Job begins to answer his friend

The Book of Job Chapter 6

Job spoke and said that if his sadness could be weighed and his troubles put on scales, they would be heavier than all the sands of the sea. He indicated that the Almighty had struck him down with arrows and sent them deep into his spirit. So he felt he had a right to complain. Even animals complain when they have no food and people complain when they have no salt, he said. Job's biggest hope was that God would crush him and kill him because then he could take comfort in the fact that even though he experienced pain, he still had not denied the words of the Holy One. But, Job said he didn't have the strength to endure, so he did not have a goal to encourage him to carry on. He considered himself helpless.

One should be kind, Job said, to a fainting friend, but you ( meaning Eliphaz) have accused me without the slightest fear of the Almighty and have proven to be unreliable. You have seen my calamity, Job continued, and you are afraid even though I have never asked you for a gift or begged you to use your wealth on my behalf, or asked you to rescue me from my enemies or save me from ruthless people.

All Job wanted, he told Eliphaz, was a reasonable answer and then he would keep quiet. Tell me, he asked, what have I done wrong? Honest words are painful and that is what your criticisms amount to. Do you think your words are convincing when you disregard my cry of desperation? You would send an orphan into slavery, or sell a friend. Just look at me, Job tells Eliphaz, would I lie to your face? Stop assuming my guilt, for I am righteous. Don't be unjust and think I am lying. I know the difference between right and wrong.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: When people are going through severe trials, advised counsel is often distasteful. They may listen politely, but inside they are upset. Often they need compassion instead of advice.

Job refers to his own righteousness, not because he was sinless, but because he had a right relationship with God and was not guilty of the sins his friends accused him of. Righteousness is not the same as sinlessness (Romans 3:23). Even Job needed to made changes in his attitude toward God and it will come as we will see in the end of his chapter.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Like many people today, Job wanted to give in and be free from his discomfort and die. Don't you know somebody like that today? Perhaps suffering from a catastrophic illness. But God did not grant Job's request because he had a greater plan for him. Maybe for those you know who are ill, too. Our tendency is to give up when the going gets rough. But this is the very time we need to trust in God. Not just in the good times. But in the bad times too, because difficulties test our limits and exercise our faith. In your struggles, or those of your friends, trust that God is in control and he will take care of you. (Romans 8:28)

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who made it six years with cancer but may now go home with hospice in her final days.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.