18 If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error,
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
18 Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;
18 Why, God doesn't even trust his own servants, doesn't even cheer his angels,
18 If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,
18 "If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness,
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
15 Behold, God
15 Why, God can't even trust his holy angels. He sees the flaws in the very heavens themselves,
15 If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight,
15 Look, God does not even trust the angels. Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight.
(Read Job 15:1-16)
Eliphaz begins a second attack upon Job, instead of being softened by his complaints. He unjustly charges Job with casting off the fear of God, and all regard to him, and restraining prayer. See in what religion is summed up, fearing God, and praying to him; the former the most needful principle, the latter the most needful practice. Eliphaz charges Job with self-conceit. He charges him with contempt of the counsels and comforts given him by his friends. We are apt to think that which we ourselves say is important, when others, with reason, think little of it. He charges him with opposition to God. Eliphaz ought not to have put harsh constructions upon the words of one well known for piety, and now in temptation. It is plain that these disputants were deeply convinced of the doctrine of original sin, and the total depravity of human nature. Shall we not admire the patience of God in bearing with us? and still more his love to us in the redemption of Christ Jesus his beloved Son?
5 If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes,
5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes;
5 Why, even the moon has its flaws, even the stars aren't perfect in God's eyes,
5 If even the moon does not shine, And the stars are not pure in His sight,
5 God is more glorious than the moon; he shines brighter than the stars.
Bildad shows that man cannot be justified before God.
Bildad drops the question concerning the prosperity of wicked men; but shows the infinite distance there is between God and man. He represents to Job some truths he had too much overlooked. Man's righteousness and holiness, at the best, are nothing in comparison with God's, Zechariah 13:1. We should be humbled as mean, guilty, polluted creatures, and renounce self-dependence. But our vileness will commend Christ's condescension and love; the riches of his mercy and the power of his grace will be magnified to all eternity by every sinner he redeems.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 4:18
Commentary on Job 4:12-21
(Read Job 4:12-21)
Eliphaz relates a vision. When we are communing with our own hearts, and are still, Psalm 4:4, then is a time for the Holy Spirit to commune with us. This vision put him into very great fear. Ever since man sinned, it has been terrible to him to receive communications from Heaven, conscious that he can expect no good tidings thence. Sinful man! shall he pretend to be more just, more pure, than God, who being his Maker, is his Lord and Owner? How dreadful, then, the pride and presumption of man! How great the patience of God! Look upon man in his life. The very foundation of that cottage of clay in which man dwells, is in the dust, and it will sink with its own weight. We stand but upon the dust. Some have a higher heap of dust to stand upon than others but still it is the earth that stays us up, and will shortly swallow us up. Man is soon crushed; or if some lingering distemper, which consumes like a moth, be sent to destroy him, he cannot resist it. Shall such a creature pretend to blame the appointments of God? Look upon man in his death. Life is short, and in a little time men are cut off. Beauty, strength, learning, not only cannot secure them from death, but these things die with them; nor shall their pomp, their wealth, or power, continue after them. Shall a weak, sinful, dying creature, pretend to be more just than God, and more pure than his Maker? No: instead of quarrelling with his afflictions, let him wonder that he is out of hell. Can a man be cleansed without his Maker? Will God justify sinful mortals, and clear them from guilt? or will he do so without their having an interest in the righteousness and gracious help of their promised Redeemer, when angels, once ministering spirits before his throne, receive the just recompence of their sins? Notwithstanding the seeming impunity of men for a short time, though living without God in the world, their doom is as certain as that of the fallen angels, and is continually overtaking them. Yet careless sinners note it so little, that they expect not the change, nor are wise to consider their latter end.