Job 37:14 –.Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Yesterday I confessed how good I am at spotting the motes in the eyes of my friends when they turn a tiny bit pharisaical. Today, reading in the book of Job, I was reminded how wonderful friends can be too. There are times when my friends share wisdom that is just breathtaking, and so it was with Job’s friends.
Job’s “friends” turned up and spent a good amount of time letting him know that they were pretty sure he’d brought his troubles down on his own head!
Job’s reaction to his friends is interesting too me. He argued them to a standstill — but he never told them to leave. They were still his friends.
Then came Elihu. Now, in case you missed it, Elihu isn’t really introduced. But I think it’s fair to reckon him a friend too, maybe even a protégé. He was, by his own declaration, the youngest person present. But when he decided to jump in and share his views he was even more outspoken than his seniors. Even then Job didn’t chase him off. Just as well. When it seemed Elihu’s rhetoric couldn’t get any more offensive, he changes gear, and pours forth a wonderful tribute to God. James E. Smith presents Elihu’s summary of his presentation of God:

Elihu sums up his teaching regarding the greatness of God. The Lord is unsearchable. He is exalted in power. He will not do violence to justice. He would not unjustly afflict anyone. Elihu pleads with Job to join with mankind everywhere in showing reverence to God. The Lord has no regard for those “who are wise of heart,” i.e., those who are wise in their own eyes. Thus Elihu is calling upon Job to humble himself.

What a wonderful gift from the lips of the young upstart! If Job and the older friends had chased him away they would have missed words of true beauty.
That’s how it is with friends. They’re people too. That means they will be aggravating, infuriating or even worse … But every so often they will bring us a gift so precious that they change our view of the world.
Friends … can be infuriating. They have the ability to drive you crazy just like your loved ones. Now and then they will so something that makes you say “I can’t believe (s)he did that!” And then they do those wonderful things that make you say “I can’t believe (s)he did that!”
Proverbs 17:17 makes the point: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Friends love you in bad times and good … But in the bad times they become brothers. Like Job’s friends they might be misguided, irritating, frustrating … But you’ll be happy to have them. So cut them a little slack in the good times!