Job 15

Do we get tired of ourselves, the sound of our own voices, the mix-tape on a loop in our brain, accusing, maybe excusing ourselves? Does our inner criticism wear us down? Do the words and opinions of others, even those dear to us, crush us, maybe break us?

We have read the accusations and criticism of Job’s friends. We have heard the constant drip, the lack of true compassion and the scrape of their self-righteous voices. We have read and heard, but we have not endured it in person. We haven’t felt it as Job did, covered in boils and sores, dust and ash, in mourning and fear and shame. We have looked on from a distance. But that doesn’t mean we can’t relate.

Perhaps your own experiences are equally painful. You may relate to the suffering of Job in many, specific ways. He certainly endured much affliction and sorrow as so many have on this broken world. Job has tenaciously held on to his integrity as his friends have blasted him with accusation. Brace yourselves, readers. Eliphaz has more to say, and it isn’t the encouraging sympathy card one might expect.

“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good? But you are doing away with the fear of God and hindering meditation before God. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you.”

Job 15:2-6

There is this fancy, evil game our minds play when we want to avoid a personal problem or sin. Let me rephrase: There is an evil game MY mind plays when I want to avoid dealing with a personal problem or sin. It’s a dangerous form of spiritual gymnastics. I cast blame onto someone else, or onto a circumstance, or a physical limitation, or…fill in the blank, instead of accepting responsibility for my own sin. This can quickly become a hellish habit, challenging to break.

Sigmund Freud and other psychologists have tried to classify this sinful mindset as “projecting,” transferring feelings, fears, and/or faults onto others to avoid personal responsibility. But this is not a psychological bent in the human experience; this is a characteristic of sinful human nature. It is a tactic, not a trait. Adam and Eve both used this wicked tactic in the garden (Genesis 3). Adam shifted the blame to Eve and even to God Himself, and Eve caught that hardball and passed it, like a hot potato, to the serpent – bump, set, spike. The blame gets shifted, but God knows the truth.

In Job 15, Eliphaz once again casts the blame onto Job. JOB is the one who is in sin. JOB is the one who is talking unprofitably. JOB is the one who doesn’t fear God. And yet, Eliphaz’s own words are testifying against him. Don’t give up on Eliphaz yet, reader! God deals with his sin at the end of this book, and it is heartening, encouraging to see.

Next, Eliphaz questions Job’s wisdom, mocking him by asking if Job thinks he is as old as the hills. He questions Job’s motives (again), assuming (again!) that Job is turned away from God, refusing His comforts. Has Eliphaz forgotten that sorrow can drive a man to God? Has he forgotten that the cries of the wounded are at once shocked and afraid and desperate? Has he forgotten what torment and despair do to the mind and the body? Those who have been broken should have emotional muscle memory and an ability to empathize with the hurting.

Dig deep, Eliphaz. Have you lived all this time and not faced sorrow? Somewhere in your gut lies the key to compassion, the code to unlock the vault of sympathy for a hurting friend. Just turn that key once in the lock; open the box; hear the rusted hinges complain; let the memories flood; the tears fall; let mercy flow. Those who have experienced comfort are able to offer comfort to the hurting (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). This is our calling; friend to friend, wounded heart to heart.

Eliphaz expands on the punishment of the wicked. In his estimation, the wicked are in constant fear of the punishment they deserve. Has he met a wicked man? I would guess he has forgotten that “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:10-18). There is an end to the wicked that is in God’s hands and in His time. His mercy waits for all who will repent.

“Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. But you, O LORD, know me; you see me and test my heart toward you.”

Jeremiah 12:1-3

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrong doers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”

Psalm 37:1-5

In reading the remainder of Psalm 37, God’s plan for the wicked who reject Him is made clear: they will be punished; there will be an end to them someday. But the righteous should be busy living in light of God’s Word. The righteous must be focused on delighting in the LORD, waiting for Him, running to Him in time of trouble.

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.”

“The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

Psalm 37: 23-24, 39-40

Through this stacked up litany of accusations against him, Job has remained steadfast. He has held fast to his own integrity. He has turned to God again and again to ask why. He has mourned and suffered and been torn and tormented, but he has not cursed God in all of this. In the face of friends who accuse instead of comfort, Job has been very patient, longsuffering. He is not a sinless man as we will read when God confronts him at the end of the book. He is a broken, tired, wrung out man, seeking the forgiveness, mercy, comfort and wisdom of God. If you are sitting in the same or similar ashes as Job, be steadfast, friend. God is full of beautiful mercy. He is not finished with the good work he is doing.

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

James 5:7-11

We have heard of the steadfastness of Job, but have we opened our eyes to see the purpose of the Lord? Have we looked for His good mercy, His gentle compassion. He is at work among us! We can remain steadfast in the face of deep sorrow, suffering, conflict, accusation, and trials. Lord, show me Your purpose, Your mercy, Your compassion. Let Your purpose be the central focus, the hearth fire of my life. Amen.