Good Theology - Bad Application Round 15 - Job 22

Job 22:19-20 (ESV)
The righteous see it and are glad;
the innocent one mocks at them,
saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off,
and what they left the fire has consumed.’

It is probably dangerous to listen to a speaker and pull two lines, phrases or quotes from the speech, isolate them and analyze them.  But, never-the-less, that is what is about to happen in this entry.   The above two verses are taken from the last speech of Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends.  Like the other friends of Job, Eliphaz believes in “retribution theology.”  This theological thought is that the wicked will receive retribution from God and the righteous will receive blessing from God.   Therefore, if we see you suffering you are wicked and if we see you blessed you must be righteous.   That is the theme of Eliphaz and the other two friends of Job, Zophar and Bildad.   It is somewhat a theology of the world today, as well.  The world tends to see a “good” life indicates that you are “good” and a “bad” life indicates something “bad.”  This type of theology has no room for the “suffering of the innocent” or the “suffering of the righteous” that Jesus talked about, or the New Testament writers talk about.   In the above two verses we read that the “righteous” will look on the retribution being poured out on the wicked.  From their lofty perch they see the “fire” of God consume the wicked.  Fire in the Bible is always a reference to judgement.   Eliphaz uses fire, here.   Zophar did (20:26) and Bildad (18:15) did, as well, in their reference to Job’s situation.    The issue with their philosophy/theology is that God has already told us that Job is “righteous.” He, of course, was a sinner, but in God’s eyes (chapters 1 & 2) he was declared righteous.   So, these friends of his had the wrong theology.  Like many who make judgments about others, theology matters.   Yes, God will judge the wicked.  Yes, the righteous will look down and see that happen.  In the verses below, taken from a psalm of David, we read that Eliphaz’s words are correct in regard to thought that the righteous will see the destruction of the wicked.  However, once again, good theology, applied in the wrong way, does not comfort someone like Job. It only hurts.  Eliphaz and the others can be correct in theology, but wrong in application.  As are we, often.  

Psalms 91:7-8 (ESV)
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.