Faith Pulpit DayFaith Baptist Theological Seminary

Sovereigntyand

Suffering

April 5, 2018

Christianity and the Problem of Evil

Mr. Andy Stearns

Introduction: Ex-Fundamentalist, Bart Erhman

The Issue: If God is an all-loving and all-powerful God, why is there still evil in the world?

“Epicurus’s old questions are yet unanswered. Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?”David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, part 10.

Answers to the Problem of EvilThis material is found in John Frame’s Apologetics: Justification of Christian Belief, chapter 7.Answers That Redefine EvilEvil is an Illusion (Christian Science)Summary:Weakness:Evil is not a thing, but a lack of a thing (Augustine)Summary:Weakness:

Answers That See a Silver-Lining to EvilThe Best Possible World Defense (Gottfried Leibniz)Summary:Weakness:

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The Free-Will Defense (Alvin Plantinga)Summary:Weakness:The Character-Building Defense (Irenaeus)Summary:Weakness:The Stable-Environment Defense (C. S. Lewis)Summary:Weakness:

Answers That Keep God’s Hands Clean of EvilDivine-Weakness Defense (Harold Kushner)Summary:Weakness:Indirect-Cause Defense (Cornielius Van Til, John Calvin, Gordon Clark)Summary:Weakness:Ex-Lex Defense (Gordon Clark)Summary:Weakness:

Answers That Attack the Questioner

Job’s Question and God’s Answer2

Reasons and The Bridge of God’s Character

Three Reasons for Suffering

A Concluding Thought: C. S. Lewis in the introduction to The Problem of Pain makes a helpful comment that

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should be considered by the believer seeking to help those who suffer.

The only purpose of the book is to solve the intellectual problem raised by suffering; for the far higher task of teaching fortitude and patience I was never fool enough to suppose myself qualified, nor have I anything to offer my readers except my conviction that when pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.

Lewis, The Problem of Pain, 12.

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How to Help Those Who are SufferingPastor Ben Hartwig

Things that do not help:1. Comparing their suffering or minimizing suffering.

Regardless of the severity of the suffering that someone may be experiencing, it is very real to them. When we minimize their suffering by saying that it is no big deal, we are not helping them to work through it Biblically.

2. Play God and say this is why this is happening. “You must have committed some sin.”

We don’t know all things. We cannot say with certainty why something is happening. God may have multiple reasons for something. We can instead ask others to consider, “What do you think God wants to teach you through this?”

3. Address the natural and not the spiritual Do not just ask about the treatment plan, about the medical stuff, about what they need to take care of. Lots of other people will do that. Do not offer unsolicited medical advice. There may be a time and a place to share ideas, depending upon your relationship with the person. However, as a fellow believer, we are to address the spiritual. What does God want to teach them through this time of suffering? What do they need to remember about God? “We waste our cancer if we spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.” John Piper Don’t Waste Your Cancer

4. Offering help but then not following through with it. Sometimes people consider the source before they really believe that someone will do what they say that they will do. However, it adds hurt to people when someone offers to do something and doesn’t follow through. It is one thing if you cannot do it –tell them! But fading away without responding hurts. Do not offer to help if you don’t really intend to do so, and don’t overcommit.

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Things that help: 1. Show up.

Sometimes in our uncertainty of not knowing how to help someone who is suffering, we keep at a distance. One important things for us to do is to show up -to be there for them during their time of difficulties. Call them. Text them. Visit them. Send them a card. Let them know that you are praying for them. Call and leave a message. Don’t expect a response. (It can be a lot keeping up with correspondence, even for those who really do try!) By reaching out to them in their time of hurt, you show love and care for them as a person. In a world of loneliness and shallow relationships, people need others to show up and care.

2. Give people time and space to talk. Listen. When Job’s friends first arrived, they sat there in silence (Job 2:11-13). They listened. They grieved with him. We need to be careful of trying to provide answers and help when we just need to listen to someone. We need to recognize that for most people, it is not a lack of knowledge of the truth, but an emotional problem as they try to come to terms with what they are going through. People who are suffering often don’t need answers, but someone to love them by listening to them.

3. Offer more specific help than: “Let me know what I can do for you.”

People mean well when they say this. Many times, the offer is legitimate and people would do a lot for those who are hurting. But when people say that, what they have done is placed more responsibility upon those who are hurting, to contact people for help and hope that they follow through with what they promised. Instead, put forth an idea of how you can help and then present it to them in such a way that they can say no if it doesn’t work. You don’t want to push yourself at others, but you also want to provide practical help. Often times there are needs and ways that others can help, but it is awkward to ask for help. Offer services

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that you excel at: Cleaning, childcare, mechanics, lawn, etc.

4. Purpose to support those in your church who are going through an ongoing suffering.

You can’t support and encourage everyone you know that is going through an extended period of suffering. You shouldn’t. But if there is someone in your church, or someone God has specifically laid on your heart, be there for them along the whole journey. Most people will contact someone who is hurting once. Send one card, a phone call, a gift, one meal. That’s normal, that’s natural. They often will pray for a longer period of time, but only will contact once. But those who are suffering need some people to continue along with them the entire journey. This should take place through their local church, that they stand behind them the entire journey.

5. Help Financially.People often have many increased expenses during times of suffering. “Do you have financial needs?” One lady asked me that at one point on our journey, and I gave her a glimpse of where we were at financially. Later she talked to me and apologized, saying, “that’s not how you give a gift.” “Do you need this gift?” If you are led to give a gift –give it! I thought that her perspective was good because it shows the mindset that people should have toward giving. Sure there is a time to ask for specific needs. However, don’t just give because someone may be scraping by. Give because you feel led to give, because you want to give. Seek to be a blessing to those who are suffering. Sometimes it may be that they have nothing else. Other times, you may be blessing them above and beyond.

6. Remember the rest of the family.The whole family is affected, not just the patient. Seek to encourage the rest of the family (siblings, spouse, parents) through the time of suffering. Use your creativity and be a blessing.

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7. Invite us.People who suffer are often busy. Their schedules change, and they are not able to do the things that they used to do. In response, people can begin to assume that they are too busy to come, so they stop inviting them to hang out, or to come to events or activities. Maybe they are too busy, but if they stop getting asked to do things with their friends or church, they can feel that loss of relationships. Let the person decide if they are too busy. Don’t assume that for them. Invite them to do things like you normally would. Give them the freedom to back out, even last minute if things come up. Maybe they will never come, but it still is nice to be asked. Something might actually work out!

8. Share truth appropriately.Not casually, or flippantly, but appropriately. “Just remember Romans 8:28-30,” is usually not a helpful thing to say casually. Or, “God is really going to use this in your life. God is using this in the lives of others.” Those things are true, but can be hard to grasp at the time. Sometimes all that those who are suffering can think about is this: “I don’t care how God is going to use this –I just want to get through this.” Yet, you must share truth. Just like there are times to listen, there are times when we must share truth. Share it appropriately. The truth is what will guide believers to walking with the Lord through times of suffering. Take time to pray and think about what you will say.

9. Encourage active involvement in your local churchWhen people suffer, they naturally want to withdraw from others. It is hard to talk about the things that hurt. Sometimes it is hard to talk appropriately about those hurts. It is easier most of the time to avoid facing people. Yet it is people whom we need. We need the body of Christ. In line with this also, is that by serving others, it helps the person who is suffering. Sometimes what those who are suffering really need is to help others, for it gets their eyes off

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their own struggles and helps them remember that others are hurting as well and that God’s grace is sufficient to meet all needs.

10. Choose to be thankfulWith Christ, there is always something to be thankful for. However, it is a choice. We need to take time to express our thankfulness to the Lord. Gifting a journal or notebook is really helpful in this for people to record blessings or things that they are thankful for along the way.

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Annotated Bibliography of Recommended Books on Suffering

Pastor Ben Hartwig

Lewis, C. S. A Grief ObservedA raw telling of how Lewis lost his wife to cancer and the sorrow that he endured

Furman, Dave. Being There: How to Love Those who are Hurting This book provides great guidance to help others enter into the world of those who are hurting and to help in practical and spiritual ways. It points people to Christ, who is the only true and lasting hope for people who are suffering.

Talbert, Layton. Beyond Suffering: Discovering the Message of Job This thoughtful exposition of Job helps open up the sometimes-confusing book of Job. It is also devotional in nature, providing food for the soul.

Newman, Jeff. Dependence in the Wilderness: Biblical Hope and Direction in Suffering

Through a study of the Psalms, this book points people to God’s purposes for suffering in their lives. It provides Biblical direction for choices that God’s children should make during times of suffering.

Schultz, Mitch A. Did I Say the Right Thing: Responding Well to Those who Grieve

A primer on how to respond to those who have experienced a loss. This book encourages people to step up and love those who are hurting instead of keeping a distance for fear that one will hurt the situation.

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Piper, John. Don’t Waste Your CancerThis short booklet addresses how one can respond to cancer. It urges people not to waste what God wants to do in their lives through their battle with cancer.

Groves, Elizabeth. Grief Undone: A Journey with God and Cancer This book tells the story of how Al Groves and his family walked through cancer grieving the loss, yet still clinging to God, accepting His will.

Carson, D. A. How Long O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and EvilThis theological and Biblical study examines of the problem of suffering and evil in our world. It challenges Christians to think rightly, so then they can respond rightly.

Tippetts, Kara. Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking through Suffering Together

Kara writes with a friend about walking through cancer together, sharing many helpful ways to come alongside those who are suffering.

Furman, Dave. Kiss the Wave: Embracing God in Your trials This book works to show how accepting the trials God sends is important if one is going to learn the lessons that God is trying to teach His children.

Morgan, Christopher W., Peterson, Robert A. Suffering and the Goodness of God

This scholarly collection of essays examines the topic of suffering from various angles. Particularly helpful are the last two essays, where those who are sharing their own personal sufferings put solid theology into practice.

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Lewis, C. S. The Problem of PainThis book seeks to help people further understand why God has allowed pain in our world.

Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God, Even When Life Hurts This book walks people through how God is still worthy of their trust despite the difficulties of life. The sovereignty of God is emphasized as well as His wisdom and love.

Keller, Timothy. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering This comprehensive book looks at why there is suffering from a philosophical and Biblical viewpoint. Keller provides guidance of how live through suffering, experiencing pain and sorrow while still trusting, praying, loving and hoping.

Feinberg, John S. Where is God: A Personal Story of Finding God in Grief and Suffering

Knowing the right answers about why there is suffering in the world is not always enough. This book shares how Feinberg wrestled through applying what he knew to be true in his own personal struggle with suffering.

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Helping People to Suffer Well through Living with Them in the Psalms

Dr. Jeff Newman

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God . . . (Psalm 42)Jeff Newman, Faith Pulpit Day 2018, Faith Baptist Theological Seminary“It is to be feared that the Psalms are by no means so prized as in earlier ages of the Church. Even Councils of the Church have decreed that none should hold ecclesiastical office unless they knew the whole psalter by heart. These sacred hymns express all modes of holy feeling; they are fit for both childhood and old age: they furnish maxims for the entrance of life, and serve as watchwords at the gates of death. The Book of Psalms instructs us in the use of wings as well as words: it sets us both mounting and singing. Often have I ceased my commenting upon the text, that I might rise with the psalm, and gaze upon visions of God.”[C. H. Spurgeon, Psalms, Crossway Classic Commentaries (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 11.]1. The Psalms Give Words to the Heart Cries of the Sufferer.

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1–2)

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. (Psalm 22:1–2)

My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the

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wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” (Psalm 55:4–8)

But to You I have cried out, O Lord, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. Lord, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth; I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught. Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have cut me off. They came around me all day long like water; They engulfed me altogether. Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness. (Psalm 88:13–18)

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:1–5)

Observations and Considerations:1. Crying out to God expresses our faith in Him. When we

cry out to Him even though He seems distant and unconcerned, we are declaring that we trust that He is there in spite of our temptations to believe otherwise.

2. The emotions of the Psalms provide people whose emotions scream, confuse, and overwhelm them with a vocabulary for their emotions that can bring clarity to their emotions. This clarity helps you to assist them to turn to God with thoughtful and sustained purpose and priority.

3. The emotions of the Psalms rebuke those among us who minimize others’ sufferings and the accompanying emotions. They rebuke our responses to those who suffer that look more like checklists or teaching outlines rather than poetry and artwork. They call on us to sit with and listen to the cries of the suffering.

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“The function of the Psalms, therefore, is to “give us inspired models of how to talk and sing to God.” In addition, the Psalms provide us with inspired models of how to meditate about God—that is, how to think reflectively about God and what he has done for us. . . . Honesty with God is an important lesson that we can learn from the Psalms. The psalmists tell God exactly how they feel, and it often does not sound very spiritual or mature. Christians today tend to pressure each other into suppressing any emotional outpouring about God. The Christian model for many is that of a hard Stoic, like Spock on Star Trek. The Psalms shatter this false image of Christian behavior and provide us with wonderful models of frank, honest communication with God, full of emotion, bubbling up out of good and bad times alike.” [J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-on Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 364.]“An initial surprise to many people, and a glory-weight in itself, is that God actually encourages those who suffer to speak honestly to Him. Why is this a surprise to many sufferers? Sufferers tend to feel alone and isolated. They often think that God is very far from them. But God penetrates this isolation and prods us to put our painful experiences into speech. Not just any speech, of course. Not faithless bitterness. Not pagan laments in a world that is meaningless. God encourages us to direct our speech to Himself.This is the pattern of the Psalms, and it is a pattern woven through Scripture in books such as Job and Lamentations. God encourages us to put the laments of our heart into speech, and all ‘speech must be addressed to God, who is the final reference point for all life.’ Even though it defies understanding, God desires to hear the depths of our hearts. In fact, when we are unable to express ourselves before God, God gives us words to express these silences. God actually ‘names the silences’ in our hearts. The inarticulate groanings become speech.Perhaps the church is poorer for not systematically singing through the Psalms. If we did, we would know that God puts our

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suffering into speech.” [Edward T. Welch, “Exalting Pain? Ignoring Pain? What Do We Do with Suffering?,” ed. David A. Powlison, The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Number 3, Spring 1994 12 (1994): 9–11.]2. The Psalms Demonstrate What It Looks Like to Trust God in the Midst of Suffering.The Trust of Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, . . . And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” . . . Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” . . . So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Mathew 26:36–44)The Trust of The Apostle Paul:For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, . . . (2 Corinthians 1:8–10)The Trust of the Tribulation Martyrs:When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their

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fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Revelation 6:9–10)Counterparts in the Psalms:

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Psalm 5:7–12)

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:1–4)

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. (Psalm 46:1–3)

Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, . . . Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. . . . Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. . . . My

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flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. . . . But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works. (Psalm 73)

Observations and Considerations:1. The Psalms shepherd us to see that trust in God grows in

the green pastures and in the darkest of valleys. 2. The Psalms remind us that God blends the blessings and

burdens of life together seeking to capture our hearts to trust Him, hope in Him, love Him, praise Him, and worship Him. They also demonstrate that as sufferings reveal our misplaced faith and hope, God works to strengthen our faith and hope in Him.

3. The Psalms connect our trust in the Lord to His character and His promises. The God we trust in our suffering makes promises and He keeps His promises in the same way He makes promises; He can do nothing else because it is not in His character to fail to keep His promises in the same way He made them.

4. The Psalms challenge us to remember that we do not judge believers’ responses to suffering based on our own experiences of suffering or our own agendas for the sufferer. God’s person, His interpretation, and His agenda must govern our responses to the suffering.

“ . . . notice how in the Psalms the composer’s feelings are associated with his relationship to God. When God is distant, the psalmist is sad, afraid, ashamed, doubtful, even angry. When God is near, he is happy and secure; he even expresses his love.It is simply not true that our emotional life is something over which we have no control. The Psalms can help us to discipline our emotions. This does not mean that we should repress our emotions; far from it, if we follow the example of the psalmist. The Psalms are an honest expression of emotions. We get a privileged insight into the negative feelings of the psalmist to which we can all relate.

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In the Psalms, however, the negative always leads to the positive. Doubt leads to trust; anger toward God turns to love; sadness to joy. But we must remember that the Psalms aren’t magical incantations. It sometimes appears that the psalmist changed his negative feelings to positive ones in a brief moment, but this isn’t how it happened. The Psalms compress time in such a way that what was a long process appears as a sudden insight. Honest emotional struggle stands behind the Psalms. [Tremper Longman III, How to Read the Psalms (Downers Grove, IL; Nottingham, England: IVP Academic; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988), 81.]

3. The Psalms Embolden Trust in, Hope in, and Love for God in the Midst of Suffering.The Pattern of the Trusting Pursuits of the Psalms in Psalm 63: 1. Seek God EarnestlyDavid said . . . God, You are my God;

early will I seek You. (v. 1)

My soul thirsts for You. (v. 1)

My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land, where there is no water. (v. 1)

My soul follows close behind You. (v. 8)

2. Reflect on God ContinuallyDavid said . . .

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.” (v. 6)

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So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (v. 2)

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. (v. 3)

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. (v. 5)

Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. (v. 7)

But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. (v. 9–10)

3. Praise God SubmissivelyDavid said . . .

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. (v. 3)

Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. (v. 4)

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. (v. 5)

Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. (v. 7)

But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory. (v. 11)

Observations and Considerations:1. The Psalms provide us with the pursuits that must become a

way of life for us as we live life in this fallen world. These pursuits should sound more like a symphony in our lives than a jug band, both as we live them and encourage others to live them.

2. When we can provide relief from suffering, we should do so as an expression of God’s character. However, when suffering finds no relief, we can still trust and we can still lead others to trust. A growing, confident trust expressed in loving obedient praise always results in God’s glory being reflected in us and in the people to whom we minster.

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3. The pursuits of the psalmists remind us that we are not chiefly problem-solvers, but rather people-lovers. As we seek to love people, we walk with them on a path that leads us both to God. On this path, they grow in their trust in God, and we grow in our trust in God as together we live more and more with His character.

A summary of hymnic themes [of the psalms] is at the same time a convenient conclusion to this study. The authors of the hymns praise God as the sovereign, incomparable king over His creation (29:1–2; 103:19; 145:11–13), including the natural world (8:3; 19:1–6; 33:6–9; 104:1–30; 135:6–7; 136:5–9; 146:6; 147:4, 8–9, 15–18; 148:1–10), humankind (8:4–7; 33:10–11, 13–15; 113:4–6; 148:11–12) , and His covenant people Israel (33:12; 100:3; 103:7; 114:1–2). As universal king, God preserves order and executes justice (33:5; 103:6; 113:7–9; 135:14; 145:20; 146:7–9; 147:6), often revealing His power as an invincible warrior (29:3–9; 136:10–22). Through His mighty deeds God demonstrates that He is holy (He angrily rejects and opposes evildoers), good, faithful, loving, merciful, and compassionate (33:4–5, 18; 100:5; 103:1–5, 8–17; 111:1–9; 113:7–9; 117:2; 135:14; 136:1–22; 145:8–9, 13–19; 147:11–14; 149:4). The king’s subjects should trust in Him (33:20–21) and praise Him for His goodness and greatness. Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! (Ps. 47:1–2) [Roy B. Zuck, A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, electronic ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991), 303–304.]And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as

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My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job. (Job 42:7–9)

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