A Good Friend

We have been going through Job...

RECAP...

Today, we are going to look at something Job says that is really important...

Keep your friends close...

But keep God closer.

You might think this is a no brainer…but not really.

Often, we don’t evaluate our friends in light of what God would say.

We are quick to trust, and slow to validate.

TRICKY...

Let’s read...

Job 14-16

As usual, we are going to look at a few items of interest from Job and his Friend.

Job 14:1–4 NLT

“How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. Must you keep an eye on such a frail creature and demand an accounting from me? Who can bring purity out of an impure person? No one!

Job recaps how he feels at this moment using some amazing poetry.

What is interesting is that Jesus will pick up on this imagery when he instructs people not to worry. He compares humans to the SPLENDOR of FLOWERS.

But he knows they are fleeting and seasonal.

FLOWERS ARE SEASONAL.

Job 14:7–9 NLT

“Even a tree has more hope! If it is cut down, it will sprout again and grow new branches. Though its roots have grown old in the earth and its stump decays, at the scent of water it will bud and sprout again like a new seedling.

Job makes this interesting comparison to Trees.

Humans are compared to trees in the OT and many God meetings occur at trees.

Job 14:13–14 NLT

“I wish you would hide me in the grave and forget me there until your anger has passed. But mark your calendar to think of me again! Can the dead live again? If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle, and I would eagerly await the release of death.

I stopped here simply to convey that ancient people had a very different view of death.

They were unsure a dead person could live again.

Their view was the Dead simply changed their address.

But they were unsure if God would be in the grave.

They had a very clear understanding that they were not able to exist where God exists because they were unclean.

ELIPHAZ...

Job 15:1–6 NLT

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: “A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag. The wise don’t engage in empty chatter. What good are such words? Have you no fear of God, no reverence for him? Your sins are telling your mouth what to say. Your words are based on clever deception. Your own mouth condemns you, not I. Your own lips testify against you.

Again, as we have seen, his “friends” are not very comforting.

But there is a comment Eliphaz makes that is interesting...

Job 15:15–16 BE:NT

There, in his sacred ones he does not trust, and the heavens are not clean in his eyes. How much less one offensive and foul, a man drinking evil like water.

Unseen realm thoughts...

As in Heaven so on Earth...

JOB RESPONDS...

Job 16:1–6 NLT

Then Job spoke again: “I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking? I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you. But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief. Instead, I suffer if I defend myself, and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

They have just resorted to name calling at this point...

But, Job utters something very interesting...

Job 16:18–22 NLT

“O earth, do not conceal my blood. Let it cry out on my behalf. Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high. My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends. For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return.

***O Earth...

This is a call back to the Cain and Abel moment.

He is asking the Earth to remember him and call out in his defense.

He is asking the earth to speak for him.

***Even Now...

Job believes there is a witness and advocate.

This is VERY DIFFERENT language from how he speak about God and what God is doing to him right now.

There is agreement between all of them about WHO is responsible: GOD.

There is disagreement between them: They-Job deserves this. Job-I don’t deserve this.

But, what a forecast into the future about an advocate that will come, the Messiah. Even thought we have not seen any language about the Messiah.

***My Friends Scorn Me...

Alternatively, those on earth are not helpful, and they have not advocated for Job. (LATER)

***I need someone...

Job is crystal clear about what he needs and wants...

His prayer is very honest.

WE STARTED WITH...

Keep your friends close...

But keep God closer.

How your friends respond to you is a REFLECTION of how they will pray for you.

Notice, not a single friend has advocated for Job.

None of them have said, “God, Job is innocent, relent, heal him, restore him.”

You could say their prayer has been the opposite, “God, Job is guilty, and he won’t admit his sin, punish him more.”

What is sad is…THEY THINK they are HELPING motivate Job to HEALING.