WHERE DOES YOUR COMFORT COME FROM?
- Key Verse
- "So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!" (Job 21:34)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
When in the midst of trials and tribulation, we cannot always rely on the words of those around us. God is our chief counselor and comforter.
Reflections
Job had to respond again to another "friend's" accusations. This time the logic was that since Job's prosperity was short-lived, that must be evidence of hidden sin. In their effort to provide comfort and help him get out of his terrible situation, Job's friends accused him of sin. Have you ever been in a situation where you were hurting and your best friend was clueless about how to help? And instead of helping, the words your friend offered for consolation were offensive and untruthful? This was the situation Job was in as he responds in this passage. After all the tragedy that Job endured, I don't know how he had the energy to respond to those possibly well-intentioned, though harmful, words of "comfort."After a short discourse on the wicked, their prosperity, and their unwillingness to acknowledge God as the provider, Job states in verse 16b--"[s]o I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked." Job had enough sense in the midst of his pain and agony to recognize truth. His friends argued that the wicked always suffer and the good do not. Job knew better. He knew that everything in his life had come from the hand of the Lord.
This causes me to ponder how I handle adversity and where I seek comfort. I do believe that God has graciously provided people in my life to give me guidance and lead me in the path of righteousness. I'm thankful for the selfless workers in my youth group during my teenage years who gave many hours of their time to speak truth into my life and to build relationships with me. I'm thankful for pastors who have taught from God's Word to help me grow in my faith. I'm thankful for the couples in our small group who share their daily struggles and victories as we discuss sermon notes. Though I would seek comfort from these people in my life, I need to remember that my greatest comfort and counsel comes from God. Job knew this.
Discussion Questions
1. Where do you go when you need to be comforted?2. What is your first response when difficult times come your way?
3. When you are unjustly accused of something, how do you respond?
4. What are you doing to strengthen your relationship with the Lord so that when difficult, hard to explain things come your way, you will be able to recognize truth?
Comments
The views expressed under “Comments” are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Hill Country Bible Church NW.
Chip Smith
March 29, 2010 08:39 AM
Good morning Jana. Job basically told Zophar that he didn't know what planet he was on; The wicked do prosper and even though they reject God, God is still the source of their blessings. This is the reality of our world as well and this is a paradox that not only puzzles Job but puzzles us all. Job sees that rich yet wicked people still have their fortunes and their families, yet God seems to be angry with him, an innocent man. As we look at this back and forth conversation between Job and his friends, we do have comfort in the fact that we live on the other side of the Cross and knowing Christ surpasses both the blessings and pain in this world. We have met the Mediator, Christ Jesus and are declared righteous through Him. Whether we are rich or poor, healthy or sick, surrounded by friends or lonely, we have Christ and know that He will someday take us with him to a place that flows with eternal blessings. The prosperous, yet wicked will never know that comfort. Thank you for reminding us this morning that Jesus is our ultimate hope and comfort.
Jason Jordan
March 29, 2010 02:34 PM
Great Commentary. Thanks. I keep needing to be reminded of this and I even wrote on Job as well. Your throughts reminded me of something I write on War 8th. "...there is only one "Help" that will not fail us: "I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)"