“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)
All I can do with any amount of integrity is tell you what I have learned from Him on my own pilgrimage, through my own trials which He has allowed for His purposes. So, from that viewpoint will I write about our readings this week. The next two verses that follow the one above assure me that God's Word will accomplish what He desires of it. Therefore I can trust God to do through His Word what I cannot through mine.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is My word that goes out from My mouth:
It will not return to Me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
I encourage you to pray now, as I am, that God will accomplish within you what He desires as you study the book of Job.
On Sunday some of you asked the question, "why are we skipping to Job instead of continuing on to Exodus?" Many scholars believe that Job is probably the oldest book in Scripture. In other words, it was probably written before any of the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy). The author of Job is unknown, as is the date of its events. But most scholars believe Job lived some time after the flood but likely before the period of the patriarchs. Some place the date as late as the exile from Egypt. No one is absolutely certain, but the reference to the land of Uz (which is Edom) gives us the hint that its events probably took place before Abraham. Probably. Therefore we are going to study it now before we move on to Moses.
The theme of Job is suffering, more specifically man's on-going question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" This, of course, is an inaccurate question because we know that since the Fall, "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:12) So bad things happen to sinful people, which is you and me. As long as we live on planet earth, until Christ returns to take us home and God creates a new heaven and a new earth, there will be suffering and sorrow on the earth.
When we read about Abraham sacrificing Isaac on the altar a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a book that I highly recommend for every follower of Christ to read. It is called Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. It is a classic allegory, like Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (which is another one I recommend if you have never read it). Hinds Feet on High Places is the story of Much-Afraid and her journey out of the Valley of Humiliation, surrounded by her Fearing relatives, and up to the high places in the Kingdom of Love as she trusts the Good Shepherd to ultimately take her there. Interestingly, and to her disappointment, the Shepherd starts her out on this journey by giving her two companions to help her ascend the heights of the mountain--Sorrow and Suffering.
Now why in the world would the Good Shepherd who loves little Much-Afraid so much and desires to make her feet like hind's feet (deer's feet) so that she can climb the mountain and live with Him in the Kingdom of Love give her Sorrow and Suffering for her companions on the journey? Because He is a wise Shepherd, that's why.
You see, my friend, Sorrow and Suffering are character builders. Success and Ease are not. Which pair of companions did Jesus have while on this earth--Sorrow and Suffering, or Success and Ease?
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)
So if we are Christ-followers, having chosen to be united with Him in His death that we might also be raised to new life with Him (Romans 6:5), then we will have the same companions to teach us how to be like Him (Philippians 2:5-11). Sorrow and Suffering become our guides to a life that is pure and blameless, soaring on the heights of Love (God's love), ready for eternity.
Now back to Job. This book begins and ends with what we call "prose," with mostly poetry for the bulk of the book in-between. In the first two chapters we see an interesting sight. The angels. or sons of God, come before God, and so does Satan. Let's stop right there and look up some passages to get a clearer picture.
- According to Job 38:7, what were these angels, or sons of God, doing at creation?
- What do we learn about angels in Hebrews 1:14 and 1 Peter 1:12?
- Read Revelation 12. This is a look at what was going on in the spiritual realm when Satan sought to become greater than God and sought to prevent the birth and earthly life of Jesus Christ. What happened to Satan and his angels?
- What do we learn about the devil at the end of Rev. 12:12 and also verse 17?
- How does this agree with John 10:10?
- What are we told to do in 1 Peter 5:8, and why?
Remember the Nepali song the kids sang in church on Sunday? "Krutta Moni" The first part of that song (which we didn't attempt to sing because it was too hard to teach) says, "Let's go to Satan's tent and snatch back what Satan has stolen from us." Can you look back at your life, maybe even your current situation, and see where Satan has tried to steal, kill or destroy in your life? Maybe he has stolen your joy, or killed a relationship, or tried to destroy your faith in God. "Be self-controlled and alert!" Turn to the Good Shepherd and cry out to Him for help, as Much-Afraid did in Hind's Feet on High Places. He has come so that you may have abundant life in Christ!
At the beginning of Job, we see Satan come before God. God asks Satan if he has noticed the righteousness of Job, because the LORD sure has taken note. As Satan says, "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Truly, God's hand of blessing had been on Job and he was a very prosperous man. But will Job continue to praise God and trust Him if all this blessing and protection is taken away? That's a good question for all of us to ask ourselves.
It's easy to follow God when all is going well for us. But will we offer the sacrifice of praise during hard times? Will we choose to "praise Him in the storm" as the popular song by Casting Crowns goes? It's easy to sing those words to the radio when all is going well in our lives or we're mindlessly singing along. But when trials come, and we stop to realize what we're singing, those can be gut-wrenching words. Here's another song you may have sung in church or with the radio more than a few times.
"Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman
Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's "all as it should be"
Blessed be You name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
This song was of course inspired by our memory verse for this week: Job 1:21.
I told you I would not attempt to understand the mind of God in why He did this to Job. I said I would only share from personal experience why I think God allows difficult circumstances in our lives. As I said earlier, I believe that Sorrow and Suffering are given to us as companions for life to make us more like Jesus and prepare us for the Kingdom of Heaven. Only by trusting these companions can we begin to ascend the heights, as Much-Afraid learned. She had to be willing to place her hands in theirs for any hope of taking one single step toward the heights with her crippled feet. She had to trust the Shepherd no matter how bleak things looked.
If we choose, instead, to strive for a life of Success and Ease, we will remain in the Valley of Humiliation, for that is not the crucified life to which our Lord has called us. It might seem like glitz and glamour on the outside, but the reality of the inside is full of death and destruction. Even worse, if we choose to curse God for not making life more what we think it should be, we are like Job's foolish wife. Proverbs has much to say about foolishness and even foolish women, and I can guarantee you that I don't want any of those descriptions to be true of me or of you, dear sister.
One thing is for sure--when Job gets through all of this without cursing God or turning from his faith in God, Satan is put in his proper place of humiliation and God's name is glorified. Friend, if trusting God through my darkest hour brings glory to God and the power of His Name is proclaimed, then it was all worth it. Ephesians 1:14 tells us that we are "for the praise of His glory." That should bring us strength in the midst of struggles and a purpose for continuing to trust and persevere, as we learned in James 1:2-4.
Then Job finally speaks, and it is not a speech full of hope for his future or thanksgiving for all God had done in his life up to that point. You may have noticed that Job's friends decided to give him advice in response. TAKE HEED! The next lesson we can learn from the book of Job is not to always listen to pious-sounding advice from our friends or well-meaning folks. Interestingly enough, their advice is mixed with bits of truth regarding God. But any friend that comes to you and says, "This is why all of this has happened to you," is assuming to know the mind of God. Unless that friend happens to be a Biblical counselor or a prophet, smile and say "thank you;" and then go home and forget every word! Turn instead to God and His Word and see what He has to say to you about the situation. Seek godly counsel from a trusted source, but not advice from those who think their opinion is equivalent to God's.
In upcoming chapters Job will get God's take on the situation, and that is when you can pay attention and learn from what He says. For now, read along and watch what God will begin to do to transform a righteous man with everything he could possibly want, into one who, like Paul, could worship God and say:
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12)
Here is Paul's exhortation to you and to me:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)
Sorrow and Suffering.
"You remember your promise, to accept the helpers I would give, because you believed that I would choose the very best possible guides for you. Will you still trust me, Much-Afraid? Will you go with them, or do you wish to turn back to the Valley, and to all your Fearing relatives, to Craven Fear himself?" (Hinds Feet on High Places, pp. 66-67)
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
He makes my feet like the deer’s;
He makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:19) (see also Psalm 18:33)
Our journey to the high places is a process of spiritual growth as we trust in the Lord. We may prefer Joy and Peace as our companions, but our loving Father who desires to perfect us knows what is most needed. Much-Afraid began her journey to the High Places with Sorrow and Suffering as her guides, but that was not the end of her story (which I'm not going to tell you and spoil the ending for you). The suffering of Job is not the end of his story either (so keep reading!). Our sufferings are not the end of our story either, dear friend, but if we give up before God works His masterpiece in us, we will never experience the Joy and Peace for which we were created.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's "all as it should be"
Blessed be You name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
This song was of course inspired by our memory verse for this week: Job 1:21.
I told you I would not attempt to understand the mind of God in why He did this to Job. I said I would only share from personal experience why I think God allows difficult circumstances in our lives. As I said earlier, I believe that Sorrow and Suffering are given to us as companions for life to make us more like Jesus and prepare us for the Kingdom of Heaven. Only by trusting these companions can we begin to ascend the heights, as Much-Afraid learned. She had to be willing to place her hands in theirs for any hope of taking one single step toward the heights with her crippled feet. She had to trust the Shepherd no matter how bleak things looked.
If we choose, instead, to strive for a life of Success and Ease, we will remain in the Valley of Humiliation, for that is not the crucified life to which our Lord has called us. It might seem like glitz and glamour on the outside, but the reality of the inside is full of death and destruction. Even worse, if we choose to curse God for not making life more what we think it should be, we are like Job's foolish wife. Proverbs has much to say about foolishness and even foolish women, and I can guarantee you that I don't want any of those descriptions to be true of me or of you, dear sister.
One thing is for sure--when Job gets through all of this without cursing God or turning from his faith in God, Satan is put in his proper place of humiliation and God's name is glorified. Friend, if trusting God through my darkest hour brings glory to God and the power of His Name is proclaimed, then it was all worth it. Ephesians 1:14 tells us that we are "for the praise of His glory." That should bring us strength in the midst of struggles and a purpose for continuing to trust and persevere, as we learned in James 1:2-4.
- Who comes onto the scene of Job's life next in 2:11?
- What do they do in verses 12-13?
- Why did people do this in Biblical times?
The truth is that their actions were those of people mourning for the dead. In reading some commentaries, I learned that seven days was the typical mourning period for the dead. So Job's friends are treating him as if he is dead and there is nothing left for him in life but to die. Wow. What "comfort."
Then Job finally speaks, and it is not a speech full of hope for his future or thanksgiving for all God had done in his life up to that point. You may have noticed that Job's friends decided to give him advice in response. TAKE HEED! The next lesson we can learn from the book of Job is not to always listen to pious-sounding advice from our friends or well-meaning folks. Interestingly enough, their advice is mixed with bits of truth regarding God. But any friend that comes to you and says, "This is why all of this has happened to you," is assuming to know the mind of God. Unless that friend happens to be a Biblical counselor or a prophet, smile and say "thank you;" and then go home and forget every word! Turn instead to God and His Word and see what He has to say to you about the situation. Seek godly counsel from a trusted source, but not advice from those who think their opinion is equivalent to God's.
In upcoming chapters Job will get God's take on the situation, and that is when you can pay attention and learn from what He says. For now, read along and watch what God will begin to do to transform a righteous man with everything he could possibly want, into one who, like Paul, could worship God and say:
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12)
Here is Paul's exhortation to you and to me:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)
Sorrow and Suffering.
"You remember your promise, to accept the helpers I would give, because you believed that I would choose the very best possible guides for you. Will you still trust me, Much-Afraid? Will you go with them, or do you wish to turn back to the Valley, and to all your Fearing relatives, to Craven Fear himself?" (Hinds Feet on High Places, pp. 66-67)
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
He makes my feet like the deer’s;
He makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:19) (see also Psalm 18:33)
Our journey to the high places is a process of spiritual growth as we trust in the Lord. We may prefer Joy and Peace as our companions, but our loving Father who desires to perfect us knows what is most needed. Much-Afraid began her journey to the High Places with Sorrow and Suffering as her guides, but that was not the end of her story (which I'm not going to tell you and spoil the ending for you). The suffering of Job is not the end of his story either (so keep reading!). Our sufferings are not the end of our story either, dear friend, but if we give up before God works His masterpiece in us, we will never experience the Joy and Peace for which we were created.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)
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