Dear Ones:
Even friends can be the source of suffering and hurt. Such was the case with Job’s friends. They seem to be earnest in their apparent identification with Job in his suffering, but their portrayal of God to Job, at a time of great anguish, just put “salt in the wounds,” and did nothing to help or comfort him. I imagine that Job was tempted to harbor resentment in his heart towards them, even though they were declared “friends.” In the last chapter of the book of Job, we come to where the Lord addresses Job’s friends, and corrects them with regard to their misrepresentation of Him to Job. He tells them: “…my servant Job shall pray for you: for him I will accept.” (42:8) The friends came to Job to offer up a sacrifice to God for themselves, as they did not want the wrath of God to be against them. Although the Lord is seeking to “save” these friends from their own ways, assessments, and wrong ideas (idolatry), He is also seeking to “save” Job. What would He need to save Job from? Job’s greatest enemy is his sinful “self.” If Job harbors an unforgiving spirit towards his friends, then he is in peril of the Lord not hearing him, not answering his prayer. (Ps. 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will NOT hear me.”) And so, the Lord seeks to “save” Job from any resentment, bitterness, which is the result of a lack of forgiveness of his friends. It must be noted at this point that Scripture says: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends…” (v.10) Not only would the Lord forgive Job’s friends, but also, deliver Job from any sin of unforgiveness which might have naturally remained in his heart. When the prayer for forgiveness and blessing was made, “…the Lord turned the captivity of Job.” He turned the suffering of Job into blessing, and this, in every manner. He forgave also the friends of Job.
We forget at times that believing God to be glorified in our lives is to show forth His nature, His person, His mercy and love. Certainly, the validity of our faith is revealed by the selfless love that we have one towards another. When the Lord Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” He is telling us that this is the way we express His mercy. To forgive and forget, especially that which is so keenly felt in suffering, is truly Divine. We are apt to think of the great issues of Christianity, and yet forget, that we are not to hold on to any grudge or resentment, believing that someone owes us something in order for us to love them. Remember what Christ said on the cross: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.” This is love…this is mercy. And we are to be merciful as He is merciful.
So, today…do I harbor in my heart any resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness against any person? Our experience of the victory that is ours in Christ can be short-circuited by an unforgiving spirit. And the Spirit of God KNOWS what our attitude is. Let us trust the Lord to deal with any cloud which might be between us and Him today. And then, let us go forth, in full assurance of faith, to love and serve Him, praying for those who might “despitefully use us.” Remember…the Lord turned the captivity of Job WHEN he prayed for his friends.
Love, Dad