Job: The Poor Comforters.

The bulk of the book of Job is a long discussion of why this was happening between Job and his 3 friends.

It in itself is a tragic story. These 3 friends see Job’s pain and are desperate to help.

Unfortunately they do a very poor job - pardon the pun.

What is perhaps most sad is that Job already had a terrible accuser causing him pain: Satan.

But now his 3 friends become his accusers as well.

Job’s Accusers

Job’s three friends came to comfort him, but they ended up criticizing him!

Each of them used the same argument in one way or another:

(1) God blesses the righteous and afflicts the wicked;

(2) God has afflicted Job;

(3) therefore, Job must be wicked.

Of course, their thinking seemed logical, but it was not spiritual.

Mortal human beings are far too ignorant to understand fully the ways of God.

For us to fit God into our own little “theological boxes” is to limit Him and make Him less than God.

It is a dangerous thing for believers to “explain the ways of God” to other believers if they do not understand God’s Word and God’s ways.

What do these men represent?

Modern Psychology had identified 3 types of trauma, each of which has its own “self destructing” thoughts of reason/justification.

Each of Job’s friends sovereignty represents each self destructive trauma response to suffering.

Job experienced all 3!

Trauma 1: Acute Trauma.

Acute Trauma is a PTSD resulting from a sudden highly shocking disaster.

Sudden death is a common example and we see Job suffer the sudden death of his family.

Acute Trauma can manifest itself as self blame.

In his first speech, Eliphaz argues that Job is a sinner

Job 4:7–9 BSB

Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

IE: Job, this is all your fault!ff

“IF ONLY I…..”

More time, more careful, more vigilant.

True, but not relevant because you were were NOT deliberately……

The next type of PTSD is called:

Trauma 2: Chronic Trauma:

This is the result of long lasting pain and stress such as sickness.

Again Job experienced this trauma.

This manifests as Anger/frustration. It often ends up in blaming others.

We see Bildad manifest this my suggesting that maybe its Job’s children that were the cause of his suffering.

Bildad picks up the argument in 8:1–7 and very bluntly states that God does not do things unjustly.

Job 8:1–4 BSB

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind. Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.

Blame God, parents, government….

Again True, but not applicable as God is sovereign.

The final classification of PTSD is:

Trauma 3: Complex Trauma:

This is from experiencing multiple traumatic events is quick succession - just like Job.

This pain manifests as hopelessness, a feeling of being trapped and that its all over.

Zophar reflects this by saying that Job is simply a pawn in God’s plan and that Job is wrong for even thinking there is a divine purpose for his suffering.

Job 11:1–7 BSB

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: 2 “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? 3 Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke? 4 You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’ 5 But if only God would speak and open His lips against you, 6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. 7 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

Feelings of hopelessness are very dangerous.

We even see Job wishing to die.

like Moses, Elijah, Jonah….

NB: Seasons Change!

All three “friends/explanations” make the same mistakes:

(1) they fail to enter into Job’s sorrows and sympathize with him;

(2) they have a dogmatic concept of God and His works.

The problem of human suffering is too deep and complex for the simple answers the three friends gave.

Jesus never sinned, yet He suffered more than any person!

The Problem: Ignorance

Neither Job nor his friends knew about the conference in heaven, that God was using Job as “Exhibit A” before Satan and the angels to prove that people will trust God even when they do not understand what God is doing.

Job’s Appeals

The most important verses in this section are those that state Job’s heart appeals to God and to his friends.

1. He appeals for sympathy.

His friends did not show love and understanding; to them Job was a theological problem, not a suffering saint.

He compares his friends to a brook that dries up just when thirsty travelers need water.

Job 6:14–15 BSB

14 A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,

We must have grace. Even if Job forsaken God and Satan won, his friends should have still had compassion on him.

We Dont need to have answers or solutions: What we need to have is love and compassion.

2. He appeals for a mediator.

In chapter 9 Job complains that he has no way to present his case before God, because he cannot find Him.

Job 9:33 BSB

33 Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

Job 9:2 BSB

2 “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

Means, “How can a man ever plead his case with God?”

Thank God for the Mediator, Jesus Christ, who represents us before God!

3. He appeals to his faith in God.

This is what created the problem: Job trusted God, yet God seemed to have abandoned Job.

Had Job once denied God or cursed God, the problem would have been solved, for the friends would have known that God was punishing Job for his unbelief.

But Job had faith.

Job 13:15 BSB

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

Job 13:18 BSB

Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.

Job knew that God would work out some purpose, but he thought God should tell him what He was doing.

Conclusion:

The ways of God are above and beyond the mind of mortal men and women.

Even Bildad admitted:

Job 26:14 BSB

Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”

literally, “these are but the outskirts of His ways, the hem of His garment.”

God is greater than man’s theology.

When we cannot understand, we can worship and trust Him.