Job 6

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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Job 6 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

Here are some points we can draw from Job’s response in chapter 6:

1. Job is under tremendous stress. On top of his physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain, he is also dealing with ignorant statements from those closest to him. This warrants a harsh tone in Job’s response to his friends and family. His response is raw. Can we really blame him?
2. Job believes God is sovereign in allowing this suffering. In verse 4, Job compares the trials he’s facing to arrows being shot from heaven striking his body with poison. He knows that all of this is well within God’s control, which is why his wrestling is so intense.
3. Job still believes God is holy. Job struggles with the same issue that many of us today struggle with. He knows God is holy and just, but he doesn’t understand why he must go through this. He admits that if he is supposed to die, he is fine with that and will actually “leap for joy.” Job sees no reason for living with suffering. He doesn’t understand the purpose. “Why would God ‘will’ suffering?” Job ponders.
4. Job rebukes his friends for their lack of support. Job’s grief is not acknowledged by his friends. This is a troubling situation for someone who is struggling with such horrific circumstances. Even for those today who are in Job’s position, the last thing that they want to hear is judgment.

Many of us can relate to the feelings above. We just want to know, “Why God…?” In our attempt to figure everything out, we contemplate how we are going to move on. For Job, he has decided it would be better not to move on. It seems that everything Job had thought about God is suddenly being challenged, and he would rather die believing that God is good than continue on this path only to have his faith fail him in the end.

Job doesn’t seem to directly contemplate suicide but he does contemplate the idea of the Lord wiping him from the Earth so his suffering can end. Those of us who know the rest of the story are cheering him on. Keep going Job! Don’t give up! There is hope on the horizon!

Easy for us to say, right?

But this thought brings pause. Do we have an advocate cheering us on today?

In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.  27  And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27 HCSB

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession.  15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.  16  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

Hebrews 4:14-16 HCSB

Let us hold fast to our confession. Let us trust in the groanings of the Spirit. There is hope and there is new life. More importantly, our God has proven He is full of both grace and truth. He will make a way!