JOB 2:11\u201313<\/b><\/p>\n
Now when Job\u2019s three friends heard \u2026 each one came from his own place<\/i><\/p>\n
(Job 2:11).<\/i><\/p>\n
In the midst of his suffering, Job received a visit from three friends. These friends, like Job, were of Gentile descent; they were outside the covenant promises made to Israel, but graced with religious piety. Eliphaz descended from Temnan, the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:11). Bildad probably descended from Shuah, Abraham\u2019s son by Keturah (Gen. 25:2). Zophar is thought by some to be the same Zepho who was a descendant of Esau (Gen. 36:11).<\/p>\n
Job\u2019s friends heard of his great affliction, and they quickly made an appointment to travel from their distant countries to share the burden of his grief. This is a great testimony of friendship. When true friends see a loved one in need, they do not wait for an invitation, but they put aside their own concerns for the sake of their friend.<\/p>\n
When we visit those who are suffering, both parties are blessed. It is profitable to the one who visits by giving him a look at the troubles of another, thus causing him to reflect on his own life more seriously and praise God for his health and welfare. It is profitable for the afflicted one by bringing him the love and support of loved ones. \u201cJob\u2019s friends came, not to satisfy their curiosity with an account of his troubles and the strangeness of the circumstances of them \u2026 but to mourn with him, to mingle their tears with his, and so to comfort him,\u201d Henry wrote.<\/p>\n
Job\u2019s friends allowed themselves to feel Job\u2019s pain. When they saw his disfigured and twisted body, they wept aloud. They rent their clothes and sprinkled dust on their heads, a sign of profound grief. They sat with him among the ashes in a spirit of true compassion. They did not just stop by for a brief and unaffected visit, but they stayed with him and tried to counsel him; although, as we will soon see, they were miserable counselors. Many who seek to do good often make mistakes and fail to bring the comfort they intended. Nevertheless, Job\u2019s friends should be commended for standing by him in a time of great need.<\/p>\n
May each of us follow not only the example of Job\u2019s friends but the supreme example of Christ, who is our greatest friend, as we encourage others, comfort them in their affliction, and help carry their burden of grief with sincerity and compassion.<\/p>\n
CORAM DEO<\/b><\/p>\n
Jeremiah 3\u20134<\/p>\n
2 Thessalonians 3<\/p>\n
WEEKEND<\/b><\/p>\n
Jeremiah 5\u20138<\/p>\n
1 Timothy 1\u20132<\/p>\n
What kind of friend are you? Are you willing to put aside your own concerns for the sake of a friend who needs encouragement? Take some time this week to visit a friend, even if he or she is not in some crisis. We all need encouragement from time to time. Put your friend\u2019s concerns before your own. Above all, listen.<\/p>\n
For further study: Prov. 17:17; 18:24; 27:10 \u2022 John 15:1\u201317<\/i><\/p>\n
WEEKEND<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JOB 2:11\u201313 Now when Job\u2019s three friends heard \u2026 each one came from his own place (Job 2:11). In the midst of his suffering, Job received a visit from three friends. These friends, like Job, were of Gentile descent; they were outside the covenant promises made to Israel, but graced with religious piety. Eliphaz descended … Continue reading “FAITHFUL FRIENDS”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12616\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}