“Lessons From the Whirlwind: Helping”

Scripture: Job 4:1-8; 8:1-6; 11:1-9; 13:1-5

I believe that one of the greatest difficulties that humanity faces is to live fully the words in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 - “encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
We may be able to accomplish 1 or 2 of those items, but seldom do we fulfill all of them at the same time. We may extend a hand of encouragement or help, but are we patient when we do it? We may have the greatest intention to be kind in our words to another who may be struggling, but how often is our advice taken as condemnation? And we may find the strength in our heart to always be kind to those we see as brothers and sisters, but how about “everyone else”? Are we joyful and prayerful and thankful all the time?

We all know where “good intentions” can lead us, but in Christ, we can truly walk the higher and better road. In our study of the book of Job last week, we considered the depth of Job’s suffering, and how he never turned against his Lord, in spite of the extent of his loss and despair. But Job was, for the most part, facing these trials alone. No encouragement, no help, no patient love. I believe that his joy had now been placed completely in God, and he was certainly prayerful and thankful beyond all expectation.
But he had no friend to walk through these trials with him.

And three friends would soon come to him - to console him, to grieve with him, and to just sit and morn with him in the ashes of Job’s sorrow. And at the end of the 3rd chapter, Job says “I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
No matter how strong or resolute a person may seem to be during great trials, there is always an overwhelming desire and even greater need for the comfort of a friend. But that needed support seldom comes easily, and it is never easy to give. But even so, Job’s friends each decide to give him a word that is at least intended to help him. But how helpful will they be?

Read Job 4:1-8

Eliphaz begins his discourse by recounting how good a man Job has always been, and reminds him that his faith and piety should now be his great hope, but then implies that he is hopeless! Eliphaz even goes as far as to let Job know that “You reap what you sow!” (Galatians 6:7-10) Eliphaz has set himself up as Job’s judge, and is doing all that he can to convince him that this dire condition that he now faces is of his own doing.
Do you see much of 1 Thessalonians 5 in this approach? How much encouragement? How much help? How much patience? How much joy?

You’re right – not much at all! The only thing we see in Eliphaz’ dissertation is 2 chapters of condemnation and judgment. He sets himself up as the only one who truly understands God and his ways, and at the end of his speech, we read these words “We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself.” (Job 5:27) Everyone knows that pain and illness only comes from sinfulness, and you wouldn’t be in this mess if you truly loved God and served him! Pretty smitten with himself, isn’t he? But he doesn’t speak a single word of truth.

And Job begins to respond to Eliphaz’ accusations with these words “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales: It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas – no wonder my words have been impetuous.”(Job 6:1-7) The words of a humble man who has received only animosity from a friend. Jobs anguish has not been relieved, there is no empathy, no sympathy, no understanding, and I suspect that his struggle has only been heightened. And he ends his thoughts in 7:21 with these words “Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.”
The words of his friend which should have lifted him up have, instead driven him to the edge of despair. And then another friend is heard from.

Read Job 8:1-6

Bildad tells Job that he just doesn’t understand the situation! That he doesn’t have a clue as to what sins he has committed against Almighty God, and that he had better get his life straightened out! He offers a number of analogies that are intended to show Job that the good life can only thrive in righteousness – reeds can never grow without water and a spider web is fragile, and when you lean on it, it breaks.

He offers advice to Job to prove that Job is not the righteous man that he thought he was. V. 20 – “God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers.” Job, you’re a sinner, and you had better come clean!

Job agrees with Bildad, but he knows that his plight has nothing to do with whether he has sinned or not. He tells his friend that (v. 9:22) “He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.”

Even though the advice that Bildad offers is nothing short of conceited rhetoric, and it does nothing to help Job through his trial, his friends aren’t done yet!

Read Job 11:1-9

Zophar begins to chastise Job for his arrogance, but if the truth were known, it is Zophar who has exhibited arrogance. He is the last of the three to speak, and he has lost any patience that he might have had. He accuses Job of not appreciating the immense nature of God, and of thinking that he knows more than the Almighty. Job, you’re getting exactly what you deserve!

Where is the compassion? Where is the empathy and sympathy? These men had sat with Job for 7 days in the ashes of the garbage heap, and they never uttered a single word. That was compassion! That was empathy! That was true friendship, but eventually, each one turned against Job with their biting words and accusatory tones.

Eliphaz was judgmental in his words – telling Job that he wasn’t all that great, that he wasn’t as righteous a man as he thought he was.
Bildad was the advice giver – and it was to the extreme. His only intent was to let Job know that he must have done something that angered God, and what he needed to do to make things right with the Lord.
Zophar was impatient with Job and seems to scold him for his religious arrogance when it was actually Zophar who exhibited the arrogance.

Read Job 13:1-5

“If only you would be altogether silent. For you, that would be wisdom.” What are the best words to give to a person who is suffering? It is this: don’t give any advice, don’t offer any judgment, and be as patient and understanding as you possibly can. If you are able, join them in their emotional “pile of ashes”, and quietly show them your undying friendship.
There is no better friend than this. But these friends wouldn’t hear Job’s words, and each would take another turn at berating Job and dragging him even deeper into his pain. While it isn’t specifically said, do you think the Satan had anything to do with their actions?

There is an old Hasidic story about Rabbi Moshe Loeb, who said in part:
… if someone comes to you and asks you for help, it is not for you to receive him with a pious word, “Trust, and cast your need on God.” Then you should act as though there were no God, but only one person in the whole world who can help this person, [and that person is] you.
- Homiletics Online.

You are that person. You are to be the hands and feet and arms and love of Jesus Christ for all who suffer, for all who mourn, for all who struggle. And that will be good enough! These will speak much greater words than your lips ever could!