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The Wisdom of the Body
The Word became flesh and made his home among us. —John 1:14, CEB This month the Read More
J. R. Daniel Kirk | Read Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Job is a faithful companion for us through life’s valleys because Job knows that life with God does not give us easy answers. Job knows that God is powerful over all things, and so he can complain to God about what he thinks God has allowed to happen. Job also knows that he has been faithful to God and that God will vindicate him if given the chance.
But God is nowhere to be found. The darkness that causes us to call out, “Why, God?” is often made deeper by God’s silence.
Job prods us to keep crying out in the darkness. When we have the boldness to say that God is just but our world is not, when we have the boldness to cry out to God and demand that God heed the voices of those who demand that God’s righteousness be made known, we play the part of the faithful righteous.
In the pursuit of humility, we must ensure that we do not give up on the idea that goodness exists on the earth and God should honor it. We too easily give up on the idea that the suffering we see or experience is unjust. Or we too easily give up on the idea that our God wants to act to make all things right. Job stirs us to remember that the very means by which God has chosen to make God’s presence known in the world is divine response to the cries of God’s people.
In the end, the injustice that Job experiences as “God’s heavy hand” and Job’s “I cannot perceive him” are one and the same. The injustice of the world tries to hide from God, but divine glory is displayed in justice, grace, and mercy.
Almighty God, display your justice so that all may see you and know you. Amen.
Faithful people still have questions for God. Job wishes he could sit down with God and plead his case because he wants God to justify what has happened to him. The psalmist also feels abandoned by God and wonders why God is not coming to his aid. God can handle our questions. Job wanted an advocate, and Hebrews says that Jesus now fills that role for us. He is our great high priest and understands our sufferings, so we may boldly approach him for help. In Mark, Jesus deals with the challenge of money. It is a powerful force and can come between us and God if we cling to our resources instead of holding them loosely with thanksgiving for God’s provision.
Read Job 23:1-9, 16-17. When have you, like Eliphaz, attributed your own suffering or that of others to wickedness on your part or on theirs? How often do you find yourself blaming others for the situations in which they find themselves?
Read Psalm 22:1-15. How could your prayer life be more honest and transparent? What feelings do you hold back?
Read Hebrews 4:12-16. When God shines the spotlight on your soul, what does God see?
Read Mark 10:17-31. How do you square your “wealthy” life with Jesus’ call to discipleship?
Respond by posting a prayer.
