Do Not Fail To Visit The Sick

As we enter chapter 2 we read that Job retains his faith, despite his wife's encouragement to "curse God and die." In all this, says the writer of this marvelous book, "Job did not sin with his lips" (Job 2:9).

At this point we have not learned who wrote the book of Job. Was it Job himself? No answers are immediately forth coming. Rabbis of old suggested Moses as the author. Some commentators in the 17th century (i.e. French Capuchin monk Jacques Bolduc) suggested that Moses took the original Aramaic form of the book and translated it into Hebrew. Still others suggested that Elihu, one of Job's comforters, or even Job himself, was the author. The fact that the book has Arabic words, nomadic habits, illustrations from sandy plains and an awareness of nature suggests that it was written in the era of the O.T. patriarchs. All we can do is guess, because the text does not identify its author.

So, back to the story.

We now meet three of Job's friends.

• Eliphaz the Temanite - his name means "El (God) is pure gold." He likely came from Teman, an important city of Edom (Amos 1:12; Obadiah 8-9; Jeremiah 49:7. Tradition gave this name to Esau's son, the father of Theman (Gen. 36:11; I Chron. 1:35-36). 

Baal, god of thunder

• Bildad the Shuhite - his name means "Bel has loved" He is probably called the Shuhite because he belonged to Shuah, a district in Arabia, where Shuah, Abraham's sixth son by Keturah, settled (Gen. 25:2). His name suggests he is the representative of the various Baal and Bel cults. Baal is the storm god, rider of the clouds and active during the storms. 

• Zophar the Naamathite - his name means "sparrow." We do not know where Naamah was. The LXX (Greek OT) renders him "king of the Mineans or Midianites." Others suggest Maonites (Judges 10:12). Perhaps the Maonites were a tribe of Arabs inhabiting Maon (Jos. 15:55; 1 Sam. 23:24-25:2). 

These fine friends of Job heard of the tragedies that struck him and his family. They came together to "show him sympathy or to console and comfort him." But when they arrived they didn't even recognize the man, so distorted were his features, so filled with blisters and sores was his body. All they could do was to tear their robes and sprinkle dust in the air above to indicate their grief and pain. 

And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. - Job 2:13 ESV

We will hear later about how they tried to comfort him with their words. For now let us ponder the importance of our personal visits to those who are grieving and sick. Jesus healed many during his ministry. He commends those of us who follow his example by reaching out to the sick. He tells us that in so doing we are ministering unto him.

I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' - Mat 25:36-40 ESV