I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
The cry is Job's answer flung back upon his professed friends for their criticisms, censures, reproaches and accusations, because they did not understand him. They wrongly supposed him guilty when he was not guilty as charged, laboring to prove that his suffering resulted from his sin and was deserved punishment, judging affliction itself as proof of personal sin. Though they defended God by avowing faith in Him and consciousness of sin, Job showed a more deep and thorough knowledge of sin than they ever had.
They were well-meaning but narrow, short-sighted and short-experienced, looking only at externals. They had no real knowledge of being urged out by the Spirit of God, of earnest and inexpressible love for the cause of God and for souls, of close harmony with Christ for the salvation of others, and of bearing burdens they never lifted. Such friends could not fathom or appreciate his feelings, so they misunderstood his motives and misconstrued his actions, torturing his feelings with reflections and censures he in no way deserved instead of sustaining, comforting and blessing him, until like Job he prays to be saved from his friends.
Instead of sustaining, comforting, blessing, encouraging and sympathizing, such comforters offer no real comfort. Their words fail, add to the weight of distress and to the burden, make the case more bitter and unbearable, torture feelings with undeserved reflections, and increase the trial. By accusing the sufferer their work presents God falsely and does the very work Satan delights in doing, showing hardness of heart in offending and oppressing. Yet Job remained loyal under grievous test and God rewarded him.
The verse warns those who suppose themselves righteous not to deal harshly with suffering souls and deepen their pain toward despair, with no word spoken to cause deeper pain. Souls in pain and distress from their own wrongdoing while Satan seeks to drive them to despair, souls in intense agony feeling overcome and worsted and helpless, souls suffering under remorse as one stunned and staggering and sinking into the dust, and tried tempted souls whose minds are confused and cannot see clearly or know what steps to take, are the very ones who most need help and tender compassion. The verse applies to those who should have stood by and encouraged a man in distress, especially one enduring hardship for the cause of truth, but made his hardship heavier, including professed friends who watch with jealousy and accuse a suffering person instead of offering true sympathy.
The verse applies to brethren who should have soothed Brother Kellogg in his anguish but acted like Job's comforters and added to his distress. The verse applies to those who interpret the Sanitarium's destruction to find grounds for condemning Dr. Kellogg; their own spiritual condition makes Christ's message to the Laodicean church applicable to them.
The cry is Job's answer flung back upon his professed friends for their criticisms, censures, reproaches and accusations, because they did not understand him. They wrongly supposed him guilty when he was not guilty as charged, laboring to prove that his suffering resulted from his sin and was deserved punishment, judging affliction itself as proof of personal sin. Though they defended God by avowing faith in Him and consciousness of sin, Job showed a more deep and thorough knowledge of sin than they ever had.
They were well-meaning but narrow, short-sighted and short-experienced, looking only at externals. They had no real knowledge of being urged out by the Spirit of God, of earnest and inexpressible love for the cause of God and for souls, of close harmony with Christ for the salvation of others, and of bearing burdens they never lifted. Such friends could not fathom or appreciate his feelings, so they misunderstood his motives and misconstrued his actions, torturing his feelings with reflections and censures he in no way deserved instead of sustaining, comforting and blessing him, until like Job he prays to be saved from his friends.
Instead of sustaining, comforting, blessing, encouraging and sympathizing, such comforters offer no real comfort. Their words fail, add to the weight of distress and to the burden, make the case more bitter and unbearable, torture feelings with undeserved reflections, and increase the trial. By accusing the sufferer their work presents God falsely and does the very work Satan delights in doing, showing hardness of heart in offending and oppressing. Yet Job remained loyal under grievous test and God rewarded him.
The verse warns those who suppose themselves righteous not to deal harshly with suffering souls and deepen their pain toward despair, with no word spoken to cause deeper pain. Souls in pain and distress from their own wrongdoing while Satan seeks to drive them to despair, souls in intense agony feeling overcome and worsted and helpless, souls suffering under remorse as one stunned and staggering and sinking into the dust, and tried tempted souls whose minds are confused and cannot see clearly or know what steps to take, are the very ones who most need help and tender compassion. The verse applies to those who should have stood by and encouraged a man in distress, especially one enduring hardship for the cause of truth, but made his hardship heavier, including professed friends who watch with jealousy and accuse a suffering person instead of offering true sympathy.
The verse applies to brethren who should have soothed Brother Kellogg in his anguish but acted like Job's comforters and added to his distress. The verse applies to those who interpret the Sanitarium's destruction to find grounds for condemning Dr. Kellogg; their own spiritual condition makes Christ's message to the Laodicean church applicable to them.