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Job 42:9
9 So Eliphaz ['Eliyphaz] the Temanite [Teymaniy] and Bildad [Bildad] the Shuhite [Shuchiy] and Zophar [Tsowphar] the Naamathite [Na`amathiy] went [yalak], and did [`asah] according as the LORD [Yahovah] commanded [dabar] them: the LORD [Yahovah] also accepted [nasa'] Job [paniym] ['Iyowb]. KJV-Interlinear
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job. NASB
Remember our descriptions of these three friends of Job, from back in chapter two? Here they are repeated. Exactly.
Eliphaz was the first of the three friends. His name means 'God is fine gold,' or 'God of strength,' with emphasis on the earthly nature of these meanings. Eliphaz was the most prominent of the three friends. His speeches demonstrate greater weight and originality. He is a Temanite, which means southerner. His arguments represent the best wisdom of the world. His wisdom is described as the result of ages of thought and experience, Job 15:17-19, of long and ripened study, 5:27, and he claims the ability of revelation.
Bildad, was the second of the three friends. His name means, 'son of contention,' or 'Bel has loved.' Bel means, 'wisdom of the distant East.' Bildad's speeches generally echoed the words of Eliphaz, but were delivered with more severity and sternness.
The third friend was Zophar. Zophar means 'chirping' or 'to leap.' Naamah was place to the west of Arabia, near the place of the future Judah. He was the most impulsive and inflexible of the three. He spoke only twice. His words were intense and were somewhat reckless exaggerations.
These three men combined, represent the wisdom of humanity, or the views of mankind. Based on hearsay, experience, even observation, these men came up only with accusations based on nothing, and conclusions based also on nothing.
They exaggerated the nature of Jobs situation and magnified the seriousness of their accusations rather than examining their appropriate role in providing Job emotional relief.
Now a quick note for comparison. In this last chapter, Job has been examined and found to be free of defects. These men have had their say already, and God has manifested Himself before them all. Something that was not a common occurrence even in those ancient times. So having God present himself, was the news story of the century. It was a big deal, obviously.
Job repented and they did not.
And in the end, Job will be restored to his family, health and fortune. His wife will reconcile herself to Job and to God (by virtue of the names of her daughters as we will see later on).
But as for these three men, their description in name and home did not change. They remained exactly the same. But even though they held their prior views, they did have enough common sense to obey Gods verbal command.
They have already had knowledge of Gods will, through their prior spiritual education. They complied with the sacrificial offerings immediately. So they knew of and understood these rituals. Their biggest hindrance in their spiritual life was their failure to function properly within their spiritual life, thus allowing a great deal of human viewpoint into their souls.
They should have understood their obligation to God, from their education in doctrine, but they required an actual intervention from God before they did what they should have been doing on a daily basis (at least), throughout their lives - namely confession of sins regularly.
That is something that we do in our current day. We do not offer animals as sacrifices any more. But we do, or are supposed to, enter into a daily study for learning and sustained spiritual growth purposes. Just as back in Jobs day, the ritual sacrifices served as teaching aids for learning doctrine. Sacrifices were not performed daily by each individual, but were supposed to be performed several times a year, or when necessary, as ones life permitted.
If these men had fallen flat on their faces in confession and repentance, then these sacrifices would not have been required, but they did not do what was expected.
They went out, or ordered their servants most likely, to get the required animals. They brought them to Job, and complied with all of the ritual requirements. Job, as a part of this ritual, offered his prayer to God, which drifted up to God as a soothing aroma, just as the smoke of the burning sacrificial fire, and God accepted the offering.
God accepted the offering because it was precisely in conformance with His policy and plan for humanity.
And by accepting Jobs prayer, God also issued His forgiveness to these three men, because Gods policy is paramount, not these three men's efforts or actions.
They held their names, but they subordinated their names and reputations, to Gods will, and complied with Gods procedure, rather than pursuing their own approach to God.
Your attitude, your beliefs, your sincerity, mean nothing in life.
Your adoption of Gods will, and principles, and policies, and procedures, and mandates mean everything.
Without them (doctrine in the soul), you are in effect nothing - dust.
With them (doctrine in your soul - gold), you are everything, and more.
