(6:1-7) Job's Reply - Job's reply to Eliphaz had three key points: (1) You are giving me all this advice without sympathizing with my situation. (2) Your criticisms are not based on fact but only on your own experience. (3) You still have not answered my basic question: Why am I suffering like this? Although Job could not understand why he was going through this extreme suffering, he was determined to remain true to God while seeking an answer (6:10).

(6:4-5) Satan's Strategy - Job miserably lamented, 'The arrows of the Almighty are within me." He knew of God's power and rule over creation, so he felt that God had targeted him for suffering. When we respond this way to suffering, we serve Satan's strategy. As the enemy of God and his people (Genesis 3114-15; 1 Peter 5:8-9), Satan delights when we become afraid of God and resent him. Being absorbed with pain and grief makes living and trusting God very difficult. God does not target good people to suffer. Much of suffering comes from natural disasters, accidents due to free will, disease in a fallen world, or sinful people who hurt others or themselves (by addiction or neglect). When Satan makes us feel singled out or we become preoccupied with the Why me? question, his strategy to stifle our relationships with God is working. We must not doubt in the dark times of trial what God has taught us in the light.

(6:6-7) Bad Council - Job said that Eliphaz's advice was like eating the tasteless white of an egg. When people are going through severe trials, ill-advised counsel tastes bad. They may listen politely, but inside they are probably upset. Be slow to give advice to those who are hurting. They often need compassion more than they need advice.

(6:8-9) Job Wants To Die - In his grief, Job wanted to give in, to be freed from his discomfort, and to die. But God did not grant Job's request. He had a greater plan for him. Our tendency, like Job's, is to want to give up and get out when the going gets rough. To trust God in the good times is commendable, but to trust him during the difficult times tests us to our limits and exercises our faith. In your struggles, large or small, trust that God is in control and that he will take care of vou (Romans 8:28).

(6:20-30) Job Defends Himself - Job referred to his own righteousness, not because he was sinless, but because he had a right relationship with God. He was not guilty of the sins his friends accused him of (see Job 31 for his summary of the life he had led). Righteousness is not the same as sinlessness. Job was not claiming to be sinless--free from all wrong thoughts and actions (7:20-21; 9:20). No one but Jesus Christ has ever been sinless. Even Job needed to make some changes in his attitude toward God, as we will see by the end of the book. Nevertheless, Job was righteous and blameless, a person of integrity (1:8). He carefully obeyed God to the best of his ability in all aspects of his life.

Dave Burnette's Life Application