I don’t know if they really wanted to encourage him because I think that when you try to encourage someone, it’s to help him feel better. When this person feels worse, it’s a strange way to encourage people, isn’t it? Or maybe you don’t find the right words? Or maybe sometimes you don’t need to speak? There are many ways to help people? Remember the parable of the good Samaritan? Or Mary Magdalene putting oil on Jesus’ feet? Maybe they could have done him food and wash his body and heal his wounds, couldn’t they? And then he would have been more receptive, wouldn’t he? But then there is a difference between associates and real friends!
I see what you're saying. Example:
Job said:
Job 14:7 NLT - "Even a tree has more hope! If it is cut down, it will sprout again and grow new branches."
Eliphaz replied:
Job 15:2 NLT - "A wise man wouldn't answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag."
I suppose that it is fair to say that Job was discouraged by being called a name. However, Eliphaz wasn't the only name-caller in the Bible.
Jesus said:
Matthew 12:34 NKJV - "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
Perhaps it is fair to acknowledge all of our ideas regarding Job. It is sad (for me) to see that Job claims that he has "no hope." To me, after having my incredible Spiritual Experience, I would NEVER say such words. It is impossible! I know that I could be tortured, but I would long for my death knowing, fully, that this is where my hope resides. Why? Because my relationship with God is apparently a bit different from Jobs's relationship with the Lord. (This is not to suggest that I am better than Job . . . I would never claim such a thing.)
Psalm 116:15 NKJV - "Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints."
I would prefer not to suffer in my death, but if I should, I will not curse God. I know that regardless of how I die, the Peace and Love found in Heaven is such an incredible reward that none of us will care about how we died in this physical world. I assure all of us that when we enter the gates of Heaven, the way we died and the pain that we might suffer will be totally and utterly inconsequential. Trust me on this, for this, I know as well as I know my own reflection.