*Scripture: Job 4:1-21 (NKJV)* 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 "If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 Surely you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands. 4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees; 5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled. 6 Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope? 7 Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? 8 Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed. 10 The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 "Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it. 13 In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, 14 fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up. 16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; There was silence; Then I heard a voice saying: 17 'Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker? 18 If He puts no trust in His servants, if He charges His angels with error, 19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before a moth? 20 They are broken in pieces from morning till evening; They perish forever, with no one regarding. 21 Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.'" *Devotion* Do not waste time with a man that says, "The Lord revealed something to me." It is of no use. Unless it is accompanied by signs and wonders, how can it be taken as universally applicable to all men? But the words of Eliphaz are not even that thought provoking. First, the highly subjective nature of his observations make them of little value. He says, "even as I have seen." This is the basis for his clearly wrong observation, "Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?" If this is what he has seen, he has not seen much. In verses 12 through 16 Eliphaz builds up this revelation with ominous imagery. What he heard with fear and trembling was banal wisdom, "Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?" The obvious answer is no, and it is common sense. One might expect Eliphaz' next revelation to be something like, "Drink your milk. It's good for you." Well-meaning self-appointed prophets in our day do much the same thing. Charismatic and Pentecostal friends will share their "revelations" with you, but it is usually best to smile and thank them for their love and concern. Whether or not we explain ourselves to them, we must always turn to the sure Word of God in the Scriptures for our guidance. This is especially true in times of suffering.
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