Bildad senses that Job has insulted him, and he isn’t going to let that pass. But when Job gets the chance to respond, something incredible happens.
This sounds to me like more of the same “back and forth” conversation that has been going on, with a continued downward spiral toward mean-spiritedness on the part of Job’s friends. Surely we should give our friends who are in constant pain some grace when they complain or say something that ordinarily we would be offended by. Personally, I am a terrible grump when I am sick. I don’t want to be bothered, and I nothing really makes me happy. I don’t seem to have the wisdom to “be quiet” when I’m sick, or exhausted. And, because of that I occasionally say things when I don’t feel well that cause problems long after the sickness has passed.
That got me thinking: I wonder if the relationship became better or worse for Job and his three friends after he is healed? The Bible doesn’t really tell us if they remained friends, became even closer, or cooled a little toward each other.
I believe that Job had enough grace to accept his three friends back again, and even become closer than they were before. Sometimes going through something especially difficult has a way of accelerating your maturity. I have friends who are going through it right now, and I see them both maturing. In one sense I am almost envious of their testimony (although my humanness tells me that I don’t want to trade places with them). I think Job emerges from this closer to God than ever, and able to help others more than ever before.
So, as his friends are needling him, and trying to force him to confess to sins that he honestly feels he has not committed, Job (in his pain, weakness and exhaustion) comes out with this beautiful line about how he knows the God is his redeemer, and that he lives and one day he will see him face to face. This phrase has encouraged thousands of people, has renewed the faith of many and provided hope to those who are suffering through trials. This song, written by a man named Samuel Medley was penned in 1738 after listening to a sermon. Perhaps the text included these chapters? (we don’t know).
2 He lives triumphant from the grave;
he lives eternally to save;
he lives exalted, throned above;
he lives to rule his church in love.
3 He lives to bless me with his love;
he lives to plead for me above;
he lives my hungry soul to feed;
he lives to help in time of need.
4 He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend;
he lives and loves me to the end;
he lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing;
he lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!
Remember, we don’t have to be on the mountaintop to have a vision. God reveals himself in the valleys as well. If you find yourself in a valley as you read this, take heart! Your Redeemer lives! and one day you will see him face to face, and in that moment “it will be worth it all”. But that’s a hymn for another day…
faithfully,
PR