Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
The question belongs to the third speech of Eliphaz, which accuses Job. It stands within the arguments between Job and his three friends in chapters 3-31 over the cause and object of human suffering. In that dispute the friends condemned him as seemingly self-righteous while Job regarded their accusations as unjust. Eliphaz spoke this question from his own wisdom and observation. It asks whether God rebukes Job out of fear of him or brings him into judgment on his account.
That the book is inspired means Eliphaz truly spoke these words, not that what he said is true. The principle behind the question is generally true that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it is misapplied to Job. Adversity, affliction, or suffering does not prove a person is under God's displeasure. In Job's suffering God saw the end from the beginning and was working out what would glorify himself, bring comfort and hope to thousands of suffering ones, and prove a blessing to Job.
The question belongs to the third speech of Eliphaz, which accuses Job. It stands within the arguments between Job and his three friends in chapters 3-31 over the cause and object of human suffering. In that dispute the friends condemned him as seemingly self-righteous while Job regarded their accusations as unjust. Eliphaz spoke this question from his own wisdom and observation. It asks whether God rebukes Job out of fear of him or brings him into judgment on his account.
That the book is inspired means Eliphaz truly spoke these words, not that what he said is true. The principle behind the question is generally true that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it is misapplied to Job. Adversity, affliction, or suffering does not prove a person is under God's displeasure. In Job's suffering God saw the end from the beginning and was working out what would glorify himself, bring comfort and hope to thousands of suffering ones, and prove a blessing to Job.