The purpose of Job’s three friends coming to see Job was to offer him comfort and sympathy (cf. Job 2:11). The friends have had many things to say to Job by the time we come to Job 16. Job has not found his friends to sympathizers or comforters. Listen to what Job says:
Then Job answered and said: “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all. Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you. I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. (Job 16:1-5 ESV)
Job calls his friends “miserable comforters.” All of their answers have been empty words and hot air. Notice in verse 4 that Job says that he could pile up words against them and shake his head at them like they have done to him. Instead, Job says he would strengthen and encourage them with his words, giving them comfort, rather than tearing them down…
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