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Summary

Job 16:1–5 – Miserable comforters

What happens: Job calls his friends miserable comforters. He says he could speak as they do if roles were reversed, but he would strengthen them instead. Words have not eased his pain.

What it means: Compassion means entering another’s sorrow. Advice without empathy worsens wounds. God values comfort that lifts the faint.

Job 16:6–14 – God appears as attacker

What happens: Job says his grief does not relent. He pictures God as tearing him, gnashing teeth, delivering him to the ungodly, and breaking him with blow after blow. He feels like a target pierced and shattered.

What it means: Suffering can distort sight so that God feels like an enemy. The Bible records these cries to teach honest prayer. Faith hangs on even when understanding fails.

Job 16:15–22 – Appeal to a heavenly witness

What happens: Job mourns in sackcloth and says his face is red with weeping. He declares, “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.” He longs for one to plead for a man with God as a friend pleads for a friend, before he goes the way of no return.

What it means: Job yearns for an advocate who knows both God and man. God sees tears and remembers the righteous. This longing points to the need for a true intercessor who brings us near.

Application

  • When you counsel, aim to strengthen, not to win debates.
  • Bring your raw sorrow to God and keep praying.
  • Thank God that he sees and that a true Advocate hears.
  • Be the kind of friend who pleads for others before God.

Bible

1Then Job answered and said,

2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

3Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

4I 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.

5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

6Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

8And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12I 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.

13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

21O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

22When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

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