The first seven verses of Job six is so full of wonderful nuggets for believers ... especially those who have ever been in pain and suffering. There is a false belief out among practicing believers that we should be like pillars of steel in the midst of adversity. Some would complain that our complaints over pain and suffering are acts of disbelief and amount to a declaration of war on God. Eliphaz had just leveled a similar complaint toward Job in chapters four and five. He espoused that Job should take his suffering "like a man" for it would be well deserved if from God. Now Job responds and his response is not tempered. He takes on his "friend" (who had misjudged the entire struggle Job was in) and begins in chapter six by asking that some "just" scale be created that would weigh the pain he felt on one side and the calamity he experienced on the other side. Those observing, according to Job's reasoning, would see that his pain is great and his complaint toward that pain is justified. Job wants his "friends" to see that it is natural to "bray" or natural to "low" when your needs are not meet (6:5). He counts his complaining as natural as putting salt on tasteless food that no one would eat without seasoning first (6:6-7). Job's point in all this is that when pain comes so too does complaining and a sense of expression. Job felt as though these calamities were like arrows from God piercing his very heart (6:4). When Jesus was in the garden and on the cross He expressed the pain to his humanity in clear and descriptive terms (John 12:27; Matt. 26:28, 27:46). With these arrows (actually shot by the bow of Satan) God had pierced the pain of his soul. That calls for expression. Don't be like an Eliphaz and criticize those in affliction for their compliant or verbal expressions. Point them simply in faith to God who saves and the source of their healing balm. Remember, only faith quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16) not undo criticism from a misguided friend.
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