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August 12, 2018: Day 1 – Job 1
Just so that we are all on the same page in regards to the way that you pronounce this book of the Bible. It ought to rhyme with strobe and not with lob. I would hate for you to say in public the wrong pronunciation. Let's set the stage.
Job belongs in the poetical category for the books of the Bible. I'm okay with people seeing it as a real story, but it is written primarily to serve the purpose of teaching perseverance in the midst of life's most difficult times. There is no person who can beat Job when it comes to tragedy, and yet he is still able to love and serve God as a faithful witness, even while his wife and friends tell him to curse God and die. He simply does not do it because he trusts that God has a plan even in the midst of the mess in which he finds himself. Let's look at the story.
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." That phrase by Job should earmark our study. But notice that even though this is vs.21, in vs. 22 we hear a repeated mantra which is that "in all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing." Often when bad things happen to us we assume that it is because we have done something wrong. We assume that our guilt is catching up on us. This is not the case either with Job nor with us in general. God does not punish us for our sin.
The way in which these events happen in Job's life is shocking. God asked Satan to check out Job and how upright and righteous he was. Satan in Hebrew is literally the accuser. But Satan responds, the only reason why Job is so righteous is because you have given him everything he could ever want. You touch his possessions and he will turn his back on you. God says, okay, try it. Satan tries it, but is not allowed to touch his body to make it infirm. Job remains faithful even after the death of his 10 children all at once.
The faithfulness of Job is spectacular. Listen to this and think about it.
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Verse 21, where it says “The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” reminds me of the song I Will Praise You In This Storm. Because, as the song says, God is who he is no matter where we are or what is going on, and our help comes from him and we should praise him even in the worst of times. Our God is not a God that punishes, but a God that loves no matter what.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoqbKyeKOBI
I love Casting Crowns. Great call Erica.
Wow, Talk about attack! We hope none of us ever needs to go through what Job did. However, when things do happen to us, it most likely feels like a huge attack. I myself, I strive and strive and strive to react like Job did, but all too often the old me comes back and the fears come in. They say fear is a lack of trust in God. Lord, please help me to trust you completely in all circumstances and to rejoice that you are on my side.