Job

Job Chapter 16

Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You

Job 16:1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

I've mentioned this before but this is where we have gotten the old saying, "Job's comforters" when we speak of those that come to comfort but have nothing comforting to say. In fact they make things worse. However in saying this, there are times when speaking the truth in love and correcting one in error is necessary. This should always be in the spirit of meekness after much prayer. It is best to be led of the Holy Spirit. There is a place for this:

Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Rebuke is sometimes a good thing but in Job's case it is mostly false accusations. They should have waited and prayed before speaking. Looking at our own motives is needed sometimes before speaking to anyone. Are we envious of the person, are we holding a grudge against them, do we just not like them or are we self righteous and judgmental in our correction?

Job 16:3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

There are different types of personalities. Some of us want to make people feel better even if we say words that are not even true. We just want to make them stop crying. Some are more critical thinkers and want to really help but not with false flattery just to make people like us, and some make assumptions or secretly are glad this is happening to those we envy, and some speak at the top of their head without knowing the details or what is going on. I'm the type that does not want to give advice or make judgments at all but would just rather start praying with them and asking God for help.

Their words to him are vain but if the shoe was on the other foot as the saying goes, Job says he would comfort and strenghten them instead of bashing them on the head with the word of God at the wrong time. God's word is good and should be read and lived by but not used to attack the wrong person. Like I said before, throwing out the word, "Thou shalt not steal" when the receiver of our words have not been guilty of that is like thrown darts at them for nothing. If we speak to a large crowd under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and preach God's word, it will be directed to the right persons as needed. One on one though, we must not accuse a person of something they might not have done by using scripture like a club.

Job 16:6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

Job actually feels at this time like God delivered him into the hands of the wicked, meaning his so called friends. Both Job and his friends really believe God sent this trouble and misery to Job. Job can't think of anything he might have done to cause this and the friends assume he has sinned and that is why these things have happened to him. Notice that verses 10 and 11 sounds almost like a prophecy of what happened to Jesus on the cross.

Job 16:12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

Job things God has attacked him like an animal that devours it's prey without mercy. There are some religions that believe all that happens to us are the will of God. Some even believe it is God's will for some to be lost and die without knowing Him? This is a warped view of predestination.

Is it God's will for us to fail, be miserable? Is it God's will for us to steal, kill and destroy people? Of course not. Our only hope is in God and we can seek Him for understanding, but bad people will do bad things until Jesus Christ rules the earth. We now live in a fallen world which is why we are commanded to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and teach truth.

Things happen and hinder. We do not understand it all and as I write this, I too do not understand it all but one day we will see clearly and understand as long as we choose to follow God and no other, staying faithful all our lives until He returns. In the book of James is written that if we lack wisdom we can ask God without doubting and we can receive God's wisdom on many things. Sometimes we need to wait for those answers. Yet many times the answers come instantly especially in emergency situations. We must always remember, God is good and is out for our good if we believe in Him.

Job 16:18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Dear precious Job. How my heart would break for him if I didn't know ahead of time of God's restoration coming to him. Job though and his friends do not know the future at this time. They do not know how God is going to restore to Job all he lost. I imagine God is anxious to help and heal but waits until all his friends are done with their judgmental speaking. This is my speculation as I read these things but I too and anxious to see this stuff end.

The things going on in my own country are grievious to me. They should never have have cast out the word of God from being read in public schools or acknowledging God in them. They have allowed everything else to enter whether or not we agree with it, but they ignore and are not allowed to mention of the name of the king of kings and the lord of lords, Jesus our Christ. DC

Job Chapter 17