Here is Job's response to the first speech of Eliphaz. It is to be noticed that though Eliphaz has been very severe on Job. He even made a very cutting remark which obviously was a direct reference to the nature of the death of his children, 5:3-4. Despite this provocation, Job waited until he was finished before replying. Here is patience—a bearing of false accusation quietly until an opportunity is given to answer.

The words of Eliphaz were of no comfort to Job. Indeed, Job make that plain with a very telling metaphor describing Eliphaz's words in 5:6. They were tasteless to him containing no nourishment for his tried and afflicted soul. In the portion we shall look at this morning, Job is defending his desire for death as a means of escaping his afflictions by showing that his friends had failed him and therefore it was no wonder he desired to die. Who could live in a friendless world is what he is saying.

In the portion before us we learn:—

I. IN LIFE WE ALL NEED FRIENDS.

1. Man is a social creature. He was made to have friends. I believe that it was one of the reason why fallen man took immediately to building cities and dwelling in urban environments. Having lost the companionship of God he craved companionship from his fellow man.
2. Man's need of friendship is seen in the helpless state in which he is born. Few of God's creatures are so helpless at birth as man. How often during life he would perish if it were not for communal friendship? Guidance, direction, counsel, help of every kind are evidence of the mutual friendship upon which we depend.
3. There are some occasions when we especially need friends. Job refers to his own case. Verse 14. To fail to show it is a denial of the fear of God, 14. I John 3:17.

II. HUMAN FRIENDSHIPS, LIKE ALL THINGS OF THIS EARTH, WILL OFTEN FAIL US.

Even the Lord Jesus discovered this, Psalm 41:9, 55:13. Job likens his brethren and their treatment of him unto the brooks of the desert. They had come, friends of long standing. They were greatly affected by his plight. Yet they failed him by utterly misunderstanding his state and rubbing in salt to his wounds by accusing him of being a rank hypocrite.

1. It is no new thing for friends to deal deceitfully. Jer 9:4-5, Micah 7:5-6.
2. The friends of Job seem to promise much by way of comfort. They came unasked, 22-23. But they were like the brooks of water that seem to promise much utterly fail, 15-20. He was worse of not better by their visit and their sympathy so far.
3. Their friendship failed all the more because they did not even listen to him. Verse 24-25. He wanted an answer but they could give none.

III. HOW GOOD TO READ IN THE GOSPEL OF JUST THE FRIEND THAT JOB AND US ALL NEED.

There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, Pro 18:24.

1. The Lord Jesus is an unfailing friend. Psalm 46:1-3, Hebs 13:5, Gen 28:15, Deut 3:16, I Sam 12:22, Ps 37:25,28, Isaiah 41:17. He is a friend in deed as well as word. Waking and sleeping we enjoy His friendly attention. He has established His eternal glory upon being our unfailing friend.
2. The Lord Jesus is an unchanging friend. Hebs 13:8, 1:12, Ps 90:2, 4, 102:27-28, Mal 3:6, James 1:17, Rev 1:4. There is nothing about us that He does not know. He will not learn something that will cause Him to cease as our friend. There will not arise circumstances with Himself that forces Him to adopt a new attitude.
3. The Lord Jesus is an unashamed friend. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city, Hebrews 11:16. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children, Matt 11:19. The Lord will openly own us as His friends.
4. The Lord Jesus is an approachable friend. Ex 33:11. Approach Him today and seek His blessing —pardon.