Job’s Friends (F2)

Scripture: Job 1-2 (Click Link for Scripture)

11 When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. 12 When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. (Job 2:11-13 NLT)

When Job’s friends heard of his tragic loss, three of them traveled some distance to comfort and console him. These men were Job’s good friends. In better days they had gathered at each other’s homes to celebrate the blessings of God and to enjoy their mutual friendship. Maybe they went hunting and fishing, or rode their horses into the hills and camped out. Maybe their gatherings were more domestic and they grilled steaks and played cards and told stories into the wee hours of the night. They were his friends, and when they heard of Job’s tragedy they left their homes and traveled together to encourage and comfort him.

They were stunned when they saw Job’s condition! They cried out, they wailed, and they dramatically entered into his pain with him. They sat in silence for a week because they realized his suffering was too great for words. Then things began to go downhill! They took turns accusing Job of hidden sin and of the most outrageous behavior. They attempted to excuse God’s part in Job’s suffering by accusing Job of sin. Do you know why they did that? Because everyone knows that “Good Things Happen to Good People and Bad Things Happen to Bad People!” Except that in trying to interpret things that were way beyond their pay grade, they got it all wrong!

Here are some things we can learn from this story: 1) Friends love their friends, they don’t “fix” their friends or judge their friends. 2) Every viewpoint is a view from a point. Job’s friends were viewing from the wrong point! 3) It’s not being a good friend if you throw away a lifetime of mutual respect and start judging your friends when things go wrong for them. And lots more stuff! But these three will get us started in the right direction.

Prayer:

Father, Please help us learn what real friends do and don’t do when friends suffer. Help us to be quiet and listen to our friends when they’re having a hard time, and not try to “fix” them. Help us learn not to speak authoritatively about things we don’t understand. Help us be good friends to our friends in need! Amen.