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ob chapter 6 begins with the big conjunction: BUT! Despite Eliphaz’s
didactic efforts, Job had something more to say. Not surprisingly, he was not satisfied with
the answer of Eliphaz. In fact, his immediate response to his
"friend" can be summed up with the words from verse 14, "To him
that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend..." (Job
6:14). This was what Job needed: sympathy,
support, comfort, encouragement... not to be kicked and stepped on while he was
down.
One of the things that Job responded with was a strong
statement about the depths of his pain. He used the strongest imagery that he
could possibly contrive to try to communicate to Eliphaz how badly he was
hurting (Job 6:2-3). He literally felt like God was using him for target
practice (Job 6:4). Earlier he had said
that he wished that he would have never even been born. This time he spoke of
his desire to die. He literally prayed
that God would kill him (Job 6:8-9).
Eliphaz’s
basic thesis had been that Job had to be guilty of some secret vice which was
the cause of his suffering. But, Job couldn't honestly think of what it could
be. He challenged Eliphaz to examine him
and to speak specifically... not generally (Job 6:24-25). It appears that he was saying, "Eliphaz,
I'm not denying that there is truth in what you have said, but what that truth
has to do with me, I don't know? How in
the world does it apply to my situation? Look me in the eye and tell me
something specific that I can change, if you think I am the problem. My conscience is clear."
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