Have you ever been in so much pain that you couldn’t talk and couldn’t handle other people talking to you? I have been there a few times, but not for days on end, like Job!
Job 2:11-13 11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
I know the three friends didn’t stay sympathetic and didn’t remain an encouragement, but they started out well. They left their comforts to sit next to and watch Job’s misery. They didn’t just come and pay respects for 7 minutes but sat silently for 7 days and nights!
What kind of friend are you and I? Are we that selfless and sacrificial? Do we tell our friend we will pray for them and then move on with our day? I was convicted by the initial compassion of Job’s friends.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
