Today’s Community Scripture – 7/2/2025

          Now You’re the One in Trouble

Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up:

“Would you mind if I said something to you? Under the circumstances it’s hard to keep quiet. You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit. Your words have put stumbling people on their feet, put fresh hope in people about to collapse. But now you’re the one in trouble—you’re hurting! You’ve been hit hard and you’re reeling from the blow. But shouldn’t your devout life give you confidence now? Shouldn’t your exemplary life give you hope? “Think! Has a truly innocent person ever ended up on the scrap heap? Do genuinely upright people ever lose out in the end? It’s my observation that those who plow evil and sow trouble reap evil and trouble. One breath from God and they fall apart, one blast of his anger and there’s nothing left of them. The mighty lion, king of the beasts, roars mightily,
but when he’s toothless he’s useless No teeth, no prey and the cubs wander off to fend for themselves. “A word came to me in secret a mere whisper of a word, but I heard it clearly. It came in a scary dream one night, after I had fallen into a deep, deep sleep. Dread stared me in the face, and Terror. I was scared to death—I shook from head to foot. A spirit glided right in front of me the hair on my head stood on end. I couldn’t tell what it was that appeared there a blur … and then I heard a muffled voice: “ ‘How can mere mortals be more righteous than God? How can humans be purer than their Creator? Why, God doesn’t even trust his own servants, doesn’t even cheer his angels, So how much less these bodies composed of mud, fragile as moths? These bodies of ours are here today and gone tomorrow, and no one even notices—gone without a trace. When the tent stakes are ripped up, the tent collapses we die and are never the wiser for having lived.’ ”

                              Job 4:1–21 (MSG)

– Reflection:

What I perceive when I read Eliphaz’s words is that Satan appeared to him in a dream and showed him visions suggesting there has never been a truly righteous person. Even his friend Job had to do something to deserve the suffering he’s going through. Surely, Job, you must have done something to reap this. Though your words have previously helped others, now it’s your turn to face hardship, and I have to say it own your faults too. That’s what I gather from his words. He should have just kept quiet because the vision he had was definitely from Satan, since GOD Himself trusted Job. Job has never once cursed GOD, even amidst the problems and storms he’s facing at that moment. The one who sent that vision has been allowed to test GOD’s best servant for a time. What Eliphaz showed was that he himself was easier to sway than Job, speaking to one of his oldest friends in that way. He’s supposed to know his friend and what he stands for, but now he criticizes right along with everyone else and Satan. His speech reminds us that offering comfort requires more than logic or tradition; it demands humility, compassion, and a willingness to sit with mystery.

– Where do we go from here?

Eliphaz’s mistakes teach us a valuable lesson about how even well-meaning people can become sources of discouragement when they speak without discernment. If we truly want to walk with others through suffering, we must first learn to listen not only to their pain but also to the Spirit of truth. Eliphaz was misled by a deceptive vision that influenced his theology and his response to Job, showing how easily we can be led astray spiritually when we rely solely on our understanding. Moving forward, we need to adopt a humble approach in our advice, avoiding the temptation to explain every hardship or assign blame. Instead, we should aim to be faithful friends who listen, pray, and stay patient, especially when clarity is lacking. Let us be people who reflect God’s heart, not Satan’s accusations, trusting that righteousness can suffer unjustly yet still remain steadfast. In a world filled with voices like Eliphaz’s, may we choose to be more like Job: unwavering in faith, even when misunderstood.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for the wisdom in Your Word and the lessons we learn through both truth and error. Help us to be slow to speak and quick to listen, especially when others are hurting. Teach us to offer comfort not with judgment, but with grace. Guard our hearts from pride and presumption, and give us discernment to recognize what is from You and what is not. Like Job, may we remain faithful in trials, and like true friends, may we sit with others in their suffering without trying to explain it away. Let our words bring healing, not harm. And when we don’t understand, help us to trust You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.