Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of Job, Chapter 5 verse 11, “God sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety,” (NRSVB). Job was a righteous man who loved God and his neighbour. He was blessed by God and given health, children and wealth. In a series of rapid following calamities Job lost his wealth, his children and his health. The news spread across the land, for Job was a respected elder in the city gates, and his friends came to mourn with him and share their compassion. First they were quiet in their mourning and consolation, and silently listened to Job’s pained utterances. Then they started to debate with him, and their words became sharp arrows instead of healing balm. Job’s friends tried to explain Job’s suffering by applying their theological interpretation of his situation, instead of standing alongside him and console him with empathy. Job’s friends did not understand the full extent of Job’s suffering and their well-meaning advice aggravated his dismal situation, instead of bringing him comfort. However, in the first answer to Job’s cries, his friend Eliphaz, the Temanite’s words were used by God as a prophecy, for he said: “You shall know that your tent shall be in peace. You shall know also that your children shall be many. You shall come to your grave in ripe old age. This is what we have searched out; it is true,” Job 5 verses 24 to 27, (Amplified Bible). Through the many days that the friends debated with Job, they said many true things, however, when someone is crushed and in despair, the ability to discern facts lessens and the need to feel compassion increases. Job felt utterly despised and rejected, also by his friends. Their counselling ultimately amounted to reprimands and recriminations. God came in the midst of these debates and brought Job out of his lowly estate and his utter despair and mourning back to a place of safety and anointing. God commanded Job to pray for his friends and intercede for them there while he was suffering. Job foreshadowed Jesus, the one who suffered, was rejected and still interceded for those who caused him bitter pain and anguish.
We learn from the friends of Job that they started their mission of comforting their friend who suffered loss on every level, initially well, by being silent and respectful. However, when they started to interpret Job’s suffering and came to the conclusion that he must have done something wrong to deserve such calamity, according to their theology, they erred. They did not bring peace and compassion to Job’s painful situation, but rather injured his broken spirit even more. Christians are called to pray for people who are suffering and point them to Jesus Christ, who suffered unjustly. Because Jesus suffered, not through any wrongs he committed, but due to wrongs committed to him, he understands and can bring consolation to those who suffer unfair trials. No-one knows why suffering occurs, but we know that Christ, the Suffering Servant, who has walked the road ahead, will walk with us through suffering, whatever, the suffering maybe. People lack compassion because they are not able to walk in the other’s shoes, their understanding is limited and they cannot interpret where the suffering is leading the sufferer. Our Lord knows how to carry us through our suffering and will never forsake us.
The Apostle Paul, suffered many trials while preaching the Gospel and writes in the Second Book to the Corinthians, Chapter One, verses 3 and 4,“Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction,” (NRSVB). Because of the affliction that our Lord carried on our behalf he comes to us and strengthens us to be able to overcome.
Father, you have promised to be our consolation in times of trial. Thank you, Lord, Amen.