Podcast 30, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 16”

Podcast 30, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 16”

Eliphaz made it clear that he did not believe in the resurrection. Job, a true prophet of God, answers him. In this chapter we clearly see the difference between Job and his false friends. First Job chastises Eliphaz.

Job 16:1-4

“Then Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.”

Next Job instructs Eliphaz on how he would treat him if Eliphaz were in such dire circumstances

Job 16:5

“But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.” 

Job informs Eliphaz that he brings no comfort. He lists the pains that his friends have brought upon him.

Job 16:6-10

“Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face. He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.”

Job accuses his friends of ungodliness and wickedness.

Job 16:11-14

“God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.”

Job laments his condition. His strength is gone.

Job 16:15-16

“I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;”

Job declares his innocence.

Job 16:17-21

“Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!”

Job makes a very interesting observation, “O that one might plead for a man with God, as man pleadeth for his neighbor!” How many of us have considered that our prayers are more often for our neighbors than they are for ourselves. Is Job saying that we don’t pray often enough for ourselves because of modesty or humility or even a sense of unworthiness. Is it that some think that God will answer our prayers better if we pray for others.  Or is Job saying that we should bring our own troubles to the Lord on the same level that we pray for others? The golden rule is ‘Do unto others and ye would have them do unto you.’ Job is a man of prayer and clearly has been a man of prayer his entire life, Until now Job has had extraordinary prosperity. Let me draw your attention to a prayer Job gave for his children as recorded during the height of his prosperity.