This portion of the book moves us from the account of the afflictions brought on by the Satan right back down to earth, where Job sits in sorrow. His friends are appalled by what they see, to start with struck completely dumb! How often we think we should always have something to say...sometimes what’s required is the sitting and waiting alongside, not having advice or comfort: Jesus challenges his disciples to ‘Watch with me’ Matt.26.38.
Job does not curse God, but he wishes he’d never been born and yearns for the end in a passage that reminds me of parts of Ecclesiastes in its hopelessness. Job’s distress is so great that the world is turned on its head, his days have become dark, his hope has gone, even God’s protection, His hedging-in has become a burden and a constriction. Job has touched the bottom. The friends, who will begin to irritate us later in the book, I’m fairly sure, start off well. They wait for Job, they sit with him in his silence and they sit and listen whilst it all comes pouring out. Job has managed to fall down and worship God, acknowledging His rule, reign and righteousness (1.20 & 21), he’s also managed to resist and counter his wife’s advice (2.9 &10), but now the floodgates of grief and bewilderment are opened.
A really great website for more on Job is https://thebibleproject.com/explore/job/”
Let’s pray for our suffering friends, let’s remember and use the conduct of Job’s friends in this chapter as we reach out to those in the darkest places. God wants us to sit and simply be with people (something Mother Theresa did) during their darkest hours, simply as carriers of the light and love of Christ, silently inviting His Presence to bring peace and His Spirit to provide answers. Let’s ask God for opportunities to be better at this, to start doing this and to bring us to situations where He can work through our obedience in this.
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Let us flow with Your rhythm
The Spirit and the Word
And pick up Your burdens
Walk the land and pray
Carrying You ... Carrying You
Into the city streets and homes
Carrying You ... Carrying You
We hear the footsteps of the Lord
Can Your heavy glory
Can Your heavy glory rest on me?
Godfrey Birtill & Martin Scott