In the book of Job we hear about 3 of his friends who come to see Job after disaster has struck his life. These friends get a bad press for how they handle the situation but in reading the beginning of their interaction with Job I thought I’d stick up for them a little bit. I know it goes downhill after this but lets focus on the good stuff!

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. 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. 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. Job 2:11-13

• Once they heard they showed up – I’m not sure how far away they lived but the language used seems to suggest that it was somewhat of a trek. I’m sure Job was pleased to see them
• They goal was sympathy and comfort – As the book goes on this doesn’t completely roll out but their initial motivation was good!
• They felt it with him – there’s something beautiful about shared grief. They could hardly recognise Job and were so upset about this which shows their care for him.
• They didn’t minimise his pain (initially) – again, I know this shifts quickly but I love that idea that they just sat without words for a week. What a powerful image that is. Too often we try and minimise someone’s pain to a scale where we feel comfortable.

Well done boys, for that short part of the chapter you did great!