“You always hurt the ones you love.” The Mills Brothers sang in 1944 what humans had known for millennia. The closeness of a relationship gives ample opportunity to experience conflict and hurt. Despite the love for one another, pride and selfishness easily interfere.
Job and his friends had dialogued for some time. They had accomplished little. Job felt he was righteous and undeserving of the punishment he seemed to be enduring. His friends were convinced of the greatness of God and frustrated by his lack of repentance.
Eliphaz had listened to all of this and had enough. He was angry because Job justified himself rather than God and because the friends held firmly to their condemnation without providing proof (Job 32:3). He had remained silent out of respect, but he could remain silent no longer.
Eliphaz made clear that he was nothing special (Job 33:6). He was speaking from humility before God. Job was convinced God was being silent, but Eliphaz contended that God speaks all the time, yet people fail to hear Him (Job 33:14). God had proven repeatedly His ability to call sinful men into repentance. In their repentance they express praise.
They all had to agree that God was perfectly just and that everyone owed their existence to Him (Job 34:1-15). How He conducted their daily lives, then, was perfectly just. To consider Him unjust was rebellious (Job 34:37).
Praise God for His justice and mercy. Pray for words of comfort for those who are struggling and words of praise to Him in all things.