Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
The warning against being misled into reliance on emptiness, with emptiness as the resulting payment, comes in Eliphaz's second address opposing Job, which levels new charges against him. Job replies to that address by maintaining that he has done no wrong and by wishing for death. Eliphaz uttered it out of his own wisdom and observation, since he had never witnessed a completely upright person enduring such severe suffering. Because it stands within that address, it cannot on its own be received as dependable instruction concerning God or Job, but what it asserts must be tested against the rest of Scripture and accepted only so far as other inspired Scripture confirms it.
What it asserts is broadly correct though wrongly directed at Job, for wrongdoing is finally punished and rightdoing is finally rewarded, so that confidence placed in emptiness issues in emptiness as its return. Suffering therefore is no proof that the sufferer lies under divine disfavor and no reason for discouragement, since the Lord disciplines those He loves, Jesus the Son of God was the chief of sufferers, endurance of suffering for His sake brings Him glory, and whatever brings glory to God works for the highest welfare of the one who suffers if he puts his trust in God.
The warning against being misled into reliance on emptiness, with emptiness as the resulting payment, comes in Eliphaz's second address opposing Job, which levels new charges against him. Job replies to that address by maintaining that he has done no wrong and by wishing for death. Eliphaz uttered it out of his own wisdom and observation, since he had never witnessed a completely upright person enduring such severe suffering. Because it stands within that address, it cannot on its own be received as dependable instruction concerning God or Job, but what it asserts must be tested against the rest of Scripture and accepted only so far as other inspired Scripture confirms it.
What it asserts is broadly correct though wrongly directed at Job, for wrongdoing is finally punished and rightdoing is finally rewarded, so that confidence placed in emptiness issues in emptiness as its return. Suffering therefore is no proof that the sufferer lies under divine disfavor and no reason for discouragement, since the Lord disciplines those He loves, Jesus the Son of God was the chief of sufferers, endurance of suffering for His sake brings Him glory, and whatever brings glory to God works for the highest welfare of the one who suffers if he puts his trust in God.