What is the meaning of Job 22:18? But it was He - Eliphaz points out that the prosperity the wicked enjoy still comes from God: “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). - God’s sovereign ownership over all things (Psalm 24:1) reminds us that even those who misuse His gifts receive them only by His allowance, just as Job earlier confessed, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away” (Job 1:21). - Seeing the divine hand behind every blessing keeps covetousness and envy in check and underscores Romans 2:4—God’s kindness is meant to lead people to repentance. who filled their houses with good things - “He satisfies you with good things” (Psalm 103:5); the verb “filled” pictures overflowing abundance—barns stocked, tables loaded, children provided for. - Jesus affirmed the same principle: the Father “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good” (Matthew 5:45), illustrating common grace. - Yet Psalm 73:12–18 shows that such earthly fullness without faith can end in sudden ruin; the gifts never guarantee God’s approval. so I stay far - Eliphaz claims distance: “I stay far.” Whether or not his motive is pure, the principle is sound. Psalm 1:1 blesses the one who “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,” and Proverbs 4:14–15 urges, “Avoid it; do not travel on it.” - Separation is active: • choosing different paths (Matthew 7:13–14) • guarding intake—thoughts, entertainment, friendships (Philippians 4:8) • practicing discernment when success stories of the godless seem alluring (Hebrews 11:24–26). from the counsel of the wicked - “Counsel” shapes convictions and actions. Proverbs 13:20 warns that a “companion of fools will suffer harm,” while 1 Corinthians 15:33 adds, “Bad company corrupts good character.” - The psalmist prays, “Do not let me eat their delicacies” (Psalm 141:4), refusing to share in the subtle appeals of the ungodly. - By distancing ourselves from their advice, we affirm Amos 3:3—two cannot walk together unless they are agreed—and align with Paul’s call to “come out from among them” (2 Corinthians 6:17). summary Job 22:18 reminds us that God, not human effort or wicked schemes, is the true giver of every earthly blessing. Seeing His hand behind all prosperity guards our hearts from envy and pride. At the same time, the verse urges deliberate separation from the worldview and strategies of the ungodly, lest their counsel pull us off the path of righteousness. Recognize the Giver, enjoy His gifts with gratitude, and keep a holy distance from advice that would erode faith and obedience. |
    |