Job 5:8

Job 5:8 presents a piece of counsel from Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's friends, as they attempt to understand and explain Job's immense suffering. In this verse, Eliphaz articulates a principle that, on its own, seems profoundly wise and pious: the act of turning to God in distress and entrusting one's entire situation to Him.

Context

This verse is found within Eliphaz's first speech to Job, which begins in Job 4. Eliphaz, like Job's other friends, operates from the traditional theological framework that suffering is a direct result of sin. While his advice to "seek unto God" is inherently good, it is delivered with the underlying assumption that Job's suffering is a consequence of his own unrighteousness, an assumption that the rest of the Book of Job will ultimately challenge and refute. Eliphaz encourages Job to look to God for help, implying that if Job were truly innocent, God would vindicate him, or if he had sinned, God would restore him upon repentance. This counsel, while well-intentioned, fails to grasp the deeper, mysterious purposes of God in allowing the righteous to suffer, a central theme of the entire Book of Job.

Key Themes

• Divine Reliance: The core message is an exhortation to rely completely on God. In times of extreme hardship, the natural human tendency might be to despair or seek human solutions, but Eliphaz points to the ultimate source of help and justice.
• Trust and Submission: To "commit my cause" signifies an act of profound trust and submission. It means entrusting one's entire predicament, arguments, and defense into God's hands, believing in His ultimate sovereignty and justice. This echoes the sentiment found in Psalm 37:5, "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
• Prayer and Supplication: The phrases "seek unto God" and "commit my cause" are actions akin to prayer and supplication. They describe a deliberate turning towards God in dialogue, laying out one's concerns, and waiting for His intervention or guidance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "seek unto God" is darash el El (דרשׁ אל אל), where darash (דרשׁ) carries the meaning of diligently inquiring, searching, or resorting to someone for guidance or help. It implies a purposeful and earnest pursuit. "Commit my cause" uses the verb sim (שׂים), meaning "to place" or "to set," in conjunction with dabar (דבר), which refers to a "word," "matter," or "cause." Thus, it literally means "to place my matter before Him," emphasizing the act of presenting one's case directly to the divine judge.

Practical Application

While Eliphaz's overall theological framework for suffering was flawed, the principle expressed in Job 5:8 holds eternal truth and remains highly relevant for believers today. In any trial or tribulation, the most appropriate and effective response is to turn to God. This verse encourages us to:

• Seek God First: When faced with overwhelming circumstances, our first resort should be to God through prayer, not merely human wisdom or resources. This aligns with New Testament teachings like Philippians 4:6, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
• Trust His Sovereignty: Committing our cause to God means surrendering control and trusting that He is just, wise, and good, even when His ways are mysterious. It means believing that He is working all things for good, even in adversity.
• Present Our Cases: We are invited to bring all our concerns, worries, and injustices before God. He is the ultimate arbiter, and He listens to the cries of His children.

Job 5:8 serves as a timeless reminder that regardless of the source or reason for our suffering, our ultimate hope and help reside in the Lord. It calls us to a posture of humble dependence and unwavering faith in divine care.