Job 16:1-5 Troublesome Counseling

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Transcript

Welcome to the In All Wisdom podcast. 
A daily podcast dedicated to Wisdom for Life.
I am James R. Donnelly, your host.

Today’s Title: 

Troublesome Counseling  – Job 16:1-5

Our 21st century counseling environment would class the tactics of Job’s troublesome comforters as malpractice, coercive, or unethical; causing harm or injury.
“Troublesome” captures the meaning of the Hebrew word normally translated “evil”, “bad”, or “harmful”.
Here I list a few English translations describing Job’s comforters.
“Sorry comforters” NASB; NJB
“Miserable comforters” KJV; NKJV (note Troublesome); NIV; LEB; ESV; NLT; RSV
“Mischievous comforters” Tanakh
“Bad comforters” Lexham English Septuagint
“Troublesome comforters” LSB(literal, Comforters of trouble).
English translations of the Hebrew when combined yield this equation:
Sorry+Miserable+Mischievous+Bad+Comforters of Touble=Troublesome Comforters

Allow me to read the surrounding Scripture for today’s podcast.

Job chapter 16 verses 1 to 5:

1 Then Job answered, 

2 “I have heard many such things; 
Sorry comforters are you all. 

3 “Is there no limit to windy words? 
Or what plagues you that you answer? 

4 “I too could speak like you, 
If I were in your place. 

I could compose words against you 
And shake my head at you. 

5 “I could strengthen you with my mouth, 

And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.  (Job 16:1–5, NASB).


Two important observations regarding the structure of Job chapter 16

First, the chapter structure aligns the number of occurrences of the name Job in the book with the number of personal pronouns for Job in chapter 16: “… The hero [Job], whose proper name, as we have seen, occurs 56 times … in the book, [And it is Job who answers Eliphaz [in chapter 16] …[And it is Job who] occupies himself almost exclusively with his own situation, and for that purpose he employs the first person 56 (!) times: I/me/my, in the original.[ J.P. Fokkelman, The Book of Job in Form, p. 235.]”

Second, the structure of chapter sixteen, has exactly twenty-two verses, corresponding to the same number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. But more importantly, the words that fill this 22nd verse, can literally be translated: “When a few years will come; I will go the way, and I will not turn back.” (see, Job 16:22). More on that translation later in this series.  

Chapter 16 begins: “I have heard many such things …”  

I’ve heard many things like these, is the idea. Pretty clear. I will expand on this next time. 
“Troublesome comforters are you all.” Comforting badly, mischievously is the point. 
“All of you” identifies who is behind this malevolent comforting.
“All of you” prompts Psalm 82:6 “I said, You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.” I have explained this already. I will provide some links later. 


I will continue this particular podcast next month.

For now, I want to leave you with some encouragement.

The book of Job was written for you. The words of Job chapter 16 are “living and active”, and they are not malicious, but intended to nourish you in your faith in God. 

I quote now from the New Testament: 

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:12–16, NASB).


We have come to the end of today’s podcast.   
A daily podcast dedicated to wisdom for life. 

Thank you for listening and pondering!  

Please join me again for another interesting podcast about wisdom for Life.

Until he comes on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory, 

The Lord bless you, and keep you; 
The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 
The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ 

Numbers 6:24–26, NASB  

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