Esther 5
Job 5 is the second set of counsel that Job’s friend Eliphaz delivers to Job. This chapter mainly contains attempts to interpret the causes of suffering and God’s attributes. Eliphaz understands life’s suffering as God’s discipline and seeks to teach how people should live before God.
In the beginning of the chapter (verses 1–7), we see an attempt to connect the cause of suffering with the principle of cause and effect. Then in the following portion (verses 8–16), he advises Job to seek God and speaks with emphasis about God’s greatness and righteousness. In the final section (verses 17–27), while stressing God’s discipline and grace, he urges Job to accept suffering and move forward with an attitude of repentance.
1verseNow on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.
2verseWhen the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
3verseThen the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”
4verseEsther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5verseThen the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6verseThe king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
7verseThen Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
8verseIf I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
9verseThen Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10verseNevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11verseHaman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12verseHaman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.
13verseYet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14verseThen Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
Key Content and Message
By contrasting human imperfection with God’s omnipotence and righteousness, Eliphaz interprets Job’s suffering as also stemming from human sin and ignorance. He encourages Job to seek God even in the midst of suffering, and to recognize God’s hand that permits discipline. He also leads Job to take meaning from suffering by using it as an opportunity for humility and repentance, saying that God ultimately grants restoration and grace to those who come humbly before Him.
Points to Reflect On
- Can I still go to God even when I cannot understand the cause of suffering?
- In the course of life that unfolds differently from my thoughts, am I trusting in God’s sovereignty and will?
- In the midst of suffering, is my attitude one of resentment and complaint, or am I seeking God with humility?
Try Applying It to Me
- Let us adopt an attitude of trusting in God’s goodness and sovereignty even amid everyday difficulties and trials.
- Let us look back on my life during times of suffering and put into practice prayers that ask about the LORD’s will.
- When I interpret another person’s pain, let me make a decision to approach them with empathy and love without being biased toward only one perspective.
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