19. Comfort for the Afflicted

Hymns: RHC 358 What a Friend We Have In Jesus; 243 The Comforter Has Come; 338 ShowMe Thy Way, O Lord

诗歌：颂主新歌 371 何等恩友慈仁救主；愿主助我传道；主，显我祢道路

Job 6:14-30

约伯记 6:14-30

¹⁴To him that is afflicted pityshould be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. ¹⁵My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, andas the stream of brooks they pass away; ¹⁶Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: ¹⁷What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. ¹⁸The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. ¹⁹The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. ²⁰They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. ²¹For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. ²²Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? ²³Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? ²⁴Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. ²⁵How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? ²⁶Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? ²⁷Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. ²⁸Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. ²⁹Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. ³⁰Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? (Job 6:14-30 KJV)

¹⁴那将要灰心，离弃全能者，不敬畏神的人，他的朋友当以慈爱待他。 ¹⁵我的弟兄诡诈，好像溪水，又像溪水流干的河道。 ¹⁶这河因结冰发黑，有雪藏在其中。 ¹⁷天气渐暖就随时消化，日头炎热便从原处干涸。 ¹⁸结伴的客旅离弃大道，顺河边行，到荒野之地死亡。 ¹⁹提玛结伴的客旅瞻望。示巴同伙的人等候。 ²⁰他们因失了盼望就抱愧，来到那里便蒙羞。 ²¹现在你们正是这样，看见惊吓的事便惧怕。 ²²我岂说，请你们供给我，从你们的财物中送礼物给我。 ²³岂说，拯救我脱离敌人的手吗？救赎我脱离强暴人的手吗？ ²⁴请你们教导我，我便不作声。使我明白在何事上有错。²⁵正直的言语力量何其大。但你们责备是责备什么呢？ ²⁶绝望人的讲论既然如风，你们还想要驳正言语吗？ ²⁷你们想为孤儿拈阄，以朋友当货物。 ²⁸现在请你们看看我，我决不当面说谎。 ²⁹请你们转意，不要不公。请再转意，我的事有理。 ³⁰我的舌上岂有不义吗？我的口里岂不辨奸恶吗？ (约伯记6:14-30)

Comfort for the Afflicted

灰心者得安慰

OUTLINE

• Kindness Not Condemnation (v14-23) 以慈爱对待不用指谪
• Patience Guidance Not Accusation (v24-30) 耐心教导不要诬告 

INTRODUCTION

The psalmist says in Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. 

诗篇119:50 这话将我救活了；我在患难中，因此得安慰。

He testified that God’s Word provided hope in the midst of sorrow.

Psalm 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

诗篇119:49 求你记念向你仆人所应许的话，叫我有盼望。

The psalmist observed sometimes it is due to the injustice, or the cruelty, or the inconsiderateness of men (vers. 51, 61, 69, 78). 

Psalm 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

诗篇119:51 骄傲的人甚侮慢我，我却未曾偏离你的律法。

He testified that there were those who afflicted him in their pride, holding him in contempt. 

Psalm 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

诗篇119:61 恶人的绳索缠绕我，我却没有忘记你的律法。

Psalm 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

诗篇119:69 骄傲人编造谎言攻击我，我却要一心守你的训词。

Psalm 119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

诗篇119:78 愿骄傲人蒙羞，因为他们无理地倾覆我；但我要思想你的训词。

The very worst suffering is the consequence of the betrayal and the hostility of those we once trusted and loved. 

Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

诗篇41:9 连我知己的朋友，我所倚靠、吃过我饭的也用脚踢我。

But God’s Word helped him. 

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

罗马书15:4 从前所写的圣经都是为教训我们写的，叫我们因圣经所生的忍耐和安慰可以得着盼望。

Indeed, the book of Job was written so that God’s people sift like wheat in their trials can find hope and comfort as they learn from the afflictions of Job.

• Kindness Not Condemnation (v14-23) 以慈爱对待不用指谪
• Patience Guidance Not Accusation (v24-30)耐心教导不要诬告  

• Kindness Not Condemnation (v14-23) 以慈爱对待不用指谪

¹⁴To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. 

¹⁴那将要灰心，离弃全能者，不敬畏神的人，他的朋友当以慈爱待他。 

Shouldn’t the afflicted be treated with kindness? The first duty of a comforter is to be compassionate his afflicted friend, to condole him, and show his sympathy with his sufferings. This is what every one looks for and expects as a matter of course. 

But Job has looked in vain. He has received no pity, no sympathy. Nothing has been offered him but arguments. And what arguments! How do they touch the point? How are they anything more than a venting of the speaker’s own self-righteousness? Let them fairly consider his case, and point out to him where he has been blamable. [Pulpit Commentary]

The Apostle Paul testified in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

哥林多后书1:3-4 愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父神，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的神。我们在一切患难中，他就安慰我们，叫我们能用神所赐的安慰去安慰那遭各样患难的人。

The true Christian comforter is one who has experienced God’s comfort in his trials and therefore is able to point others to God to find true comfort.

What a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and grieves to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer
Oh what peace we often forfeit of what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations is there trouble anywhere
If we have don’t be discouraged take it to the Lord in prayer

何等恩友慈仁救主

负我罪愆担我忧
何等权利能将万事
来到耶稣座前求

多少平安我们坐失
多少痛苦冤枉受
都是因为未将万事
来到耶稣座前求

Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

箴言书 14:21 藐视邻舍的，这人有罪；怜悯贫穷的，这人有福。

As their suffering friend, Job should receive pity from them.

Matthew Henry observed well, “Their unkindness therein poor Job here complains of, as an aggravation of his calamity and a further excuse of his desire to die; for what satisfaction could he ever expect in this world when those that should have been his comforters thus proved his tormentors?”

1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

约翰一书3:17 凡有世上财物的，看见弟兄穷乏，却塞住怜恤的心，爱神的心怎能存在他里面呢？

¹⁵My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;  ¹⁶Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: ¹⁷What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. ¹⁸The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. 

¹⁵我的弟兄诡诈，好像溪水，又像溪水流干的河道。 ¹⁶这河因结冰发黑，有雪藏在其中。 ¹⁷天气渐暖就随时消化，日头炎热便从原处干涸。 ¹⁸结伴的客旅离弃大道，顺河边行，到荒野之地死亡。

Courageously, Job pointed out the ineffectiveness of their ministry to him. They didn’t pity him or try to meet his needs. They were like a dry brook in the desert that disappoints thirsty travellers. [Wiersby]

He described his friends as being treacherous as a brook, a rocky waterway that is dry except during rainy seasons. These creek beds can become raging torrents when especially heavy rains fall. [Holman KJV Study Bible]

They came by appointment, with a great deal of ceremony, to mourn with him and to comfort him (v11); and some extraordinary things were expected from such wise, learned, knowing men, and Job’s particular friends. None questioned but that the drift of their discourses would be to comfort Job with the remembrance of his former piety, the assurance of God’s favour to him, and the prospect of a glorious issue; but, instead of this, they most barbarously fall upon him with their reproaches and censures, condemn him as a hypocrite, insult over his calamities, and pour vinegar, instead of oil, into his wounds, and thus they deal deceitfully with him. This disappointment which Job met with he here illustrates by the failing of brooks in summer. Their pretensions are fitly compared to the great show which the brooks make when they are swollen with the waters of a land flood, by the melting of the ice and snow, which make them blackish or muddy. His expectations from them, which their coming so solemnly to comfort him had raised, he compares to the expectation which the weary thirsty travellers have of finding water in the summer where they have often seen it in great abundance in the winter. [Matthew Henry]

¹⁹The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

 ¹⁹提玛结伴的客旅瞻望。示巴同伙的人等候。

The oasis of Tema served as a trade centre in North-western Arabia. 

The troops of Tema and Sheba – the caravans of the merchants of those countries, whose road lay through the deserts of Arabia, looked and waited for supply of water from those brooks. “Hard by here,” says one, “A little further,” says another, “when I last travelled this way, there was water enough; we shall have that to refresh us.” 

Where we have met with relief or comfort we are apt to expect it again; and yet it does not follow. The disappointment of his expectation is here compared to the confusion which seizes the poor travellers when they find heaps of sand where they expected floods of water. In the winter, when they were not thirsty, there was water enough. Every one will applaud and admire those that are full and in prosperity. But in the heat of summer, when they needed water, then it failed them; it was consumed (v17), it was turned aside (v18). [Matthew Henry]

 ²⁰They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. ²¹For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. ²²Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? ²³Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

 ²⁰他们因失了盼望就抱愧，来到那里便蒙羞。 ²¹现在你们正是这样，看见惊吓的事便惧怕。 ²²我岂说，请你们供给我，从你们的财物中送礼物给我。 ²³岂说，拯救我脱离敌人的手吗？救赎我脱离强暴人的手吗？ 

Matthew Henry said well “When those who are rich and high are sunk and impoverished, and stand in need of comfort, then those who before gathered about them stand aloof from them, those who before commended them are forward to run them down. Thus, those who raise their expectations high from the creature will find it fail them when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence have help in the time of need. 

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

希伯来书4:16 所以，我们只管坦然无惧的来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。

Those who make gold their hope will sooner or later be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it and the greater their confidence was the greater their shame will be.”

They were confounded because they had hoped – We prepare confusion for ourselves by our vain hopes: the reeds break under us because we lean upon them. If we build a house upon the sand, we shall certainly be confounded, for it will fall in the storm, and we must thank ourselves for being such fools as to expect it would stand. We are not deceived unless we deceive ourselves.

• Patience Guidance Not Accusation (v24-30) 耐心教导不要诬告  

²⁴Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. ²⁵How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? ²⁶Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? 

²⁴请你们教导我，我便不作声。使我明白在何事上有错。²⁵正直的言语力量何其大。但你们责备是责备什么呢？ ²⁶绝望人的讲论既然如风，你们还想要驳正言语吗？ 

Job was disappointed with his friend. The word “erred” speaks of unintentional sin. His friends should tell him his faults honestly but gently, not in a forcible manner. Job’s friends had not yet disproven his claim to innocence, they had only dismissed it.

²⁷Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. ²⁸Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. ²⁹Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. ³⁰Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? 

²⁷你们想为孤儿拈阄，以朋友当货物。 ²⁸现在请你们看看我，我决不当面说谎。 ²⁹请你们转意，不要不公。请再转意，我的事有理。 ³⁰我的舌上岂有不义吗？我的口里岂不辨奸恶吗？ 

In verse 27, Job compared his friends to merciless creditors who would take an orphan or sell a friend into slavery in pament for a debt. [Holman KJV Study Bible]

愿主助我传道The Comforter Has Come

1愿主助我传道
任凭主领何往
因为人心黑暗
恶罪束缚烦恼

勿以福音为耻
只管大胆传扬
保惠师已经来

副歌：

保惠师已经来
保惠师已经来
圣灵由天降临
天父应许是真

愿主助我传道
任凭主领何往
保惠师已经来 

2愿主教会复兴
兄弟姐妹同心
到处传扬主名
拯救远近罪人

脱离黑暗权势
人主奇妙光明
保惠师已经来

3基督是我牧者
舍命为我迷羊
前我流离失所
你今将我寻回

仇敌能力都败
高唱得胜凯歌
保惠师已经来

4今手已经扶犁
往事何必重提
等候有福指望
忍耐忠心到底

同声赞美真神
圣哉圣哉圣哉
保惠师已经来

RHC338 – 主，显我祢道路

主，显我祢道路，使它平坦：
我会遵从你话，请祢再讲。
我不会擅自地走出一步
直到我知晓祢安排何路。

主，我今看不见，赐我祢光；
黑暗扰乱着我，使我目盲；
紧握着我的手，守在我旁：
我不敢独自行，请引导我。

我见不到祢面，但祢仍在；
黎明何时会来，赶走迷惑？
我何时才能看到那地方
无昼夜因祢荣耀是它光。

主，我会耐心等，行祢旨意；
我不怀疑祢话，我的希望。
我怎能会灭亡如在祢藏；
耶稣，我的安慰，希望，引导！