Have You Considered Job?

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Then Job spoke again:  “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.  Instead, I suffer if I defend myself, and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.  “O God, you have ground me down and devastated my family.  As if to prove I have sinned, you’ve reduced me to skin and bones.  My gaunt flesh testifies against me.  God hates me and angrily tears me apart.  He snaps his teeth at me and pierces me with his eyes.  People jeer and laugh at me.  They slap my cheek in contempt.  A mob gathers against me.  God has handed me over to sinners.  He has tossed me into the hands of the wicked.  “I was living quietly until he shattered me.  He took me by the neck and broke me in pieces.  He set me up as his target, and now his archers surround me.  His arrows pierce me without mercy.  The ground is wet with my blood.  Again and again he smashes against me, charging at me like a warrior.  I wear burlap to show my grief.  My pride lies in the dust.  My eyes are red with weeping; dark shadows circle my eyes.  Yet I have done no wrong, and my prayer is pure.  “O earth, do not conceal my blood.  Let it cry out on my behalf.  Even now my witness is in heaven.  My advocate is there on high.  My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God.  I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.  Job 16:1-21

There is so much pathos and meaning of life in the Book of Job, it could hardly be exhausted in months of study; perhaps years; maybe only when, in Heaven, we have One who can unveil for us the depth of Job’s sorrow, confusion, and grief. 

This chapter is the fifth time Job answers his friends.  They have been trying to get their suffering friend to see how he must have sinned really-big, and really-dark to get God that ticked-off.  Job’s children were all dead, his riches gone, his livestock and goods carried off by robbers and thieves.  The icing on the cake is painful boils covering Job’s body, and his wife has suggested suicide would be better. 

Most studies of Job focus on this calamity of a good man suffering utter loss.  And there’s nothing wrong with picking it apart in the search for meaning, purpose, and order in human existence.  God created us with a brain to figure these things out!  But there is one connection we must never miss.  Given the total unravelling of a good man’s life, what can we say about God’s purpose in allowing all that?  Simply put, all of what happened to Job helps us understand life’s rain, good or horrible, falls on the just and the unjust, and is an example, which Paul writes in   1 Corinthians 10[1] that leads to Job’s conclusion:

I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.  Job 16:1-21

Job was hurting, and he knew God permitted everything that happened to him.  He knew, as good a life as he’d led, and as holy as he tried to be, his efforts just weren’t enough.  Whatever troubles anyone on earth could experience, Job was not exempt; he needed a mediator, an advocate to plead his case before God.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.  1 John 2:1

For You Today 

You may be on the verge of following Mrs. Job’s advice to her husband, or maybe you’ve suffered little in life…yet!  Whether you are there now, and down to your last shred of hope, or leading a joy-filled, even carefree life, remember this, and count on it…you do have someone who will love you.  His name is Jesus.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,600 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road library.

Today’s title Image from Pixabay.com  

Images without citation are in public domain or cited via weblinks.  

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from NLT^©  

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[1] Read 1 Corinthians 10

So Many Questions - Only One Answer

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:  “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?  Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.  “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me, if you know so much.  Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?  What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?  “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?  For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.  I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.  Here your proud waves must stop!  Job 38:1-11

For 37 chapters Job has heard no answers from heaven about why his children died, why his reputation in the community died, and why his wealth crumbled, and why his wife lost faith in him and advised him to curse God for all of it, lie down and just die.  You can certainly believe it; Job had questions…a lot of them.  And from the tone of Job’s voice, while debating with his well-intentioned dragons, the neighbors who feigned deep concern, but had already made up their minds that Job must have had closet sins which were the reason God was punishing him, you can deduce that Job figured he was entitled to some answers! 

Finally, God does give an answer to all those questions.  And they all had the same answer…a question, really; God asked Job:  With so little understanding, my dear child, how did you even manage to lace-up your sandals this morning?

God’s commentary followed, describing for Job how he couldn’t possibly understand God’s thought process for allowing Satan to sift through Job’s life and create such chaos.  That commentary was about the creation, starting with the DNA of the tiniest creature, to the great Leviathan beasts roaming the open seas.  He described assembling the foundation of the earth, and teaching the stars to sing, while arranging all the majestic splendour of life, physical and metaphysical. 

Gods’ answer continues for another chapter and a half, but it’s still one answer, a description of God’s majesty, displayed in creation, and how Job, a latecomer to time and eternity, really doesn’t have enough brain power to even begin understanding God’s ways, let alone instructing God in His responsibilities.  Here’s how the conversation finishes…God says to Job:

“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?  You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” 

Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?  I will cover my mouth with my hand.  I have said too much already.  I have nothing more to say.”  Job 40:2-5

Finally…Job lays-hold of an intelligent thing to say to an Almighty, Sovereign God!

For You Today 

There exists in our world an arrogance which is as old as Satan prancing into heaven and challenging God to this battle with Job’s soul as the prize.  It is the arrogance that we humans have judging God for the bad stuff that happens.  We charge God as scapegoat for all the misery we have created by ignoring His love and righteousness.  We choose destruction over the plan of God for good and holy living.  And then, in our pride, we blame him for our choices.

Approach God in your day today…listen much, say less…let Him love you.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,500 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper explore some of these:   Wondering About the Big Stuff Series:  Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  and We Mortals

Title Image:  via Pixabay.com   Images without citation are in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

Peace in the Pandemic - Part 2

 

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Here’s how the conversation went the other day with my friend:

Me:  This pandemic thing is getting old!  Him:  It does get old, doesn’t it?

I didn’t ask permission from my friend to quote us…because this is what we call “public domain” – nobody has a copyright on those words.  If you read them today you could just as well have written them yesterday; you’ve had that conversation sometime within the last year.

And here’s another conversation you’ve had (although the so-called conversation had no other participants than you and the words echoing around in your mind and soul):

Me:  This pandemic thing is scary.

Me:  I wonder if this year will be the date they’ll put on my tombstone?

Me:  I don’t want to think about this.

And yet, think about this is what we do.  Years ago a co-worker of mine said:  Everyone over the age of 40 thinks about death at least once a day.  But that statistical analysis wasn’t opined during a pandemic, where the news channels have that death box on the screen during their broadcasts.  With half a million deaths in this country (so far), I’m thinking the newscast audience pool is shrinking!  Who wants to watch death winning?

Enter the words of Job, from (at least) 3,500 years ago.  Job was a rich man, and a godly man.  He was also one of the most unfortunate men in history.  He had it all, wealth, health, family, community respect, and a life of integrity.  And then, in a single afternoon, Job lost it all, except for his integrity and faith in God.  His family died in a tragic disaster, his wealth robbed, friends suspecting he’d sinned bigtime, and his wife urging him to commit suicide.  But Job hung-on!

“Oh, that my words could be recorded.  Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument, carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock.  “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.  And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!  I will see him for myself.  Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.  I am overwhelmed at the thought!  Job 19:23-27

From our perspective (on this side of the cross), we know Job did more than hang-on, he prevailed.  Reading the end of Job’s epic we see that his integrity and faith in God were vindicated, and the last days of his life were more prosperous and redemptive than before.   

That’s not just a heartwarming end to a tragic story, that is a textbook track for we humans to live on, especially now in a worldwide health crisis.  With as much as pulls at us to “curse God and die” (as Mrs. Job so eloquently preached to her hubby), there is every evidence and urging in Scripture to have faith in God.  No matter what it looks like on the newscast screen, God is behind that screen, and HE will have the last word.

For You Today

A dear friend sent me some encouraging words a day ago, words from an old song in his church’s hymnal entitled If You But Trust in God to Guide You.  Written nearly four centuries ago during the time of the 30 Years War by Georg Neumark, a man, not unlike Job, who was fired, robbed, and regained all, only to lose everything in a fire[1], I think these words fit the bill for peace in the pandemic:

If you but trust in God to guide you
and place your confidence in him,
you'll find him always there beside you
to give you hope and strength within;
for those who trust God's changeless love
build on the rock that will not move.[2]

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

[1] Title Image: Russell Brownworth, own work (from a live broadcast of CNN 2/15/21                                          Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

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[1] See here for more of this man’s remarkable story

[2] Georg Neumark 17^th century (Source:  Hymnary.org)

Peace in the Pandemic

 

Monday, February 15, 2021

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Billy Graham said I know where I’ve come from.  I know why I’m here.  I know where I’m going- and I have peace in my heart.  His peace floods my heart and overwhelms my soul![1]

This was shared as part of Dr. Graham’s last public message; I think it makes perfect sense of the foundational need of every human being, particularly during this season of angst.  Let’s unpack the three greatest questions of human existence, and the reality which answers all of them.

1.    The Question of Origin – where did I come from?

Charles Darwin spent his life looking for the answer to this question and has been a major influence on humanity’s thinking for several generations.  But his thesis of natural selection misses the mark somewhat.  He posits how we evolved, but not the deeper question of how there was any beginning point…in short, what was life’s origin that eventually evolved into what we are now?  It matters little if you are “old earth” or “young earth” in your thinking; the real question is, whatever age the earth is, and its inhabitants, how did the earth get here.  For Billy Graham, the answer is:  

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1.

2.    The Question of Purpose – why am I here?

Once the question of origin is settled, that we are here by God’s creative hand, it becomes possible to address the question of purpose.  From human existence we glean that every creation begins with a purpose of the Creator.  A clock maker creates a clock to display time.  A computer programmer designs a system to make sense of data.  God also has a design for us, a purpose.  That purpose is to explore God and pursue relationship with God and His creation.  Jesus summed this up in his statement to the disciples:  that you may have peace in me.  “That” is the word of explanation – all this because of that.

3.    The Question of Destination – where am I going?

This great question of destination is a troubling reminder that we are nomads, simply travelers on this planet.  Our moment in time is fleeting, and we have somewhere else to be.  To be on a journey and not know where you’re headed is tragic and empties the journey of any joy. 

In the message Dr. Graham gave he told of Albert Einstein on a train.  The conductor was making his rounds, asking passengers to show their tickets.  Einstein couldn’t find his, but the conductor assured him he recognized the great man.  Einstein’s reply was:  Young man, I also know who I am; I must find my ticket to remember where I’m going.  Again, Jesus has that answer for those who are willing to follow:

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  John 14:3

4.    The Question of Peace – how then shall I live?

This question surrounds the first three and becomes our daily living-out of the answers.  How do we live, considering our origin, purpose, and our destination?  We live in love, loving God, and loving the other 7.8 billion souls with which we share God’s gift of life.  This is what Jesus told us when this question was asked:

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40

For You Today

The Coronavirus pandemic works against peace – just look at the public angst and outbursts of anger and violence.  It is a sure sign that we have trouble agreeing on an answer to the three great questions of our existence and purpose, and how to work out any of it. 

Peace will never be achieved by politics, wars, or economic advances; real peace that overcomes pandemic worry is for anyone who will come to Christ in humble faith.  It’s above our pay grade, but it is free for all.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

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[1] Saturday Snapshot – Billy Graham on Peace (The Cove Blog)

 

A Prayer from the Hourglass

 

Friday, November 13, 2020

Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!  Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.  You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”  For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.  You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.  They are like grass that springs up in the morning.  In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.  We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury.  You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and you see them all…. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.  Psalm 90:1-8, 12

There is, contained in Moses’ prayer, one phrase which is the answer to every problem of humanity.  The phrase governs whether a prayer will be heard in Heaven and answered on earth.  It is the phrase that solves the riddle of who we are, and whether life has any meaning.  It can be uttered in the utmost sincerity or whispered as a lucky charm key word (albeit meaningless), or even in mockery (albeit quite dangerous)…but the phrase is as true as rain falls from the heavens, nonetheless. 

You are God

 Suspended in the passing of time, we can only dream of eternity; yet God has placed within us the understanding of mortality and how we are created beings, not Creator.  God has also placed within our understanding – each of us, admit it or not – that God is holy God, and we are not.  The chief problem of humanity is rejection of that truth; it forms the basis of either cooperating with God’s ways or, like Adam and Eve did, moving deeper into the forest of fig leaves to hide our nakedness.

There are all sorts of fig leaf activities to cover our nakedness of soul, and the nervousness of our psyche:

·       Intelligence – by assuming the knowledge will solve everything position, we bury our nakedness in study, science, and diplomas hung on the wall.  In that way we can point to what we “know” and be philosophically removed from that which escapes knowing. 

·       Insourcing – by counting on our “feelings” and intuition to feel better

·       Indulgence – by staying so busy with the readily-available dulling the senses tactics (parties, drugs, and whatever else appeals to our desires)

·       Insanity – burying our nakedness under a load of continual rituals (even the religious ones, political causes, or a cure for this or that disease) which lulls us into an existence of false hope that something will come along to make things okay. 

Have you ever felt just a little lost (or a lot) in all, or any, of that?

And then, the preacher brings up the final exam that’s coming…quickly, unexpectedly, and all that judgment stuff for getting it wrong. 

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief!  Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”  Revelation 16:15

And you are more than aware you’re sitting in an hourglass, and the sand is running out.  You’re just hoping someone will turn the hourglass over to give you some more time to figure it all out.

Well, someONE has done better than that.  SomeONE has entered your hourglass of time and space to come alongside you and make it all better than okay.  He wants to make it okay between you and Him…for eternity!

For You Today

If you feel an uneasiness in your soul, deep within, the kind of questioning about the meaning of life, what’s at stake, and whether there is any hope at all…for you, or anyone else on this planet…there is a starting place for all the answers.  It is the prayer that begins like Moses prayed, Lord….You Are God!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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Title image, Pixabay.com   W   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For other posts on Psalm 90 see:  Without Begining - Without Ending and  But Someday  

 

The Dangers of Children's Time at Church

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.  Proverbs 22:6

My guest writer is Will Tate, our Grandson-in-law, who writes about his son, Levi, our great grandson, whose debut in church service was to open the worship time by opening the Bible.  This happened a couple of years ago, and Will writes:

There is always that one precocious child at Children's time at church that gives that little more than expected answer... 

Today being All Saints Sunday, Dr. Joyce Ray Howell mentioned that we remember and honor those in our church who passed away in the past year.  He also noted that this year we had 3 members who nearly made it to 100 years old.  Cue Levi Tate.  Without provocation and clearly on perfect comedic time, Levi looks straight up at Ray and says... "My daddy is 100."   

The congregation fell from their pews in laughter and the heavenly throngs bellowed with sweet joy.  Daddy just shook his head. 

Of course it is hardly necessary to mention the boy has some “preacher’s blood” surging through his veins and arteries; preachers are relatively confident about their information, and don’t hesitate to share it!  Levi lacks little initiative in that department.

Levi and company are regulars at First Baptist Church of Lexington, NC, and that is in obedience to Scripture’s admonition to teach the little ones while they’re still little and malleable enough to be bent towards Christ.  It’s a documented reality that, the older we get, the less likely our hardened hearts become to repent and commit life and eternity to Jesus.  One of the greatest privileges of my life is to have lived long enough to have great-grandchildren and pray for them every day that they give their hearts to the Lord. 

(I marvel at how our prayer list grows.  With 9 grandchildren, and 5 great-grands, should the Lord grant that I live another 20 years, I may need a database just to remember the names of all the family I’m praying will join us in the Kingdom).

As a pastor for nearly 40 years I’ve had perhaps a couple of thousand Sunday Children’s times in worship.  I’ve had more than a few Levi answers.  It used to rattle me a bit when a child got “wordy” and wouldn’t stop describing everything they could think of (none of it fitting in the slightest with what I was trying to teach them).  But I learned quite a few years ago, to go with it for three reasons:

1.     That talking is really an excellent sign that the child is engaged, and opening herself or himself to the ways of the Kingdom

2.     Something that kid says will just about teach the lesson for the other kids, and my job gets easier when it comes from one of their peers (and that works for their parents as well, you know)

3.     I realized early on that, when it comes to controlling a children’s time, you cannot lose what you never had.  God is in control, and my job is to be there, be real, and enjoy the trip.

For You Today

If you’re a pastor, or one of those fortunate adults who gets to mix it up with the kids as they learn about Jesus…enjoy…for such is the kingdom of God. 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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Title image, courtesy of Will Tate   W   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For other posts on Psalm 63 see:  Trained Up and The Ripple Effect of Church  and Passing Along the Faith