Where’s The Love? Series

Job 6: 14 – 30

Where’s The Love?

14 “To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, like the streams of the brooks that pass away, 16 Which are dark because of the ice, and into which the snow vanishes. 17 When it is warm, they cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place. 18 The paths of their way turn aside, they go nowhere and perish. 19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope for them. 20 They are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused. 21 For now you are nothing, you see terror and are afraid. 22 Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’? 23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’? 24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 25 How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? 26 Do you intend to rebuke my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind? 27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you undermine your friend. 28 Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face. 29 Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands! 30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?

I would like you to take a moment and think about this question. Have you ever been exposed in your lifetime to anyone who gave you insulting comments for no known reason? It amazes me the gall some people have. Where do they get off adding unprovoked insults? I like the statement, ‘Blessed is the fool who knows he is a fool and keeps his mouth shut then the one who opens his mouth and remove all doubt.’

I use to be a street fighter so if anyone opened their mouth they might get a punch in the mouth as soon as blink. Today, I just eat the insult and walk away [in most cases]. What I still have a problem with is when I come across someone else who is getting flayed by someone’s so called advice. Instead of moving on I go after the evil person.

We had this one Christian man who came down with brain cancer. He went through extreme painful radiation and chemotherapy. As a result of this treatment he looked like he was in a horror movie. I happened to walk by and heard this one person say to him in front of his little kids, ‘Man, you look awful.’ Of course he looked awful. This poor guy could look in a mirror. Why didn’t this other guy just keep his big mouth shut instead of insulting this guy and his family by his ill conceived words? Now here was a guy that I wanted to lay hands on and I do not mean for prayer.

I bring this up because we are going to see this same type of brutal treatment of an innocent good man – Job –by his so called friends. We are going to learn directly from Job that He complains of all the things that have happened to him because, whereas he expected consolation from his friends, he had received nothing but the bitterest reproaches that were all on the assumed ground that he must be a wicked man because why else would God so grievously afflict him, Job 6:14-20. He shows them that they knew nothing of his case, and that they had no compassion, Job 6:21-23. And then entreats them, if they can, to show him in what he has offended, then he is ready to acknowledge and correct every trespass, Job 6:24-30.

Job is stopped and questions himself. He immediately raises the iron bars of self-assurance. Having regained his composure, Job has a powerful personal fortitude quite apart from his righteousness. Once recovered, Job delivers a stinging rebuke to Eliphaz and his friends

14 “To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, like the streams of the brooks that pass away, 16 Which are dark because of the ice, and into which the snow vanishes. 17 When it is warm, they cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place. 18 The paths of their way turn aside, they go nowhere and perish. 19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope for them. 20 They are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused. 21 For now you are nothing, you see terror and are afraid. 22 Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’? 23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?