1. The Voice from the Whirlwind Interpreting the Book of Job Session 3 Shirley Fong

2. The dialogues of Job and his friends  Eliphaz (Ch. 4-7; 15-17; 22-24)  Bildad (Ch. 8-10; 18-19; 25-27)  Zophar (Ch. 11-13; 20-21)

3. Eliphaz First round:  4:3-6 You were good. Why do you lose your hope?  4:7-8 One reaps what he sows,  5:2-8 To prove Job is a fool from his own experiences. If I were you, I will appeal to God  5:17-18 God corrects, disciplines and God heals  5:19-26 Wait for God’s rescue Second round:  15:4-9 Don’t argue and listen to us, Job!

4. Eliphaz  15:14 Could man be pure and righteousness?  15:20-26 Wicked man will suffer  15:27-35 What a man reaps(destruction) comes from what he sows (evil) Third round:  22:2-5 Our piety has nothing to do with God  22:6-11 Condemns Job for his wrong doing  22:21-23 Ask Job to repent and submit to God  22:24-30 Then God will deliver you and lift you up  One reaps what he sows

5. Bildad First round:  8:3 God is just and God is right  8:4 If your children sin against God, God will punish them. They die because they sin  8:8-10 Your fathers(ancestors) also agree that  8:13 There is no hope for those who forgets God  8:20 God is just. He will not reject a blameless man or strengthen evildoer

6. Bildad Second round: 18:3-4 You are so self-center. You think we are stupid. You tear yourself into pieces because of your own anger. You make yourself so miserable and do not blame others. Does the world need to change for your sake? Does the world revolve around you? 18:5-21 Your tent has no light (5-6), no strength (7), being seized (8-10), disaster and death are waiting for you (11-13). Your tent will be taken out. This is the ending of evil man.

7. Bildad Third round:  25:1-3 The awe and authority of God  25:4-6 The righteousness of God  Retribution applies not only Job, but also to his children and all he has lost.

8. Zophar First round:  11:6 You deserve more than you get. God has already forgotten some of your sin  11:7-9 God’s wisdom is higher than heaven, deeper than grave, longer than earth, wider than sea.  11:13-20 But if you devote your heart to God, put away the sin in your hands and in your tent, then you will be okay. Everything will turn out okay and turn back to normal.

9. Zophar Second round:  20:4-11 The life of the wicked is short  20:12-23 The wicked cannot enjoy what he gets. God will pour his anger on him. You will get what you sow.  20:24-29 God will punish the wicked. God’s wrath will consume him and he must be cursed.  One reaps what he sows. More punishment for more sin

10. The response/speech of Job  7:11-16 Complaint God frightens him with dreams and vision  7:20 God takes him as a target to attack  9:14-22 How can I argue with God for He is mighty (He is much bigger than me!) No one can rescue him from God’s hand even though he is not guilty  10:2-7 Ask God to tell him what charges God has against him.  16:7 God has worn him out and devastated his entire household

11. The response/speech of Job  23:3-5 Job wishes he could state his case before God  23:8-9 But he could not find God  29:1-5, 7-8, 11Remembering of his old days  30:1, 9-10, 16-17 Moaning for the present time  30:20-23 Complaining God for He does not answer him and His mighty hand attacks him  31:35 Job brings his case to court. He takes a legal action to defense himself

12. Elihu’s speeches  32:8 Wisdom is given by God, not go with the age  33:14-15 God does speak to man, but man may not perceive it  33:15, 19,23 God speaks through dreams, suffering, angel  33:16-18,30 To warn man, to turn man from wrongdoing, pride, fall into pit, perishing by sword

13. Elihu’s speeches  34:10-12 God would not be unjust  34:13-15 If God is selfish and unjust, we all would die  34:21-25 God knows every deed of man and nothing can hide from Him  34:28 God hears the cry of the poor and needy  35:1-3 Confront Job’s attitude to God  35: 6-8 Will your righteousness or wickedness affect God?  36:15 God speaks to man through suffering

14. Elihu’s speeches  36:5-12 God is mighty and just. God does not  keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.  36:22-26 God’s wisdom and His way are beyond our understanding  37:13 He can use the very thing to bring out punishment/destruction, or use it to show his love and make it as blessings  37:14-18 When you consider/meditate God’s wonders, you will have a different perspective to see things.

15. Reflection  How do you look at suffering? How do you explain it?  What kind of God do you have?