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. (Job 2:13 ESV)
If you are familiar with the story of Job, you might know that his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, were less than helpful to him. In fact, Job goes on to refer to them as “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2). But not everything they did was harmful. Their harm begins when they attempt to make sense of Job’s situation. Prior to that, however, these three do something right: they demonstrate their care for Job.
In our last exposition, we saw Job’s suffering intensify; after losing all his property and children, Satan upped the ante by bringing upon him terrible physical pain. Job’s closest confidant, his wife, was not helpful, and thus we left Job alone. Sitting in the ashes.
Perhaps you and I have never experienced pain near the level of Job’s; however, most of us could resonate with the feeling of being alone in the pain. We may or may not plaster a smile on our faces; we may or may not participate in social activities or withdraw ourselves – but present or not, the pain of loneliness is real. You may even be surrounded by people, but there is a difference between a superficial relationship and a relationship in which someone truly enters into the suffering with you.
This is where Job’s 3 friends did something well – they entered in. They drew near. They left their homes and came to be with their friend. They sat with him. They entered his space. They mourned with him. Their empathy and compassion was on full display.
If Job had asked himself at one point, “Does anyone care?” he would’ve found the answer – at least for the moment – in the actions of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.
Brethren, asking such a question isn’t necessarily a pity party. It’s part of the human condition, which the Book of Job highlights for us so well. Given our fallen state and our vulnerability to suffering, we have all wondered at one point or another, Does anyone care?
As we’ve seen in previous messages, the Book of Job points us to eternal truth that gives us peace during times of doubt. Job presents to us not only the importance of bearing with the pain of others, but more importantly, the God who delights in doing so. As we come to this text on Sunday, may we be encouraged that our God actually and truly does care about us, and he’s confirmed this truth so vividly by sending to us his only Son.