Good and Better

I am fascinated by the advice Job's friends give him, and how it reveals what they have come to believe about God.  It seems that each friend represents a different view of humanity, of God, and of death.  Job 22-23.

As Eliphaz, Bildad and Frodo (just kidding - Zophar) hound Job about his wickedness as if it surely must be the reason he's going through this misery, Job continues to respond by processing the attributes of God and his desire to approach and talk with Him.  I would like to take a deeper look into each friend's point of view, but for now will focus on the discussion between Eliphaz and Job in these two chapters specifically.

In this section, Job has just pointed out several reasons why he disagrees with his friends, and Eliphaz responds with his commentary on the position man is in compared to God.  Eliphaz doesn't see how a person's righteousness could have any affect on God, since people are really wicked at the core and must do things to make up for this and prove to God that they are putting Him in the highest position in their lives.  Eliphaz implies that Job is wayward and defiant for thinking he matters enough to God to argue his case.  Job should just be quiet and do something to give homage to God: discard his gold and claim God as his only treasure.

Job holds on tight to his belief that he does matter to God.  Rather than trying to appease a distant or easily angered ruler, Job believes that God sees him and is refining him so that Job can experience connection to God as His treasure.  He says, "when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."

So while Eliphaz's ritual may be good, Job's response seems better: It would be good for God to be Job's most valued possession.  It is better for Job to pursue belonging to God.

Job continues to be strengthened, and maybe even protected from his friends' advice, as he believes God wants a relationship with him.