Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of Job, Chapter 21 verse 22, “Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those on high,” (NRSVB). In this speech of Job he questioned his friends’ wisdom regarding the way of the wicked. He noted that their so-called insight, with respect to his lamentable condition, could not be correct, for he was not seeking to understand the ways of humans, but the ways that God dealt with humanity. Job felt that his friends’ advice and admonishments were being stacked up against him, and were starting to sound to him, like mockery instead of consolation. His friends were insisting that the wicked, who do not acknowledge that there is a god, ultimately suffer the loss of their wealth, their children and their health. Job stated that he acknowledged God and walked in God’s ways, but he suffered the loss of his wealth, his children and his health. He therefore could not follow their arguments any longer, for they became “wearisome and miserable comforters” to him.
“Even now, my Witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high. My friends scorn me, but my eyes pour out tears to God,” Job Chapter, 16 verses 19 to 20, (Amplified Bible). Job believed that God would break through and come with his divine answer and explain Job’s questions so that his guiltless state would be affirmed. Job found that the debates and speeches of his friends clouded the truth of his situation and even diminished his anguish. More so, these tried to appropriate guilt to him, for his sad condition. His friends used, as a constant opening phrase for their verbal chastisements, the words: Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and I make haste to offer these reasons.
Believers suffer the same situation as Job. They come to a point in their lives when they see those who scoff at God, seemingly live without suffering, whereas those who profess God and worship him, are plagued with trouble and deep sorrows. Job wanted to know why God would allow suffering in the lives of those who bless the Lord, and not visit suffering on those who curse the Lord. The theology of Job’s friends stated that those who bless God prosper, and those who curse God suffer. Job tried to bring to their understanding that the situation on earth regarding the life of humans is not as easy to explain as their reason implied. Ultimately, after long debates between Job and his friends, God came in his awesome presence and told Job’s friends that their reasoning regarding their friend Job, was incorrect. The suffering of a believer has great purpose and is not punishment from heaven. It belongs to the realm of battle that exists between the principalities of heaven and earth, and cannot be fully comprehended by humans.
The Apostle Peter wrote in his first letter, in Chapter Four verse 13, “But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, so that when his glory is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph,” (Amplified Bible). God affirmed Job’s righteousness in the presence of his doubting friends and rewarded him on earth and in heaven for his continued hope in and trust in him. God, the Almighty, took time to answer Job’s questions, however, Job’s friends thought it acceptable to hurriedly formulate reasonings from their own human understanding.
Humans cannot understand, nor explain God, by using their own understanding and human language. God is the interpreter of his word and his work. He will send the Spirit of Truth to come and unfold matters regarding the situations of suffering, in his own time, to the sorrowful sufferer. The Apostle Paul pleaded in his Letter to the Romans, in Chapter 12 verse 16, “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty,” (NRSVB). The relationship between Job and his friends was marred by their counsel, and their behaviour that was not congruent with empathy, or harmonious discussion. They acted from a position where they were convinced that their insights were right. They started to behave towards Job in a superior manner, condemning his insights and dismissing his pain and suffering. It took God, himself who made his voice to be heard, before they kept quiet! God calls his children to act towards each other with deepest of empathy and kindness, helping one another to carry the cross that they have to bear. This is Christian humility, the service of compassion and consolation.
Father, we thank you, that you yourself come to us in our suffering. You give us hope and declare, after we suffered for awhile, your loving kindness and your blessing. You bring your child to conquer and overcome, and to triumphed over pain, loss and suffering. We praise you, for we know that you will turn our mourning into rejoicing, in your good time, Amen.