And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
The words belong to Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, speaking in his second speech. That speech brings fresh accusations against Job from his own wisdom and observation. Job answers it by protesting his innocence and desiring death.
What Eliphaz says here about Job and about God is not to be treated as reliable merely because it appears in Scripture, but must be tested against other inspired declarations. Like the other speeches of Job's friends, it states what is generally true, that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it was misapplied in Job's case. Affliction and suffering coming upon a person does not prove that he is under God's displeasure or that he should be discouraged, for whom the Lord loves He disciplines. In Job's suffering God was working out what would glorify Himself, give comfort and hope to thousands of suffering people, and prove a blessing to Job himself.
The words belong to Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, speaking in his second speech. That speech brings fresh accusations against Job from his own wisdom and observation. Job answers it by protesting his innocence and desiring death.
What Eliphaz says here about Job and about God is not to be treated as reliable merely because it appears in Scripture, but must be tested against other inspired declarations. Like the other speeches of Job's friends, it states what is generally true, that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it was misapplied in Job's case. Affliction and suffering coming upon a person does not prove that he is under God's displeasure or that he should be discouraged, for whom the Lord loves He disciplines. In Job's suffering God was working out what would glorify Himself, give comfort and hope to thousands of suffering people, and prove a blessing to Job himself.