Job 2:11-13

CONCLUDING PART OF PROSE INTRODUCTION.—VISIT OF JOB’S FRIENDS

I. The Friends. (Job 2:11.) “Now when Job’s three friends heard.” Rather, “three friends of Job.” Probably friends most intimate with him, and from whom he had most to expect (ch Job 6:14). Perhaps connected with him by kindred as well as acquaintance and religion. Worshippers of the true God. Eminent in their day and country for wisdom and piety. Their religions views those of the age. Regarded retribution as very much a thing of this life. Hence their unfavourable view of Job’s character from his condition. Much older than Job. Intending comfort, they become under Satan’s influence, and from their narrow mistaken views, his severest trial. Instead of soothing they add to his grief,—by uncharitable suspicions, false reasonings, unseasonable admonitions, and bitter reproofs. Good easily perverted to evil by Satan’s malice. Satan used Job’s wife to jeer him out of his religion, and his friends to dispute him out of it [Caryl.]—“Came,”—probably, when his disease was now considerably advanced (Job 7:4). Affliction should draw us to our friends, not drive us from them. Adversity one of the best tests of friendship (Proverbs 17:17). Good manners to be an unbidden guest in the house of mourning. [Caryl]. True friendship shewn in self-denying effort.

“Eliphaz.” An old Edomite name. A district also so called (Genesis 36:11; Genesis 36:15). Denotes “my God is strength.” Indicates his parent’s piety.—“Temanite.” Prom the stock he sprung from, or the place (Teman) where he lived. Temanites celebrated for their wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7; Obadiah 1:8).—“Shuhite.” Of Shuah, in the east part of North Arabia. Shuah one of the settlements of the sons of Keturah (Genesis 25:2).—“Naamathite.” From Naamah, probably a district in Syria. The town in Judah so named (Judges 15:9), too far distant.

II. Object of the Friends’ visit. “Had made an appointment together.” Probably living not far apart from each other. Good to unite together in works of charity and mercy (Mark 2:3).—“To mourn with him.” Sympathy in sorrow an instinct of humanity and a Christian duty (Romans 12:15). Example of Jesus (John 11:33). Job’s own character (ch. Job 30:25). Tears shed with our own, often the. most soothing balm in sorrow. A world of meaning in the child’s words,—“I only cried with her.”—“And to comfort him.” The motive good, though the execution faulty. A friend in trouble one of our choicest blessings. A brother born for adversity. Comfort of mourners one of the objects of the Lord’s ministry (Isaiah 61:2). See His mode of dispensing it, Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 11:28. To comfort in trouble one of the leading parts of Christian duty (1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; James 1:27; Matthew 25:36). Job’s own character and practice (ch. Job 29:25).— Job 2:12, “Lifted up their eyes afar off.” Where yet they might easily have recognised him. So the father of the prodigal (Luke 15:20). Job apparently now in the open air, and, as a leper, outside the city.—“Knew him not.” So altered by his disease, his sorrow, and his place among the ashes. Marks the depth of his calamity. Unrecognizable by his friends. When men know us least, is the time that God knows us best. (Psalms 31:7.)

III. Their Sympathy. Job 2:12. “They lifted up their voice and wept.” Marks their deep sympathy and their friend’s deep sorrow. In the east, full vent usually given to grief (Genesis 27:38; Genesis 29:11; Judges 2:4; Ruth 1:9; 1 Samuel 24:16).—“Sprinkled dust upon their heads towards heaven.” Casting it into the air, so as to fall down on their heads (Acts 22:23). Token of grief, astonishment, and humiliation towards God under a great sorrow (Joshua 7:6; Nehemiah 9:1; 1 Samuel 4:10). Their feeling, consternation and sorrow at the sight of so sad a change.—“Sat down with him upon the ground” (Job 2:13). Another token of sympathetic grief (2 Samuel 12:16; Isaiah 3:26; Lamentations 2:10; Ezra 9:3). True sympathy to sit down on the ground with one so loathsome in himself, and apparently an object of the Divine displeasure.—“Seven days.” Usual time of mourning for the dead (Genesis 1:10; 1 Samuel 31:13). Job’s children dead, and himself virtually so. So in time of great affliction (Ezekiel 3:15). Depth of Job’s calamity marked by that of his friends’ sympathy.—“None spake a word unto him.” True sympathy expressed by silence as well as tears. Silence usual and becoming in presence of deep distress (Lamentations 2:10). “A reverence due to such prodigious woe” [Sir R. Blackmore]. Unseasonable words an aggravation of the sufferer’s grief. The friends confounded at Job’s calamity and unable to speak to it. Ignorant as to the cause, and apprehensive of Divine displeasure. Prudence and skill required in administering consolation.—“For they saw.” His affliction apparently much greater than they had anticipated. The heart affected by the eye. Good to place ourselves in the presence of sorrow (Ecclesiastes 7:2).—“That his grief was very great.” The stroke as heavy as it was possible for Satan to inflict, and the grief proportionate. No sin for our feelings to keep pace with. God’s dealings.

Lessons from Job’s grief and the occasion of it:—

1. God’s dearest children and most faithful servants may be the subjects of deepest suffering.
2. No part of piety to render the sou insensible to calamity.
3. The sudden removal of all earthly comforts possible, and to be prepared for.
4. Much of the sufferings of God’s servants the probable result of Satan’s malice.
5. Patience and submission to God’s will consistent with the deepest grief.

Job in his deep distress a type of the “Man of Sorrows.” His soul “exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” In an agony, prayed the more earnestly that the cup might, if possible, pass from Him, yet meekly submitted. His bloody sweat, the result of a frame like our own convulsed by inward distress (Matthew 26:37; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:44).