The Resounding Sound of Silence
Have you ever simply needed someone to sit with you and say absolutely nothing? Just sit with you and “be” with you in whatever circumstance you find yourself in? I’ve been there.
In the book of Job, we come across Job, sitting with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.
These so-called friends have been ridiculing him, trying their best to convince him that his circumstances were the result of hidden, unconfessed sin in his life.
The very first verse of Job declares, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). These fellas obviously never got the memo!
Two thirds of the way through the book of Job, he finally tells these guys, “What miserable comforters you are” (Job 16:2)!
Before we join Job in his eruption, let’s give his friends their due credit for the good that they did do.
It would seem that their initial objective was weaved from pure and wholesome intent. It was only when they began filtering Job’s circumstances through their own understanding of God’s ways that they began to attack him.
They assumed, like many do, that Job’s suffering was the result of God’s judgment.
These men might have saved themselves from trouble if they had simply gotten up from sitting with Job, exchanged hugs, a nod of the head, a pat on the back, and a wish of goodwill.
They couldn’t resist, however, overthinking his dilemma and condition and offering inaccurate counsel as they tried to make sense of his anguish.
God, however, had the last word! In Job 42:7, the Lord declared to Job’s friends, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
We can learn a lot from these guys! The resounding sound of silence may be exactly what a troubled friend needs in times of tribulation.
It will always be more encouraging to a friend when you are empathetic toward their unavoidable, unexpected, unplanned circumstances. It may actually be your silence and compassion that allows them to hear God’s opinion on the matter!
Pastor Adam
In the book of Job, we come across Job, sitting with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.
These so-called friends have been ridiculing him, trying their best to convince him that his circumstances were the result of hidden, unconfessed sin in his life.
The very first verse of Job declares, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). These fellas obviously never got the memo!
Two thirds of the way through the book of Job, he finally tells these guys, “What miserable comforters you are” (Job 16:2)!
Before we join Job in his eruption, let’s give his friends their due credit for the good that they did do.
- They actually took time out of their lives to be with their friend. He was suffering and they came. That’s a good friend!
- They empathized with him, “…they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads (Job 2:12).
- They spent time with him! “Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was” (Job 2:13). Seven days is a very long time to sit in silence with someone!
It would seem that their initial objective was weaved from pure and wholesome intent. It was only when they began filtering Job’s circumstances through their own understanding of God’s ways that they began to attack him.
They assumed, like many do, that Job’s suffering was the result of God’s judgment.
These men might have saved themselves from trouble if they had simply gotten up from sitting with Job, exchanged hugs, a nod of the head, a pat on the back, and a wish of goodwill.
They couldn’t resist, however, overthinking his dilemma and condition and offering inaccurate counsel as they tried to make sense of his anguish.
God, however, had the last word! In Job 42:7, the Lord declared to Job’s friends, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
We can learn a lot from these guys! The resounding sound of silence may be exactly what a troubled friend needs in times of tribulation.
It will always be more encouraging to a friend when you are empathetic toward their unavoidable, unexpected, unplanned circumstances. It may actually be your silence and compassion that allows them to hear God’s opinion on the matter!
Pastor Adam
Posted in Pastor Adam Gomez