SCRIPTURE: Job 4-10
After the Lord finished speaking to Job, he spoke to Eliphaz the Temanite. He said, “I am angry with you and your two friends. You have not said what is true about me, as my servant Job has. (Job 42:7)
Before we go on, we need to hear what God says to Job’s friends.
Much of the remainder of this book is the speeches of Job’s friends, and Job’s response.
When you read their speeches, its hard not to nod in agreement… they sound so orthodox.
This is scary, in light of God’s final word quoted above, “You have not said what is true about me…”
How can people be so religious, sound so right, so orthodox, and yet be wrong?
There is an important lesson in this: Job’s raw honesty is more welcome than his friends pious religiosity.
Job is brutally honest, and God challenges his pride, and yet God still affirms what Job says.
I think of so many religious leaders who sound like Job’s friends (do I sound like this too when I preach?).
We may be knowledgeable about Scripture and theologically deep, we may boast about defending the truth and the honour of God, and yet we may not be saying what is true about God.
Reread Eliphaz’s first speech, consider how ‘true’ this sounds, how theologically correct… yet God rejects their sermonizing!
This is a warning to the John Macarthurs and John Pipers, the James MacDonalds, Mark Driscolls and Norm Sennemas of the world, that we don’t foam at the mouth for God and truth, and totally miss the heart and truth of God, like Job’s friends.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, is this me? Am I more like Job’s friends when I speak?
I am not a preacher (we’ll forget about those two sermons years ago! Yikes!), but I wonder how often I say words to my friends that sound good, but don’t truly reflect God’s truth. I sense God saying that that I need to listen more and learn to keep my mouth quiet sometimes!
Observations/Application
The friends of Job speak and yet in their compassion they do not help. The idea that Job is suffering because he has done something wrong. It is the evil who perish and not the righteous. Oh?
Yet the friends also speak the truth with many of their comments. They are full of words and yet it is not with the words healing takes place. The friends presence – just the being there – would have sufficed. Not their ‘talk.’
Job certainly knows that he is a mortal and knows of his place and that God sees all. We live every day in His presence. And Job reminds his friends that God is God and we/I are mere men. Our days are limited and fleeting. Job recalls how he was formed – God put him together and he recognizes His presence. The joy of the Lord needs to be his strength.
In our struggles where do I turn?
Prayer
Help me daily Lord to bring everything to You for You are my God and I will praise You for You are my Rock and Redeemer. Thank You for being with me always and let me be an encourager to all those around me.
1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.