“Miserable Comforters”
(Encouraging versus Judging)
"I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all". - Job 16:2
Before we get into the specific thought of today’s devotion, let me state a couple of scriptures about God’s view of Job. I have heard all kinds of things about the “Whys” of Job’s trials. And because of hearing them for so many years, it takes a lot of listening to the Holy Spirit to really hear God’s message on this book. Because many of you, too, have preconceived ideas on Job, please try to open your heart so you can hear what I believe God is wanting me to say today on just a portion of the book of Job. ** Comments are always welcome, but please be aware that this is a devotion dealing with PART of the Book of Job and is NOT a complete exposition on the book of Job.
First, let’s look at some of the things about Job which are sometimes overlooked:
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect [blameless], and upright, and one that feared [revered] God, and eschewed [turned away from] evil". - Job 1:1
Job had these qualities about him per the Word of God: Perfect (blameless), upright, feared (revered) God and turned away from evil.
Point one: Job was a Godly Man!
"In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly". - Job 1:22
After losing his cattle, his children, virtually losing everything but his wife, Job 1:22 says JOB DID NOT SIN OR CHARGE GOD FOOLISHLY.
Point two: Job did NOT charge God foolishly!
Now, let’s go on: "When Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn [sympathize] with him and to comfort him". - Job 2:11
The intentions of Job’s friends may have originally been good. They had come to MOURN (i.e., sympathize) with Job and to COMFORT him. But in time (as you will see as you read the entire book of Job) all three of these friends took a shot at Job to tell him WHY all this calamity had come upon him. They basically said, “JOB, THERE MUST BE SIN IN YOUR LIFE!” The problem was they where talking out of their false belief system and not from the Truth of God.
Later, Job says of his friends’ words about his state:
“To him that is afflicted pity [or kindness] should be showed from his friend.........” - Job 6:14
When you have a friend who is going through a trial THAT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, you are to show your friend KINDNESS!
In our main passage (16:2) for today’s devotion, and it bears repeating here, Job says of his friends’ words:
I have heard many such things: miserable [wearisome, sorry] comforters are ye all. - Job 16:2
Have you ever had “Job comforters” - Instead of building you up they wear you down, they are a sorry example of a comforter! You dread their call, visit or e-mail because THEY KNOW just what your problem is, it is SIN, OF COURSE (according to them)! So instead of comforting you, they wear you out by their UNINSPIRED evaluation of your situation.
Let’s read on:
"Shall vain words [long-winded speeches] have an end? Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?" - Job 16:3
"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". - Job 16:4
"But I would strengthen [encourage] you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [lessen or relieve] your grief". - Job 16:5
Job is basically saying here, when will you stop these long arguments, what makes you answer me like this? Job then goes on to say, if I were in your shoes AND YOU WERE IN MINE, I would not tear you down and criticize you; but instead, I would ENCOURAGE you with my words and try to bring you some relief in your time of grief.
When all was said and done, when we look at the last chapter of the book of Job, GOD DID HAVE SOME REBUKE FOR JOB, but it wasn’t what brought on his calamities. IT WAS HOW HE HANDLED THEM.
After God corrected Job, where correction was necessary, AND Job repented (42:6), Then God’s anger was against Job’s friends (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) for speaking WRONGLY about God (42:7). Note in this passage (v.7) that Job WAS NOT accused of speaking WRONGLY about God! Then by God’s command, Job’s friends had to offer up burnt offerings, go to Job AND have Job PRAY FOR THEM and God honored it (42:8-10). It was after Job had prayed for his friends that the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before (42:10). The Book of Job concludes with God blessing Job’s latter days more than his beginning days. AMEN!
I would like to list some things that FRIENDS SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT DO when they know someone who is going through a trial or has an affliction and you really DON’T KNOW WHY THEY ARE GOING THROUGH IT:
DON’TS:
1. DON’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH unless you ABSOLUTELY are speaking in line with GOD’S WORD. Words can really hurt people. As Job states, “How long will ye vex [torment] my soul, and break me in pieces [crush me] with WORDS?” - Job 19:2
2. DON’T BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE A FRIEND’S SITUATION AS SIN - Though I hate to say this, some of you have been taught some WRONG ideas on trials, afflictions, etc., (I’ve been there). It is best for you to say nothing than to ACCUSE a friend of SIN if you are not 100% sure of that based on the WORD of GOD!
DO’S (Based on today’s readings from Job):
1. PUT YOURSELF IN THE OTHER PERSON’S SHOES AND BE SENSITIVE TO WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.
2. SPEAK WORDS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIEND.
THINGS TO DO IF YOU HAVE WRONGLY BEEN JUDGED BY FRIENDS (OR CHURCH MEMBERS, ETC.):
1. CHECK YOUR HEART BEFORE GOD. Repent if necessary and if, like Job, you did nothing wrong that brought the trial, but your attitude got off the mark, or maybe you allowed unforgiveness in because of the judgmental friend, etc.
2. DON’T COMPLAIN WITH FRIEND(S) BUT PRAY FOR THOSE THAT WRONGLY ACCUSED YOU. This isn’t always easy, but it is God’s will!
Of course these are not all inclusive but just some gems from the Book of Job :)
I would like to close with these words from Matthew Henry Commentary on Job:
“........... Mercy did not return when Job was disputing with his friends, but when he was praying for them........... God doubled Job's possessions. We may lose much for the Lord, but we shall not lose any thing by Him........in the end we shall be happy......... The last days of a good man sometimes prove his best, his last works his best works, his last comforts his best comforts; for his path, like that of the morning light, shines more and more unto the perfect day.
Closing Prayers:
Pray if you are in or have been in a trial and wrongly judged:
Heavenly Father, I come before you now, I am or have gone through a trial and been judged wrongly, I pray that you help me look at my heart and make sure I have not allowed attitudes, unforgiveness, etc., in during this trial and also help me to not complain and defend myself with my friends, church members, etc., but to pray for them. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!
Pray if you have judged someone in their trial:
I have judged my friend, church member, etc., as being in sin when I didn’t know that as a fact, I ask you now to forgive me and help me to be sensitive and only speak words that will strengthen and encourage my friend. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!
If this devotion ministered to you, please feel free to pass this or any of my devotions on to others. All I ask is that you please use them in their entirety. Thank you!
Have a Jesus’ blessed week!
Jim :)