Job 15:3-5. “Should he reason with unprofitable talk? Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God. For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.”
RUDENESS AND ARROGANCE. Hard bedfellows these two are when they come together – Their belligerence is hard to take. What one does not say is picked up by the other – Both of them false accusations make. Rudeness seems like he has not fulfilled his call Unless he puts someone else down. And arrogance lifts himself above all – Wanting others his arrogance to crown.
I am sure neither is aware of how base they are – And how negatively they come across. Rudeness for the feelings of other has no care – And arrogance is determined to be boss. The hard part of all this is neither can be told Of the damage the two of them wreak. Both rudeness and arrogance quickly grow old – And no one their counsel will seek.
May I ever be polite with genuine humility – I fear lest the other two are found in me. There is something always good about reality That comes with politeness, and through humility we see. Neither of these two have very much to say – They’re more into showing their character by doing. Both of them choose to use a gracious way – To bring about God’s purposes fulfilling.
Rudeness and politeness in the same room – Find it hard to coexist. Arrogance and humility have never been seen To come together and really mix. The graciousness of two of them and the belligerence of the two others – Pretty well settle the matter clearly – That if you are seeking to win the heart of your brother – Rudeness and arrogance will make you pay dearly.
“I pray Thee, O God of all grace, that I will never lest those two characteristics be a part of me. Help me to stay away from even the slightest vestige of either rudeness or arrogance. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Job 16-17 FAITH AND DESPAIR In responding to Eliphaz's second speech, Job seems to have sunk down even lower in his spirit after listening to Eliphaz repeat the same things as he did before only in a rude harsh way. Job hardly replies to what Eliphaz said except to express his disappointment on his friends who considered their words the "consolations of God." In his misery he calls them "miserable comforters" which in a literal sense means "comforters of trouble."
Some testimonies we hear from those who say they have "given Jesus my heart," are without the substance of truth. An experience one might have does not save their soul. Eliphaz had what he considered a remarkable experience, similar to those who say they have seen an angel so they are saved. Or others who say they felt all shivery with cold and then they became warm. Or others who say they have had some out of the body experience or have spoken in tongues so therefore they know they are saved. Those are what Job called "words of wind." They have no more spiritual basis than a catalogue or a phone book.
When we are called upon to give comfort, don't talk just for the sake of talking. Don't give pat answers or sermonize. Don't criticize or accuse one who is suffering. Do put yourself in the other person's shoes. Do offer help in any way you can. Do encourage the one who needs to see some light in the dark place they are in. If someone you know is going through an experience like you have had, you will likely be the best person to give them comfort.
The "wordy arguments" between Job and his friends led to rancorous debate rather than a time of comfort for a suffering friend. Debate usually leads to vain, empty words that have no value nor relevance to those who are in need. It is important for those who speak on behalf of a congregation of Christians, to have something scriptural, spiritual, important and relevant to say. It is possible to speak a lot of words that are meaningless and listeners don't even know the point of the message when the speaker is done.
Job told his friends that if their situations were reversed, he would not treat them like they were treating him. He would want to "strengthen" them with his words. He would seek to comfort them and restore them to the Lord. We should always do that so that fellowship with the Lord and the Lord's people becomes very real to one who is suffering physically, emotionally or spiritually. Our Lord Jesus illustrated that when He personally washed the disciples' feet.
Instead they were making a shriveled up old man out of him who was sick. They said his physical "leanness" was conclusive evidence of his sin. Job said his conscience was clear before God, but those who were supposed to be his friends were treating him like an enemy. He looked at them as "ungodly " who looked at him with daggers in their eyes and meanness in their words.
To Job it seemed like both men and God were against him, and in his grief and suffering, he tried to defend himself before God. That is a dangerous thing to do because it brings God down in men's eyes to where He is no more than a judge who is doing something wrong when He allows bad things to happen to good people. In a brief glimmer of faith, Job stops his woeful lament and goes right to the throne of God. "My witness is in heaven" is his testimony of clear conscience and integrity. His friends call him a hypocrite and a liar, but they do not know Job, they do not know God, and they don't know themselves.
Job longs for a lawyer, and advocate who will speak for him, and then he will die. Believers have an "Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." How grateful we are for the "One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time."