#641 Too Easy

“Oh that my vexation were weighed,

and all my calamity laid in the balances!

3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;

therefore my words have been rash.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me;

my spirit drinks their poison;

the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,

or the ox low over his fodder?

6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,

or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?[a]

7 My appetite refuses to touch them;

they are as food that is loathsome to me.[b]

8 “Oh that I might have my request,

and that God would fulfill my hope,

9 that it would please God to crush me,

that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

10 This would be my comfort;

I would even exult[c] in pain unsparing,

for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should wait?

And what is my end, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?

13 Have I any help in me,

when resource is driven from me?

14 “He who withholds[d] kindness from a friend

forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,

as torrential streams that pass away,

16 which are dark with ice,

and where the snow hides itself.

17 When they melt, they disappear;

when it is hot, they vanish from their place.

18 The caravans turn aside from their course;

they go up into the waste and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema look,

the travelers of Sheba hope.

20 They are ashamed because they were confident;

they come there and are disappointed.

21 For you have now become nothing;

you see my calamity and are afraid.

22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?

Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?

23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand’?

Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’?

24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;

make me understand how I have gone astray.

25 How forceful are upright words!

But what does reproof from you reprove?

26 Do you think that you can reprove words,

when the speech of a despairing man is wind?

27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless,

and bargain over your friend.

28 “But now, be pleased to look at me,

for I will not lie to your face.

29 Please turn; let no injustice be done.

Turn now; my vindication is at stake.

30 Is there any injustice on my tongue?

Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity? Job 6 ESV

Oh that I could explain this in a way that you could understand. If only you understood my pain, the immensity of it, that you could walk in my shoes. If you could feel what I feel, you would know that it is not just the torment of the boils, the endless itching, burning pain. No, my soul, my inner being is vexed in a way I cannot explain nor can you imagine. I hurt so because God's arrows are in me, and there is no other way to see so many calamities at once then that God has loosed the arrows. Whether by the devil's hand or His own, nothing is without God's permission or outside of His sovereignty. Yes, my words were rash, but surely as the water boils, the steam forms and then the kettle sings. I thought I was amongst my friends when I cried out, when I released. Like the donkey without grass or the cow without fodder, I find no relief and cry out of my emptiness. Your words are not the words of a friend, they are without salt, and you thought to bring in light but there is no oil in your lamp. I spoke from my grief, begging your comfort, wanting your compassion, not your clichés.

I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.

52 I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them. Psalm 119: 48-52

 In verse 8, he again welcomes death, but not at his own hand, however agonizing this is, he does not curse God nor does he claim his life out of God's hand. The words of his friend have only added to his torment and he would rather die than go on. You may mock him if you think you are such a hard stoic, that you would never want their pity, but the man who has never wanted such, has probably never needed it, or would have already ended his own life. I know the argument on the other side as well and would agree, that the one who frames himself for pity sake mocks those who have real need. Job deserves their pity, but has only received his friend's call to repent based upon his poor analysis of Job's situation. He calls them fair weather friends, comparing them to a snow fed stream. It is a steady source of water in time of abundance, but under the summer's heat, those that turn away to find it, perish from thirst when all they find is dry sand. These are men of great means, and he has asked them for nothing but compassion. They shined when they were silent, but now the poorest leper would be a better companion than these. 

You rebuke the words I said in desperation, and you do it with words that don't apply. Speak the truth in love, enlighten me and I will listen, but your words are tasteless. They are clichés having no end or foundation.                         

8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.…Colossians 2: 8-9

Job ask them to look him in the face, no hit and run, no saying what you want to be true because you are scared. No saying what you would like to believe because it makes it easier on you, look in my eyes, what has come out of my mouth that explains the breadth of all this? Tell me, what have I done? What would I not do to undo this?