How many times has some very well-meaning person tried to assuage your heartache with words, saying something along the lines of this: “God will comfort you and see you through this. He always does.” Or this: “Just hang in there. Evil people always get what they deserve.”
Look closely, and you’ll see those two sentiments are basically parts of Eliphaz’s second conversation with Job. So why are they a problem? Well, for one thing, the latter suggests that Job must be evil too—why else would he be suffering badly? Their conversation leads to the question: How do we truly weep with, mourn with, and comfort those who are broken? How do we become true comforters? (Romans 12:15).
First, we need to read and truly absorb Job’s scorching honesty in chapters 16 and 17, where the stakes are even higher. Just a reminder: God refused to allow Satan to take Job’s life, which means Job’s torment was as bad as it could possibly get with no relief anywhere, falling just short of death—and Job couldn’t exactly turn to morphine to numb the pain. So now the question becomes one of self-reflection: If we are the ones in the fiery furnace, how do we cling to our relationship with God when it feels as if it is all going up in smoke?
These two questions are tied together, because those who weep and mourn most effectively will have climbed into that fiery furnace of suffering in some way. In doing so, they join the “Jobs” of the world. So for both situations, we wonder:
What does true faithfulness look like, both for the one who comforts and the one who suffers?
What part does prayer play in our suffering?
What does it mean to bring all our emotions—even our anger, doubt, and feelings of betrayal—before God?
After all, Job’s protests were laced with accusations. If his suffering teaches us anything, it is to strip away all pretenses—physical and spiritual. God had worn out and torn up Job, seized him by the neck and dashed him to pieces to the point that Job’s face was red from weeping (Job 16:7–9,12,16). His dark anger boiled over in agonizing questions, as he protested the stony silence of God.
Still, more than anything else, Job longed for his shattered relationship with God to be mended. He’d already sought out a mediator to bring them together (9:33–35; 16:21). He also repeatedly begged to talk with God—which he ultimately did in the most extraordinary of circumstances. Most importantly, Job returned to this understanding: his “advocate” and “witness” were set apart on high (16:19). Job remembered who he was and who he was not—he was not God. All of this points to Job’s faithfulness and his very real relationship with God.
So how do we sit with someone in their despair? How do we pray in the midst of others’ suffering, as well as our own? In my own experience, words like “Lord have mercy! Christ have Mercy!” bring me back to the truth of God’s character, of both His unfailing lovingkindness and ultimate sovereignty through Jesus Christ. Our Savior reaches through our blinding pain to comfort and deliver us. Our prayer for mercy, offered with humility and hope, binds us together before the God who comforts, even from on high.
Elaine A. Phillips received a BA in social psychology from Cornell University, an MDiv from Biblical Theological Seminary, and an MA in Hebrew from the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem, where she and her husband, Perry, studied and taught from 1976–79. She holds a PhD in rabbinic literature, and teaches Biblical Studies at Gordon College. She also serves as a historical geography field instructor for Jerusalem University College. She has published a commentary on Esther in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary; a devotional book, With God, Nothing Is Impossible; and, most recently, An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts.
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56 thoughts on "Eliphaz’s Second Speech and Job’s Reply"
Lord have mercy! Christ have mercy!
My marriage is falling apart and since the revelation of betrayal I have felt utterly abandoned by God. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy! Where are you God? I’m looking, listening, waiting for you to show up but I still have nothing. No hope. No peace. No comfort. Jesus come.
Lord have mercy, I am yours to be used for your Glory.
In the news there is so much
Hi all, this could not have come at a better time. Yesterday, I was with my boss when she found out that her youngest daughter had breast cancer and she’s only 30 years old. My boss had already been struggling with her faith recently and this really took a hit on her. Because her faith is so fragile, the only thing I could do was listen and just be there for her. So this passage just resonated with me because it showed me what’s the best way to comfort a friend in their suffering. And sometimes, God just calls us to be there and be silent. If you could all pray for my boss and her daughter, that would be very much appreciated.
I lift up my parents who are undergoing adversity in Church community. They have been patient in tribulation but I know God is doing something good. I pray that I will be able to comfort them through the leading of the Spirit during this time. Spirit of the Lord, lead us to where you want us to be. Fill us with Genuine, Brotherly Love so that we can share this with those who have hurt us deeply. You are always good, Lord. You are good.
Help me to be less judgmental and more of a comforter to others. Help me to treat people as I would want to be treated.
Reading in Job have been much more difficult than some of the other chapters. I think it puts me face to face with the fact that what I consider to be my “suffering” in this season of life, is so minuscule to what Job went through. Equally as important though, I have to realize that even though my own suffering or others may not visibly look like Job’s, sometimes it can truly feel like that on the inside. It can feel like we have been kicked, bruised, beaten, thrown away on our hearts even when we put on makeup and a nice outfit to face the world. I pray that through this teaching that I learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable and in the fact that I do not have the right words always to bring peace to others. With this generation, I always so desperately want to find an immediate fix, but we see Job’s suffering here go on and on. Yet, he still always knows that no matter his trials, God is good through it all.
Steph,
Please find a good psychiatrist for your daughter. They often specialize in medication management and can help restore the chemical balance in your daughter’s brain. I work for a wonderful psychiatrist and I have seen firsthand how much the correct medication can help.
Prayer for her and with her every step of the way will be an integral part of her healing, but please also seek help from those who have been blessed with the knowledge and skills to ease her suffering. Depression is a very serious illness.
When situations and circumstances are so devastating beyond belief and your family is torn apart, your children have anxiety and depression, you have significant health issues that could take your life, when your child says I pray to God but he does nothing, he doesn’t care about me, when you struggle to put one foot in front of the other, when Christians don’t talk to you because they don’t know what to say, when your children are excluded by other Christians because of poor decisions made by their father, it’s really hard just to focus on the loving kindness of God.
Instead of being against each other we need to pray for one another. Lifting each other up
So touched by the reminder remember who you are not! I needed to hear this
“I wish that someone might arbitrate between a man and God just as a man pleads for his friend” (Job 16:21). Jesus is our advocate, our mediator. He stands before God every moment pleading my cause with His blood. ❤️
How do we sit with someone in their despair? Sitting with someone in despair is difficult for me. Times like that I like to sit and listen to whom ever I am with or just be silent. Job (13:5) told his friends just that. I don’t feel I have the right words to help their suffering. I will pray with them should they ask me. I will even look up verses in the bible that may comfort them. But sometimes just holding their hand is the best that I can do.
How do I pray in the midst of others’ suffering…as well as my own? I honestly don’t know. I pray in silence by myself somewhere private. I would like to think that I would ask God for mercy for them and I would pray in Jesus Christ name. I have a saying that I found somewhere it says; God does not give you what you can handle. God helps you handle what you are given. I think this would apply to me and the suffering I have or would receive. Like Job praying to God. I like to talk to God and say thank you for listening Lord.
Once I felt I had a great suffering I turned away from God. I felt no hope of any kind. I didn’t pray and had gotten away from the church. One day my children wanted to spend their pennies and I took them to a thrift shop. That day I found my way back to God and I started going back to church. My little ones were responsible for that blessing they showed me the way. I have been thankful ever since and have promised God I will not turn away ever again.
“Lord have mercy! Christ have mercy!”
Those words are so raw and emotional, it’s hard to understand how to cope with that. I always find myself either craving affection or trying to help my friends cope with their problems… which can be a challenge. I am just beginning to understand that through prayer, I can help heal them.
Praying the Lord will help me become a better friend and comforter to those who mourn. I admit I am inexperienced when it comes to deep sorrow, but I pray that the Lord will give me the grace needed in situations where loved may need to sense Jesus even when they feel He is far away. Thank you Lord for this post
I agree with Yaya that you should bring Emily to a doctor. We are wonderfully made and complex and there is such great help available to us. Not all doctors are very good at knowing mental health. But they can give her medication right away and then you can find someone who specializes in mental health to go from there. Before you go maybe have her write a list of her symptoms/what she is feeling (hard to think in the moment once at the office) then the doctor can better prescribe medication. zoloft is usually what treats both anxiety and depression. But know that while her body adjusts to the drug she might experience more anxiety. So it it best they also give her a fast acting pill if she needs it while her body adjusts to the medication and for sleep. I will be praying that you are able to find health professionals who know mental health well and can best target exactly what will help Emily. She is not alone in needing help. And with the right medication and help she will not always feel this way. Sometimes our brains have chemical imbalances and medication can help to heal that. Also, have her eat protein 6 times a day (such as turkey, chicken, or another meat) and eat 1/2 cup legumes 2-3 times a day (like black beans) and calcium (she can even take a couple tums for calcium)
I just prayed for Emily. I also feel led to encourage you to pray/think about finding an integrative/functional medical Dr. for her. I almost didn’t post this, as I know we often go through trials (just like Job) for purely spiritual reasons. I also know the body of Christ is in place to love, serve, and minister to each other from the trials we been through 2 Cor 1:4. I went through something very similar, and had toxin/food issues that were affecting my brain. God used that dark time in my life to not only draw me closer to Him, but to also offer information to others who He occasionally places in my path. I’ll continue to pray for both of you.
I pray for Emily and Steph as they face anxiety and depression, a perfectly logical response to this hate filled world. Oh, Steph, be her steady companion and voice that reminds her God is present. She will pass through these dark waters. It’s so important to allow her to voice her experience. I pray she has ears to hear the promises of God. I pray that our Living Lord be her strength, by her side.
I think there is tremendous beauty in Job’s ability to to be raw with God. Here’s the thing…God already knows our heart, our minds and He knows our emotions! So why is it so crazy to say them out loud, to God, the only One who can help us through them? It’s not lashing out at Him. It is taking the junk and laying it at His feet because we know we can, He is good, and He will answer.
Lifting you & your siblings in prayer, Tina. Your words are familiar to my heart as they echo the place where I was 18 years ago when we suddenly lost my mom. I pray that all of the struggles that you & your siblings experience in the ‘now’ lead you ever closer to the God who is with you all & who has always been. I, too, struggled to comfort my siblings only to find that God – one by one & in ways that ONLY He could – drew each of us closer to Him, our true Comforter. At the time, I felt powerless as I watched people whom I love dearly become undone by our sudden loss and unanswered questions. I wore myself out trying to help everyone. Little did I know the ways that God works through the worst of times when we rest & trust in Him. When we pray that He work in mighty ways amongst devastated hearts that are broken & don’t understand. When we ask Him to comfort us & our loved ones and draw us all closer to His never ending love & embrace. Keep the eyes of your heart open & wait in joyful expectation of the ways that He will work. Our God is good & He is faithful. I will keep all of you lifted in prayer.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. Praise Jesus for His compassion and mercy. Praying for Emily, for strength and understand, for God to bring His hope and heal her anxiety and depression. He is mighty. Hugs to you Steph, it is hard to see our children suffering, praying you feel His arms and love around you all. In the name above all names, Jesus.
I am blessed! Unlike a Job my friends, my beautiful family, my best friend Gretchen, mentor, Celebrate recovery accountability friends have all come along side me to walk this journey with me. As I read about Job’s life and how he remained faithful in the mist of this horrific agony I know I can too. And mine doesn’t even come close to what job went through. My friends and family have weeped alongside me AND have rejoiced as well. I like the latter part better. BUT GOD…….I know if God can see Job through this he’s going (and is) see me through this.
Dear Sisters, I am in desperate need of prayers for my daughter Emily, who is 19 and is struggling with depression and anxiety. Please pray that we will be able to get her the help that she needs. Please pray that I be of comfort to her. And please pray that our relationship with Jesus would be strengthened through this trial. Thank you!
This story is all too familiar for someone who was just 19, I am praying for Emily, and I hope you know you don’t walk this alone
Praying for your daughter Emily! I suffer from severe anxiety and I saw both a doctor for the medical side of it and also a therapist who specialized in anxiety. She helped me learn healthy ways to cope with my anxiety. If you guys can find someone who has experience treating anxiety, it is such a gift from Him!
Praying for your daughter, Steph! Lord Jesus, shine your light into the darkness. May Emily experience your overwhelming peace, joy and hope. Please give this family the resources they need to deal with the challenge. Please protect Emily’s life. <3
Praying for her now! ♥️
Praying for you both
Steph, this is a long shot. But, if you live in the North Texas/Dallas area, my church partners with ChristianWorks counseling. Every counseling session, you only have to pay $20 & my church covers the rest. It’s been very beneficial to not only those that I know & love, but myself as well. In fact, only a few years ago when I was 19, I started going to ChristianWorks for depression & anxiety. Again, I know this is a long shot but just thought I’d let you know. Praying for a blanket of God’s peace over you & your daughter.
These beautiful lyrics from the song ‘God’s Mercy’ by Lou Fellingham, are so fitting for today’s message.
God of mercy hear our cry
Turn Your hand tonight
Bring relief from their pain
Be their comfort
And every day they’re given breath
Give them strength to live
God of mercy hear our cry
Turn Your hand tonight
Bring relief from their fears
Be their hope Lord
And every day You give them breath
Give them strength to live
May this be our prayer today.
Praying with tears for Allison and Ryan and precious little Mary Elizabeth..Praying the days they have together are blessed beyond beyond.. God is good and though we don’t understand these things, these heart breaking things that happen., we have a God who will see us right until the time to meet our loved ones again..
May God be with Allison , Ryan Mary Elizabeth and the family as they face this trial..
Sending love wrapped hugs and prayers…xx
Life is messy for everyone and I’ve really experienced that for the first time in the last few years. But this is why community is so important. We get to come alongside those in our life who are in the middle of the mess and weep with them, mourn with them, comfort them. It’s been amazing to see how God has provided me with the people I needed and how he has also equipped me to be that person for other people in my life.
How uncomfortable are we when we hear Job’s protestations? How uncomfortable are we when someone close to us, a usually faithful believer, expresses their confusion and doubt about what God is permitting in their life? Do we squirm and say the first churchy cliche that comes to mind? Do we tell them we will pray for them and make a quick exit? Do we make a casserole or send a card but that’s as close as we want to get? Or do we sit next to them in silence and hold a hand? I think how we react to another’s grief reflects our relationship to them and our relationship with God also. Perhaps a good way to deal with grief and sorrow is to be as proactive as we can before the calamity hits. Know the Bible. Nurture and solidify our relationship with God. Sit with the hard things Jesus says and ask Him what He means. Nurture our relationships with those in our circle. Then when we face, or we sit with someone who faces severe difficulty, we have that sure foundation to comfort us, to comfort them. That foundation yields strength in the storm. Let the grieving person dictate when words are needed. Until that time becomes apparent, just pray. Cry with them. Just be. And know and trust that He is there, being still as well. Words are not as necessary as your presence and His.
Praying for Allison and her husband now.
I looked back at my post for Eliphaz’s 1st speech. I felt his words showed jealousy towards Job, his reputation, and life. This 2nd one seems the same to me, only bolder. He is not mixing in any pretty words. It seems like he is trying to discipline Job. When he says, “Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen, what the wise had declared and not concealed…” the I’s seem so big, so ugly, so arrogant.
Job’s answer in today’s language sounds like (to me), “Dude, don’t you think I know all the things you are saying? Do you think you are the first one saying them? I’m the one living this out here. I am crushed and yet I tell you, my hands are free from violence and my prayer is pure. Instead of these unhelpful words, would somebody argue for me to God? Be my friend. I am hopeless right now.” I think of Moses in the battle where Aaron and Herr (I believe) held up his arms to God. As long as they did that, God’s army was winning. Moses became too tired to keep his hands up so they held them up for him. That is the kind of help I see Job asking for. That is the kind of help I want to give.
Like the verses in Romans say, that kind of help/love is without hypocrisy. It is a deep love and honor, saturated in the Spirit. It comes along side and holds up hands when they are too weak to be lifted and raises hands in celebratory praise during the good times.
I believe we are in a time like that right now. As James says we must be patient. We need to strengthen our hearts because the Lord’s coming is near. Instead of complaining about other brothers and sisters in Christ we need to lift their arms in times of need or genuinely celebrate with them in times of blessing. For we are to be like our Lord, compassionate and merciful.
We are all works in process. Thank God for His tender mercies, fresh and new each day.
Angie, I love this. Thank you for giving your thoughts.
Great job Angie. Thanks for that analysis. KOKO ✝️
Beautiful words angie. Thank you for sharing!!
That’s a great word! Thank you for sharing :)
I love these insights you’ve shared, Angie. Thank you for summarizing so well!
So well written! Thank you for sharing these insights!
I love this so much!!!!! I totally agree with your thoughts here.
Perfect!
Wow, great observations… thanks for sharing.
Sisters, I wanted to update you on my friend Allison. I shared with you on Monday that she is pregnant with a child who has Trisomy 18. They decided to go ahead and induce Allison a month early in the hopes that the baby would survive the birth so that Allison and Ryan would have time with her before she died. Mary Elizabeth was born Monday night. She did survive the birth and they are looking at bringing her home for just a little while. Hospice is going to work with them when the time comes.
Please continue to pray for them as they bring this sweet baby home. Pray that God will bless this time they have with her.
Praying for Allison and Ryan. May they know the joy of some time with Mary Elizabeth. May they know the hope of holding her again some day soon.
I’m praying for Allison, Ryan and this sweet baby, for even though short-lived this gift of life will be filled with healing love and strength so the gift of heaven’s hope will be a soothing balm in their hearts.
Thank you for the update. Continuing to pray for Allison, Ryan and baby Mary. Lord Jesus, be near! May this family be overwhelmed with your comforting presence. <3
Amen. Jesus have your way.
Praying now ♥️
Praying for them tonight
Jesus, please be there for Alison and Ryan. May Baby Mary bring joy, no matter how short her stay on earth is. Let your will be done x
Prayers for her and her family.
Mercy. I need it. God provides it. So simple and so profound. Praise God for his compassion and grace!
As the eldest of 7 children who recently lost our mum, THIS is my season. This is my journey now. And it has been difficult…
Though I walk with the Lord, love the Lord, know and trust the Lord God, this has knocked me for six. I have watched the others grieve, and I have been powerless to help… as I write, I dont think I have even hugged them recently, certainly not since 30th January the day of mums passing. I have phoned and called on them, put cards in the post to them… but I have not hugged them.
I dont know how to help my siblings! To be honest, I dont actually know how to help myself!
I pick up the bible, I put it down, though I know God is with me, I act as though I am alone, though I know Gods love and comfort, I have the face and posture of someone who is alone..and burdened..
But God…
Though I may have that feeling of aloneness, keeps reminding me that I am not alone, that He is right here in the trenches of grief with me, He brings people alongside that hug and pray and hold me and mine up.. He does the same with my siblings.. I am the eldest, but the truth is this is a journey we do on our own because we each had a different relationship with our mum. I can give love and I can speak words of hope and one days to come… but I as the eldest have no power to make things better for my siblings in any way shape or form… But God…
He brings me back to the truth of God’s character, of both His unfailing lovingkindness and ultimate sovereignty through Jesus Christ. Our Savior reaches through our blinding pain to comfort and deliver us. Our prayer for mercy, offered with humility and hope, binds us together before the God who comforts, even from on high.
I love this! These are beautiful words, I am claiming them today and in the days to come…
Thank you Elaine. A. Phillips. Thank you!
Being the eldest, was holding me to ‘ransom’ to do the job I had always done… take care of my siblings, be second mum… The freedom given of, and in Gods Word, Love, Grace, and Hope, is that HE will comfort and deliver EACH of us through this sad and deficult time.. Amen.
These words today…priceless… thank you Elaine.
Sisters, hoping the Lord God turn his face to shine on you today… every blessing, love always, Tina. Xx
Oh, Tina! Your words spoke straight to my heart! My mom passed on Feb. 6. I am the oldest of five and I have felt everything you write about – wanting to take care of my siblings like I always have and not being able to. We haven’t all been together since my mom died and there are days that I want to just hug on them. Thank you for this reminder that God is the One who will comfort and deliver us. Thank you, thank you. Be blessed today!