Job: Take 1

Job 1, 2, & 3

The book of Job is full of talking.

In heaven.

In God’s throne room.

On earth.

On an ash-heap.

Ultimately the story of Job is about what it looks like when a man suffers.

And listening to what everyone has to say about it.

About God and human suffering.

And I find that kind of intimidating.

But we get to be a proverbial fly on the wall.

I find it kind of interesting

This little glimpse into the throne room of heaven

Where God’s righteous people \are the topic of everyday discussion.

In Chapter 1 we meet Job,

This very wealthy man,

An apple of God’s eye.

He loses everything

And still falls down in worship and praise. 

In Chapter 3 he comes very close to cursing God

But not quite.

He writes so beautifully about his pain.

I love it that his friends came and sat with him.

With his potsherd.

They just sat.

For 7 days and 7 nights.

And they didn’t have to say a word.

God sustains him in his turmoil

But he does not feel at peace. 

There’s a whole lot of How?  and Why?

for which there aren’t answers,

but I’m not sure those are always the questions.

I think it takes a lot to process such catastrophe.

But Job walks his talk.

“Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”

I do know that wherever we are

and whatever we go through

that God promises to go with us.

I’m not sure I could be so stoic.

I’m not sure I would rant and rave either.

But I do know that a handful of you would come and sit with me.

On the compost pile. 

And you wouldn’t have to say a word.