Job 6
In this chapter Job continues with an expression of his grief and calamity, which if it were weighed would be heavier than the sand of the sea. He believes that he is experiencing the arrows and terrors of God.
In verses 5-7 Matthew Henry suggests that Job is justifying his distress - when he was prosperous he did not complain but now he is utterly deprived of his comforts he would not even have the sense of a wild ass or an ox if he did not give vent to his grief. He was now so poor he was having to eat unsavoury food and had not even a grain of salt to season it or give a little taste to egg white.
Job then again expresses his longing to die, not believing that he has the strength or any hope of seeing better days.
In the second half of the chapter he berates his friends for their lack of pity describing them as streams which dry up when it is hot and whose refreshing cannot be found by travellers who try to find them.
He suggests that they are afraid as they look at him in all his troubles and then challenges them asking what help he had asked from them? He asks them to tell him how he has sinned, further berating them for their forceful words which don't prove anything, but rather undermine their friend. He calls on them to look at him and not be unjust.
In verse 11 Job says, 'What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?' He was utterly hopeless about the future. He could not see however his circumstances could improve - he hadn't the mental or physical strength to even imagine it.
Do you sometimes feel hopeless, dear reader? Do you feel as if there is no way forward and you can't see how things can ever improve? Or perhaps you know somebody like Job, somebody you keep trying to cheer up and encourage?
Eliphaz tried to encourage Job to look to God but his argument that Job must have sinned and was in need of forgiveness and restoring took from any comfort he was trying to give.
To be comforted Job needed understanding and compassion. He wanted his friends to 'be there for him' - to be a support - but instead he felt let down and misunderstood. In verse 14 he said, 'To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend'.
We can't promise those in trouble that their situation is going to get better, but we know that mercifully there are many illnesses that the Lord heals us from, and situations which do improve. We have the proverb that 'time is a great healer'. Pain may becomes easier, or bad experiences more distant in our minds. We encourage ourselves and each other that we 'will get through this'.
But how much more sure and greater comfort there is in Jesus. He shows us how he comforts his people in the care of them - and sets an example for us - in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan' (Luke 10: 25-37). Here we have the story of a man left wounded, robbed and half dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The 'religious' people - a priest and a Levite - looked at him but didn't give him any help. Instead they avoided him, crossing over to the other side of the road.
Jesus (in answering an earlier question about 'who is our neighbour?') showed how mercy, compassion and love was shown by a Samaritan - one who was perceived to be too low class or acceptable to be helping - one who was racially looked down on and despised by the Jews.
This 'Samaritan', came right 'where he (the injured man) was...and had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds...and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said....Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee'.
This example tells us not to close our eyes or ignore those who are hurting, helpless and in need - even if they are different to us or people we don't feel comfortable around.
It teaches us how we show compassion when we go right to that person and listen to their needs, and do what we can to help them, speaking comforting words to their hurt, giving them from what we have that might help them - either from our own experiences or material possessions.
It demonstrates a continual care of them by not abandoning them when our own needs cause us to continue with our lives, but to make arrangements for others to help too, and keep a promise to return.
But it also directs our thoughts to Jesus - our invisible friend - who 'sticketh closer than a brother' (Proverbs 18: 24). We as humans cannot always physically be there to encourage our friends, and sometimes our own tiredness, commitments and limitations get in the way of our willingness to help, but Jesus is everything that we need, and can do all things that we have need of.
How can we show pity and compassion to somebody who is feeling hopeless today?
Perhaps we need to pray to be shown the opportunity being set in front of us. Is there somebody on your mind that needs a text message to see how they are? Or a sympathetic note? Or perhaps they have a greater need and an anonymous giftcard in the post or a hot meal would be so appreciated. Or perhaps most of all they need a loving ear - somebody who will listen to all their tale of woe, and without judging them direct their thoughts to all that the Bible tells us Jesus is - the compassion and love that he shows us through his life and Word.
Enjoyed this post?
Subscribe for weekly content
Comments
Post a Comment