Having considered the impropriety of Job’s comforters, let us now consider what would have made them effective comforters.
It is well worth noting that we have advantages above Job’s comforters in every way: we know the events leading to Job’s suffering, we are aware of God’s rebuke to them at the end of the book, and most importantly, we live at a time in history when Jesus Christ has been revealed. If we ponder “what should they have said,” we may well consider it in two respects. First, we consider what they should have said with the knowledge they had, and second, we consider what could be said with the additional advantages we have in the New Testament church.
At the very beginning of Eliphaz’s first speech, he acknowledges something fascinating about Job: “Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees” (Job 4:3-4). That is to say, Eliphaz recognizes that Job has himself been a blessed counselor and comforter to afflicted people in the past. The terminology of weak hands and feeble knees bears a striking resemblance to Hebrews 12:12, “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” This passage is part of a larger exhortation to patiently endure chastening, looking for the “peaceable fruit of righteousness.” This exhortation rests on an assurance that God, as a good Father, chastens the sons He loves. Imagine how differently the conversation would have gone if Job’s friends had begun by reminding Job that God’s love is everlasting, that suffering has an end, and that the outcome would be the peaceable fruit of righteousness!
Job described what he desired from his comforters in several places. For example, “To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend…” (Job 6:14). As simple as this is, it is worthy of our consideration. Pity is defined as “a feeling of emotion or tenderness aroused by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, and prompting a desire for its relief.” In fact, Job’s friends did show pity long before they opened their mouths by making an appointment to come to him. They wept and sat in silence with him for seven days. These actions show a true and deep sympathy for Job in his distress. As Paul says in Romans 12:15, we should “weep with them that weep.” It is a wonderful blessing to have friends who can join with us in both times of joy and times of mourning. Sometimes if words fail, the fact that a friend is near and shares in the pain of the suffering can speak volumes of brotherly love and help alleviate the loneliness that so often accompanies suffering.
Another of Job’s rebukes to his friends was “What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you.” In our attempts to comfort our friends, we must be careful to avoid presenting ourselves as superior to them. In my opinion, this is one of the biggest mistakes Job’s friends made throughout this conversation. It is true that every man is a sinner and that in himself, man cannot be just with God. However, in the context of this situation in which Job is suffering and his friends are not, such a statement appears to incorrectly justify Job’s friends and condemn Job. This faulty superior/inferior presentation corrupts well-intended comfort frequently, and is one of the reasons we hear people sometimes say, “I don’t want your pity.” The fact is that true pity is a very desirable thing among brethren. What people really mean when they make such a statement is, “I don’t want to be made to feel as though I’m inferior because of my suffering.” If we are to be effective comforters, we need to present ourselves with humility.
One of Job’s repeated themes is that he lacks someone to stand between him and God (Job 9:33, for example). In light of the fact that chapter 1 describes Job as making offerings on behalf of his sons, we may see that Job desires a similar intercessor on his behalf. Job realized that his sons were liable to sin and therefore, out of love for them, offered of his own substance daily for them. This sheds some light on Job’s understanding of intercession. He answers his own need for a mediator in the ultimate sense in chapter 19 when he calls out, “I know that my redeemer liveth,” which is a clear prophecy of the coming and work of Christ. While Christ alone occupies the role of mediator between man and God, it is our place and duty to intercede for one another similarly to Job’s intercessions for his sons. In the New Testament church, we have the blessed opportunity to pray for one another. The book of James teaches that if any is sick, he should call the elders of the church. The elders of the church should pray for him and God will hear from heaven. What a great and effective comfort this is! It would have been appropriate for Job’s friends to have prayer with him, asking God to relieve and strengthen him during the time of affliction.
The thoughts so far could have been accessible in Job’s day. However, in our day, we have much greater comfort that we can offer. We are furnished with the fulness of scripture, with a gospel that reveals Christ and His work.
- When a friend desires a daysman, we can declare that Jesus stands between God and man as the Mediator (I Timothy 2:5). We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous (I John 2:1), and we do not have to fear answering a wrathful God face-to-face. This precious truth directly answers Job’s greatest fears, which recur among God’s anxious children today. Sometimes, religious people teach the idea of the last day as a “judgment day” when we will be called to answer for every action we’ve taken in our lives, event by event. This produces a tormenting level of fear in sinners who are sensitive of their failings and the impossibility of rendering their own justifications before the throne of God. Thankfully, the judgment that takes place on the last day according to the Bible is instead a general judgment when God will divide His people from those whom He never knew. All whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life have been known and loved by God from before the foundation of the world, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be more than sufficient for them on that last day. God will not demand that they defend themselves before His holy justice because they have a perfect Mediator who has already accomplished their justification before God. Such confidence in the work of Christ forms the central comfort of the gospel, and we can proclaim that our sins have been put away as far as the east is from the west. This type of declaration of Christ’s accomplished, successful atonement would answer many of the arguments offered by Job’s friends which made them miserable comforters.
- We can point to Jesus as an example of suffering for righteousness’ sake and remind His children that they are following Him when they suffer patiently in righteousness (I Peter 4:12-16). We can point to scripture such as II Corinthians 12:9 to show that God’s grace will be sufficient for us in all affliction, even if the suffering persists. God will impose a limit both in magnitude (I Corinthians 10:13) and duration (II Corinthians 4:16-18) of our suffering.
- If the suffering is such that no remedy is expected in this life, we can remind the brother or sister of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away (I Peter 1:4). As severe as our sufferings here may be – let’s not lose sight of how much Job suffered – there is comfort that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
The Bible is full of blessed truths that can be applied to encourage and comfort. This only scratches the surface!
When a time has come to comfort the Lord’s dear saints, may we approach them with pity, high esteem, and the encouraging and soul-stirring reminders of the gospel of Christ’s finished work. Job’s friends’ error is that they repeatedly pointed Job to human failure, or attempts at righteousness. The antidote is to point sufferers to Christ, elevating their minds beyond the immediate suffering and to consider heavenly things. The Lord has redeemed His people including body, soul, and spirit. He is returning one day, and “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”