20141018 Saturday, October 18 2014
Job 08: A Friend In Deed

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Whoso looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed"

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) permitted Satan to challenge Job - not to weaken or punish Job, but to give him the opportunity to grow even stronger in righteousness (see How Did The Devil Challenge Job To Commit A Satan?, What Was In The Heart Of Job's Tabernacle? and Job's Prophecy Of The Resurrection).

When three of Job's friends heard of his apparent troubles, they came "to mourn with him and to comfort him."

"2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 2:12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 2:13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great." (Job 2:11-13 KJV)

The saying "a friend in need is a friend indeed" is usually defined as "a friend who helps you when you really need help is a true friend" (The Cambridge Dictionary by Cambridge University Press). The "indeed" in that common definition is used to intensify the word "friend."

The saying is also defined as "a friend in need is a friend in deed" i.e. true friends do more than talk - their deeds also "speak" for their friendship. The principle is found in the meaning of genuine repentance (see also the Fact Finder question below).

"1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25 KJV)

Job's friends were his friends, but they assumed that Job's troubles were the result of some wrongful deed that Job committed. Their discourse with Job quickly became a competition, an argument against him, for him to repent. In so doing, they inadvertently intensified Satan's attack upon an innocent man - "Satan" means accuser (see Innocent Until Proven Guilty).

"8:1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

8:2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? 8:3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? 8:4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; 8:5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 8:6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

8:8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: 8:9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) 8:10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? 8:11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? 8:12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: 8:14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. 8:15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 8:16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. 8:17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. 8:18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. 8:19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

8:20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: 8:21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. 8:22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought." (Job 8:1-22 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does the LORD think of "works"?
See Works Means Obedience and Christ Died For Repentant Sinners