Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

The Mockingbird is my favorite because of its singing abilities. I sat on the porch one morning and was wonderstruck at the setlist of this amazing bird! I couldn’t count all the different songs he was performing. His breath control was unbelievable, with strong projection and endless variety. He put me to shame with his early-morning enthusiasm. The song “Mockingbird” is one of my favorites from the 70s, written and recorded by singer songwriters James Taylor and Carly Simon, then husband and wife duo.

Poor, poor, pitiful Job was extremely disappointed with his so-called friends who came to comfort him. I don’t know how many days they hung around, but he was fed up with hearing them sing the same ol’ song day after day. He finally said, “I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking? I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you. But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief“ (Job 16:2-5 NLT). Wow, just wow.

I wonder if the statement, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” originated from the Book of Job. The first seven days and nights, they acted like true friends as they simply sat on the ground with him and didn’t say a word because they knew that his suffering was beyond words. But after waiting a week, Job’s friends began to take turns giving unqualified speeches. They tried to convince Job that he had sinned when, in fact, he was blameless and a man of complete integrity who feared God and stayed away from evil. Nevertheless, the threesome gave the same wrong song-and-dance day after day.

Eliphaz was the first friend to sing his song of criticism to Job. Then the next verse of insults was blasted by Bildad. Last, but not least, chiming in off-key was Zophar with verse three. He basically sings, “You ain’t nothin’ but a windbag, just a cryin’ all the time” (see  Job 15:2 NLT). This torture trio stunk to high heaven and they just kept doing encores without applause. Job was greatly disturbed and annoyed with his friends who didn’t have a clue that they were hurting more than helping. Instead of pouring oil and wine into Job’s wounded body and soul, the three stooges poured salt in it. Job needed encouragement, not an unsolicited theology lesson.

I’ve never had a friend fail to be true blue. My friends have stuck like glue with me through thick and thin and they are blessings straight from God. Reba McEntire recorded a song entitled, “God and My Girlfriends.“ Here’s the refrain: “God and my girlfriends, they’re always there when I’m feeling down, always around, lifting me up. I love how they know me, forgive me, and show me again and again I can depend on God and my girlfriends. Good times and bad, happy or sad, what would I do if I didn‘t have God and my girlfriends.”

As Christ followers, let’s determine to be a faithful friend who sticks close to our friends when they’re hurting. Let’s make double sure we’re singing the right song in the right key in perfect timing. Occasionally, we may not know what song to sing that’s OK. A hug is  never in the wrong key.

The Key: If you’ve been singing the wrong song to your friend, face the music and change your tune.