Eliphaz answered – If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Who can keep from speaking? Job had instructed many, and strengthened the weak. His words upheld the stumbling and strengthened weak knees. But he says now it (stumbling and weakness) comes to Job and he is impatient, it touches him and he’s dismayed. He implies that Job isn’t putting his confidence in the fear of God. He tells Job that the innocent never perished, the upright aren’t cut off. Those who have trouble have it because they sin. By the breath of God they perish and by the blast of His anger they are consumed. Lions are defeated. Eliphaz heard a word, a spirit glided past his face; the hair on his flesh stood up. The spirit stood still, but he couldn’t discern its appearance. He heard a voice, “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? Even God’s servants have error.”
Eliphaz implies that Job is suffering because of his sin. He accuses Job of being impatient to hear what he believes is the truth as it interacts with Job’s experience. He rightly points out that all are guilty before God, that none are pure before God. He claims a spirit appeared to him and told him this. The problem isn’t the doctrine of the depravity of man. Job is a sinner. The problem is that it’s not because of a particular sin of Job’s that he is suffering. God is allowing Satan to afflict Job to prove that His people will remain His people whether in poverty or in riches, and in sickness or in health. What will you do in the face of poverty and riches? Will you cling to God through Christ? When friends mis-apply biblical doctrine to you and your circumstances what is your response? Hope in God.