Lessons from Job - chapter 6-7

Chapter 6-7 - Job responds to his "comforter" 

- "With friends like that, who needs enemies" - Job was possibly feeling like that old saying concerning his friend after hearing his words of judgment and rebuke concerning his calamities.  

- Job begins, "oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!" Sometimes responses are made from cliche' sayings and surface observations without fully weighing and observing what a person may truly be going through.  The Bible admonishes to be slow to speak and swift to hear. (James 1:19) Yet, too many too many times do the opposite.  

- Job again longs for death. (6:8-9) Those who are afflicted need pity, not words of reproof that cut an already wounded and bleeding heart like a knife.  (Vs 14) Pity means 'sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.' If he has sinned, his friends should help him understand where he had erred rather than cast stones with their words. (6:15-24)

- Job was desperate for comfort and relief,  yet their words were forceful words of reproof that were likened to a pit that was dug ready to swallow him up. (6:25-27)  He was their friend yet they were responding more like an enemy. 

- Job attempts to put into words what he is going through.  He's had many sleepless nights tossing back and forth. When he lays down at night, he longs for it to be morning.  He's worn out from the distress of it all. (7:3-4) 

- Can you imagine having open wounds with worms crawling all over you? You are being eaten alive. You're dirty and there is no reprieve to your anguish? It was loathsome to him. (7:5-6) 

- He sought comfort on his bed and on His couch yet all he found were nightmares and fearful thoughts. Oh, how he longed for death. If he was given the choice to live or die, his choice would be death.  He hated the thought of living like that the rest of his life. (7:13-16) 

- Job began to think perhaps he did sin, but he didn't know what his sin was.  He pleaded with God for forgiveness and wondered why he wasn't forgiven. (7:17-21)

- Be careful not to pour the acid of your words on an already gaping wound. Weigh your words and responses carefully.  Is there no balm in Gilead? (Jer 8:22) Our words can help wound or help heal. What are our words doing?