Why Were Job’s Friends Rebuked?

Mike Leake

Don’t be like Job’s friends.

I’ve said that quite a few times when encouraging people not to be miserable counselors to suffering people. In the face of a hurting and destitute Job—who at times was even suicidal—all these friends did was spout theological truths and tell Job that if he would repent then things would get better for him.

Finally in Job 42:7 we hear what we have been longing for throughout the entire book; namely, the rebuke of Job’s friends. The LORD said to Eliphaz, “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.”

What did they say that was untrue?

The core of their theology was that God does not punish the righteous. Suffering comes because of discipline from the Almighty. “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.”

All suffering is a punishment for sin. All prosperity is a reward for righteousness. God is just and He does not punish the righteous. Therefore, Job must be sinning or else he would not be suffering. If he repents the Lord is gracious and He will heal and restore Job.

Before we dismiss their theology we should consider a key verse in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 28 the Lord outlines what will happen if the Israelites faithfully obey the Lord. “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God”. Prosperity is the reward for righteousness.

“But if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.” Suffering is the punishment for sin.

Job’s friends passed their Old Testament class in seminary. Sort of. They got the multiple choice questions correct but they blew it on the essay where they were to apply their theology.  The problem is that they take something that is true and offer it as the only explanation for Job’s suffering. This is where I get an axiom that I teach my students: good theology that is wrongly applied, stinks.

Proverbs 22:6

It is a general principle that if you “train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it”. Except sometimes they do. And the parents did everything they could to train up their child. They were good and godly parents just like Job was a righteous man. But for some reason their child departed from the faith.

Those that follow in the stead of Job’s friends will assume that a rebellious child must equal ungodly parents. It might. But it does not have to; assuming that it does will cause one to speak things that are untrue of God.

There are some things that are always true no matter the context; i.e. Jesus Christ is the only way to God. But there are some things that are generally true but shouldn’t be applied as if they are always true. The wise counselor won’t flatten truth the way Job’s friends do. Instead the wise counselor will hold the hand of suffering people as they, as Job, grope to find the One that is Truth and in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Today in Blogworld 05.24.13

Mike Leake

Statement from T4G on Mahaney

I’m going to be honest and say that I’m still not sure what to think about all of this. TGC has also posted a statement.

Is Your Church Ready for the Marriage Revolution?

Dr. Moore talks about getting your congregation ready for the “next fifty years of discipleship on marriage”.

Grace for Church Leaders

I found this comforting.

Jesus Doesn’t Think My Doubt is Cool

Great word from Stephen Altrogge.

If you’ve got some old spoons layin’ around and carry a sweet mustache you might be able to create your own Mumford Band. Here is how:

Wanted: Guest Bloggers in June/July

Mike Leake

If you look at the Borrowed Light archives you will notice that posting gets a little slow during the summer. I’m usually involved with week long missions and such, so I am not able to write as much. This year rather than slowing down the blog I thought that I would open it up to other bloggers.

I need about 7-10 posts from different bloggers to fill out the weeks from June 24—July 6th. Here are the ground rules:

  1. You need to be at least vaguely familiar with Borrowed Light’s audience and write accordingly.
  2. Your writing needs to be helpful. I’m not looking for controversial posts just writing that edifies the church and glorifies the Lord. My aim is to write in such a way that Jesus Christ is the only boast of this generation—you should write accordingly.
  3. I don’t want to do a ton of editing so it needs to be a polished article.
  4. I would prefer an original piece but it is not required.
  5. You must submit your guest posts to me by June 14th. (You can do so through emailing me here: mike [at] fbjasper [dot] org.

I look forward to hearing from you.

7 Tips from John Newton On Battling Depression

Mike Leake

Depression isn’t something new. Contrary to popular belief, Christians in ages past were not ignorant to its reality. I love reading through how the Puritans and early evangelicals (like John Newton) thought through such things as depression.

In one letter to a Mrs. Coffin we get a fair picture of Newton’s counsel to the depressed. Mrs. Coffin was a pastors wife. She also seems to have battled depressive episodes.

Here was Newton’s counsel to her:

  1. Pray much. Think little.
  2. Avoid musing and reasoning by yourself. (You need to battle in community)
  3. Keep to the Word.
  4. Realize that this is a spiritual battle.
  5. Know that the “Lord keeps the key of comfort in his own hand”.
  6. Wait for the Lord.
  7. Take heart that your experience isn’t unChristian, in fact no Christian is exempt from conflict of soul.

I also find it interesting that Newton told Mrs. Coffin, “I believe much of your complain is constitutional”. In other words Newton thought that a good bit of her problem wasn’t sin as much as it was biology. His counsel would have been very similar to my own.

This selection was tweaked from a letter of Newton that I got from this book. The whole book is filled with gems like this.

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If you would like a more detailed explanation of any of the points feel free to ask in the comments. I’ve read enough Newton that I can explain what he means by each of these points.