Some Friends Job Had, Huh?
Author: Pat Aman
Bildad the Shuhited, Lophar the Naamathite and Eliphaz the Temanite.
“Sounds like Termites to me, trying to eat away with Jobs soul.” These friends were so overwhelmed by Job’s condition that they sit in silence with Job for seven days.
NOW let me tell you this, if I am sick or in trouble and you visit me, you better be prepare to PRAY. Do some spiritual warfare for me. I might now be as nice as Job and let you sit and look at me for seven days.
Now these men did try to figure out why he was suffering.
“Now let me add something here, it like looks and sounds like they were gossiping, running their mouths. If they had been praying God could have shown them the devil was trying to destroy Job.”
Now Eliphaz said Job suffers because of sin, and those who sin are punished. Zophar condemns Job for verbosity, presumption and sinfulness, saying Job is getting just what he deserves. Bildad, resting his authority on tradition, suggests that Job is a hypocrite.
Now if that is not calling the kettle black.
They falsely make the assumption that people can comprehend the ways of God without taking into account the fact that divine retribution and blessing may extend beyond this present life.
Job tries to tell these so call friends that he is innocence, stating that experience proves that both the godly and ungodly suffer and both enjoy prosperity.
Let’s look at what Job says, Job 27:1-6, “Moreover Job continued his discourse and said: As God lives, who has taken away my justice, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter. As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness. Nor my tongue utter deceit. Far be it from me, that I should say you are right. Till I die, I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go. My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.”
I will say that first of all Job did as we do, he tried to explain his state. I have learn that you might as well forget that. When people sit their minds to your faults they will not listen. We just need to say as Job said, “I will not put away my integrity because of what you are saying. I will just know that my God is in control.
Then there was a young man named Elihu who says the most wonderful thing. “God will speak if we will listen.”
The attitude of the sufferer, a attitude of humility allows God to intervene.
But when all is said and done, then God speaks to Job in a whirlwind. He does not try to explain Jobs suffering. He just seeks to humble Job.
Then God speaks to Jobs three friends and says, “Job 42:8, “Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to MY servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering, and MY servant Job shall pray for you. for I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as MY servant Job has.”
In other words God was telling Job’s three friends, “if Job ask me to spare your lives, I will. But, because you did not do what is right in my sight by My servant Job, at his word you will die or live.”
Then if we read on we see that after Job prayed for his friends, and ask God’s blessing on them, then the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
I know by experience that it is hard to pray for those who hurt you. I also know by experience that you will feel a lot better when you do. See God is in control, and He will never let you down.
Let God deal with others and you just pray for them and as Job said. “Keep your integrity and hold fast to your righteousness.”
I know this devotion a preaching devotion, but I decided to preach myself a sermon. I even had to throw out myself a few Amens to God.
Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2021 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of
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