Give Godly Counsel to the Afflicted

Job 6:14-30

14 "To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
16 Which are dark because of the ice,
And into which the snow vanishes.

17 When it is warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

18 The paths of their way turn aside,
They go nowhere and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema look,
The travelers of Sheba hope for them.

20 They are disappointed because they were confident;
They come there and are confused.

21 For now you are nothing,
You see terror and are afraid.

22 Did I ever say, 'Bring something to me'?
Or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth'?
23 Or, 'Deliver me from the enemy's hand'?
Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of oppressors'?

24 "Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25 How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?

26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?

27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you undermine your friend.

28 Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
For I would never lie to your face.

29 Yield now, let there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!

30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?

Job had just justified his complaints to the LORD with his friends, and now turns the focus on their attitudes towards him.  He points out that they should be showing more kindness and mercy, even if they believe and blame Job’s circumstances of suffering on his turning away from the fear of God in sin.  Job tells them how deceitful they are in times of adversity, flowing away with their support when the heat is on.  That way is a dead end, Job tells them in parables, and only disappointment and confusion will result when they realize these things.  Fear had brought them to nothing in their turning it on Job with accusations and judgment.  He never asked them for anything, not money or deliverance or redemption.  Therefore, he challenged them to give true understanding of his mistakes for him to stop responding to their speeches.  He let them know that forcefully laid arguments prove nothing, and that desperation in rebuke only tears down their friend.  Job tells them to look him in the eye to see he does not lie.  He reminds them to be fair and concede their arguments against him, that Job possesses his righteousness in God’s eyes.  They did not hear the heavenly conversation in Job chapter 1 where God stated this, but the reputation of Job certainly preceded him.  He not only did rightly and fairly, but also knew the difference between what was palatable to God and what was not.  He knew right and wrong, and had lived to choose the right in God’s sight in all he did (Job 1:5, 8, 2:3).  That was his defense, the life he had lived.  Do we then heed the slander and gossip about ourselves (or others), or do we maintain our steady course to live in the direction of pleasing God in Christ?  And more importantly, do we ever find ourselves like the friends of Job, looking to find fault and accusing others of unrighteousness, knowing that we all are sinners saved by grace, and deserve the same judgment apart from the grace and mercy of our Lord?  May we not do these things, but seek to encourage and uplift our friends and brothers with the truths and counsel according to God’s word, speaking the needed truth in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).  We should give godly counsel to the afflicted with grace on our lips.