當以慈愛待他(伯六)

那將要灰心、離棄全能者、不敬畏神的人，他的朋友當以慈愛待他。(伯 6：14) 

義人約伯經歷了一連串災殃，一天之內失去了所有子女和財產，自己又身染毒瘡，痛苦不已。在極度的苦難中，約伯的三位朋友：以利法、比勒達和瑣法前來探望，他們見約伯面目全非，絕望痛苦，只得靜默不語，陪伴約伯靜坐七天七夜，直到約伯終於開口咒詛自己的生日，表達出自己的絕望。好友之一以利法率先發言。他依照他的理解與經驗，認為苦難就是犯罪而來的懲罰，當思想自己是否有過犯，並向神悔改。 

因全能者的箭射入我身；其毒，我的靈喝盡了；神的驚嚇擺陣攻擊我。惟願我得著所求的，願神賜我所切望的；就是願神把我壓碎，伸手將我剪除。我因沒有違棄那聖者的言語，就仍以此為安慰，在不止息的痛苦中還可踴躍。(伯 6：4、8-10) 

受苦中的約伯在受難前，本就常常反省自己，甚至時常為他人贖罪，想必他在重重災難一一降臨的時候，也多次思想自己的所作所為。他覺得自己受到神的攻擊，這些災禍實在是又重又令他戰兢，甚至絕望到求神讓他死亡！他思來想去，仍覺不曾違背神的話語，也是他在苦難中仍然能得著的安慰。

這時的約伯心灰意冷，但沒想到好友一開口，便認為他就是有罪，就是錯了！這確實令人難以接受！ 以利法等人從各自的所在地，聽聞好友的遭遇奔襲而來，見到好友的慘況，默默的陪伴，真是不可多得的好朋友！這樣肝膽相照的好友，想必心中多有感觸，也很希望藉著自己的經驗協助約伯趕快從苦境中轉回，於是直白地提供了分析與建言，卻不知傷痕累累，幾近灰心放棄的老友，最需要的恐怕不是心直口快的建言，而是慈愛與溫柔的支持！ 

我們碰到朋友失意、遇見弟兄姊妹進入信仰低潮的時候，有時也如此大意！沒有考慮對方的心境，一心想要快快解決問題，憑著經驗與理智尋找「可能」的原因與解方。但人的心實在是肉做的，在肉心有傷口，還在疼痛之時，這麼做卻好似將鹽水撒在傷口上，那又痛又澀的滋味，反而引起反彈或縮瑟，那些解決的方案無論是對是錯，都難以真正有所幫助。 

約伯的朋友們帶著滿滿的關心而來，卻因急於扮演「指導者」而失去了作為「安慰者」的機會。求主給予我們溫柔與智慧，能夠不要急躁，溫柔的撫慰弟兄姊妹的軟弱與無助，用智慧引領他們重見盼望，一步步走出人生的低谷。 

弟兄們，若有人偶然被過犯所勝，你們屬靈的人就當用溫柔的心把他挽回過來。(加 6：1a) 

by李亮瑩

真耶穌教會石牌教會、天母教會線上講道

石牌教會https://www.youtube.com/@TJChurchShipai

天母教會https://www.youtube.com/c/TJC_Tianmu/featured

Treat Him with Lovingkindness (Job 6)

August 28, 2025

“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” (Job 6:14, ESV)

The righteous Job met with a chain of disasters. In one day he lost all his children and all his wealth. His own body was stricken with sore boils, and he was in great pain. In such extreme suffering, his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—came to visit him. When they saw Job’s changed face, his despair and grief, they sat with him in silence for seven days and nights. At last Job opened his mouth, cursed the day of his birth, and poured out his hopelessness. Among the friends, Eliphaz was the first to speak. According to his own thought and experience, suffering must be the punishment of sin; therefore Job should search himself for wrongs and repent before God.

“For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” (Job 6:4, 8–10, ESV)

Before these trials, Job was one who often examined himself, and even offered sacrifice for others. Surely, when disaster after disaster fell upon him, he had again searched his own deeds. He felt as if God was shooting at him; the blows were heavy, filling him with dread, so that he even wished for death. Yet when he thought of it, he still found that he had not departed from the words of God. This was his comfort in his unceasing pain.

At this time Job was already broken in spirit. Yet when his friend opened his mouth, it was to say: “You have sinned, you are wrong.” Such words are hard to bear! Eliphaz and the others had hurried from their homes to see him, saw his misery, and quietly sat with him. Such loyal friends are rare indeed. Surely they felt deeply, and wished by their experience to help Job quickly return from his misery. But instead of giving comfort, they gave counsel with sharp words. Job, wounded and near despair, needed not stern reasoning, but love and gentle support.

When we see a friend in sorrow, or when a brother or sister falls into a low state of faith, we also may make the same mistake. Without thinking of their pain, we rush to offer solutions, searching for “possible” causes and answers with reason and experience. But the heart of man is of flesh. When there is a wound still aching, such words are like salt upon the sore. The sting and the smart bring only retreat or withdrawal. Whether the counsel be right or wrong, it cannot bring true help.

Job’s friends came with full concern. Yet, eager to be “teachers,” they lost the chance to be “comforters.” May the Lord grant us gentleness and wisdom, that we be not hasty, but tenderly strengthen our brethren in weakness, and wisely guide them to find hope again, walking step by step out of the valley of life.

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1a, ESV)

by Li Liang-Ying