Job’s Second Speech
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Then Job replied:
2 “If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!
3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.
4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
God’s terrors are marshaled against me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[a]?
7 I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,
9 that God would be willing to crush me,
to let loose his hand and cut off my life!
10 Then I would still have this consolation—
my joy in unrelenting pain—
that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?
13 Do I have any power to help myself,
now that success has been driven from me?
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Job’s self defence
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The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[b]
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e] 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Context
The book of Job is an epic drama (like a Shakespeare drama) speech after speech, first Job, then his 3 friends (then another character is introduced) and then at the end God responds. We also learn about spiritual warfare - between God & Satan. Unfortunately, Job is the battlefield
Mark 7
In Mark 7 Religious leaders had challenged Jesus about his disciples not keeping the ‘clean laws’. They were eating food without washing their hands. Jesus reply gives them a lesson on the real meaning of ‘unclean ‘you nullify the word of God by your tradition v13’ – even their rituals can be sinful.
1) Jesus says cleanness is not about religious ritual it is about relationship.
2) Second, he shows that sin begins inside, in the motives and desires of the heart. Outward sins are the fruit (not the root), but the root (of sin) consists of rebellion v God, self-pity, pride, selfishness, etc.
Job 6
Spiritual purity trusts & loves God & our neighbour, so Job, despite his pain/sadness could say,
“Though he slays me, still I will trust in God” (Job 13:15).
When we look at Job’s speeches, it is easy to think, like the Pharisees, that he is unclean. His terrible life due to sin. When I was Chaplain visiting in hospital, it was a common response to suffering – I must have done something to upset ‘him up there.’ But Job is sure that the multiple attacks on health, family, assets are not due to sinfulness. Job knows God
When we are in a situation of supporting someone who's struggling or even if you're ill yourself avoid trying to answer the ‘why’ question. Be prepared to leave the why question hanging – we may never understand why. It is better to be present and say less to support someone. Imagine, if Job’s friends had said to him, ‘we are here to support you, we don’t understand why or how hard it must be but we love you and will stand or sit with you.’ That is not what they said! Job’s comforters are part of our English language.
If you have empathy, you will think instead of the depths of despair he felt - think about the great sadness someone can feel when they are suffering.
6:1: Then Job replied:
2 “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas, no wonder my words have been impetuous.
4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshalled against me. 5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder? 6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavour in the sap of the mallow? 7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, 9 that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life!
10 Then I would still have this consolation, my joy in unrelenting pain, that I had not denied the words of the Holy One
11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? 12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
13 Do I have any power to help myself now that success has been driven from me?
I have just returned from leading a Weekend at Lee Abbey Devon and I shed a tear myself when I heard the woes of people who attended. Can you recall a time when you felt crushed/broken, by ill health, bereavement, family problems – even to the point of crying, Job 6:2, expresses that feeling (v8,9) that my life would be taken….Ever felt like that?
Action Plan
Then I would still have this consolation, my joy in unrelenting pain, that I had not denied the words of the Holy One Job 6:10.
In the face of suffering, we need to keep up our quiet time of prayer, and praise and reading the scriptures. In Job 6 – his 2nd speech Job is really having a quiet time. He is not speaking to his friends (he ignores them) and he speaks of God in 3rd person, so it is rhetorical (v11,12) – it is a Quiet Time, he is giving himself a talking to, gaining strength from the Word. ‘Then I would still have this consolation, my joy in unrelenting pain, that I had not denied the words of the Holy One Job 6:10. That seems to be what is going on in this 2nd speech of Job.
Before we criticise Job for his brazen words before God, before you are hard on someone who is struggling or before you are hard on yourself - think about this -despite the terrible despair Job felt, he knew he had a personal relationship with the Lord. He knew that the Lord was his ever-present help in his times of trouble Ps 46:1 and that is true for you and I.
Though he slays me, still I will trust in God” (Job 13:15)
