Job’s Reply to Eliphaz – The Weight of Despair

Date: Wednesday Night, November 6, 2024

Main Text: Job 6:1–30

Introduction to Job Chapter 6:

In Job 6, we hear Job’s reply to Eliphaz’s first speech. Job begins by expressing the depth of his anguish, lamenting the misunderstanding from his friend. He defends the sincerity of his lament and his cry for relief, making it clear that his pain is more than anyone can comprehend. Job’s speech highlights the weight of his suffering and his disappointment in the shallow counsel offered by his friend.

Key Themes in Chapter 6:

1. The Depth of Human Suffering:

Job’s pain is profound, and he struggles to convey just how unbearable it is.

2. The Misunderstanding of Friends:

Job feels betrayed and abandoned by those who were supposed to comfort him.

3. A Cry for Justice and Understanding:

Job calls out for God’s response, longing for justice and relief from his suffering.

Section 1: The Weight of Job’s Suffering (Job 6:1–7)

Read: Job 6:1–7

Job 6:1–7 KJV 1900

1 But Job answered and said, 2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, And my calamity laid in the balances together! 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: Therefore my words are swallowed up. 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. 5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder? 6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 7 The things that my soul refused to touch Are as my sorrowful meat.

Verse 2 (KJV): “Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!”

Discussion:

• Job’s Suffering is Unbearable (Verses 1-3):

Job begins his response by comparing his grief to a great weight that cannot be measured. He wishes that his suffering could be weighed so that others might understand its immensity.

Verse 3 (KJV): “For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.”

Job’s imagery emphasizes that his suffering is beyond what anyone can imagine. The metaphor of the “sand of the sea” reflects an immeasurable burden.

• Job’s Despair and Bitterness (Verses 4-5):

Job describes the arrows of the Almighty piercing him, an image that highlights his perception of God’s role in his suffering. He feels that God’s wrath has been poured out upon him, which adds to his confusion and despair.

Verse 4 (KJV): “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.”

• The Futility of Eliphaz’s Counsel (Verses 6-7):

Job uses a metaphor of tasteless food to describe Eliphaz’s words. Just as food without salt is unappetizing, Eliphaz’s advice is empty and lacking true substance.

Verse 6 (KJV): “Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?”

Job’s point is that Eliphaz’s words are unhelpful and fail to address the true nature of his suffering.

Section 2: A Plea for Relief (Job 6:8–13)

Read: Job 6:8–13

Job 6:8–13 KJV 1900

8 Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 10 Then should I yet have comfort; Yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. 11 What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass? 13 Is not my help in me? And is wisdom driven quite from me?

Verse 8 (KJV): “Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!”

Key Points:

• Job’s Desire for Death (Verses 8-9):

Job expresses a longing for God to grant him relief through death. He feels that death would be a merciful end to his suffering.

Verse 9 (KJV): “Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!”

Job’s wish for death reflects the depth of his anguish. He sees it as the only escape from his unrelenting pain.

• The Consolation of Integrity (Verse 10):

Despite his desire for death, Job takes solace in the fact that he has not denied the words of the Holy One. His integrity remains intact, even in the midst of his despair.

Verse 10 (KJV): “Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.”

• The Feeling of Helplessness (Verses 11-13):

Job questions what strength he has left to continue enduring. He feels utterly powerless, without hope or any prospect of deliverance.

Verse 13 (KJV): “Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?”

Job’s rhetorical questions underscore his sense of abandonment and the futility of his situation.

Section 3: Disappointment in His Friends (Job 6:14–23)

Read: Job 6:14–23

Job 6:14–23 KJV 1900

14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; But he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, And as the stream of brooks they pass away; 16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow is hid: 17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 18 The paths of their way are turned aside; They go to nothing, and perish. 19 The troops of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them. 20 They were confounded because they had hoped; They came thither, and were ashamed. 21 For now ye are nothing; Ye see my casting down, and are afraid. 22 Did I say, Bring unto me? Or, Give a reward for me of your substance? 23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

Verse 14 (KJV): “To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.”

Discussion:

• The Betrayal of Friends (Verses 14-15):

Job feels deeply disappointed by his friends. He expected comfort, but instead, they have become like unreliable streams, dry when he needs them most.

Verse 15 (KJV): “My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away.”

• Metaphor of a Dry Brook (Verses 16-20):

Job compares his friends to streams that vanish when the heat comes. They promise refreshment, but when the need arises, they are empty.

Verse 19 (KJV): “The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.”

Job uses examples from desert travelers who anticipate water, only to find dry riverbeds. This illustrates the bitter disappointment he feels in his friends.

• Job’s Appeal for Honesty (Verses 21-23):

Job accuses his friends of being afraid to speak the truth. He feels that they are more concerned with judging him than offering real support.

Verse 21 (KJV): “For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.”

Section 4: Job’s Defense and Challenge (Job 6:24–30)

Read: Job 6:24–30

Job 6:24–30 KJV 1900

24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: And cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 25 How forcible are right words! But what doth your arguing reprove? 26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, And the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? 27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, And ye dig a pit for your friend. 28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; For it is evident unto you if I lie. 29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; Yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. 30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? Cannot my taste discern perverse things?

Verse 24 (KJV): “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.”

Key Points:

• A Challenge for Truth (Verses 24-25):

Job challenges his friends to show him where he has sinned. He is open to correction but insists that their accusations are baseless.

Verse 25 (KJV): “How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?”

• Job’s Plea for Fairness (Verses 26-27):

Job feels that his words have been taken lightly and that his friends are mocking his despair instead of listening to him with compassion.

Verse 27 (KJV): “Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.”

• A Final Appeal (Verses 28-30):

Job asks his friends to reconsider their stance and judge him fairly. He ends his speech with a plea for honesty and a desire for them to see his integrity.

Verse 30 (KJV): “Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?”

Job asserts his innocence once more, pleading for a fair evaluation of his situation.

Application:

1. Understanding the Depth of Suffering:

Job’s response helps us see the intense weight of despair. It challenges us to empathize with those who suffer deeply, rather than offering shallow advice.

2. The Value of True Friendship:

Job’s disappointment in his friends reminds us of the importance of being compassionate listeners. When others are in pain, we are called to be a source of comfort, not judgment.

3. Integrity in Suffering:

Despite his pain, Job maintains his integrity. His example encourages us to hold onto our faith, even when circumstances are unbearable.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does Job’s response reveal about his understanding of his own suffering?

2. How can we offer better support to those who are suffering, based on Job’s experience?

3. Why is it significant that Job continues to assert his innocence despite his anguish?

Conclusion:

In Job 6, we see the raw and honest outpouring of a man in deep pain. Job’s response to Eliphaz highlights the inadequacy of his friends’ counsel and the importance of true empathy. His integrity and faith shine through, even as he grapples with the profound weight of his despair.

Preview of Next Session:

Next week, we will explore Job Chapter 7, where Job continues his discourse, turning his lament directly toward God in a powerful and emotional plea.

This study on Job 6 offers profound insights into the nature of suffering, the importance of empathy, and the enduring strength of faith.