The book of job is known as one of the wisdom writings. In it, Job’s three friends use incorrect reasoning which causes them to judge Job unrighteously.
Age, experience, observation
Eliphaz, who was the oldest of Job’s friends, thought he was the wisest. He had a rigid inflexibility of mind and proceeded to judge according to appearance. Yet Elihu, the youngest of the protagonists, declared age and experience do not guarantee wisdom: “Great men are not always wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.” The Master himself cautioned: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgments” (John 7:24).
Eliphaz elevated himself; his opinion was that his age, experience and what he had observed was far superior to others. Let us not be so smug as to think our opinion is the only answer; we should not be “wise in our own conceits” (Rom. 12:16).
Tradition
Bildad was completely convinced his view of Job was accurate. He was a man wise in in his own conceited opinion. He quoted ancient parables of the Beni Kedem (probably the sayings or traditions that were considered to be “the wisdom of the son of the east” mentioned in I Kings 4:30). He used these traditions to rebuke Job (Job 8:8-10). His theory was that Job was not only a sinner, but a hypocrite too (Job 8:6). Bildad’s approach was completely wrong; how could he know the intents of Job’s heart. He also had not considered Job’s answer to Eliphaz but proceeded with his ears closed. Folly is when a man answers before he listens! (Prov. 18:13).
We are warned in Colossians 2:8 to not let man spoil us through philosophy, vain deceit or the traditions of men. Saul, before he was the apostle Paul, had persecuted the church because of the traditions of his fathers (Gal. 1:14).
Assumption
Zophar, in a discourteous manner, entered the argument using his religious dogmatism of assumption — Job must be guilty because he has suffered loss and appears depressed. He straightforwardly calls Job a liar and tells Job that he should not speak! Bildad’s attitude was full of pride and bigotry claiming that Job received less punishment than his sin deserved (Job 11:6).
Zophar wrongly believes that Job is mocking because he speaks up. It is Zophar’s attitude that is presumptuous, and all of them had provoked Job into speaking inadvisedly with his lips.
Angry reaction deserved
The wrath of Elihu, and of God, was kindled and for good reason. The men had condemned Job, yet all of them had the wrong attitude. They had not found an answer to Job’s suffering, nor had they comforted him, but instead leveled condemnatory judgment and brought further sorrow to Job.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One