Just Be Quiet! Job 12-13

 Job 13:4-5 (ESV)

As for you, you whitewash with lies;

worthless physicians are you all.

Oh that you would keep silent,

and it would be your wisdom!

Job is in great pain and suffering.  According to the second chapter of the book, Job is sitting along side of the road scrapping his boiled skin with broken pieces of pottery.   Not a good hospital triage.    If that wasn’t bad enough, three of his friends show up with the design to help him and care for him and support him.   The exact purpose was this:

Job 2:11 (ESV)

Job's Three Friends

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.

If you read each of their “speeches” toward Job you would see that their version to “show him sympathy and comfort” are much different than most.   Instead of comforting him they confront him.  Instead of showing him sympathy they give him misery.   Every time they talk they want to give him insight and knowledge as to “why” his is happening to him.   Instead of asking “what” can we do for you right now, our friend,” they say, “you are experiencing this because you are a filthy sinner.”    The book of Job might be the best text book for what NOT to do in a counseling setting.  There is always “a” time to ask the “why” questions in life.   But that doesn’t mean we always ask it and answer it for someone all the time.   Job’s friends are “worthless” physicians.    They are giving out all the wrong medicine.   Job tells them to “keep silent” and that would be their “wisdom.”   In our vernacular we would say, “Would you just shut up!”   His pain is so intense that his heart is overwhelmed, as well.   Instead of ministering to him they are piling on him.  There is a time in counseling and disciplining that our truth might have to take a pause so that our empathy can come through.  Jesus did, eventually, confront the woman at the well with her sin.  But, he first talked to her about her need for water.   Peter certainly preached truth, but he and the Apostles also made sure the widows daily needs were cared for.     Paul told Timothy how to preach, but he was also concerned about the ill of his stomach.   Let us know be so deep in our theology that our practical love is smothered by the blanket of truth.