Dale Ridge church of Christ

The heart of the Book of Job contains three rounds of speeches between Job and his friends from far away.  Eliphaz, the oldest of the three, speaks first.  His first speech to Job, though not as harsh and direct as his final speech, still contained insinuations and indirect language that was cold, pitiless, and unkind toward Job.  After Eliphaz finished speaking, Job gives his first response (chaps. 6-7).   While chapter 7 is a complaint primarily directed by Job to God, chapter 6 is a record of Job’s response to all three friends – “ye” v. 21, 26, and 27, “your” v. 22, 25, and “you” v. 29 are in the 2^nd person plural). [Above:  a “wadi” or dry river bed in southern Israel].

             Chapter  6:14-30 is a lengthy section where Job raises up grievances against his friends.  A brief breakdown and overview of what Job had to say helps us, on the one hand, to be truer friends to the suffering, and on the other hand, can help us avoid wrong attitudes to those in need.

Have Concern and Compassion (Job 6:14)

            What Job needed in his time of affliction was compassion, not correction.  The word “affliction” in this verse comes from a root word which means “to melt away.”  Job was pining and melting away– he was being consumed under calamities (Barnes).  He said, “Is my strength the strength of stones?  Or is my flesh of brass” (6:12).  Job’s faith would endure through these trials, but his strength was waning.  He needed someone, especially his friends, to lift him up and show that they cared; yet, all he received from them was condemnation.  

Refresh, Revive and Restore (Job 6:15-21)

            The region of Uz, the land in which the Book of Job takes place (see Lamentations 4:21), was known for its wadis.  A wadi is a dry riverbed that fills with water only during the rainy season of the year [Right:  a wadi in southern Judah].  Job compared his friends to these when he spoke of them as dealing with him as deceitful brooks and the stream of brooks that pass away (Job 6:15).  Everyone had deserted Job (Job 13:13-19), and when his three friends arrived from afar off, they must have seemed like brooks of refreshing water that had come to revive him (Job 6:16).  Yet, that was not to be. 

Instead of refreshing waters that could restore his spirits, they turned out to be dry river beds lacking in all spiritual sustenance for poor Job.  As weary-war-laden troops would be disillusioned and disappointed to discover such an empty riverbed when in dire need of its nourishment, so Job likewise was let down (Job 6:19-21).

Treat with Honor and Respect (Job 6:22-30)

             Every life is valuable and needs to be treated with dignity and respect.  Job’s response to his friends reveals he had not received such.  Job’s response reveals that his friends treated him in a degrading and debasing way.   They degraded and debased Job by:   1) interposing upon him their cruel opinions and unkind advice (Job 6:22-23); 2) making unjustified demands upon him (Job 6:24-26); 3) being overbearing to him in his time of weakness (Job 6:27); and, 4) treating him as though he was ignorant and could not tell if he had done wrong (Job 6:28-30).

Conclusion

Though these words by Job were spoken more than three thousand years ago, they continue to be very relevant today.   Times and cultures may change, but our basic needs of one another continue to remain constant.   Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar failed to help their friend in need.  The Bible reminds us however that God had not.  James says, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy (5:11). 

Not only was God’s pity upon Job, God had also never left his side through his terrible ordeal.  Furthermore, not only had God not left Job, He also demonstrated honor and respect toward this great man from the east (Job 1:8).  May we hear these grievances Job spoke to his miserable comforters, and may we develop in ourselves these needed skills in helping the suffering. 

Here are the puzzles for the Book of Job 31-33.

•  Interactive version - job_chapter_31 ; printable version - job_chap_31  
•  Interactive version - job_chapter_32 ; printable version - job_chap_32 
•  Interactive version - job_chapter_33 ; printable version - job_chap_33

Published by Michael  Email This Post  Print This Post
Filed under: Devotional, Michael Carter on November 30th, 2008