Short Commentary on Job

 Job

One of my favorite verses in Job is when his friend Eliphaz outlined Job’s reputation/legacy up to the time before Job was overcome by the greatest earthly losses imaginable. Of course, after v3-4 Eliphaz wasn’t so supportive, but judgmental. When one is suffering greatly – emotionally and physically, being judgmental adds to the wounds.

Job’s reputation in Job 4:3-4:

Think how you have instructed many,

how you have strengthened feeble hands.

Your words have supported those who stumbled;

you have strengthened faltering knees.

Instructed, strengthened, supported...Job was known as an encourager. A definition of an encourager is “a person who inspires, supports, and boosts the confidence or hope of others, often stimulating them to action, progress, or higher achievement.” (Copied) An encourager builds up vs puts down. (Blessing vs cursing.)

Job’s three friends showed support when they came to “sympathize and comfort him” (v2:11) by not saying a word for seven days and nights (v2:13). They were suffering also, not knowing what to say. Their comfort soon turned to a judgmental personal opinion due to their limited understanding of God and His ways. The Bible showcases examples, as does life, where God’s ways are often paradoxical or the opposite of our sense of fairness, for God’s ways are not our ways. Remember, neither Job nor his friends knew that satan was behind this evil that befell Job.

For 37 chatty chapters Job’s friends offer false comfort to Job. Job did have a chance to respond in those chapters. Check out chapter 38:1 – “THEN the Lord answered Job out of the S-T-O-R-M.” Dwell on that for a moment. The Lord heard the entire discourse! Then the Lord responded. These catastrophes/hardships were considered a storm. Make that STORM! What has been your greatest “storm”? Physical, financial, relational? The Lord knows the trial you are suffering through just as He did Job’s. Remember, through means to the other side, there is an ending.

Our limited understanding celebrates with Job when we read in v42:12 “the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” These blessings included wealth and ten additional children. Notice Scripture includes the names of Job’s three new daughters and NIV depicts their meanings (dove, cinnamon, eye shadow). Many times in Scriptures people are unnamed, but they are not forgotten by God who shares their struggles with us in His Word so can avoid the same pitfalls in order to grow spiritually.

Regarding growing spiritually, I believe the greater blessing (than wealth or additional children) was Job’s faith believing. Yes, Job practiced his faith, as his “regular custom” (v1:5). Satan saw Job’s daily worship then “blasphemed” God’s blessing or protection over Job (v1:9-11). (Blasphemy according to the Bible primarily refers to speaking or acting in a way that shows contempt or disrespect for God, claiming to be God, insulting God's name or character, or attributing the works of God to evil forces. (Copied)

Faith believing - with heart and head. Whole being.

Job had a faith believing unshakeable story to tell, after suffering great person loss of wealth, family, health plus enduring his friend’s insufferable opinions that were based on limited knowledge of God and His ways, Job still hoped in his God. His quote: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). Job never doubted God or lost hope. After all the catastrophe’s, Job “did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (1:22).

Job’s story is our story from time to time – great loss of some sort happens to all humanity.

Recall to mind David’s conversation with God in Psalm 42:5-8:

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me;

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God...

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs His love,

at night His song is with me -

a prayer to the God of my life.

NIV note: deep and deeper yet, waves and breakers refers to the great distress David suffers. Drowning comes to mind. (I’ve heard, in a sense, depression is like drowning.) David also refers to distress as “the pit,” and a slimy pit with mud and mire (ick), i.e. stuck, which undoubtedly stunk (Psalm 40).

Psalm 42 teaches concentrate (change focus) to the Lord through hope, praise, love, song, prayers – unshakable believing faith versus focusing on being downcast/disturbed. Focus on the Lord’s love and sing songs of praise. Peace will descend. Calm will still the storm in our hearts.

Reminded just now that God is in charge of the storms. Psalm 104:3 “He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.” God goes before us, he is our rear guard, he is above us, and II Chronicles 16:9 “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

Our storms are meant to strengthen us. The Lord impressed on me some time ago to not ask “Why is this happening to me?” but to ask “What is the Lord trying to teach me through this?” (Perhaps if we look for what God intends to teach us, the duration will be shorter.)

This short commentary was derived from a few verses from Job. If I were to read the entire book, much more could be gleaned. Another day...hopefully, soon.