Hovering over Job 5 this morning, part 2 of Eliphaz’s initial response to Job’s lament back in chapter 3. While this “brother” came to Job to “show him sympathy and comfort him” (Job. 2:11), and though he was shocked beyond words at the physical toll of Job’s multiple calamities — so much so, that at first he “didn’t recognize him” (Job 2:12), he wasn’t ready for Job’s vehement verbal outburst, “Let the day perish on which I was born . . . Why did I not die at birth? . . . Why is light given to him who is in misery?” (Job 3:1, 11, 20) And so, Eliphaz’s mission of comfort morphed into correction. His desire to offer his suffering friend some respite somehow shifted to rebuke. And while during his rebuttal he may have made some true statements, ultimately, Eliphaz gave some bad counsel. Case in point? The “blessing” of God’s reproof.

“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves;
       therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
For He wounds, but he binds up;
       He shatters, but His hands heal.
He will deliver you from six troubles;
       in seven no evil shall touch you.

(Job 5:17-19 ESV)

Despise not the discipline of the Almighty . . .

Okay, can I get an “amen” on that? That seems to line up with something I recall from Proverbs (Prov. 3:11), a thing in Proverbs that’s quoted again in Hebrews (Heb. 12:5). Don’t refuse the LORD’s correction, because blessed is the one whom God reproves . . . true statement.

And yet, as I chew on Eliphaz’s declaration, it leaves me a little disquieted. Something’s not quite right here. And I think it’s in the “blessing” that Eliphaz describes. Wounds are good cause you’ll know the relief of being bound up. Shattering might be painful but knowing the healing will be wonderful. The reward is in the relief. The prize is the deliverance from pain. So, suck it up buttercup and wait for the blessing of getting better. Eliphaz’s emphasis is kind of like Satan’s, “Skin for skin” (Job. 2:4). The blessing of God found in the healing of God. That’s just bad counsel.

Eliphaz’s focus on physical healing and material blessing isn’t what Proverbs talks about. It’s not what Hebrews explains. When Proverbs and Hebrews exhort us to “not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord”, it’s because the Lord disciplines “the one He loves” (Prov. 3:12, Heb. 12:6). We embrace suffering not because our goal is simply to get through it and get better, but first as a reminder in the suffering that we are beloved. That God is treating us as dear children, allowing the trial “for our good” (Heb. 12:7-10).

And “the good” isn’t, as Eliphaz describes it, having wounds bound up, or even shattered lives healed, ultimately it’s for a far greater and longer lasting “good”.

For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but [God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

(Hebrews 12:10-11 ESV)

The ultimate prize for Job’s endurance through the severe trials God permitted was so that Job might share God’s holiness. The best outcome Job could know from his sufferings — an outcome transcending his time on earth — was the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Or, to put it as Paul would to the Romans, “to be conformed to the image of God’s Son” (Rom. 8:29). That’s the “good” that “all things work together for” (Rom. 8:28). That’s the prize.

Knowing this doesn’t make the suffering any less or any easier. It certainly doesn’t dimiinish the need for comforters to come alongside to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15b), doesn’t excuse us from compassionately comforting others “with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2Cor. 1:4). But for those who are called to draw alongside and help bear our brother’s burden or help carry our sister’s heavy weight, knowing this does allow us to give good counsel when we make true statement that, truly, blessed is the one whom God reproves.

Blessed because He loves us as a Father loves His children. Blessed because He is transforming us, so that more and more we share His holiness. Though we desire relief, respite, and restoration, blessed because the ultimate blessing in God’s reproof is found in the harvest of the character of Christ, the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

And this, by His grace. And this, for His glory.