Job 6 Commentary

Job 6 Commentary

Job speaks up. He must respond to Eliphaz’s allegations. Job justifies his outbursts. His pain and suffering are real; he hasn’t faked it.

Unlike Eliphaz, who prioritizes life and the benefits resulting from righteousness, Job despises a life that exposes him to the possibility of sinning against his God. He would rather die than face the possibility of one day cursing God because of increased pain and suffering.

Job’s relationship with the El-Shaddai God is so important to him that he doesn’t want to risk it.

Job exposes his friends’ simplicity, operating religion on the principle of causation. The suffering must be caused by something. Since they cannot blame God, or God cannot be blamed, Job must take the blame. He must have sinned!

Job can undo his suffering by repentance and returning to God, so they say. But we know better. How can Job undo what he didn’t do in the first place?

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. Verse 14. Job feels his friends have been too harsh. We agree.

Job is ready to learn and be quiet. But the arguments presented by Eliphaz haven’t helped at all. He hasn’t answered the question of why Job is suffering. And that actually isn’t Job’s question in the first place. This is a question that Eliphaz fabricated in his own mind as he attempted to provide comfort to the suffering Job.

Job isn’t arrogant by stating that he didn’t invite sympathy or sound an alarm for rescue. If God has caused it, who can rescue you? Job’s thought here is quite advanced and gives us an example of pure worship.

To his credit, Job had responded with obedience: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Chapter 1, verse 21.

Job concerns himself with praising the LORD and not finding out why the LORD has given, or why the LORD has taken.

Job is so weak that he no longer has any hope. It is at this point that he wishes the LORD could grant his request to die. Job is not thinking of committing suicide. He has simply asked the Giver of life to take it back.

This chapter gives us some practical ways of dealing with thoughts of suicide. Mortals are not masters of their own. Let the Giver of life say the last word.

Jeremiah put it this way: Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps, (10:23). There is worship when the desperate soul reaches this point.

Chapter 7 continues Job’s response to Eliphaz’s speech, but that comes tomorrow.

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