I’ve seen many debates on religious issues. Does God exist, and if so, is he cruel or loving? Is he the Creator or do we owe our existence to the Big Bang and millions of years of evolution? The audience in such debates applaud their representatives, whenever a well worded phrase is given, but is anyone ever changed? Does anyone in such a context really seek the truth? Usually, each party overstates his own position, while undervaluing that of his opponent, and neither they, nor their listeners are moved to consider a different point of view than that which they already profess. While this description of what takes place may be an oversimplification, it does reflect somewhat on what had been taking place between Job and his friends. While the friends offered what seems to be a litany of proverbs and maxims that represented the prevailing thought of the times, Job continued to contend that such a position, not only lacks consolation, vis-à-vis that which motivated them to visit Job in the first place (Job 2:11), but it also doesn’t fit his condition. Nevertheless, since no one is willing to admit error, the debate goes on ad infinitum.
Job began his reply to Eliphaz by saying that he had heard many such things before (Job 16:1-2). What things? As I mentioned above, the friends had originally come to Job to console him (Job 2:11), and consolations, as a rule, consist of whatever prevailing theological understanding of God’s relationship with mankind exists at that moment. The friends’ consolation, therefore, took the form of the then prevailing worldview, namely, ‘the Lord will reward the righteous, and he will punish the wicked, but if the wicked repent, they would be forgiven and restored to their former condition.’ The fact that all of Job’s possessions were suddenly destroyed, and all his children had been killed, and he was in constant pain and near death, himself, made it apparent, vis-à-vis his present condition was obvious proof, that Job had grievously sinned and was currently enduring God’s wrath. Thus, the friends’ consolation (repent and be restored) was really an accusation that Job was a wicked man. Yet, although Job had admitted being a sinner, he contended that his sins didn’t warrant such a reply from the Lord. Therefore, the “things” Job referred to were the friends’ repeated calls to repent, which served no purpose, since Job wasn’t a wicked man. Instead, their “consolation” had the reverse effect of wounding him and increasing his grief. Therefore, he called them miserable comforters (Job 16:2).
Eliphaz had accused Job of being vain and “filling his belly with the east wind,” which is a Hebrew proverb, meaning his argument was not only devoid of any logical purpose but also meant Job engaged himself in trivial reasoning of little or no importance (Job 15:2-3). So, Job responded in kind and accused Eliphaz of being filled with the wind (Job 16:3). He also asked what provoked such an accusation. What did Job say that would cause his friend to accuse him of speaking in trivialities of little or no value? What part of Job’s speech was trivial?
Then, Job tells them that, if the circumstances were reversed, and they were in his place, it would be a simple matter for him to behave like them. Where’s the challenge in one’s thought to simply reverberate a litany of proverbs and maxims that neither fit the situation nor help alleviate one’s burden (Job 16:4)? How did shaking their heads at Job’s condition (cp. Jeremiah 18:16; Lamentations 2:15; Matthew 27:39) serve their original purpose (Job 2:11)? All that does is satisfy one’s own self, that he stands on comfortable ground in what he believes to be the reason behind a current development. Nevertheless, if, indeed, it was so that the conditions of Job and his friends were reversed, Job would, instead, search for words of comfort and labor to ease the burden they might be under (Job 16:5).
However, as it stands, Job tells the friends, it makes no difference whether he speaks out or remains silent. His circumstances don’t change. If he attempts to vindicate himself, he is rebuked, and if he remains silent, he is accused of being wicked. If he prays, he’s not heard, and, if he chooses to be silent and endure his lot, nothing changes. He is completely without hope of comfort from either God or man (Job 16:6).
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