14th October 2025

14th October 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 6) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


Job’s condition had been weighed by Eliphaz and found wanting. The oldest councillor believed that bad people experience bad things and so Job was obviously deep in sin in dire need of repentance. That seems fairly reasonable but it is also fairly wrong. Eliphaz was unaware of the heavenly realities and had no clue that Job was innocent. Job was a man enduring horrendous suffering for no obvious earthly reason.


Job’s response was initially to his friends and then he turned to the Lord. To his friends he reminded them that the sheer scale of trouble that had come upon him would outweigh all the sand of the sea (6v2-3) and so no wonder his words were rash. Just as the animals offer up hungry complaints (6v5) so Job had cried out in anguish for he felt like the whole army of God stood against him (6v4). Job rejected the words of Eliphaz as tasteless food (6v6-7) and again hoped that the Lord would take his life (6v8-9). The suffering man was confident that he had not denied God’s Word and so he saw death as an answer to his present misery. 


Eliphaz had counselled Job to repent and wait for the Lord’s restoration but Job was unconvinced that he had the strength to hold on (6v11-13) and so he pleaded to his friends for kindness (6v14). It is clear that the first speech of Eliphaz had wounded Job greatly and so he compared his counsellors to a flowing river which isn’t there when you need a drink (6v15-19). Job was confident his friends would help but he had become ashamed and disappointed with their counsel (6v20). 


Job was no shrinking violet. He reminded his friends that he owed them nothing, he had never asked for a gift or bribe (6v22) nor had he sought their help against evil men (6v23) but what he wanted from them was truth. If he had sinned in some manner, he didn’t want to hear mere suggestions about his fault but actual solid evidence (6v24-25). Job’s cry was deep and full of anguish, to paraphrase he says “stop treating my cry like is a mere breath of wind (6v26), stop treating me like something to be bargained over (6v27), please look at me and know I’m not lying to you (6v28), my integrity is at stake (6v29), I have done no wrong.” It would take a cold heart to read Job’s words and not have deep sympathy for him. He does not know why calamity has fallen upon him only to be told that it’s probably all his own fault. Job needed help but it did not seem to have arrived in the familiar faces of his friends.


Over the summer I kept coming back to Psalm 61 which says “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!”


I love those words and I think they are like a life-raft when the boat sinks beneath us. Who is our help and our refuge? The Lord. If you are wrestling, wondering and wandering then may the Lord lead you to the Rock that is higher than all - His name is Jesus and He is good. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q99 What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?
The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called, The Lord’s Prayer.
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