his house and had served him acted as though they didn't know who he was.  We may forget that even at this time at least some of Job's servants reminded.  Job had been a good master to his maids and servants, but now that he was in need of comfort, they did not even want to look on Him.  I believe it is safe to say that Job had treated his servants well, or God would not have held him up as an example of a truly righteous man.  Verse sixteen says, I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.  Since Job was seemingly cast down by God, his servants no longer answered his call.  We need to acknowledge that if we see a person in great need, especially a fellow Christian, we are called to minister to them, and are not called to abandon them.  Then in verse seventeen Job states,  My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.  Job was abandoned by the person who should have been his greatest source of comfort in this life, his wife.  Job said he would have gladly died in his children's place, and his wife should have known this.  We have to understand that we cannot die for another person.  Only Christ was able to do that.  Still, we would like to believe that if we suffer a great loss, if we are married, that our spouse would truly be with us in sickness and in health.  Verse eighteen says, Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. Children tend to follow the example of adults, and since the adults around him despised Job, so did they.  I believe that we could use this as an example of why we need to set a good example for our children.  They may not always follow our good example, but we certainly do not want them following a bad one that we set for them.  Verse nineteen says, All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.  It is bad enough if our casual acquaintances abandon us in time of need, but Job said his closest friends, those that he had loved, had turned against him.  I believe that is what happens when people base friendship on material things.  Job could no longer offer his closest friends anything, so they abandoned him.  Verse twenty declares, My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.  Job said that he was still alive, but that he was barely holding on.  There are people today, even Christians, who are barely holding on to hope in life, and we as followers of Christ need to be there with them to offer comfort in their hour of need.  In verse twenty one Job cries out, Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.  Job was pleading with his friends to show him compassion, even though he felt that Go d was punishing him.  If we feel that God has indeed punished us for whatever reason, then this is the time we need the comfort of friends the most. Verse twenty two asks,  Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?  Job believed that he was being punished by God, and asked his friends why they weren't satisfied with God's punishment but felt the need to punish him more.  We need to be satisfied with the way God deals with each person, and if we feel that He is punishing them, then they need our comfort even more.  Verse twenty three says, Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!  Fortunately for us they were, so we can learn from what happened to Job and his friends.  Verse twenty four says, That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!  They were preserved even better than by being chiseled in stone.  Job's words were preserved by God Himself.  In verse twenty five, Job declares, For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  We, like Job, have to know that our Redeemer lives and will return for us.  Verse twenty six says, And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Like Job, we need to declare that even if this body returns to dust, we will one day see God not only in the spirit, but in the flesh as well.  Job continues in verse twenty seven, Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.  We like Job need to stand firm in our faith that we will see God.  If the spirit alone were saved, there would be no reason for Christ to return.  Verse twenty eight says,  But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?  Job asked if the root of his persecution was found in him, why did his friends feel the need to persecute him.  If we feel that someone is being punished by God, it is not our role to add to persecute them.  We should pray for their restoration and not condemn them for their condition.  Verse twenty nine warns, Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.  I believe that Job was warning his friends that they were setting themselves up for God's judgment.  If we attempt to judge others today as though we are morally superior, then we too will face God's judgment of our actions.

Job 19:1 says, Then Job answered and said,  After Bildad stopped speaking, Job answered him.  Job did not interrupt or get in a shouting match with Bildad, but listened to him before answering.  Verse two asks, How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?  Job had already asked his friends to just be quiet if they could offer him no hope or understanding of why he was in this situation.  If we can offer no help or any solution to a person's current suffering we are better off simply sitting with them and praying for them.  Job's friends came to him with preconceived ideas about why he was suffering and would not listen to his reasoning, nor did they ask God for a better understanding so they could really comfort Job.  We cannot go into any situation and attempt to make it confirm our belief about that situation.  We must first seek God's guidance and then listen to what the person who is suffering has to say with compassion and not judgment.   Verse three says, These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.  We only know of five times that Job's friends spoke to him, but that does not mean that they hadn't spoken more often.  Matthew Henry says that this indicated that those five times they spoke were double in their condemnation of Job.  Either way, Job said that even though they weren't, they should be ashamed of their treatment of him.  Verse four states, And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.  Job said that if he had erred, or sinned, that was a matter between God and himself.  We cannot determine the relationship between God and any other person. We can only account for our own sins.  Verse five says, If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:  Job said that his friends were magnifying themselves and condemning him.  We must be careful to never view ourselves as above others.  If we are followers of Christ, we are still simply sinners saved by grace.  We should not magnify our relationship to God as being superior to anyone else's.  In verse six Job states,  Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.  Though Job was mistaken in thinking that God was directly responsible for his current situation, he still saw it as being between God and himself.  We will each answer for our own sins and that alone should keep us from trying to judge others.  We all have enough to answer for.  Verse seven says, Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.  Job still felt that God did not hear him.  If we feel isolated from God, we need to remember that He has not abandoned us.  Verse eight says, He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.  I believe that Job felt since he thought that God was the source of his suffering that there was no way out.  We need to remember that if God allows us to suffer, He will also provide a way out of that suffering if we remain true to Him.  In verse nine Job says,  He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.  I believe that Job thought that his success in life was a reward for his serving God faithfully, and that had been stripped away.  The truth is that we serve God for His glory and not our own.  That is one problem with a prosperity gospel.  If we suddenly face a material failure, then we have to blame God.  Verse ten states, He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.  Job saw no way to turn.  He felt that God had surrounded him with misery.  Verse eleven says, He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.  Though Job felt that God counted him as an enemy to be tormented and then destroyed, we know this was not the case.  As followers of Christ, God will never seek to destroy us, though our possessions may be destroyed.  God was still with Job, even if Job didn't feel God's presence.  We should never allow any situation to make us feel abandoned by God.  Verse twelve says, His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.  Job thought the whole army of God was against him.  Verse thirteen states, He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.  Job felt God was against him and his friends no longer wanted to be around him.  In verse fourteen Job declares, My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.  Job felt very alone in the world, abandoned by friends, family, and most importantly by God.  Even if our friends desert us, we would hope that our family would not.  If friends and family desert us, we need to know that God will not.  Just because we may not understand what is happening in life and may not feel the presence of God, as His followers we can be certain that He is always with us.

Job 18:11 says, Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.  Bildad is still speaking of the fate of the wicked, but again he is applying this to what was happening with Job.  He said that the wicked would be so afraid that they could not rest.  I am not sure that the lost people in the world all have trouble resting in this world, but if they acknowledge the fact that the soul of man never dies, they should have trouble resting.  In this life they may have comfort, but this life is but temporary.  Verse twelve says, His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.   We need to remember that Bildad was still attempting to prove to Job that sin had led Job to his current condition.  Bildad was saying that sin always brought pain and suffering to a person, but again we know this is not always true.  We cannot attempt to claim that if a person, especially a Christian, is suffering that it is a punishment from God.  Verse thirteen says, It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.  Since Job was suffering such a fate, Bildad was saying that Job should expect this due to the sin in his life and his refusal to acknowledge it.  When we see a person suffering today, we cannot attribute this to God's punishment of sin.  They may be like Job and be having their faith put to the test.  If God always materially rewarded those who follow Him, and materially punished those who do not, it would be much easier to get people to follow Him.  We cannot put our faith in God only for those material blessings, but must remain true to Him, no matter what, just as Job did.  Verse fourteen says, His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.  This is the ultimate fate of those who do not accept Christ as their Savior and Lord, but it does not equate to material blessings in this world.  When a person stands before God unforgiven, that person will indeed face the king of terrors.  Verse fifteen says, It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.  I believe that Bildad was saying that there was no place for the sinner to be safe from God's judgment.  Bildad was still thinking about material things being a sign of God's blessings, and saying that God would tear down all that sinners did.  Though it is true that ultimately, at the end of this world, no unsaved sinner, those not redeemed by personal faith in Christ, can find a place to be safe from God's judgment, that does not mean that they will always be punished materially or physically in life.  Verse sixteen says, His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.  Bildad was still attempting to apply the punishment of sinners to this world, and especially to Job.  Verse seventeen adds, His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.  Job had indeed been cut down and was already forgotten by all his friends for all practical purposes.  Verse eighteen states, He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.  Job's world was indeed full of darkness and he was close to death.  Bildad was telling Job that these things were proof that Job was being punished by God.  We cannot apply eternal truths to temporary situations just to support our beliefs.  Had Bildad and his two friends been praying for the understanding of God's will in what was happening to Job, they would have seen the truth of the situation.  We can never just assume to know God's will, but must always ask His guidance in understanding it.  Verse nineteen says, He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.  Once more, I believe that Bildad was attempting to apply his beliefs to Job's situation.  We don't know about nephews, but Job's sons had died.  I believe that among other things that are wrong with Bidad's reasoning is the fact that he assumes that children and relatives will be punished for the sins of some else.  Each person is responsible for their own relationship with God.  Verse twenty states, They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.  Those who saw Job were certainly astonished by his current state, even as before the had viewed him as a powerful man, whom they respected or even feared.  Verse twenty one concludes, Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.  I believe that Bildad was telling Job that Job knew that this was what he should have expected due to his sins and hypocrisy.  We can never claim that other people are deserving of suffering in this world due to their material or physical status in life.  Suffering and a lack of material wealth do not equate to punishment from God.

Job 18:1 says, Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,  Job had asked his friends to just be quiet if all they could do was condemn him, but Bildad, like Eliphaz felt that he had to continue to try to correct what he saw was Job's lack of understanding.  In verse two, Bildad says, How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.  Bildad wondered how long Job was going to continue to speak what he saw as empty words.  As we saw with Eliphaz, Bildad now becomes even stronger in his condemnation of Job.  I don't believe that either one had really listened to Job.  They had their minds made up that Job was a sinner and a hypocrite, so they were basically just waiting for Job to quit talking so they could point out how wrong he was.  When we are confronted with someone expressing an opinion we do not agree with, we too often fail to hear what they are saying.  We may hear their words, but often have dismissed them even before they are spoken.  Verse three asks, Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?  Bildad was basically accusing Job of calling his friends beasts, but he never had.  Job may have said that he felt that their reasoning was faulty, but he never said that they were as incapable of rational thought as were beasts, or animals.  We should not be surprised if someone who believes that we are wrong distort our words when they respond to what we have said.  Verse four says, He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?  Bildad may have been referring to Job's statement about tearing his flesh, but he was not referring to it with any understanding of what Job was saying.  We may repeat what someone said and use it out of context to prove our point, but we should listen to really understand what someone else is saying, especially if we disagree with them and want to correct the errors in their understanding.  Verse five says, Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.  Bildad now begins to try to show Job why he was wrong in what he had said.  There is a lot of truth in what Bildad tells Job, but it did not apply to Job.  We must be careful to never take general truths and claim that they apply in every situation, especially if we are using them to justify ourselves and condemn others.  Verse six says, The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.  Bildad was not speaking of a building, but of a person.  He was still saying that the wicked would die from their iniquity.  Yet, we know many very evil people who live long and prosperous lives.  Both good and evil people will die physically, but their spirits will live on.  Verse seven states, The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.  Bildad said that the steps of the wicked would ultimately be made straight and that they would be cast down by their own beliefs.  It is true that all sin will ultimately be done away with and that those who believe in anything other than God will be cast away, it doesn't mean that it will happen in this life.  Verses eight through ten continue to state the fate of the wicked for relying on their own strength and wisdom instead of God.  Verse eight says, For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.  Then verse nine, The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. Finally, verse ten, The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.  I believe that Bildad was saying that the sinner would be ensnared in his own trap.  We can be certain that sin does entrap people in its own net if they do not allow God to set them free by putting their faith in Him, but that does not mean that they will always be brought to destruction in this life.

Job 17:10 says, But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.  Job asked why his friends were returning to him again, since he could find no wisdom in what they were saying.   He said that they should be listening to him instead of speaking foolishly against Him.  If we see someone suffering and can only speak to them in judgment, we are better off remaining quiet, or may need instead to listen to what they have to say.  Though the truth of God will never change, our understanding of God may, or we might say even should.  We are called on to grow in knowledge and truth about God.  If we approach our relationship to God feeling that we already know everything that there is to know, we are indeed fooling ourselves.  In verse eleven Job states, My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.  Job felt no hope of restoration in this life.  He felt that his usefulness was past and had no more hope in his heart.  It is impossible to say how we would feel if we were in Job's place, but we should always acknowledge that all things are possible with God, and if we remain faithful, He will never leave us without hope.  Verse twelve says, They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.  Job said he could find no rest at night, and that his suffering would soon end in his death, where there would be no light.  Verse thirteen says, If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.  Job felt that his only hope for release from his physical suffering was to make the grave his home.  He would rest, or sleep, there in darkness.  The grave, or death, is the only thing that we can be certain of for this mortal body if Christ does not return in our lifetime.   Verse fourteen says, I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.  I believe that Job was saying that he had accepted that suffering was all that was left for him in life.  Everyone else had abandoned or condemned him, so his suffering was all he had left in his life.  If we do find ourselves suffering in life, hopefully we will have better family and friends than Job did.  In verse fifteen Job asked, And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?  In this life, Job had no hope, but I believe that he still had faith in God, as evidenced by the question who would see his faith.  We know that no one can see our faith, except by our actions.  So, if we were to find ourselves in perpetual torment, who could see even evidence of our faith.  Verse sixteen says, They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.  I believe that Job was saying that his friends would come to his grave thinking that he suffered the ultimate punishment for his sins.  We must remember that his friends, and his wife, thought that material possessions and life itself was a reward for serving God faithfully, and that suffering, and even such a horrible death, were punishment from God.  They saw the grave as the end for Job, as they had no hope of his redemption due to his perceived lack of faith.

Job 17:1 says, My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.  Job felt that his life was in such torment that even his breathing was corrupted.  The days when he had a purpose in life seemed to be extinct, or a thing of the past.  I believe that Job really felt that he was beyond physical redemption, so he was ready to go to the grave and a spiritual restoration with God.  We may at times feel that death is our only hope, but we need to remember what happened with Job later on.  As long as we have life, we should have hope.  In verse two, Job asks, Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?  Job was speaking of his friends and neighbors.  They were mocking his profession of innocence.  In their concept of God, the status of a person on this earth indicated their relationship with God.  Since Job had been very prosperous and was now reduced to torment, his friends ridiculed him for being a hypocrite.  I believe that Job was saying that the fact that he could still look them in the eye and proclaim his innocence provoked them to anger at him.  When we set ourselves up as moral judges and pronounce a person guilty of sin and they deny it, we tend to become angry at the person, and not the perceived sin.  We are not called to ridicule and provoke others, but to simply reach out to them with the love of God.  Verse three says, Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?  Job put his surety in God.  Like Job, our friends may fail us, but as followers of Christ we can put our surety in God.  When we are resting securely in God's hands, no one can take us away from Him.  Those around us might want to ridicule or even fight with us, but God is our defender.  In verse four Job declares, For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.  Job said that God had caused his friends to be blinded to the truth.  Since I do not believe that God hides Himself or His truth from certain people and reveals it to others, a more accurate statement would be that Job's friends refused to see the truth of God.  They were so certain that they knew the reason for Job's suffering that they were not listening to God.  In our relationship to anyone, we need to first listen to what God has to say.  Verse five says, He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.  I believe that Job was saying that those who only seek to flatter, or speak good things about only their successful friends, will ultimately fail even their families.  If they are basing God's will on material things, then they do not have a true understanding of God, and they will ultimately fail spiritually.  Verse six says, He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. Job said that his friends were using him as an example of God's punishment of the wicked, whereas beforehand they had used him as an example of God's blessing on the righteous.  That is the problem with exalting people as great examples of faith based on material possessions.  Verse seven says, Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.  Job said that sorrow had dimmed his eyes and he was but a shadow of what he had been.  Still, he didn't believe that he had committed some great sin that was causing his suffering.  Verse seven says, Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.  Job declared that even the upright, those who were honestly trying to follow God, would be astonished by Job's words of innocence, and the hypocrites would be stirred to speak out against Him.  Sometimes, if God's truth seems to go against what we believe, we may be astonished that we are wrong.  If we have been and are being hypocritical, then we will naturally oppose this truth from God, because if we don't, then we have to acknowledge our own sinfulness.  Verse nine says, The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.  Job said the righteous, those that God had made spiritually clean, should hang on to their faith, no matter what.  If we keep our faith in God, we will grow stronger and stronger spiritually, no matter what our physical condition might be.

Job 16:11 says, God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.  Job was feeling that if God was not directly behind his suffering that God had at best turned him over to the ungodly and wicked.  I believe that we could say that this was true, but not for the reasons that Job may have understood.  I believe that Job was saying that God had done this because He felt that Job was guilty of some great sin and was punishing Job.  We need to understand that as followers of Christ that if we are suffering in life and we are living for God as faithfully as we can that God is not going to cause the suffering, but He may allow the suffering to come.  We can never look at our relationship with God from our physical or material standing in the world.  Verse twelve adds, I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.  Job said that when he was at ease, his world was destroyed.  He had lost his wealth, his friends, his family and his health.  These were all blessings from God, and Job held God directly responsible for his lose of them.  When we, as followers of Christ become too at ease in the world, it is quite possible that our world can be shaken apart, but we need to make sure that we never become angry at God because of it.  Job felt that God was treating him unfairly, but we can be sure that God will never be unfair in His relationship with anyone, especially those His followers.  Verse thirteen continues, His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.  I believe that Job felt that God had in effect placed him in a place where everything and everyone seemed to be against him.  If we were to find ourselves in the same situation as Job, we might feel just as defeated as Job did.  Verse fourteen states, He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.  Job felt that God was continually punishing him and that he was helpless before God.  Though we are certainly helpless before God, once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we can be just as certain that God is never going to set out to destroy us.  If trouble comes into our lives, we need to remain even more faithful to God.  Verse fifteen adds, I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.  I believe that Job was saying that he had repented and humbled himself before the world and God.  Even though Job knew he had done nothing to deserve what he saw as punishment from God, he did not stand in self-pride and defy God.  We should always be willing be the same way in our relationship to God.  In good times or bad, we need to humbly submit to God.  Verse sixteen continues, My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;  Job was truly heartbroken over his condition, because he felt separated from God.  I am sure the physical pain was great, but the spiritual pain was greater.  Verse seventeen says, Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.  Job said that his repentance and tears were not because he had done any injustice, but because he still realized his position in relationship to God.  Verse eighteen adds, O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.  I believe that Job was basically saying that nothing in the earth could point to injustice on his part.  He might never be seen as guiltless in this life, but that wasn't where his hope was.  Verse nineteen continues, Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.  Job knew that his ultimate judgment was not in this world and the things of this world, but in heaven, where he knew he had a witness to the fact that he had been true to his faith in God.  We as followers of Christ know that He is our witness in heaven, and that the judgment of this world does not matter.  Verse twenty states, My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.  We, like Job, may be scorned by our friends, but our repentant hearts must always cry out to God.  Verse twenty-one adds, O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!  We know that we have an Advocate with God if we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Job was looking ahead to the coming of that Advocate, but we know that He has already come, and we can put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-two continues, When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.  Job knew that his time on this earth was limited and that when he died he would never return again.  We do not come back as something or someone else.  When the body dies, the spirit returns to God forever.  We just need to realize that it doesn't matter if we have accepted Christ or not, the soul lives on.  The souls of the saved and the sinner will go to be judged by God.

Job 16:1 says, Then Job answered and said, After listening, Job now responds.  He did not feel the need, or at least give in to the urge, to interrupt.  Verse two adds, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.  Job certainly had a point here.  His friends were indeed miserable comforters.  Basically, everything they said pointed to Job being a hypocrite and a sinner.  If we go to some who is suffering today, especially a Christian, we need to hope that we will be better at comforting them.  We really need to pray that we won't go to them condemning them as hypocrites or sinners.  Verse three continues, Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?  Job asked his friends if there would ever be an end to their vein, or empty and meaningless, words.  Job recognized that there was no truth to their words.  I believe that he knew this because he knew that his relationship with God was true.  If we are going to recognize when people are not speaking the truth about God, we must first have a relationship with God.  Job also asked why they felt emboldened to speak to him this way.  I believe that Job knew that what they were saying was not based on God's authority, so he wondered why they felt that they should so boldly condemn him.  If someone comes to us today condemning our actions as being sinful, especially if it is based on material things, we need to ask them by what authority they feel free to speak.  If we know that we are in a right relationship with God, then no one else has the authority, or right, to question it.  Verse four states, I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.  Job said that if the roles were reversed, he could speak to them as they did to him.  He did not say that he would, but only that he could.  We need to recognize that we have the ability to judge people based on what we see going on in their lives, but we need to pray that we don't judge them based erroneous knowledge of their relationship with God.  Verse five adds, But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.  Job told his friends that if he did speak to them if they were in his condition, that he would offer words of hope and encouragement to lessen their grief.  We need to feel the same way about those that we see in need.  As followers of Christ, we are not called to condemn, but to comfort and offer the hope of Christ to those we reach out to.  Verse six continues, Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?  Job said that talking about and even just enduring the pain brought him no relief.  Things are easier to endure if there is hope that they are going to get better, but Job had no such hope.  Verse seven declares, But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.  Job still saw God as the direct cause of his problems, saying that He, or God, had made Job weary.  Job also said his friends had made him desolate, being condemned by them instead of being offered hope.  If someone today, especially a fellow believer, is feeling that somehow God has abandoned or is punishing them, we need to offer them encouragement and hope and not look for ways to question their faith.  Verse eight adds, And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.  Job said that his physical condition might seemingly bear witness against him, but he maintained that it did not mean that he was spiritually impure.  Not only should our friends not judge us based on our physical condition, neither should we judge ourselves based on physical, or material, things.  Our relationship with God, or the spiritual, is all that matters.  Verse nine continues, He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. I believe that Job felt that he was being torn apart by God's wrath on him.  He also felt that what his friends were doing was like gnashing at him in his misery.  Verse ten concludes, They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.  Job said that basically his friends were looking at him with reproach instead of empathy.  We need to be better friends to those around us who are suffering, looking to comfort and not to condemn.

Job 15:16 says, How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?  Eliphaz was continuing to point out how sinful people were.  God has created Adam and Eve as perfect, but they chose to give in to iniquity, and so had everyone since, except for Christ.  I don't believe that Eliphaz saw himself as abominable and filthy spiritually, but he certainly did see Job that way.  Verse seventeen adds, I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;  Eliphaz was saying that he had an insight into God's will and His working in the world that Job did not have.  We need to be wary of anyone who says that they have a special knowledge of God that other Christians cannot possess.  Verse eighteen continues, Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:  Eliphaz said that what he was saying was what wise men had always known.  We must remember once more that just because something has been taught for years does not make it true.  There have been many things done in the name of Christianity that were never based on God's word.  Verse nineteen states, Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.  This was another way of saying that those that follow God are blessed materially.  God gave His people a great land.  There was no need to fear the strangers around them, because God was the source of their strength.  We know that God does not just deal with His people materially, but that He deals with them spiritually.  Verse twenty adds, The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.  Eliphaz equates suffering with disobedience to God.  He was again equating material blessings with God's blessings.  We should be careful that we do not teach the same thing.  Verse twenty-one continues, A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.  Eliphaz states that the wicked will have their prosperity destroyed by God, and thus would imply that this is what happened to Job.  We cannot claim that material loss comes from a direct action of God.  Verse twenty-two says, He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.  I believe that Eliphz was saying that the sinner is without hope of being restored to prosperity, and that Job should accept this as his condition.  These next few verses speak of the condition of the sinners, those who do not follow God's will for their lives, or in some cases even acknowledge His existence.  Verse twenty-three adds, He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.  Though Eliphaz was making these statements based on material wealth, we can say that from a spiritual perspective that this is true.  Materialism will never satisfy the soul, and with God we wander in spiritual darkness.  Verse twenty-four continues, Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle. Trouble and anguish will certainly make people afraid when they stand to be judged by God, but that does not mean that the wicked will always suffer defeat in this life.  Sometimes, the wicked do flourish.  Verse twenty-five states, For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.  There are people today, some very prosperous, who deny that God even exists or that He has any power in this world.  They may feel that they are stronger than God, but a rude awakening awaits them.
Verse twenty-six adds, He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:  Verse twenty-seven continues, Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.  I believe that Eliphaz was saying that those who do not follow God saw their riches as a sign that they were correct.  We can never base the truth of God's blessings on materialism.  Verses twenty-eight through thirty-three continue to express the idea that God will punish the wicked materially in this world.  Verse twenty-eight says, And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps. Verse twenty-nine adds, He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.  Eliphaz was saying that the riches of the wicked would not endure long.  Verse thirty continues, He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.  We do know that those who do not follow God's will in their lives will ultimately be cast into darkness, but that does not mean that they will not prosper in this life.  Verse thirty-one states, Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.   Those who do not believe in God are certainly deceived, and what they believe in is certainly vanity, or nothing.  Verse thirty-two adds, It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.  Verse thirty-three continues, He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.  Ultimately, sinners will not prosper, but they may amass a lot of wealth in this life.  In the life to come though all that they have amassed will be shaken off.  Verse thirty-four says, For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.  Eliphaz had accused Job of hypocrisy, and I believe here that he was telling Job that Job should have expected this fate.  In verse thirty-five, Eliphaz adds, They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.  Eliphaz was still speaking about hypocrites in this verse.  Though this is true of the everlasting life that we await, it does not always work that way now.  Sometimes the wicked prosper and those faithful to God suffer.  We cannot judge a person's spiritual relationship with God by any material standard.