Hugging Lepers

Read Job 6:1-7:21

As I read through the book of Job my mind always asks the same question: Which is worse, Job dead or Job alive? When I read: "When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?' The night drags on, and I toss till dawn. My body is clothed with worms and scabs my skin is broken and festering" (vs. 4-5), I have to agree with Job that perhaps it would be better to be dead. Suffering sometimes corrupts thinking which is why we must sfocusedssed on Jesus at all times.

Verse 14 is a great verse, "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty." Job was experiencing great trauma in his life. He could not sleep, he could not eat, his body was ravaged with sores and living insects. All he asked for was that his friends be with him during his time. Remember for the first 7 days they were, but then things started to change.

His friends were showing no sympathy to Job. They were, however, accusing him of everything wrong. They were saying to Job that the reason he was in such a pickle was because he had sinned and this was punishment for his sin and that as soon as he repented everything would be right as rain in his life again. Job was maintaining that he had not sinned. In chapter 5:27 we read: "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself." They were not bringing the best of times to Job who was obviously enduring the worst of times. How easy it must be for the wise to offer such counsel when their bodies are free from festering wounds. What seemed so obvious to Job's friends was in fact painfully wrong. At least we know because we are watching from the outside.

It seems that Job was not interested in such violence though. Job maintained his innocence all throughout the book. At this early point in the book Job was saying, “Look, I do not need a lesson in theology or morality maintenance. What I need are friends who will comfort me.” He just needed someone to come and hang out with him for a little while. Just someone to put their arms around him and weep. We, however, sometimes find it easier to point out the 'obvious' than to risk defiling ourselves by hugging a leper.

Have you ever felt that way in your own life? You know the times when you are feeling really low, or something bad is going on, or you are just completely at an empty loss and what is worse you have to suffer the indignity alone? You know those times when your friends thought they would 'help' but only suffered your pain to make you feel even worse? You know those times when your friends tried to be helpful and understanding but only felt like sitting around and pointing out all the things that you could have done to avoid the trouble in the first place? Yes those are the types of people that Job is dealing with here.

Job has very few nice words for his un-understanding friends. "You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend" (vs. 27) Friends are important and valuable. As a friend learn when it best to talk, what to say, and when it is altogether more valuable to your friend to simply be quiet and suffer with them for a little while. Often it is much better to love lepers than it is to lecture them. In fact, it always is.

Prayer Thoughts

Pray today for a friend that you have who is encountering crisis at every level of existence. Pray then that you can be a better friend to that person. Ask God to guide and direct your thoughts, words and actions towards that friend so that they may have better things to say about you than Job has to say about his friends. Pray that you will be wise in your choice of words. Pray that you will be a loving listener and a compassionate companion.