Job 6 ~ darkened by thawing ice

Job 6 (New International Version)

- Audio link to Job 6

¹ Then Job replied:

² "If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!

³ It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.

⁴ The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
God's terrors are marshaled against me.

⁵ Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?

⁶ Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the white of an egg ?

⁷ I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.

⁸ "Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,

⁹ that God would be willing to crush me,
to let loose his hand and cut me off!

¹⁰ Then I would still have this consolation—
my joy in unrelenting pain—
that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹¹ "What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?

¹² Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?

¹³ Do I have any power to help myself,
now that success has been driven from me?

¹⁴ "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends,
even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,
as the streams that overflow

¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice
and swollen with melting snow,

¹⁷ but that cease to flow in the dry season,
and in the heat vanish from their channels.

¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go up into the wasteland and perish.

¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look for water,
the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.

²⁰ They are distressed, because they had been confident;
they arrive there, only to be disappointed.

²¹ Now you too have proved to be of no help;
you see something dreadful and are afraid.

²² Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf,
pay a ransom for me from your wealth,

²³ deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless'?

²⁴ "Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.

²⁵ How painful are honest words!
But what do your arguments prove?

²⁶ Do you mean to correct what I say,
and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?

²⁷ You would even cast lots for the fatherless
and barter away your friend.

²⁸ "But now be so kind as to look at me.
Would I lie to your face?

²⁹ Relent, do not be unjust;
reconsider, for my integrity is at stake. [my righteousness still stands]

³⁰ Is there any wickedness on my lips?
Can my mouth not discern malice?

We have arrived at the book of Job again. To be honest, I don't leap for joy at Job. Yet Job has a discernment to it that our generation, media watchers, can fully comprehend. In the previous generations, they didn't have nearly as much emphasis placed on entertainment. Job has an element used in Sci Fi or Horror Movies. Job knows in his soul, he keeps trying to tell his friends, that God has sent these problems to him, purposefully. Job wants to lament with Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar how unjust God is to do this to him, personally. (Here we could use a chorus of the Jaws movie theme - and pan a shot to black ice.)

Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar, totally, & completely don't understand what Job has perceived. They have decided Job is guilty and deserve what comes his way. His friends grow tired of Job's complaints and want him to confess he does not comprehend God.

So... we'll just remove the chapters of Job where Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar speak- their advice to Job is as enlightened as black ice. That would be only chapters 4,8,11,15,18,20 & 22. No. We aren't. Scripture remains in the Bible because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Actually the chapters of Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar have some Holy Spirit led insights to the goodness & justice of God. Insights about friends who search for God themselves, but friends are human. An important guide to understanding friends is important, but not to place them in the same category as the Holy Spirit to you.

The Book of Job has another hidden virtue - which lends itself more to the finesse of literature, instead of the glamor of movies - Job writes off the advice of his friends because he doesn't want to hear it. But Father God, creator of the universe is vast, more enduring, more faceted than any diamond - He created, is telling us Job won't want to hear about the attributes of God. A guide to direct those needing Spiritual help, but not receptive. A reminder for those of us trying to help a loved one, God is still the one in control.

But back to our original opening paragraph, Job is at the complete end of his tether because he just Knows God Has Done This to Job with Malice and a Poor Sense of Justice. How does Job arrive at the conclusion of peace? Job has heard, and discarded, what his friends have said. Partially Job is correct, God has judged Job to be a good man. Righteous. But how is Job going to arrive at the peace Job eventually finds? Job finds it by searching his own soul and allowing the Words of God to soak in. God saves Job, not his friends.

Job is partially correct, God has allowed Job to suffer. Job is incensed. Job just knows he is too righteous to have suffering. Job is cast down that his wife, his children (the ones left living), his servants, his family and his friends look down on him for his troubles. Job just knows he was righteous and worthy enough to sit with the village elders at the gate to welcome people. Job did a good job looking good for God.

Job eventually calms his soul well enough for the Words of God to soak into his soul. God allows us to have trouble, are we to judge God? Job eventually realizes God does not judge us incorrectly. Job is not God and must realize God's purposes are good. All the time. Job must consider Job is not righteous enough to save himself. Just as God tells Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar they have flaws even as they attempted to correct and direct Job. The close of the Book of Job touches on the majesty, the vastness of God. Job, Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar have all attempted to touch on God's attributes and have partially understood. But not being God themselves, have hidden flaws they must allow God's enduring grace to save them. They must grow in faith to lean in to trusting Him.

Job 40:1-4
1 The LORD said to Job:

2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!"

3 Then Job answered the LORD :

4 "I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.

Job 42:12-17
¹² The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. ¹³ And he also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. ¹⁵ Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. 

¹⁶ After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. ¹⁷ And so he died, old and full of years.

Father God, help us to love and follow You with an undivided heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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