Faith

Job is starting to feel the heat and pressure from his friends. Bildad in Chapter 18 attacks Job for either being at a loss for words, or having a "stupid day". Not only that, he tends to imply again that everything that has happened to Job is Job's fault. Like "bad things happen to bad people, so get over it!"

Bildad's words sound so much like what we so often hear from our friends and relatives when our lives are going down the tube (or we hear other people treated like this). Many are quick to point out our shortcomings – places or times when we could have done something different or better. All the while, they demonstrate a good sense of "hitting while you're down."

It's as though this friend wants to say, again, "you get what you give." Or as many remember,[more] "you reap what you sow." That phrase in itself is another story, because it does have some truth. But when you or I apply it to a friend in need or in crisis, without any understanding of what really happened, we fail our friend.

Job makes sure Bildad knows he is barking up the wrong tree. His retort is "How long will you put me down and make me feel worse." It should have been easy for Bildad and Job's other friends to see the pain and anguish he was suffering. Then again, why would they. Nothing had happened to them, so surely "you must have done it to yourself."

The words must have resounded in the place where they were meeting. The message kept repeating in Job's ears from his friends – "Nothing has happened to us, so you must have really screwed up."

Job clearly defines that everything has fallen down around him – he sees and feels it. The reality of life is not a distant subject. He is crushed and tormented. His friends and relatives offer no heel+p, only accusation of how badly he has lived (or must have lived).

But in the end of chapter 19, Job drives home his reason for holding on. He says "no matter how bad this is or gets to be, I will not forget that the one who has promised to redeem me is still in charge. Doesn't make any difference what happens to me, I will still see Him."

What a sense of trust Job demonstrates. What a lesson Bildad gives us in how not to help our friends.

Job and his friends are at one another. They think that Job is spilling his guts in his speeches and Job, in effect calls them "Blow Hards."

It is interesting how what is recorded in chapters 15-17 sounds just like what you or I might hear from a friend who has gotten some advice from their friends (definitely not us!).

In these chapters, they start their second round of "advice and counsel", but almost immediately they butt heads. Eliphaz begins by saying Job is a "blow hard". Though those are not the exact words, the implication is in the very direct qwuestion – "does a wise person talk with windy knowledge and get all puffed up?" (my translation) If you don't like it, you read chapter 15, verses 2 and 3.[more]

Some people like the words in verse 6 where Eliphaz says "Your own mouth condemns you," but they forget that that does not help the situation. If you have ever been cornered and questioned by your friends about some of your actions, haven't they said the same thing to you. Why is it that when we are in trouble or have done wrong, our mouths keep running? Sometimes we need to come to a full stop.

What also comes to mind is that saying "Engage brain before starting mouth."

Job jabs back though in chapter 16 when he calls his friends "Sorry comforters." Imagine yourself going to comfort a friend and getting slammed for what you were doing. Perhaps is was because Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar forgot some rules of a friend who comes to help:
[html]<ol><li>Don't talk just to talk</li><li>Don't give pat answers</li><li>Avoid being accusatory or critical</li><li>Imagine you are the person you are comforting</li><li>Be helpful and encouraging</loi></ol>[/html]
Job gives the counsel to his counselors "I could give strength with my mouth, and the balm of my lips could ease your pain." What role do we play in the pain of our friends and family? Healing or hurt? Building or destruction?

After a lot of years, I got to thinking about Job again. What I remembered about those long ago studies is still true, but there are other things that strike me.

This would make the perfect opera. Don't think that it would work as a stage play or musical. There isn't enough action and mystery for a movie – even if Disney or Spielberg got their hands around it.

I can see the big chorus off to one side to echo what Job and his friends are saying or singing to one another. Once, this was seen as simply Job, three friends and a kid (young man). But, there is so much more. There are moving scenes where his friends accuse him [more]of having done something wrong, and he needs to "fess up."

Then there is Job telling them he hasn't done anything wrong – he's "a good man. Why is this happening to me." His friend Bildad challenges him to stop running off at the mouth and check it out with God.

Job responds with a list of reasons for not arguing with God. Major reasons are "His wisdom is profound, His power is vast." But the cap is when Job says "Who has resisted (argued with) Him and come out unscathed?" If you have the time, read Job chapter 9 and see how Job has recognized the futility of man trying to win a fight with God.

Though Job was challenged to fight with God, his response to his friends is an explanation of Job's recognition of the awesomeness of the very God he worships. Job's response is respect for his God. What would ours be if all we had was destroyed and our bodies in major pain?

The story continues…