The Meaning Of Life

Now, Job has three friends that enter the picture, and here is where it gets really confusing to me. Ernest Hemingway was right, the Book of Job is a literary masterpiece, a masterpiece that hurts my head. Perhaps this time, when I study it, then put my notes and thoughts in writing, I will do better.

11 Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

12 When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

The first thing I think of are the names of his friends. My name is John, and there are hundreds of thousands of men named John in this world, and considering other languages, even more than that; in Mexico and Spain and some other countries, the men are named “Juan”, which is the equivalent of “John”.

In the Bible, there are different people with the same name, and you have to be aware to keep them separated. There are many John’s, and James’ in the Bible. Now I’m not saying that there are other men named Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar in the Bible, but if there are, try to determine the time period of their lives to see who is who.

So Job’s friends come to comfort him, which is a very good lesson on how you are to help your neighbor in their time of need. And, as the verses say, for the first seven days, they simply sit with him in sympathy. Sometimes that is the best thing we can do. It’s not always appropriate to start talking, or giving advice; sometimes someone in need simply needs to sit with someone, no talking, no judgment just peaceful, quiet friendship in support of your friend.

But that was all about to change. And much of the rest of the Book of Job is a debate between Job and his friends as to how he ended up in this situation. And it is very possible that Satan sent Job’s friends to him specifically to try to discourage him and turn him against God, like Job’s own wife just tried.

Clothing was prized in those days…people didn’t have much of a wardrobe. That is why we’ll later learn that the Roman guards fought over Jesus’ clothing when he was crucified.

So to tear your clothing, was a huge act, a great sacrifice to show you were disheartened. Throwing dust on your head was another symbol to show you were sad, or angry about something.