First Example of Worldly Wisdom [Job 4]

Eliphaz: Innocent Do Not Suffer
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2"If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?
But who can refrain from speaking?
3"Behold you have admonished many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
4"Your words have helped the tottering to stand,
And you have strengthened feeble knees.
5"But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
It touches you, and you are dismayed.
6"Is not your fear of God your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7"Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
8"According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
9"By the breath of God they perish,
And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.

17'Can mankind be just before God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?
 

Job' three friends came to comfort him.  They graciously waited for him to speak before they gave their wisdom.  As we look at the back and forth debate between Job and his friends, we need to know that God later tells Eliphaz that he and his two friends did not speak the truth about God, as His servant Job did. (Job 42:7) So we will need to carefully weed through the friends words as we look for the true character of God.

This first rebuttal is a common one:  You are suffering because you deserve to suffer for something you have done wrong.  I find myself with similar thoughts, wondering what someone (including myself) has done that is causing God to get his attention. This is actually worldly wisdom.  God's truth says a man is righteous because of his faith and that even the righteous have been called to suffer. (Hebrews 11:1-2 and 1 Peter 4:12-19)

We praise You, Father, that Christ left us an example of how to suffer - He entrusted Himself to You.  You are the faithful Creator and You are calling us, nudging us to entrust ourselves to You.  Cause us to follow in Christ's steps by responding in trust in You and Your character.