Job 2:11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Job 6:14 “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Job had recently lost all of his flocks and all of his children. Now Satan’s attack is physically upon him. When his friends heard of what had happened to Job they came to him and for 7 days they spoke nothing to him for he was suffering greatly. It is nice to have friends who care about you. Who visit you in your time of trial. Who comes to, in some way, comfort you and give you support. Having a comforting friend around in a time of trials and troubles has a way of sharing the load of this burden together. Their presence encourages and strengthens us, or should I say “can or will” if we are open to receive their comfort. If we reject them, if we turn away from them, if we close our eyes and ears to their help we will not experience the comfort, strength, and encouragement they offer. It is as if we choose to go it alone. I am not sure if it is out of pride, shame, or some other reason but whatever the reason, some can reject the very comfort their soul and mind are searching for.
Jesus Christ said that after His death and resurrection He would go to His father and send the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) to lead us into all truth, to teach, lead, encourage, strengthen, and comfort us. Still, it falls upon us to seek, desire, and be open to these from the Holy Spirit. If our heart is hardened and our mind turned away and our soul standing firm in self-centered self-reliance the working of the Holy Spirit in our life is void. We do well to confess our hardened ways and seek/desire the Holy Spirit to fill us from the inside out, softening us to the point of being able to hear, trust, and obey the whispers of truth, leading, encouragement, strength, courage, and comfort.
