Job 42:7 It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did what Yahweh commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job.
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had come to comfort and instruct Job, but they had used the Lord’s Name in vain. Exodus 20:7 In other words they had misrepresented God. They taught things in God’s Name that were false. They taught half-truths, the teachings of demonic spirits with evil intent, the teachings of the traditions of men, and the false prosperity and therapeutic gospels. They were believers with good intentions but they lacked discernment, mixing truth with lies. They were immature. They did not understand the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:27 In many ways they were like children in their thinking. 1 Corinthians 14:20 The Apostle Paul chided the Corinthians for their lack of discernment and maturity.
Brethren, I could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Lacking discernment and maturity were not only ancient problems. Unfortunately, many churches today, instead of teaching the truth, mirror whatever the culture teaches. Other churches striving to be “gospel-centered” preach only the foundational truths of the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. But faith should not end with the Gospel. Rather, the elementary principles, Hebrews 6:1, of the Gospel are the foundation on which our faith is to take root and grow to maturity.
There are certain pious moderns who will not allow the preacher to speak upon anything but those doctrinal statements concerning the way of salvation which are known as “the Gospel.” But the law must not be preached, for what the law demands of us, the Gospel produces in us, else ours is no Gospel at all. Charles Spurgeon (Harold Latternic, Spurgeon and Society)
By remaining in spiritual infancy Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, were unable to discern good from evil. They were dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:11 They needed to trained in true righteousness. They needed to follow God’s instruction to,
Receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom …discern righteousness and justice … Discretion will guard you … Proverbs 2:1-2, 9-10
They were like infants tossed back and forth by waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14
We are to be trained on all of the Words of God so that we will be able to stand firm not being blown here and there by every wind of teaching and… deceitful scheming. We are not to pick and choose from the Scriptures. We are not to ignore passages that don’t fit our preconceived narratives.
In short, as the builder must begin with the foundation, so must he go on with his work that the house may be built. Similar is the case as to Christianity; we have the first principles as the foundation, but the higher doctrine ought immediately to follow which is to complete the building. They then act most unreasonably who remain in the first elements, for they propose to themselves no end, as though a builder spent all his labor on the foundation, and neglected to build up the house. So then he would have our faith to be first so founded as afterwards to rise upwards, until by daily progress it be at length completed. (John Calvin, Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews)
Because Eliphaz and his friends were poor counselors they were unwitting agents of the father of lies. John 8:44 And because they misrepresented God’s Word, Yahweh reprimanded them saying: You have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has. v.7
God was angry with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. We must always be careful to teach the whole truth, the whole counsel of God, Acts 20:27, even when, or especially when, it is contrary to the accepted lies of the culture, because:
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. Hebrews 10:31
Finally, in a turn of events, instead of the counselors helping the counseled, God instructed the counselors to go to Job with sacrifices to atone for their many transgressions. After offering sacrifices, the sacrifices that looked forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, Job prayed for his friends.
Have your friends ever disappointed you?
Have your friends ever attacked you?
In the time of your deepest need when your life is falling apart would you still be willing to pray for those who have persecuted you? Matthew 5:44
Despite their ranting attacks, their bad theology, and their utter lack of compassion, nevertheless in obedience to God, instead of further justifying themselves, they humbled themselves and did as God commanded. And also in obedience to God Job prayed for his friends asking that God not deal with [them] according to [their] folly.