| Matthew Henry Commentary |
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The Prayer of Job For His Friends
Job prayed for his friends, and then they flocked about him, overcome by his kindness, and every one desiring an interest in his prayers. The more we pray for our friends and relations the more comfort we may expect in them.
The tide thus turned, his troubles began to ebb as fast as they had flowed, just then when he was praying for his friends, praying over his sacrifice which he offered for them. Mercy did not return when he was disputing with his friends, no, not though he had right on his side, but when he was praying for them; for God is better served and pleased with our warm devotions than with our warm disputations.
When Job completed his repentance by this instance of his forgiving men their trespasses, then God completed his remission by turning his captivity. Note, We are really doing our business when we are praying for our friends, if we pray in a right manner, for in those prayers there is not only faith, but love.
Christ has taught us to pray with and for others in teaching us to say, Our Father; and, in seeking mercy for others, we may find mercy ourselves. Our Lord Jesus has His exaltation and dominion there, where He ever lives making intercession.
His estate strangely increased, by the blessing of God upon the little that his friends gave him. He thankfully received their courtesy, and did not think it below him to have his estate repaired by contributions. He did not, on the one hand, urge his friends to raise money for him; he acquits himself from that (ch. 6:22), Did I say, Bring unto me or give me a reward of your substance? Yet what they brought he thankfully accepted, and did not upbraid them with their former unkindnesses, nor ask them why they did not do this sooner.
He was neither so covetous and griping as to ask their charity, nor so proud and ill-natured as to refuse it when they offered it; and, being in so good a temper, God gave him that which was far better than their money and ear-rings, and that was his blessing, v. 12. The Lord comforted him now according to the days wherein he had afflicted him, and blessed his latter end more than his beginning.
My servant Job will pray for you. I know he will. I have pardoned him, and he has the comfort of pardon, and therefore he will pardon you. [4.] He appoints him to be the priest of this congregation, and promises to accept him and his mediation for his friends. "Take your sacrifices to my servant Job, for him will I accept. Those whom God washes from their sins He makes to himself kings and priests. True penitents shall not only find favor as petitioners for themselves, but be accepted as intercessors for others also. It was a great honor that God hereby put upon Job, in appointing him to offer sacrifice for his friends, as formerly he used to do for his own children, ch. 1:5.
And a happy presage it was of his restoration to his prosperity again, and indeed a good step towards it, that he was thus restored to the priesthood. Thus he became a type of Christ, through whom alone we and our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God; see 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
"Go to My servant Job, to my servant Jesus (from whom for a time He hid His face), "put your sacrifices into his hand, make use of him as your Advocate, for him will I accept, but, out of him, you must expect to be dealt with according to your folly. And, as Job prayed and offered sacrifice for those that had grieved and wounded his spirit, so Christ prayed and died for His persecutors, and ever lives making intercession for the transgressors.
If we still hold fast the integrity and fidelity as servants to God, as Job did, though we may for a time be deprived of the credit and comfort of the relation, we shall be restored to it at last, as he was. The devil had undertaken to prove Job a hypocrite, and his three friends had condemned him as a wicked man; but God will acknowledge those whom He accepts, and will not suffer them to be run down by the malice of hell or earth.
Additional Commentary, The end result is what we must keep in our mind's eye and the eye of faith that trusts in the Father. God explained to the prophet Jeremiah a very similar outcome for Israel:
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes.
Just as God worked individually with Job, God worked corporately with Jeremiah about Israel. The blessed end result came as an answer to prayer. God's purpose is the same- to bless His people in answer to prayer. We can remember - "for He that has torn will heal us, He that has smitten will bind us."
Observe:
I know the thoughts that I think towards you. Known unto God are all His works, for known unto Him are all his thoughts (Acts 15:18) and His works agree exactly with His thoughts; He does all according to the counsel of His will.
We often do not know our own thoughts, nor know our own mind, but God is never at any uncertainty within Himself. We are sometimes ready to fear that Gods designs concerning us are all against us; but He knows the contrary concerning His own people, that they are thoughts of good and not of evil; even that which seems evil is designed for good. His thoughts are all working towards the expected end, which He will give in due time. The end they expect will come, though perhaps not when they expect it.
Let them have patience till the fruit is ripe, and then they shall have it. He will give them an end, and expectation, so it is in the original.
(1.) He will give them to see the end (the comfortable termination) of their trouble; though it last long, it shall not last always. The time to favour Zion, yea, the set time, will come. When things are at the worst they will begin to mend; and He will give them to see the glorious perfection of their deliverance; for, as for God, His work is perfect. He that in the beginning finished the heavens and the earth, and all the hosts of both, will finish all the blessings of both to His people. When He begins in ways of mercy He will make an end. God does nothing by halves.
(2.) He will give them to see the expectation, that end which they desire and hope for, and have been long waiting for. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, nor the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith, the end which he has promised and which will turn for the best to them. 3. This shall be in answer to their prayers and supplications to God, v. 1214. (1.) God will stir them up to pray: Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go, and pray unto Me. Note, When God is about to give His people the expected good He pours out a spirit of prayer, and it is a good sign that He is coming towards them in mercy.
Then, when you see the expected end approaching, then you shall call upon Me. Note, Promises are given, not to supersede, but to quicken and encourage prayer: and when deliverance is coming we must by prayer go forth to meet it.