Job spoke the above words to his three friends, who “had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him,” in his great time of distress and grief and suffering. Each of the three told Job why he was suffering, why God had permitted his afflictions to come, and what Job must do to find relief and help, though none of them had ever experienced like circumstances. No wonder that Job said to them that “ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value,” and “miserable comforters are ye all.” But are we not many times guilty of the same thing as Job’s friends? Do we not set ourselves up as being wise in situations concerning which we have no personal knowledge? God’s Word tells us to “judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” This will keep us from passing hasty or unfair judgment on others, without knowing something of the background of their circumstances or their heart’s exercises. “Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me,” “considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
It seems that my friend is now straying,
And that his pathway is not right,
But what do I know of his heartaches,
And tears he has shed o’er his plight?
Job 2:11; 13:4; 16:2; John 7:24; Psa. 131:1; Gal. 6:1.