Job 18 – a continuation…

JOB 18

Job 18, sees the second of Job’s friends (Bildad) making his second speech to Job.

‘ThenBildad the Shuhite answered and said:
“How long will you hunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
Why are we counted ascattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
You who tear yourself in your anger,
shall the earth be forsaken for you,
or the rock be removed out of its place?’

The opening four verses are overly critical harsh, it would seem that Job has just been complaining, complaining and complaining. And yes, he has questioned and wondered to God, why is this happening, why have you done this, ‘leave me alone’.

Oh yes, but much of his speech has quite frankly been wishing for death, and we can learn an important lesson on how to be compassionate from Bildad, for it was the total opposite of what he did.

As I said earlier a good friend is an honest friend, and yes perhaps the friends were justified in telling Job he has sinned and needed to watch out his ways and basically sort himself out as they saw this as the only viable reason for what was happening to Job. But on the other had they also had a duty of care, their friend was broken, as we saw just now in chapters 16 & 17, the man wanted to die, and was totally in despair.

‘my spirit is broken’ (chapter 17:1)

Let us not let truth and honesty get in the way of compassion. Jesus our Saviour is the perfect example, he spoke truth and often it was hard truth to the Pharisees and also to others. He spoke about hell openly and in strong terms, he spoke about sin, but that did not stop him loving others, it did not stop him serving! Let us look to him to gain perspective on the balance of truth and harsh rebuke, but compassion and empathy also.

Job 16 & 17 – what depression – a continuation…

JOB 16 IN FULL

JOB 17 IN FULL

What depression? Usually when we read one of Job’s speeches we hear some light at the end of the tunnel so to speak, but here we see none, this man is beaten, he is battered, bruised and seemingly in no way of getting up.

This story speaks to those of us who have been there, those who have lost everything, and gained nothing, those who have had all taken from them and friends left them, this truly is ‘rock bottom’.

Yet though we se this dire state we know that God still watches over Job, God has set it that his life will be spared, and this to me shows that God is still in control.

There is all to fear when God is not around, when God is ‘not in the mix’ so to speak. And we can see this with Job, he feared himself that God had left him that God was indeed nowhere to be seen and so yes he justifiably felt it was all over. But we know that God was still sovereign, God never has his eyes off a situation and those who are called by him WILL be rescued, and we look forward to the point where Job WILL be rescued, where Job WILL be vindicated! He is an example that if he can get through this, anyone can get through!

‘And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom heforeknew he alsopredestinedto be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he alsoglorified.’

Romans 8:28-30

HE WILL KEEP YOU!