Day 1,041: Job 5- Suffering

“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you?
    To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Surely vexation kills the fool,
    and jealousy slays the simple.

3 I have seen the fool taking root,
    but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.

4 His children are far from safety;
    they are crushed in the gate,
    and there is no one to deliver them.

5 The hungry eat his harvest,
    and he takes it even out of thorns,
    and the thirsty pant after his wealth.

6 For affliction does not come from the dust,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 but man is born to trouble
    as the sparks fly upward.
 
8 “As for me, I would seek God,
    and to God would I commit my cause,
9 who does great things and unsearchable,
    marvelous things without number:
10 he gives rain on the earth
    and sends waters on the fields;
11 he sets on high those who are lowly,
    and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness,
    and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

14 They meet with darkness in the daytime
    and grope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth
    and from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor have hope,
    and injustice shuts her mouth.
17 “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves;
    therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he binds up;
    he shatters, but his hands heal.

19 He will deliver you from six troubles;
    in seven no evil[d] shall touch you.
20 In famine he will redeem you from death,
    and in war from the power of the sword.

21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue,
    and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
    and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.

23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
    and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is at peace,
    and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.

25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many,
    and your descendants as the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,
    like a sheaf gathered up in its season.

27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true.
    Hear, and know it for your good.”
 
Meditation
A sincere friend can say something stupid to someone suffering. Early in my shepherding days I kindly said something to someone who had just lost a loved one. My heartfelt intentions to consul were misguided and resulted in a heavier heart for the family member. What I did not understand is the key to understanding today’s reading:
 
Any message to someone suffering centered on anything but the cross of Christ will ultimately lead to deeper despair or drive them to a false gospel.
 
Eliphaz is the first to speak to suffering Job, a well-intentioned friend sincerely seeking to help. Eliphaz contextualizes suffering (1-7) before encouraging Job towards good things: Humbleness (8-16) and meekness (17-27). Worthy of note, Eliphaz’s words include the only saying from Job clearly quoted in the New Testament (vs 13 is quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:19). The problem is that Job’s suffering is not loving discipline from the Lord or Divine punishment for Job’s unrighteousness. Job is a believer who is in the right before God, a reality transforming Eliphaz’s wise words into a weapon furthering Job’s suffering.
 
The righteous reason for Job’s suffering catapults us to the cross of Christ and compels us to consider our counsel and understanding of suffering for Christians today. Children of God further God’s redemptive work by suffering with Christ, becoming like Christ in death, knowing we will be glorified with Christ (Romans 8:15-17; Philippians 3:10). Christian counsel, too, must reach further, wisdom beyond our understanding that can only be captured in the cross of Christ.

Richly Dwelling
-Do you identify with Eliphaz, well intended words of comfort that actually contribute to the struggle of a friend or family member?
 
-How does understanding suffering point us to the cross and how does that help you understand suffering for believers?
 
-Do you seek to become like Christ in His death? Why or why not? What does it look like for you?
 
Key Verse
13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.