It’s not only from Job that I glean life lessons for myself; I also learn from his friends. Through their conversations, I realise how the right words at the wrong time can actually be harmful. Just think of all the wisdom Job’s friends shared; yet, towards the end of the story, God rebukes them sharply: “I am angry with you, because you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:7). However, just as God is gracious towards Job, He extends His grace to them as well. And how do they receive it? Three times, it is directly mentioned that Job intercedes for his friends in prayer to God, and God listens. (v8-10).
I have written extensively about the mottos with which we were raised as children—one of them being, “A path not walked soon becomes overgrown.” The surest way to keep a path from becoming overgrown is to pray for your friends! It not only keeps the path between you and your friends open, but it especially keeps the path between your friends and God open. It also keeps the friendship path between God and yourself clear. And isn’t that exactly what James teaches us in his letter: “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16-20).
Charles Spurgeon said, “Prayer is not an intellectual exercise or a verbal display. It is much deeper than that. It is interaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” This is precisely what the whole story of Job is about—to bring him into contact with the power of the Creator. Power that could even change the lives of his friends.
PRAYER: Therefore, I now pray for my friends, Lord…
MUSIC:
We’ll watch a music video of “Prince Of Peace” by Josh Baldwin.
From the lyrics:
I’ve been walking by troubled waters
Here in the shadow all alone
And I’ve been worried about tomorrow
Stuck in a world I can’t control
And I met You as a Savior
I’ve found in You a friend
And I’ve seen You as a healer
My help and my defense
God You’ve been my provider
But right now what I need
Is You to be my Prince of Peace
Come and be my Prince of Peace
And I’ve been wrestling with my demons
Fighting a war inside my mind
And I’ve been swallowed by all my problems
I just wanna leave them all behind
‘Cause I met You as a Savior
I’ve found in You a friend
And I’ve seen You as a healer
My help and my defense
God You’ve been my provider
But right now what I need
Is You to be my Prince of Peace
Come and be my Prince of Peace
Peace like a river flow
Peace like a river flow
Peace like a river flow
Peace like a river flow
Come on sing it out
Peace like a river flow
Peace like a river flow
Peace like a river flow
Peace like a river flow
Peace like a river flow (Oh let it flow, let it flow)
Peace like a river flow
Oh peace like a river flow
Yeah peace like a river flow
‘Cause I met You as a Savior
I’ve found in You a friend
And I’ve seen You as a healer
My help and my defense
God You’ve been my provider
But right now what I need
Is You to be my Prince of Peace
Come and be my Prince of Peace