The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

Job 22

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Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

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2

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

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3

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

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4

Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

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5

Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

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6

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

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7

Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

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8

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.

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9

Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

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10

Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

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11

Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

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12

Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

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13

And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

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14

Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

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15

Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

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16

Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

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17

Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

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18

Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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19

The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

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20

Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

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21

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

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22

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

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23

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

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24

Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

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25

Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

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26

For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

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27

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

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28

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

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29

When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

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30

He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

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Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

Job 22 is Eliphaz’s third and final speech. He becomes explicitly accusatory, inventing specific sins for Job, like oppressing widows and orphans, and urges him to "acquaint now thyself with him" for peace.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. The Danger of False Assumptions: Eliphaz assumed Job was guilty because he was suffering (v. 5-9). We must never invent faults in others to make our theology fit the situation.
2. Acquaint Thyself with God: "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace" (v. 21). While misapplied to Job, the principle is true: true peace comes from an intimate knowledge of God.
3. God’s Self-Sufficiency: Eliphaz correctly notes that our righteousness does not "profit" God (v. 2-3). God loves us not for what we give Him, but because of who He is.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

Lord, grant us a true acquaintance with Thee. Deliver us from the habit of judging others falsely and help us to find our peace in Thy presence alone. Amen.

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