Job Prays for His Three Friends

A Sermon Based on Job 42:7–10

Key verse:

“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”
—Job 42:10

Job had experienced suffering beyond what most of us could imagine. He had lost his possessions, his servants, his health and, most painfully, his beloved children.

As Job sat among the ashes, three of his friends—Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar—came to see him. At first, they sat silently and shared his grief. But when they began to speak, their words brought Job even more pain.

Instead of comforting Job, they accused him. They believed his suffering must have been the punishment for some secret sin. Again and again, they judged him without knowing the truth.

Job needed encouragement, but they gave him accusations. He needed compassion, but they gave him condemnation.

Yet Job remained faithful through his suffering. He asked difficult questions and sometimes spoke out of deep anguish, but he did not turn his back upon God.

At the end of Job’s trial, the Lord spoke. God corrected Job, but He also rebuked Job’s friends because they had not spoken rightly about Him.

The Lord told Eliphaz:

“My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.”
—Job 42:7

God commanded the three friends to bring a sacrifice. Then He told them something remarkable: “My servant Job shall pray for you.”

Job Had Every Reason to Feel Hurt

Job’s friends had wounded him with their words. They had questioned his character, accused him of wrongdoing and made his suffering even harder to bear.

From a human point of view, Job had every reason to be angry. He might have said, “They showed me no mercy, so why should I pray for them?”

But God called Job to do something greater than holding on to bitterness. God called him to forgive and pray.

Praying for those who have hurt us is never easy. Our natural desire may be to avoid them, condemn them or hope that they experience the pain they caused us.

However, Jesus teaches us:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
—Matthew 5:44

Forgiveness does not mean pretending that the wrong never happened. It does not mean that hurtful behaviour is acceptable. It means placing the matter into God’s hands and refusing to allow bitterness to rule our hearts.

Job Obeyed God

Job could have argued with the Lord. He could have reminded God of every cruel word his friends had spoken. Instead, Job obeyed.

While Job was still recovering from his own suffering, he prayed for the people who had added to it.

That prayer revealed Job’s true character.

It takes faith to pray when we are suffering, but it takes mercy to pray for those who helped cause our suffering. Job showed both faith and mercy.

Job’s prayer also reminds us of Jesus Christ. While Jesus hung upon the cross, surrounded by those who mocked, rejected and crucified Him, He prayed:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
—Luke 23:34

Job prayed for the friends who had falsely accused him. Jesus prayed for those who were putting Him to death.

When we pray for those who have wronged us, we follow the example of our Saviour.

God Heard Job’s Prayer

Job’s friends had to humble themselves. They brought the sacrifice God required, and Job prayed for them.

The Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

The friends who believed they understood everything discovered that they needed the prayers of the man they had judged. The one they had condemned became the one who interceded for them before God.

This should warn us against judging people who are passing through suffering. We do not always know why someone is facing a particular trial.

Not every hardship is the direct result of personal sin. Sometimes faithful people suffer while living obediently before God. Therefore, we should offer compassion before criticism and prayer before judgment.

Words can either heal a wounded heart or deepen its pain. Let us ask God to make our words gracious, truthful and kind.

Job Was Restored When He Prayed

The Bible tells us:

“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”
—Job 42:10

Something powerful happened when Job prayed. As he asked God to show mercy to his friends, the Lord began restoring Job’s life.

God gave Job twice as much as he possessed before. His family and acquaintances returned to comfort him, and God blessed the latter part of his life more than the beginning.

This does not mean that forgiveness is a way to gain wealth, nor does it promise that every earthly loss will be replaced in the same manner. Job’s restoration was God’s gracious purpose for his particular life.

Nevertheless, the passage teaches us an important spiritual truth: bitterness keeps the heart imprisoned, but forgiveness brings freedom.

When we constantly hold on to every wrong, we remain tied to the people and events that hurt us. When we place those wounds into God’s hands, we allow Him to begin healing our hearts.

Job’s circumstances changed when he prayed for his friends, but something had already changed within Job: he chose obedience over bitterness and mercy over revenge.

Is There Someone You Need to Pray For?

Perhaps someone has wounded you with careless or cruel words. They may have judged you unfairly, betrayed your confidence or abandoned you when you needed them most.

You cannot change what they did, but through Christ, you can decide what you will do now.

Will you carry the bitterness, or will you carry that person before God in prayer?

You may not feel ready to forgive, but forgiveness begins with a decision to obey God. You can pray:

“Lord, You know how deeply I have been hurt. I place this person and this situation into Your hands. Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me. Heal my heart and lead me forward in Your peace.”

We forgive others because God has forgiven us through Jesus Christ. At the cross, Christ paid the price for our sins and opened the way for us to receive mercy.

The forgiven should become forgiving, and those who have received grace should show grace.

Conclusion

Job had been wounded by suffering and by the words of his friends. Yet when God commanded him to pray for them, Job obeyed.

He did not return accusation for accusation. He did not ask God to punish them. He became their intercessor.

Then the Lord accepted Job’s prayer and began to restore him.

Your prayer may not change another person immediately, but it can change what bitterness is doing within you. It places justice into God’s hands and opens your heart to His healing.

Remember Job when others misunderstand you. Remember Job when their words cause you pain. Remember Job when God asks you to forgive.

Pray for those who have hurt you. Trust God with the outcome and allow Him to bring healing, freedom and peace.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,
thank You for the example of Your servant Job. Forgive us for the times we have judged others without understanding their suffering. Help us to speak words that comfort, encourage and heal.

Lord, give us the strength to forgive those who have hurt us. Remove bitterness, anger and resentment from our hearts. Help us to pray sincerely for those who have treated us wrongly.

Thank You for the forgiveness we have received through Jesus Christ. Teach us to show that same mercy to others. Restore our hearts, renew our faith and lead us forward in Your peace.

In the precious name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.

GOD IS A GOOD GOD.
GOD KNOWS, GOD LOVES, GOD CARES.

Written for GeorgesWebMinistries.com

  GOD IS A GOOD GOD

GOD KNOWS, GOD LOVES, GOD CARES

Written for Georges Web Ministries.com

Georges WebMinistries. Com

     Georges Bible Ministries

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                  22 August 2016