Day 1,107: Job 16- Comfort And The Cross

 Then Job answered and said:
2 “I have heard many such things;
    miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall windy words have an end?

    Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do,
    if you were in my place;
I could join words together against you
    and shake my head at you.

5 I could strengthen you with my mouth,
    and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
 
6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
    and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Surely now God has worn me out;
    he has[a] made desolate all my company.

8 And he has shriveled me up,
    which is a witness against me,
and my leanness has risen up against me;
    it testifies to my face.

9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me;
    he has gnashed his teeth at me;
    my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth;
    they have struck me insolently on the cheek;
    they mass themselves together against me.

11 God gives me up to the ungodly
    and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart;
    he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;
he set me up as his target;
13     his archers surround me.

He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare;
    he pours out my gall on the ground.

14 He breaks me with breach upon breach;
    he runs upon me like a warrior.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin
    and have laid my strength in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping,
    and on my eyelids is deep darkness,
17 although there is no violence in my hands,
    and my prayer is pure.
 
18 “O earth, cover not my blood,
    and let my cry find no resting place.

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
    and he who testifies for me is on high.

20 My friends scorn me;
    my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would argue the case of a man with God,
    as a son of man does with his neighbor.

22 For when a few years have come
    I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
 
Meditation
The human heart hungers for comfort. God comforts disciples in affliction, a truth taught by Paul (2 Corinthians 1:4-5), and modeled by Jesus on the cross (John 19:25-27). And the cross is where we turn when comfort is elusive.
 
“Miserable comforters are you all,” (2) Job rightly right-sizes his “friends.” “Miserable” literally means “trouble,” and their words have only served to amplify Job’s trouble. Job’s suffering is more severe because of starvation of comfort, neither speeches nor silence strengthened him (1-6).
 
The connection to the cross comes from Job’s position and description of experience. From a weeping heart and blameless position (16-17), Job’s suffering has been amplified by being given up to the ungodly (11) and handed over to God’s wrath (9). Readers remember Job is, in fact, God’s servant singled out because of his faithfulness (1:1, 8; 2:3).
 
Job appeals to God. Job has no way forward without God! Powerfully pointing to the suffering of Jesus who Himself was truly blameless (2 Corinthians 5:21) and handed over to wicked men (Acts 2:23) before becoming the focus of God’s wrath against sin (Isaiah 53). We see a window into God’s work where through the cross God is both just and justifier (Romans 3:26), - And this is exactly what Job is longing for!
 
During seasons of suffering with no comfort, we must cast our eyes to the cross and trust God’s covenant promises. God cares and is working redemptively through suffering.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially Job’s description of his suffering?
 
-Why is it important Job reinforces his clear conscience as he longs for God to defend him in order to find comfort?
 
-How can we allow the work of Jesus, His suffering and death that leads believers to healing and life, to comfort us in our suffering, knowing God is working redemptively through everything?
 
Key Verse
16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness, 17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.