Job is one of the most unique stories you’ll hear – not just inside the Bible but anywhere. It’s the story of man named Job, a man whose character was tremendously strong but suffered exceedingly. But one day Satan says to God, “The reason Job follows you is you’re so good to him. Stop blessing him and he’ll turn away from you in a heartbeat.” Job is a book about the pain we experience in life. It’s a book about the loss of children, the family with autistic children, and the wife and mother who is diagnosed with a terminal disease. We find his life and his book endlessly interesting because he asks God the question we all want to ask – “Why?” But the “why” question is always closely related to another question for people who are hurting and that’s the “How” question. How will get through this? And of the ways, God has helped us to command and encourage us to love one another and to help each other through pain and hurt.
At the center of our story is a man named Job – a very good man. He was as pure as the driven snow. There were no skeletons in his closet. The IRS could not find one thing wrong with his tax returns. The local sheriff couldn’t find even one blemish on his character. They asked Job’s pastor and his high school teacher and everyone agreed Job was an exceedingly good man. But this very good man experiences tremendous suffering in his life – his children die, he loses his wealth, and he’s near the point of death. Hearing about their friend Job, three of his closest friends show up: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. As you’re going to see in the moments to come, if Job and his three friends were alive today, Job would surely “unfriend” these three from his Facebook profile. But Job wasn’t on social media discussing his problems. Instead, Job was in the same room with these three men and as much as he wouldn’t have wanted to, he couldn’t get away from them.
For the next few minutes, I want to speak to you about how to care for one another we hard times come. Along the way, the book of Job is really a challenge or a test of God’s ways in this world. One atheist recently said this in a debate: “I think God, if he, she or it exists, should be ashamed of him, her, or itself. For the last couple of thousand years it has caused us nothing but trouble.… I do not respect the Judeo-Christian God because I regard him, or her, or it, as a brute who has created great cruelty and great horror in this world, if he, or she, in fact exists.…” Many question, “Is God right, just, or fair for acting the way He does?”
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1. What They Did Right
2. What They Said Wrong
3. What You Should Do
1. What They Did Right
“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:11–13).
1.1 They Showed Up
When their friend was sick, they showed up. Good friends do this – they show up when life goes bad. Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him” (Job 2:11). Evidently, a lot of Job’s friends turned against him during this time (Job 19:14-19). His relatives stopped returning his calls (Job 19:14). His wife refused him and his brothers and sisters ran from him (Job 19:17). Not only did these three show up, they spent seven days with him. Now, it’s true that eventually Job wishes these three men would have ran from him just as family and wife did… … but, nevertheless, they came!
1.2 They Spoke Up
They Spoke to Him and Not About Him They could have talked about him behind his back, instead, they showed up and spoke directly to him. They cared enough about their friend to tell him what he didn’t want to hear. No doubt, they talked together about Job before they showed up. Somehow they communicated with one another (Job 2:11) and there was a team strategy meeting of some sorts. They were all on the same page as they arrived. So the three men compared notes and came to the same conclusion.
1. What They Did Right
2. What They Said Wrong
Nearly everything. Nearly everything these three men said was wrong. Each of the three friends spoke, and each time Job responded. This cycle goes around three times with Eliphaz speaking three times, Bildad speaking three times, but Zophar speaking only twice. Job speaks nine times in response from chapter four through twenty-seven. This is a long section and many people skim over this or skip over this.
God put this in the Bible to teach you not to copy their behavior. Don’t be like Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.
The word to remember when reviewing the friends’ counsel is this: half-truths. A half-truth is dangerous because it contains only a partial element of truth masquerading as entirely true. A half-truth often dresses up as full-truth and you may have gotten a hold of the wrong half! If these men’s words were fully wrong, then we could easily dismiss them. But their words are chocked full of half-truths and this is the real danger. Remember a half-truth is also a half-lie.
Let’s look at each friend in turn and let’s read their counsel to Job. Along the way, let’s play what’s the word… where you’ll fill in blank to describe each friend. It’ll help us better remember their mistakes.
2.1 Eliphaz the Implicator
Job’s pain and anguish lead to a debate as to why he suffers. Now, things start out with gentleness and courtesy but they won’t stay this way for long: “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off? 8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed” (Job 4:7–9). And we see it again in chapter four: “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? 18 Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error…” (Job 4:17–18).
It’s important to realize that the three friends take on the same premise that Satan does earlier: the righteous are rewarded and the wicked suffer. They are absolutely sure of how the universe works and they are unquestionably certain of how God functions. Some people have a superficial theology. They either haven’t take the time to do serious Bible study or they were never exposed to the Bible. Nearly all you’ll hear from Job’s friends goes like this: you’re hurting because you’ve sinned. Turn away from your evil and God will reward you. We find confirmation of this here: “Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you” (Job 15:6).
Job’s Response
Job pleads with his three friends: “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray” (Job 6:24). Job tells his three friends candidly this: I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all” (Job 16:2). “My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness, 17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure” (Job 16:16–17).
Ring the bell for Round One is over but Round Two is coming.
2.2 Bildad the Blamer
Now all of these guys, you’re feel like you’re listening to a broken record. They are essentially saying the same thing and it’s over and over and over: “if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great” (Job 8:6–7). As you move through the conversation, you will detect the tone grows in intensity. In others words, it gets nasty. Here’s another example: “Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight” (Job 18:3)?
Let’s circle back for a moment: Job’s good life changed in one day. He hears the news about four disasters in a matter of minutes. Satan is behind all of this for think of the accuser’s strategy with me. The four disasters would have happened weeks or days before Job heard about the news. For example, Job’s oldest son would have probably a lived a day or two away from his father. So the strategy of Satan was to bring the cumulative impact of all four disasters down on Job in a matter of minutes. Like a boxer, Job would have not recovered from the news of one tragedy before the next one and the next one and then the next one washed over him. He’s had no opportunity to gather his wits about him.
Job’s Response
Now, Job is low; he is severely depressed. As my grandfather would have said, “He’s lower than a snake’s belly.” The four plagues made Job think all the forces of heaven and earth had turned against him. The causes of destruction alternate between earthly and heavenly forces coming from all four points of the compass: the Sabeans from the south, lightning from a storm out of the west, the Chaldeans from the north and the treacherous sirocco blowing off the desert to the east. As the men find their friend, Job simply wishes he had never seen the light of day. Read it for yourselves because Job repeatedly wishes he was born as a still-born child: “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words” (Job 19:2)? He begs for mercy: “Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me” (Job 19:21)! Job not only asks for mercy but he also defends himself: “because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him” (Job 29:12). He says, “I’m not perfect but I don’t have the skeletons in my closet that you are saying.” What’s the Word? If I am fired from my job, my children ghost me, and my spouse divorces me and Bildad is my therapist, I will Write a Country Song. No sooner is round two over than round three begins.
2.3 Zophar the Lawyer
What’s the Word? If the police are at my door and I am falsely accused of a crime, and Zophar shows up right behind them, I will Plea Bargain. Again, the problem with these three men is their counsel is full of half-truths. Again, these three men are dealing in half-truths. And a half-truth is more dangerous than a full lie – here’s why. A clock that doesn’t even run is right twice a day. I want to ask you a question, “What is more dangerous: a clock five minutes wrong, or a clock five hours wrong?” Now, you say, “Well, obviously, a clock five hours wrong,” but not so. When you look at a clock that’s five hours wrong, you say, “Hey, that is wrong. Somebody tell me what time it is.” But, you look at a clock five minutes wrong; you’ll likely miss your plane.
Job’s Response
“As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. 5 Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom” (Job 13:3–5)! Where Job’s confidence is in his character, his three friend’s confidence is in their creed, or their beliefs. They are convinced that when they see someone suffering, they see a bad person. And when they see someone prosper, they see a good person. Satan’s words are often spoke in secret; he needs the cover of darkness. He is speaking through these three men throughout the book – make no mistake about it, Job is enduring a Satanic assault – first through tragedy but then through false accusations made against him. These men had no sympathy and they didn’t pause to think that they might have been wrong. Like he did in Jesus’ day, when Satan failed in the desert to get Jesus to falter, Satan began to work through the disciples to get to Jesus. Watch the men argue over who is the greatest of them. Listen to the disciples mother ask if her son can sit on next to Jesus on the throne. Hear Peter tell Jesus He’s wrong about the cross. Satan changes his tactics when he doesn’t immediately succeed.
God’s Response
I think you should know God’s thoughts of these three men before we go any further: “After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7–9). When you take time to read through all of this conversation, here’s what you don’t see: you never read of these men offering a helping hand. Nowhere do you read where they arrive with a Home Depot truck of lumber and say, “We may not be able to fix everything in your life but let’s rebuild your house.”
Leslie Ray Charping died last year from complications from cancer in 2017. Going against the norm of saying a few nice words about the deceased, his daughter wrote a brutally honest obituary about her father. Posted to the funeral home’s website in the Galveston area, the page received so much traffic, it crashed the funeral home’s website.
Leslie Ray "Popeye" Charping was born in Galveston, Texas on November 20, 1942 and passed away January 30, 2017, which was 29 years longer than expected and much longer than he deserved. Leslie battled with cancer in his latter years and lost his battle, ultimately due to being the horses [tail] he was known for. He leaves behind 2 relieved children; a son Leslie Roy Charping and daughter, Shiela Smith along with six grandchildren and countless other victims including an ex wife, relatives, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses and random strangers.
At a young age, Leslie quickly became a model example of bad parenting combined with mental illness and a complete commitment to drinking, drugs, womanizing and being generally offensive. Leslie enlisted to serve in the Navy, but not so much in a brave & patriotic way but more as part of a plea deal to escape sentencing on criminal charges. While enlisted, Leslie was the Navy boxing champion and went on to sufficiently embarrass his family and country …
Leslie was surprisingly intelligent, however he lacked ambition and motivation to do anything more than being reckless, wasteful, squandering the family savings and fantasizing about get rich quick schemes. Leslie's hobbies included being abusive to his family, expediting trips to heaven for the beloved family pets and fishing… he did not contribute to society or serve his community and he possessed no redeeming qualities besides quick whited sarcasm which was amusing during his sober days.
With Leslie's passing he will be missed only for what he never did; being a loving husband, father and good friend. No services will be held, there will be no prayers for eternal peace and no apologizes to the family he tortured. Leslie’s remains will be cremated and kept in the barn until "Ray", the family donkey’s wood shavings run out. Leslie’s passing proves that evil does in fact die and hopefully marks a time of healing and safety for all.
Job was no Leslie Ray Charping. One of the most unusual things about the book of Job is Job’s insistence is that he is no giant sinner. Job’s confidence in his goodness and blamelessness stands out. If I were him, surrounded by these three guys, my mind would begin to question me, “Maybe I’m not as good as I think I am.” In fact, I convinced that when Satan exited at the end of chapter two, he didn’t disappear. The accuser of the brethren showed up through these three men, constantly accusing Job. Satan had failed in his accusation against God when Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Satan wasn’t going to surrender that easily. So he changes his tactics and works these three men who act like a gathering of vultures.
1. What They Did Right
2. What They Said Wrong
3. What You Should Do
Remember that Job is a test case: Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason” (Job 1:9)?
Satan feels people are righteous only because God rewards the righteous. But then, when the pain and hurt intensifies, Job feels wronged because he wonders why God is punishing the righteous. It’s a catch 22. The book of Job puts God’s ways on trial more than it does Job. Remember, we are told Job how good of a man Job is before the tragedy strikes. This is a book that deals with the question: Is God’s Ways Just and Right and Fair?
3.1 Realize Suffering Is Complicated
God permits suffering for a number of reasons. Prosperity theology says, “Wealthy people are righteous and tragic people are wicked.” Think about a medical doctor with me for a moment: a doctor doesn’t simply hear you cough and conclude you have a cold. No, your health is much more complicated and a cough can be a signal for a number of illnesses. These three men failed to realize that rain falls on the just and unjust (see Matthew 5:45). God’s ways cannot be reduced to a mathematical formula. Yes, the wicked do suffer because of their evil but not all suffering is because of evil. The Bible tells us that God permits suffering for at least five reasons (there’s more than this).
Why God Permits Suffering: 1) Purifying (1 Peter 4:12-19); 2) Teaching (Hebrews 5:3); 3) Discipline (Hebrews 12:6); 4) Punishment (1 Corinthians 11:29-30); 5) All is Cursed (Genesis 3:14-19); 6) Testing (Job 1:6-12). Yes, the Bible does affirm that wicked people will suffer but many times their suffering is in the next life. We cannot say that people of the city of Houston are greater sinners than the people of Fort Worth because of the great flood happened there and not here a couple years ago. Suffering cannot be reduced to a mathematical formula.
3.2 Remember Discernment is Needed
Earlier we spoke of these men showing up and speaking up. “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs 27:5–6). Pause for a moment to consider the importance and the need of hearing the truth from your friends. Everyone thinks they have a great voice, right? No middle school student thinks they have body odor, right? And all of us need someone in our lives that we trust that can tell us the truth about us. We really need for friends to tell us the truth about us while ALSO communicating their love for us. A counselor may give you advice but you wouldn’t give them advice in return. Your boss may offer advice on how to improve but you probably wouldn’t critic him. But your friend is different – the two of you can speak to one another with honesty. The book of Proverbs has a lot of wisdom regarding how to make friends and choose friends.
3.3 Reacting in Love is Essential
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel” (Proverbs 27:9). You should give “earnest counsel” and receive “earnest counsel” from your friends. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). The ability of iron to sharpen iron is the hardness or the roughness of iron, wouldn’t you agree.
My best friend in life is my wife, Traci. Traci is good at being honest with me. To make a successful marriage work, there needs to be a wealth of love for one another and heaping helps of honesty. And when honesty is present and it’s something we often don’t want to hear, there must be trust. Whether the friend is my spouse or not, I must trust that the words coming from their mouth are words I can trust. This takes time. There has to be some roughness to friends.
Conclusion
Centuries later, Satan came after another Man who suffered. Another Man cried out in deep anguish, “God!? Why God!? Why have your forsake Me?” Jesus is the only person in history whom God said to, “If you obey me fully, I’ll crush you to powder and send you to hell. I’ll turn my back on you, and you will experience absolute separation from Me. If you obey me fully, I will send you to hell.”
