JOB REPLIES TO ELIPHAZ JOB 6

JOB 6
JOB REPLIES TO ELIPHAZ

  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?  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.  30) Is there any wickedness on my lips?  Can my mouth not discern malice?    Job 6    (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY   NIV

   Job said that Eliphaz's advice was like eating the tasteless white of an egg.  When people are going through severe trials, ill-advised counsel is distasteful.  They may listen politely, but inside they are upset.  Be slow to give advice to those who are hurting.  They often need compassion more than they need advice.

  In his grief, Job wanted to give in, to be freed from his discomfort, and to die.  But God did not grant Job's request.  He had a greater plan for him.  Our tendency, like Job's, is to give up and get out when the going gets rough.  To trust God in the good times is commendable, but to trust Him during the difficult times tests us to our limits and exercises our faith.  In your struggles, large or small, trust that God is in control and that He will take care of you (Romans 8:28).

   Job referred to his own integrity, not because he was sinless, but because he had a right relationship with God.  He was not guilty of the sins his friends accused him of.  Another rendering of this verse could read, "My righteousness still stands."  Righteousness is not the same as sinlessness.  No one but Jesus Christ has ever been sinless--free from all wrong thoughts and actions.  Even Job needed to make some changes in his attitude toward God, as we will see by the end of the book.  Nevertheless, Job was righteous.  He carefully obeyed God to the best of his ability in all aspects of his life.

MY THOUGHTS

   I have to say again, I love the Book of Job.  Did you catch the part where he thought the whites of eggs are tasteless?  How healthy is that!  Seriously, though, he wanted God to end his life.  His flesh was rotting off his bones and he was covered in oozing sores.  This also talks to me about suicide, although Job was not discussing suicide.  He wanted his suffering to end.  I have seen many people in my career who was in this situation.  Please understand that God can reverse your circumstances.  He loves you.  He was extremely proud of Job and look what Job was having to endure.  Oh, that He would tell me, "Well done my good and faithful servant."!


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