Sermon 19, Job 5:6-10
Eliphaz is saying a lot of things which Calvin finds useful and true. But Calvin clarified again that Eliphaz is incorrectly applying them to Job’s situation. I think that the following is true of this stance 1) Eliphaz is speaking a general truth (we have all sinned and everything bad ultimately comes from our sin), 2) but this neglects Job’s need of comfort, it doesn’t address Job’s godliness and advocates the “immediate punishment/reward” idea, and so the position lacks nuance and depth, but , 3) it is ultimately true.
This sermon is really good. Worth a reread.
“Affliction does not come from the dust” says Eliphaz. The “dust” is indifferent to us. Calvin uses this to tell us that when bad things happen to us we must realize, deep down, that it is because of our sin. Further, though we are given to making excuses, get over it. It’s your fault. Period. “Thus must we know that the fire of all our miseries is enclosed within us.” Also “…the source of all our adversities …is to be sought in our lives.”
Don’t be a complainer, says Calvin. You’re the problem. “We must impute to our sins all the hardships which befall us.”
Sometimes, I am not happy with my behavior and I attempt to excuse it. “I’ve got a lot going on”, “I’m hungry”, “everyone is so annoying”. Stop. Just stop. It’s me. It’s all on me. Stop with the miss attribution. It’s me. Calvin coldly but correctly states “this is not a game”. Our own sin is very real and, what is also not a game, we are going to be condemned. We must always be aware of that.
Much of the rest of the sermon is about the revelation of God through his word and his works. The latter is refreshing to hear and remember from Calvin. Especially, look to God’s creation. I love this. Calvin encourages us to marvel at God’s creation, to study it, to be amazed by it. We should look and be humbled. As a scientist myself I am aware that the world around us is amazing. Literally all of it. With that in mind I must enjoy every day!