Read Job 16
Job
16 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters, all of you!
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4 I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head at you.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
and if I refrain, it does not go away.
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;
you have devastated my entire household.
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
9 God assails me and tears me in his anger
and gnashes his teeth at me;
my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
10 People open their mouths to jeer at me;
they strike my cheek in scorn
and unite together against me.
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
he seized me by the neck and crushed me.
He has made me his target;
13 his archers surround me.
Without pity, he pierces my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again he bursts upon me;
he rushes at me like a warrior.
15 “I have sewed sackcloth over my skin
and buried my brow in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping,
dark shadows ring my eyes;
17 yet my hands have been free of violence
and my prayer is pure.
18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;
may my cry never be laid to rest!
19 Even now my witness is in heaven;
my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend
as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
as one pleads for a friend.
22 “Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return.
Go Deeper
In today’s reading, Job is angry, tired, and frustrated, not just with God for his current life circumstances, but also with his friends. They come at him with “long-winded speeches,” arguments, and the same explanations for his suffering that he’s heard before. To sum it up using Job’s blunt honesty, his friends are “miserable comforters” (v. 2). They are so intent on arguing the reasons why Job is suffering that they forget to offer mercy and compassion.
Chances are, you’ve been let down by a friend, too. Probably not to the extent of Job here, but at some point or another, a person you trusted has hurt you. Humans are flawed and broken sinners and we unintentionally take our hurt out on each other. Job knows this firsthand. If we rely solely on humans to help us in our pain, we will always be disappointed. Even after spending verses 6-14 calling out in anger to God, Job speaks this: “Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend, as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.”
This passage, written as far back as the time of Jacob in Genesis, speaks a truth foreshadowing Jesus. We know that Jesus is our advocate (1 John 2:1), interceding for us to the Father on our behalf (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:24-25). As if that’s not enough, He also calls Himself our friend (John 15:13-15). Job knows that because humans will always fail, we need a true helper and friend. In Jesus, we have that.
Because Jesus was fully God and also fully human, He alone can mediate and advocate for us to the Father. The next time you feel alone, let down by others, or in need of comfort, make sure you go to the right source first. Friends and community can help you, but they will never be your Help.
Questions
- Reflect on a time when a friend has hurt you. Have you forgiven them for that? Have you taken that pain to God?
- Read Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:24-25. Picture Jesus interceding for you on your behalf to God. What does that say about who He is and what you mean to Him? About what is Jesus interceding to God on your behalf today?
- Where is the first place you turn in pain? Who is the first person you go to? How can you rewire your brain to turn to God first?
Pray This
Jesus, thank You for being my mediator and my friend. Thank You that even now You are interceding on my behalf. You are my only true help and advocate. Please help me forgive others when they hurt me. And most of all, help me turn to You first when I need help, comfort, or a friend. I love You. Amen.
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5 responses to “Job 16”
The foreshadowing of Christ’s suffering was poignantly presented in this chapter. Jesus, too, was jeered at, stricken, scorned, shattered, seized, crushed and pierced. Now, as he sits at the right hand of the Father, he is our perfect comforter, intercessor and advocate.
Lament
“A lament is a passionate, honest expression of grief, sorrow, or pain poured out to God, acting as a prayer that moves from suffering to trust. It is a godly, faithful response to suffering and injustice, often characterized by raw emotion, including anger, fear, and despair.”
” Lament is faithful. Pouring out honest pain to God keeps conversation alive, guarding against bitterness.” Bible Hub
Job is giving his friends a lament and also God. He is continuing to be open and honest in this hardship and wondering why his “friends” are having such a hard time with just giving him some consoling. There is power in the tongue to tear down or build up. Job wants comforting, encouragement, and love. He also wants a mediator to help him with his agony.
I am so thankful for Jesus Christ our mediator. I am thankful that I can pour out my heart to God, all the good, bad and ugly. God is still faithful and a comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
God thank You for being such a loving Father. Thank You for Your compassion. God thank You for sending Your son Jesus Christ, who was tempted in all ways but without sin, to show me how it is done. God I am thankful I can come to Your throne boldly and that You hear my cries. God help me to control my tongue wisely, to build up, to not tear down. God thank You for Your Holy Spirit and how You tell me how to navigate this life, if I listen. God thank you for today, these minutes of this day. God help me to see others as You see them. Thank You for me speaking words of life, encouragement, and positives today. God I thank You for Your love, never-ending, forever, tender and full of compassion. God may I be Your hands and feet today in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 “you are miserable comforters, all of you!”
Very sadly, the wife of a dear friend of mine passed away this past week. Our reading of Job has been top of mind as I seek to come alongside of him during this time of immense loss. Lord, please keep me from being a “miserable comforter”!
PERSPECTIVE:
In light of…
my present circumstances,
Here’s what I believe about…
Who God is.
In light of…
Who God is,
Here’s what I believe about…
my present circumstances.
(From Chris Sherrod – Watermark Community Church)
We see Job pouring out his heart with raw honesty. He doesn’t sugarcoat his pain or pretend everything is fine.
This teaches us the importance of being genuine in our communication with God and others. “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all!”
Job’s candidness reminds us that God values our sincerity and is big enough to handle our deepest emotions.
However deep the valley I walk, there is no comparison to the suffering of my Savior on the cross for my sin.
Lord, deepen my empathy for others. In Your Son’s name, Amen!