Subject: Counseling - Job 3-5

Job 4:3-6 (ESV Strong's)

Behold, you have instructed many,
and you have strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
and you have made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.
Is not your fear of God your confidence,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?

Subject:  Counseling

In chapters 1-3 of Job we have the story of Job and the pain that is brought on him by the work and craftiness of Satan.   Job is a good man (God has said so) and Satan has been given the opportunity to take break him.    Along comes Job's three friends, however.   If the abuse of Satan was not enough, these men's words will be even more.   They no NOTHING about what is really going on.   They do not consider that Job is under attack.  Instead, they will attack Job with the swords of their tongue.  You can't read ANY of the friends speeches without first reading the following, from the end of the book and the Word from God, to the three friends:

Job 42:7 (ESV Strong's)
After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

However, God's condemnation does not mean that the three friends don't stumble on some truth as they speak.   It is important to know that their overall counsel misses the mark, but there are parts of their speeches where we can learn something.   Their doctrine was right in places but their application to Job was completely amiss. In the first words (from Eliphaz's 1st speech), above, we see that Job is accused of helping others and having great words that comfort others, but not trusting the words for himself.    This is a statement where we can find some truth.   We often are quick to give input and wisdom to others, but fail in the end to find some way to apply it to ourselves.   We can tell others how to manage something, but fail to manage it, in Christ, ourselves.   It is important that the doctrine that we preach, we also practice.   That is a simple truth this "friend" of Job stumbled upon.