Romans 12:8, On Exhortation
Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The word “exhort” in the original comes from a preposition which means “to come alongside” and the verb “to call”. Placed together, the word literally means “to call someone to come alongside”. It means “to comfort” or “to help”. Plumer observed well, “Exhortation, cognate to the verb “beseech in”. It is a very general term and embraces almost every variety of comfort, of encouragement and urgency to duty. This is a great gift.” It involves comforting someone who is suffering from some affliction physically, emotionally or spiritually. It involves helping someone who is in some trouble with words of comfort, encouragement, and advice through prayer and God’s Word. It strengthens the faith of the recipient.
When Job was afflicted, his three friends were miserable comforters. Instead of providing encouragement and comfort from God’s Word, they accused him of sinning against God. It caused Job to be more depressed. What was worse, they misrepresented God.
Bildad used the name of God in vain speaking with authority on behalf of God, albeit, a false authority. His main line of argument is that Job has sinned and therefore his affliction is God’s punishment – Job 8:3-4 “Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression.” Job’s children die because of their sins, Bildad insinuated. What evil counsel! If Job repents, Bildad is “sure”, the wrath of God will turn away from him. He quotes ancient wisdom as his authority and he uses the cause and effect argument to pronounce Job guilty. His friend Bildad’s “counseling of love” is in fact “an admonition of hate” which we shall see in perspective in chapter 42:7 when God admonished Bildad through Eliphaz.
Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
In the Book of Acts, we observe the ministry of exhortation in perspective when the Apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas make many subsequent trips to encourage the brethren in the churches which they visited before to strengthen their faith – Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
May God bless His people as they strengthen the hand of one another through mutual exhortation in the Lord. Amen.