In Job 6, Job responds to his friend Eliphaz's assumptions about his situation. Job 6:25 Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?
Highlighted in yellow below is the link to previous chapters.
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Review of Job’s Tests
- Job 1 ; 1st test - Job lost his wealth, his entire family & all his processions, yet he still praised God
- Job 2 ; 2nd test - Satan attacked his health with boils from head to toe Job 2:4-6. Even his wife asked him to curse God and commit suicide YET he still held on to God
- Job 3; Job cursed the day he was born. He still didn't blame God. His faith is so far unshakable.
- Job 4; Eliphaz is questioning Job's obedience to God and he is insinuating that his sufferings may be a consequence to his sins. Job4:8
- Job 5; Job’s friend Eliphaz continue's to make reason of Job's condition. He finally asks him to take his case to God Job 5:8. He also convinces him that nothing is impossible for God if you live according to his principles.
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Job 6 (NLT) - Job’s response to Eliphaz (My Complaint Is Just)
6 Then Job spoke again:
2 “If my misery could be weighed
and my troubles be put on the scales,
3 they would outweigh all the sands of the sea.
That is why I spoke impulsively.
4 For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows.
Their poison infects my spirit.
God’s terrors are lined up against me.
God’s terrors are lined up against me.
5 Don’t I have a right to complain?
Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass,
and oxen bellow when they have no food?
and oxen bellow when they have no food?
6 Don’t people complain about unsalted food?
Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?
7 My appetite disappears when I look at it;
I gag at the thought of eating it!
8 Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant my desire.
9 I wish he would crush me.
I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
10 At least I can take comfort in this:
Despite the pain,
I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 But I don’t have the strength to endure.
I have nothing to live for.
12 Do I have the strength of a stone?
Is my body made of bronze?
13 No, I am utterly helpless,
without any chance of success.
14 “One should be kind to a fainting friend,
but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook
that overflows its banks in the spring
16 when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.
17 But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears.
The brook vanishes in the heat.
18 The caravans turn aside to be refreshed,
but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
19 The caravans from Tema search for this water;
the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
20 They count on it but are disappointed.
When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
21 You, too, have given no help.
You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
22 But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?
Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
23 Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies,
or to save me from ruthless people?
24 Teach me, and I will keep quiet.
Show me what I have done wrong.
25 Honest words can be painful,
but what do your criticisms amount to?
26 Do you think your words are convincing
when you disregard my cry of desperation?
27 You would even send an orphan into slavery
or sell a friend.
28 Look at me!
Would I lie to your face?
29 Stop assuming my guilt,
for I have done no wrong.
30 Do you think I am lying?
Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong?
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Personal Notes from this chapter
This chapter was actually eye opening as it is so easy to make assumptions about situations without even knowing the facts. It's almost as if you are being insensitive even if it was not intended. Job with his condition still did not blame God despite the assumptions of his friend Eliphaez, but notice how honest he is with God. Job 9-11 " 9 I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me. 10 At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One. 11 But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for.
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