Job 16:2-3 “I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?”
One by one, Job’s friends have come before him to accuse him of wrongdoing.
In the previous chapter, Eliphaz takes his turn.
There is a common thread in their arguments. They say Job is suffering because he sinned against God.
They are speaking out of ignorance, of course. Reading the early portions of this book will make that clear.
Instead of comforting Job, which was the purpose for their visit, they have given him even more trouble.
He calls them miserable comforters, which they have been, for the most part.
This is a danger for anyone trying to help. We can become enamored with our own opinions, not understanding they are ignorant, and make things much worse.
When shall the vain words end? When we stop talking.
What is the motivation behind our miserable advice? God only knows.
We can be sure of this: making claims we can’t substantiate helps no one.
Pointing ourselves and our friends to scripture is a good way to avoid this error. He has words of comfort that are based in reality and truth.
Job 16:2-3 “I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?”