Job 42:7-11: a reflection

7It was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has. 8Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.” 9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job. 10The LORD restored Job’s prosperity when he prayed for his friends. The LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, came to him and ate bread with him in his house. They comforted him, and consoled him concerning all the evil that the LORD had brought on him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money, and everyone a ring of gold.

After all Job's suffering and his friends' failure to comfort him rightly, God tells the friends that they have not spoken rightly of him, and instructs them to bring offerings, and, remarkably, to have Job pray for them: My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him. So Job, who had been wronged and misjudged by these friends, prays for them. And notice what happens: the LORD restored Job's prosperity when he prayed for his friends. It was as Job interceded for those who had wronged him that God restored him.

Notice that Job prayed for the friends who had wronged him, and that his restoration came as he did. These friends had misjudged Job, added to his suffering with their accusations, wronged him in his affliction. Yet Job was asked to pray for them, and he did; he interceded for those who had wronged him. And it was as he prayed for them that God restored his own fortunes. His restoration was bound up with his praying for those who had wronged him; blessing came as he interceded for them, rather than holding their wrong against them.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are called to pray for those who have wronged us, and there is blessing in doing so. When others have wronged, misjudged, or hurt us, our instinct is to hold it against them, not to pray for them; but Job prayed for the friends who had wronged him, and God restored him as he did. Do not hold the wrongs of others against them, refusing to pray for them; pray for those who have wronged you, as Job prayed for his friends. There is a freeing and a blessing in interceding for those who have wronged us, rather than nursing the wrong; pray for them, as Job prayed for the friends who had misjudged him, and as God restored Job when he prayed for his friends, so praying for those who wrong us frees us and opens the way to God's blessing, rather than holding their wrong against them.

Lord, after all Job's suffering and his friends' failure to comfort him rightly, you tell the friends that they have not spoken rightly of you, and instruct them to bring offerings, and, remarkably, to have Job pray for them: my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him. So Job, who had been wronged and misjudged by these friends, prays for them. And notice what happens: the LORD restored Job's prosperity when he prayed for his friends. It was as Job interceded for those who had wronged him that you restored him. Show me that Job prayed for the friends who had wronged him, and that his restoration came as he did. These friends had misjudged Job, added to his suffering. Yet Job was asked to pray for them, and he did; he interceded for those who had wronged him. And it was as he prayed for them that you restored his fortunes. His restoration was bound up with his praying for those who had wronged him. Take that to my heart, for I too am called to pray for those who have wronged me, and there is blessing in doing so. When others have wronged, misjudged, or hurt me, my instinct is to hold it against them, not to pray for them; but Job prayed for the friends who had wronged him, and you restored him as he did. Keep me from holding the wrongs of others against them, refusing to pray for them; help me pray for those who have wronged me, Lord, as Job prayed for his friends. Thank you that there is a freeing and a blessing in interceding for those who have wronged us.