6You demanded security from your brothers for no reason; you stripped men of their clothing, leaving them naked.
Job’s friends are getting more and more frustrated. They keep trying to attack Job’s character, but they are not being successful. So, Eliphaz steps up to the plate and starts shooting shotgun blasts toward Job hoping something with hit the target. A shotgun sends out hundreds of pellets at one time. You don’t have to be nearly as good a shot to hit a target, but you also have to be much closer for it to be effective. If you are not close, the pellets have spread out so much that only single pellets will hit the target. But something will hit. Eliphaz starts listing the big sins of their culture, hoping Job will admit to one of them. He has no proof; he is just firing in the dark. This kind of desperation happens in couples every day. When the fights start, you start poking and accusing, making it personal and getting nasty. Soon the pushing and shoving starts. Bad to worse! When we feel attacked, we usually attack back to protect ourselves, even if we know that the charges are not true. Not many people can “just stand and take it.” Eliphaz is kicking Job when he is down. But what is amazing is that Job does not fire back with accusations of his own. He does not stoop to their level. Right now, who is attacking you? How are you handling it?
The Arnold Journey 