Job 6

Job 6.1-7:

"Then Job spoke again:

2 “If my misery could be weighed
and my troubles be put on the scales,
3 they would outweigh all the sands of the sea.
That is why I spoke impulsively.
4 For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows.
Their poison infects my spirit.
God’s terrors are lined up against me.
5 Don’t I have a right to complain?
Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass,
and oxen bellow when they have no food?
6 Don’t people complain about unsalted food?
Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?
7 My appetite disappears when I look at it;
I gag at the thought of eating it!"

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Gee. Just when you think Job's done a good job at describing his misery as it was, he adds this to it, haha. I find his rhetorical question in verse 5 interesting. While I sympathize with Job in his situation, I'm not quite sure I have a definitive answer that would answer EVERY circumstance where someone could ask this question. I honestly believe that it's a case-by-case basis on how to answer that question. In Job's case, I would agree with his rhetorically assumed answer of yes, he does have a right to at least complain about the perceived injustice.

Job 6.8-13:

8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant my desire.
9 I wish he would crush me.
I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
10 At least I can take comfort in this:
Despite the pain,
I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 But I don’t have the strength to endure.
I have nothing to live for.
12 Do I have the strength of a stone?
Is my body made of bronze?
13 No, I am utterly helpless,
without any chance of success."

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Job never denies his faith in God. Despite his comments/complaints, he testifies in verse 10, "Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One." How crazy is that!?! I know people that I grew up with that as soon as pain hit them, they denied the words of the Holy One and turned their backs on God. Yet here's Job maintaining his faithfulness to God. He's still human, expressing his anguish, but it never makes him waver in his commitment to God.

Job 6.14-23:

14 “One should be kind to a fainting friend,
but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook
that overflows its banks in the spring
16 when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.
17 But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears.
The brook vanishes in the heat.
18 The caravans turn aside to be refreshed,
but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
19 The caravans from Tema search for this water;
the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
20 They count on it but are disappointed.
When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
21 You, too, have given no help.
You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
22 But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?
Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
23 Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies,
or to save me from ruthless people?"

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Job calls out Eliphaz (and really the rest of his friends too) in verse 14. Man, I hope that I never accused of being like this to a friend when he or she is in need. Job sees his friends as a major disappointment. When he needs them most, they seem to let him down. I'm not sure I ever caught his accusation about them being afraid in verse 21 until now. I find that interesting and I wonder what they are afraid of. My first thought, is that they think and naturally jump to the assumption that since Job is going through such a hard time, he must have sinned against God. Therefore if  they don't correct/rebuke him, maybe they fear that they will be included in his guilt in some way and will undergo some of the same trials and tribulations. No one will probably ever know, but I feel like that educated guess might have some legitimacy to it, haha. =)

Job 6.24-30:

24 "Teach me, and I will keep quiet.
Show me what I have done wrong.
25 Honest words can be painful,
but what do your criticisms amount to?
26 Do you think your words are convincing
when you disregard my cry of desperation?
27 You would even send an orphan into slavery
or sell a friend.
28 Look at me!
Would I lie to your face?
29 Stop assuming my guilt,
for I have done no wrong.
30 Do you think I am lying?
Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong?"

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And here, in verse 29, I find some evidence that might support my conclusion that I just shared with you in the last section. Pretty crazy huh? Haha. =) I can sense Job's frustration with his friends here and he makes it pretty evident here through his words. In verse 26, I see a very important counseling technique that Job's friends have neglected. It's probably most familiarly expressed with the phrase, "No one will care how much you know, until they know how much you care." What do you guys see in this chapter that really sticks out to you? =)


"Father I pray that we would learn from the example of Job and his friends. I pray that when we find ourselves in a situation of trouble and trial, that we would never forsake You or turn away from You and Your word! When we find ourselves in a situation like Job's friends and one of our friends is going through a tough time, may we never jump to any conclusions without hearing our friends out fully and approaching You in prayer about the situation. Father we love You so much. It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen!"