Comforters of Job in Times of Trouble

Comforters of Job that show up in Times of Troubles is an experience all it’s own. Not all who come to help or comfort those in trouble are like these in Job. Yet we can look at this experience and think “how would I survive such an ordeal as Job.” In addition, I have experienced the “pain on my bed”. But I know of many others who go beyond pain and have a battle with death itself in the abode of the destroyer. Their bones waste away, they cannot eat, there is no strength left. They wait to die, hope is in the Lord, but there is no hope nor faith for healing. We look at this in this Comforters of Job in Times of Trouble.

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Comforters of Job in Times of Trouble

Comforters of Job, they were there to help, however if we related this to our world today how would it fare? We are speaking of friends, suffering, and the lessons from Job. While we are at it, let me ask you this. What comforters have you had around you lately? Many sermons have been preached on Job. What’s more, I suppose there are as many books written which in some way or the other speak of Job’s plight. In this newsletter let me speak of a thing or two, which may, in the end, speak wisdom of the book. Job had four comforters. Three of the four who in their own way spoke to Job were these: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. These three in the end were no comforters at all to Job, in fact the Lord said of these three.

“My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as my servant Job has”

Job 42:7b.

In fact these three were so wrong in all they said, the Lord told them to go sacrifice and Job, his servant would pray for them, “lest I deal with you according to your folly”-vr8.  It is interesting to note here that scripture says the Lord accepted Job. Further it says that “the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends”-vr9. If we read the lines of scripture closely it is one where those who thought they had God’s will and mind on a matter were wrong. Not only wrong, but dead wrong.

Furthermore, they were so wrong that God was not going to accept their sacrifice unless the one whom they gave no comfort to or godly advice to, would pray for them. We also see here that the lesson was not only for the three so called comforters, but for us and Job as well. For here we see that God wanted Job to pray for them so he could accept their repentance and prayers. It is all about relationship. What if Job had bitterness or hatred towards these three and thus refused to pray for them? Do you think God would of said Job was clear in the matter? Job in the book does repent before God when in the later part of the book God speaks to him and brings Job on a journey of what I call the “Potter and the clay” teaching. After all, God is the potter, the creator, and all souls are his. But here we find that Job was to pray for those who comforted him, I say the word comforted very loosely, because they were not comforters at all. Scriptures do say “friends”, so they must of been.

Moreover, in the church how many times have we gone through something only to have such friends?  Many times, however, bitterness, anger, and the like crop up to separate us from the love of God in Christ. Roots of bitterness, for example, taking root over the situation, will actually separate you from your God and his love. That is, of course, if you leave your bitterness unchecked and don’t deal with it. Here we see that the way it was dealt with. Job was to pray for them, and allow God to deal with all parties. Teaching all of them wisdom, thus allowing the whole situation to be healed. In all this we see Gods healing and restoration power. God can work mightily when we are in the middle of such a battle as Job was. It should be said, there are not many today that went through what Job did. But no matter what we do go through it is important that we do not allow bitterness, anger, or wrath to enter in. To pray, to forgive, and to allow this God to enter into the situation for deliverance and healing.

But the focus of this expose is not only on the three comforters above. There was another man involved. He is not mentioned as one whom God was angry at. He is Elihu who is from Buz, which according to sources indicate he is an Aramean or Edomite. He is young, not a friend, but probably someone who considers himself a sage. He gets in on the discussion here. Up to a point he has been listening and now he speaks up. In the context of his speeches, he is mad at the three comforting friends who have not found out what has caused Jobs trouble. He is also mad at Job for his self righteous attitude. Even though, Elihu nor his friends have no clue as the trouble, the younger sage here tries to get the point of educational suffering and not retributive suffering for sin. In other words, God is omnipotent, in his wisdom, the lesson here is to teach, not to punish for sins.

I speak of Elihu here because in one section of his speeches he describes what some people go through. Here speaking of man, he goes on a detailed explanation of how a person is or can go through times of suffering. Whenever we speak of these things, one usually goes the route of the three comforters who laid sins at the doorstep of  the one undergoing agonizing trials. These so called comforters bring this to a ‘retributive’ punishment from God for sins which were committed. Of course, we know these assumption were wrong. We also know the whole story and the fact that God allowed Satan to test Job. But in experiences that many have today, more often than not, Christians comfort in the same way, by laying sins for the reason of suffering. Now, sometimes indeed this is the case. The important aspect here is to trust God and find deliverance and relief. To comfort with the love of God and Christ. To allay suffering, tears, and heartache by being a friend who ‘sticks closer than a brother.’

I have seen many times Christians who go through intense personal trouble. For instance of David Wilkerson who has been with the Lord for many years. He was the author of the Cross and the Switchblade, the founder of Teen Challenge, and Times Square church. He has seen such trouble on many occasions. I worked on one of his crusades in the 70’s when he was reaching out to many in high schools.  For all he has done by faith, he has faced cancer in his family, death, and much more. Deeply personal tragedies that make a person think twice as to the why’s and wherefores.  I know of another woman many years ago who also was a staunch believer but also had a serious illness. I have seen such illnesses and afflictions bring believers to the point of death. Some have recovered, others have died leaving loved ones to try to piece together the answers to their questions. Answers that only God can bring to the suffering one in the quietness of the heart whilst many sleep. Even in this, many do not get an answer, they must, by faith, trust the Lord and move on!

I have recently had a friend, one whom I met long ago through my son. He and my son were close friends. As I read this portion not long ago, I saw him in this scripture. In his struggle, he had faith, clear to the end, but in the end, he died. He left a family and many questions as to why?
It would be nice to Google for such an answer, which you could do. But it would not be the reason of why it occurred. Many times, there is simply, no answer. The comfort is only found in a loving God and trusting him, no matter what!  I have seen so many afflicted the same way. The answers are hard, the situation is beyond tough and there are so many comforters like Jobs friends who in their quest to bring comfort, instead bring heartache, judgment, and hard feelings. Many times they end up destroying the one whom they try to comfort. All because they are not led of the Spirit, nor have they sought God enough nor asked the Lord if it was their lot to bring answers to the situation. As Americans we feel we should have an answer to all things. That in everything, every event, every trouble, and with all affected we should be able to find the trouble, pinpoint the blame, and solve the issue at hand. This is flat American arrogance and pride. This is not your lot, nor your church, nor your pastors lot to do this. We are called to love, comfort as Christ would, bringing a shoulder and a heart to the table of sorrow.

How many times in my own life I have been troubled, deeply. In trying to find comfort I found men of God who simply said to me, “if you did not have that problem you would have another.” No love, no comfort, nothing! They left me high and dry with nothing. As if I had bread made with Tares instead of Wheat. No sustenance, no faith, no prayers, nothing! During bible school we were taught and this followed us into the ministry that “they throw you off the top of the waterfall and let you go. If you go down once, they watch, if you come up again, they watch and if you go down twice, they watch and if you go down the third time and don’t come up again, then your not called of God.” In other words, no help, no prayers, not a comforter, nothing! No way, no teaching, nothing to help a person find faith, work faith, and seek solutions. Today, through it all, I do not look for any comforters in anything I do. God has taught me that among the sons of men, true comforters are hard to find and real answers are even harder. If I need an answer I look to the book and to the Lord. Then in fasting and prayer, I seek him till I find the needed help to keep going. Now I don’t always get the answer I may need! The overriding answer and command to me is found in scripture, “the just shall live by faith.”

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

Isaiah 57:1

Nevertheless, going through sorrow, trouble, trials, and especially death bed illness is no easy matter. I have had two episodes of illnesses or attacks as I call them. One where I thought I was going to die and another where I battled it by faith. I found that  my own ability and faith failed, but God in the end, redeemed my life from destruction. In those times laying on the hospital bed, I did not think about all the events around me. The thoughts of judgment coming to America never entered my mind. All those things that keep me busy today, no, they were not on my mind or heart. The one thought, the one point blank, come straight at you lesson, well this is it; “your flesh, frail, and just as grass or the flowers of the field, here today and gone tomorrow.” I found that in my pride, arrogance, weak faith, human abilities, I am nothing. That is why Jesus Christ died for me, so that when this flesh puts off it’s mortal coil, I will not see destruction.

But in Christ, I shall live, for he is the Passover Lamb. I understood that at those times, the one thing that mattered most, was my God, my Lord, my family, and my love for them. I also learned  how at this point in bed, alone at times, hurting, all that was threatened. The devil meant to destroy me, my comforters mocked my faith, every demon in hell rejoiced over my faithlessness and my lot. For if I had faith, why was I sick? I had no answer. It was at these times, I grabbed in my deepest part of my spirit, prompted by the Holy Ghost and used the little faith I had left in order to have faith to believe that in all things, God was in charge, I was his, and all those things did not matter. It was me and my God and the little faith I had, with trust, that in it all, I would make it through this. By Gods grace, I did, he redeemed my life from destruction. But, my friends, I ask you, what about all those Christians who did not make it? They had faith. They believed, they trusted, but they died! What of these?

When I read this portion of scripture in Job 33, I saw all those who faced even more than I have! Believe me, it is not that ever want to, but until some years ago, I never saw such things. Now today, the frailty of human flesh and the limited time on earth that men may have certainly speaks directly. It says, mans time is short, but there is a God in heaven who knows all, he loves you. I have seen those in such circumstances. In addition, I have experienced the “pain on my bed”. But I know of many others who go beyond pain and have a battle with death itself in the abode of the destroyer. Their bones waste away, they cannot eat, there is no strength left. They wait to die, hope is in the Lord, but there is no hope nor faith for healing. Their healing is found in Jesus, for when their battle is over, they will be with him.  I have seen this, believe me, it is tough, matter of fact, beyond tough. I have not an answer to give them, except one! Even in their struggle, even if they have faith and in that battle they die, they still die in faith believing. They are in the Lord and not even death can separate them from our Savior!

19  ¶He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20  So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21  His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22  Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23  If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24  Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25  His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26  He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27  He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28  He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29  ¶Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30  To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living

Job 33:19-30

I have seen Native pastors, one in particular whom we supported in India who lost his wife. We prayed for her from here. We sought God and so did this pastor. He saw God work many miracles in his ministry. His was a work for God, she was his co laborer, yet in her struggle, death overtook her and she went to be with the Lord. Now we speak of signs and wonders that many see overseas. In the native churches, the third world, indeed there are many miracles, many more than we see in America. Yet for this Pastor, the one miracle he needed did not come! Our hearts grieved, cried, and mourned for his loss. It was devastating, yet in all this God was in charge. There were no bolts of lightening, nor an answer from God. Yet this Pastor was comforted and continued to walk in faith, in his ministry, doing the work of the Lord. I personally have found comfort in the scripture below. The righteous indeed perishes and yet, no one seems to see it or lays it to heart. Merciful men and women are taken away as well. God fearing, trusting, walking in faith believers die while the wicked prosper. But the answer is found in the end of the scripture, “no one considers that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come.” God in his omnipotence, in charge, holds the key to all things. In this we can trust, today we may not know, but in eternity, we shall know. We will also behold those whom we have lost in Christ, we shall see them again.

Now as I pass this expose to its conclusion, let me also say, read this scripture below and meditate on its powerful revelation to us. The hope we have, we can give thanks to the Father who has make us partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. For it was through Gods only Son, Jesus Christ “who delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” For this, we will be eternally grateful. We will be with him, we will be in his kingdom of peace, love, joy, righteousness, and one where the former things are passed away. Praise be to God for this. Let us therefore, hope, and walk in faith. So that no matter what comes against you, you are more than Conquerors through Jesus Christ who gave himself for you!

12  ¶Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Colossians 1:12-22

Comforters of Job in Times of Trouble by The Watchman Dana Glenn Smith | WIBR/WARN Websites and Ministries | An indepth Biblical Teaching, preaching, warning, agency in these last days!

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