Troublesome Counseling – Job 16:1-5

Welcome to the In All Wisdom blog post. A daily post dedicated to Wisdom for Life.

Today’s Title: Troublesome Counseling – Job 16:1-5

Our 21st century “Counseling Environment” classes the tactics of Job’s comforters as Malpractice; Coercive, or Unethical; resulting in harm or injury to the one being counseled.

“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 when combined can yield this equation:

Sorry+Miserable+Mischievous+Bad+Comforters of Touble=Troublesome Comforters

Here is the surrounding Scripture which enlarges our understanding, of troublesome counseling:

Job 16:1-5

Then Job answered, 
I have heard many such things; 
  Sorry comforters are you all. 
Is there no limit to windy words? 
  Or what plagues you that you answer?  
I too could speak like you,
  If I were in your place. 
I could compose words against you 
  And shake my head at you. 
I could strengthen you with my mouth,
  And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.  

Wow! So much to be added to our understanding in just five short sentences.

“Your pain” is what caught my eye, when I read this passage yet again.

Job was in pain after five counseling sessions with his friends; Eliphaz, being the chief comforter.

I have heard many such things;

I’ve heard many things like these,

is the idea. Pretty clear.

Sorry 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 blog next month.

I want to leave you with some encouragement.

The book of Job was written for you. Today’s text is “living and active”:

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 blog.
A daily blog dedicated to wisdom for life.

Thank you for reading and pondering!

Please join me again for another interesting post 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