“INSULT TO INJURY”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: Job 5 (Focus vs.17–27)
MEMORY VERSE
“Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” Job 5:7
BACKGROUND
During the Golden Age of radio, Fred Allen (1894–1956) used comedic pessimism to bring smiles to a generation living in the shadows of economic depression and a world at war.
His sense of humor was born out of personal pain. Having lost his mother before he was three, he was later estranged from his father who struggled with addictions.
He once rescued a young boy from the traffic of a busy New York City street with a memorable, “What’s the matter with you, kid? Don’t you want to grow up and have troubles?”
The life of Job unfolds in such troubled realism. When his early expressions of faith eventually gave way to despair, his friends multiplied his pain by adding insult to injury.
With good sounding arguments they insisted that if he could admit his wrongs (Job 4:7–8) and learn from God’s correction, he would find strength to laugh in the face of his problems (5:22).
Job’s “comforters” meant well while being so wrong (1:6–12).
Never could they have imagined that they would one day be invoked as examples of “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Never could they have imagined the relief of Job praying for them, or why they would need prayer at all (42:7–9).
Never could they have imagined how they foreshadowed the accusers of the One who suffered so much misunderstanding to become the source of our greatest joys.
By: Mart DeHaan
INSIGHT
The book of Job is typically classified as Wisdom Literature, along with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and portions of Psalms.
Proverbs and many Wisdom psalms emphasize that since God’s wisdom is woven into the creation of the universe, living with wisdom—in tune to God’s ways—is more likely to result in human flourishing.
However, both Job and Ecclesiastes nuance that picture, emphasizing that injustice and suffering can occur through no fault of their victims.
Throughout the book of Job, Job’s friends echo sentiments found in the Wisdom Literature of Proverbs and Psalms (for example, compare Job 5:19–21 to Psalm 91:5–16).
Job’s friends refuse to face the clear exceptions to these principles and in so doing show a staggering lack of compassion for Job. In the end, God chastises them for not speaking “the truth about me, as my servant Job has” (42:7).
APPLICATION
How have others misjudged you, and how did you feel? When have you been critical of others whose pain you didn’t understand?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Always speak “sweet” so that if you have to eat your words back then they don’t taste bitter” Apna Talks
“Real friends don’t (always) have to speak” Apna Talks
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“…friends (sometimes multiply) pain by adding insult to injury.
*YOUR TAKE? 
PRAYER
“Father, like Job’s friends, I’m inclined to assume that the troubles of others are somehow deserved. Please help me live this day in the Spirit of Your Son rather than in the words and thoughts of the accuser.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“LORD SPEAK TO ME THAT I MAY SPEAK”
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Your tone.
As You have sought, so let me seek
Your erring children, lost and lone.
Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wand’ring and the wav’ring feet.
Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Your hungry ones with manna sweet.
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious truths which You impart.
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
Oh, fill me with Your fullness, Lord,
Until my very hearts o’erflows
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Your love to tell, Your praise to show.
Oh, use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as You will, and when, and where
Until Your blessed face I see,
Your rest, Your joy, Your glory share.
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF JUDGES CHAPTERS 1-7
THE BOOK OF II CORINTHIANS CHAPTERS 1-7