Tenacity
The book of Job isn’t everyone’s first choice for reading in the Old Testament, as it is mainly made up of a protracted discourse that is not particularly helpful. That said, Job also gives up some real gems. Around the middle of the book, we come across the words that the composer, Handel, incorporated into his magnificent oratorio, ‘Messiah’: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25). That is a pretty good messianic indicator from the midst of a book like Job.
The first chapter has deep theological import, but once we get into the discourse with Job’s three friends, we are into the realm of philosophical thought because these men, whilst certainly bearing with him and trying to be helpful, don’t have a godly spiritual perspective. They deliver what purports to be wisdom, but this isn’t spiritually insightful. One might feel that Job did well to tolerate their undoubted persistence. For himself, this man, who had undergone huge deprivations, held onto his trust in God despite his losses, physical affliction, and less than wholehearted support of his companions. We read his words about his relationship with God: “Though he slay me, I will hope in him…” (Job 13:15).
Getting it wrong
The discourse with his friends is sandwiched between the introduction, where we learn of the cause of Job’s plight, and his vindication, where we find God restoring him and setting the story straight. In the final chapter, we read that God was angry with Job’s friends for the wrong advice that they had proffered; their serious error about God himself. This wasn’t deliberate, of course; they were trying to be helpful. But the bottom line is that they were plain wrong. God instructs that they make a sacrifice of seven bulls and seven rams, saying that Job will then pray for them that they will not be punished according to their folly, and that he will then accept Job’s prayer (Job 42:8). The implication of this is that Job needed to forgive his friends for what they had put him through – we can’t very well pray for others if there is bitterness between us. It is also worth noting that it was only after Job prayed that God restored his fortunes to him. There are spiritual lessons for us to learn here.
Spiritual reality
The main point in my recounting the story of Job is to highlight how important it is for us to give accurate counsel that is directed by the Holy Spirit. We all get to express opinions and offer advice on a regular basis. Mostly, this is what we might class as general in nature, often mundane, but sometimes it has more strategic significance, such as that related to Job’s situation. Where the advice we give is related to spiritual life, then it is doubly important that we don’t just wing it, speaking when we are not in tune with the Spirit of God. If we give spiritually significant counsel, then it must be godly advice, not religious platitude. Job’s friends were hoping to be helpful, but failed to understand what was actually afoot, using human wisdom to try and explain spiritual reality. As Christians, we are hugely blessed in that God sent his Spirit to be our comforter, counsellor and guide – he came to equip us to do business in the spiritual realm; to proclaim spiritual truth and to exercise spiritual discernment.
Rummaging
I have listened to sermons each Sunday for most of my life, but there are very few that I can actually recall. There is one that struck me as very ‘real’, although it didn’t appear particularly ‘spiritual’. The speaker talked about a drawer in his kitchen that held all sorts of miscellaneous items – the sort of place that you rummage in when you need something small, such as an elastic band or paper clip, a bottle stopper, etc. You probably have a drawer like that; we refer to ours as the rubble drawer! The speaker was warning us about visiting the religious version of this drawer when someone needs advice or guidance. It is so easy to rummage in this place to find something that seems to fit the situation, pull it out and present it as an answer – maybe that is what Job’s friends were doing. It is fine to share an illustration from our experience; this can give substance to something spiritual. But we need to hear from God first if we are to give spiritual advice, and then present this in a way that will be meaningful to our hearer.
Human wisdom
Job’s friends relied on human wisdom, albeit their understanding of God and his ways, but they were clearly wrong in doing so, and were taken to task for this. They were unhelpful to Job, and it was only his own godly character that saw him through the protracted discourse with those men, enabling him to keep hold of his trust in the Almighty. But, more importantly, Job’s counsellors were misrepresenting God, which is dangerous territory indeed – we dare not venture there!
As Christians, our hearts go out to those who we know to be struggling in whatever way, such that we have a deep desire to help and support them. Let’s be sure that as we do so, we actively listen to the Spirit’s prompting and take care not to stray from the truth that he reveals for us to share.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways recognise and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” Proverbs 3:5,6