You Ain't Nothin' But A Windbag, Lyin' All The Time (15:1-35)

Most of us have heard the song, “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley. The first line goes, "You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, cryin’ all the time.” But did you know that Elvis just adapted that song from one written by his ancestor Eliphaz Presley? Archeologists just recently discovered some lyrics written by Eliphaz to his friend Job. They went this way, “You ain’t nothin' but a windbag, lyin' all the time!”

Ok…so maybe I stretched that just a little. But that lyric does exactly express what Eliphaz was feeling toward Job.

15:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded, 2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge and fill himself with the east wind? 3 Should he argue with useless talk, or with words which are not profitable?”

FI Anderson writes, “As Job becomes more vehement, his friends become more severe.” You get the feeling that Eliphaz’s pride was just a little wounded. He probably thought that after his first speech (chapters 4-5) and those of the other two comforters that Job would have buckled under their eloquence, “Yep you guys are right – I am wicked and that’s why I’m going through all of this maggot misery.” Notice the words “windy knowledge” and “east wind” and “useless talk” and “words which are not profitable.” He is calling Job an empty suit, a lightweight (the wind has no weight). The searing east wind of Uz was dreaded – the stifling heat brought days of irritability and listlessness. And so did the words of Job. But Eliphaz actually gets a little vulgar and hints that Job’s theology is nothing more than the passing of gas!

15:4 “Indeed, you do away with reverence and hinder meditation before God. 5 For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose the language (tongue) of the crafty. 6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you.”

“You are on a dangerous road Job, you are gonna lose your salvation if you keep this up!” writes Eliphaz. Note the word “crafty” – it’s the same word that describes Satan in Genesis 3.

To paraphrase Eliphaz, “We can’t pinpoint exactly what you’ve done, but you certainly are guilty! And your words prove it!” Note that “mouth” and “tongue” and “lips” – all the organs of speech – are used to describe the craftiness and guilt of Job. Eliphaz expressly contradicts the tribute to Job in 2:10, “In all of this Job did not sin with his lips.”

15:7 “Were you the first man to be born, Or were you brought forth before the hills? 8 Do you hear the secret counsel of God, and limit wisdom to yourself? 9 What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that we do not? 10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older than your father.”

FI Anderson points out that the comforters cling to two sources of knowledge: antiquity (the knowledge of the ancients) and the secret council of God (remember Eliphaz’s spooky encounter with a spirit in chapter 4?). And Job had neither – both the graybeards and the supernatural revelations were on the side of Comforters Incorporated.

15:11 "Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word spoken gently with you? 12 Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash, 13 that you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth?”

Do you see those words, “…the word spoken gently with you…”? The comforters have accused Job’s kids of getting what they deserved and have hinted more than once that “Job, somewhere there has to be sin in your life!” Their theology oozed harshness. And they call their counsel “words spoken gently”?!?! Unfortunately we can use the Word as a club to try to win a political or theological argument rather than an instrument to bring hope and healing.

15:14 “What is man, that he should be pure, or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in His sight; 16 How much less one who is detestable (abominable) and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water!"

Eliphaz is reiterating some of the words from his middle of the night spirit-encounter (chapter 4). He adamantly states that it is impossible for a virtuous man or woman to exist (contradicting God’s summary of Job’s character in chapters 1 and 2). Job has never claimed to be sinless and Eliphaz simply goes to far when he calls Job the “The Abominable Sinner Man.”

As a pastor there was only one guest speaker that I ever regretted inviting to speak to our church. He made this statement, “There are some people so far from God that I wouldn’t let them sleep in my doghouse.” Really? I think Eliphaz would have said the same thing. But you know what? Even though my guest speaker may not have allowed them in his doghouse, Jesus sure would have! In fact the Son of Man would have welcomed them into his house and given them the master bedroom!

Hartley writes, “Eliphaz evaluates Job’s claim of innocence to be a strong delusion. In fact, he sees in Job’s bearing the very reasons why God is punishing Job and will continue to punish him until his attitude changes.” In a nutshell – Job, your attitude stinks!

15:17 "I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare; 18 What wise men have told, And have not concealed from their fathers, 19 To whom alone the land was given, And no alien passed among them.”

When Eliphaz states, “…no alien passed among them…” he is implying that there hasn’t been any foreign influence in their theology. He is perhaps also implying that Job’s theology has been watered down through his extensive world-wide travels.

15:20 “The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, and numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless. 21 Sounds of terror are in his ears; while at peace the destroyer comes upon him. 22 He does not believe that he will return from darkness, and he is destined for the sword. 23 He wanders about for food, saying, ’Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is at hand. 24 Distress and anguish terrify him; they overpower him like a king ready for the attack, 25 because he has stretched out his hand against God and conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty. 26 He rushes headlong at Him with his massive shield. 27 For he has covered his face with his fat and made his thighs heavy with flesh.”

Eliphaz’s gentle words continue…

"The wicked man writhes”…that’s you Job!

"Numbered are the years of the ruthless”…that’s you Job!

“He is destined for the sword”…that’s you Job!

“Distress and anguish terrify him”…that’s you Job!

“While at peace the destroyer comes”…that’s you also Job!

Think about this one for a moment: Eliphaz and his friends attribute the horrors of that day of destruction TOTALLY TO SOME HIDDEN SIN IN JOB’S LIFE. No wonder Job’s eyes flash! [vs. 12]. How cruel “religious” people can be.

15:28 “He has lived in desolate cities, in houses no one would inhabit, which are destined to become ruins. 29 He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; and his grain will not bend down to the ground. 30 He will not escape from darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and by the breath of His mouth he will go away. 31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness will be his reward. 32 It will be accomplished before his time, and his palm branch will not be green. 33 He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine, and will cast off his flower like the olive tree. 34 For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt. 35 They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity, and their mind prepares deception."

Eliphaz began this chapter by reproving Job for his “wind-bagginess.” But Eliphaz himself doesn’t lack for verboseness. Notice all of the metaphors crammed into this portion: grain, flame, shoots, palm branches, unripe grapes, vines, fire, flowers, olive trees, tents, and the natural process of conception and birth. Eliphaz goes overboard in emphasizing his “You, Job, are only reaping what you’ve sown” theology.

Hartley states, “Job’s blessings were ephemeral (momentary and fleeting), a disguise that concealed his profane (blasphemous) behavior.” “INFLEXIBILITY” could be the title to Eliphaz’s systematic theology. In these first 15 chapters, there has never been a hint from the three of, “Job, we simply don’t know why you are going through this.” Compassion was needed – not an eloquent sermon. They not only jumped to conclusions, they pounced! If they are in heaven, perhaps Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar have taken time to read I Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient…and love is kind…”