The First Cycle of Speeches - 4:1-14:22
Introduction
Chapter 4 commences the first cycle of speeches. These
speeches constitute the largest part of the Book yet it is not uncommon for
discussion to revolve around the other portions of the Book of Job such as the
prologue and epilogue, Elihu, the animals of the later chapters. However, the
basic questions of suffering and sin are painstakingly addressed in the
speeches. The friends operate from what appears to be the accepted orthodox
theology of the time. The theory is simple - Suffering is the punishment of
sin. They behold Job who is in great affliction, therefore he is a great
sinner. They assume that Job is guilty and that his troubles are as a
consequence of sin. However, each of his three friends promise Job a bright
future if he repents of his sins: Eliphaz in 5:17-27, Bildad in 8:6-7 and
Zophar in 11:13-19.
The first round is carried out in strict orderly fashion.
Nobody speaks out of turn. Nobody directly accuses Job of being a gross sinner.
They speak in general terms and usually state their theories broadly - each
adopting a different basis to address their overall point of view.
Difficulties emerge when one attempts to determine the
rightness of the words of Job and his three comforters. Some, looking for a
black and white solution, claim that whatever Job says is right and whatever the
three say is wrong. However, it is not that easy as the apostle Paul quotes the
words of Eliphaz as truth in 1Corinthians 3:19. A better approach is to take on
board the overall arguments. What is the message that Eliphaz or Bildad or
Zophar is trying to impress? The difficulty is attempting to determine, within
that message, what elements are truth, what are error, and what are the areas of
uncertainty.
