by Katrina
BACKGROUND
In this chapter, Job talks about how those who used to honor him now mock him. The lowest of society, whom he used to help, now taunt him. Everyone has turned against him. He cries out to God, but God doesn't answer. God turns a deaf ear to Job and persecutes him instead. Although he has grieved with and helped the needy, now that he is needy all he gets is evil, no relief. He is a tortured man! He is constantly afflicted, cannot relax, and receives no comfort.
REFLECTION
Job is feeling utterly despondent. And in light of that hopeless feeling, this hymn came to my mind, especially the first verse and refrain.
Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
PRAYER
Lord, when we are weary and troubled, and all we can see is darkness, give us enough light to see you. Be our comfort. Amen.
1 comment:
You might be interested in this online commentary "Putting God on Trial: The Biblical Book of Job" (http://www.bookofjob.org) as supplementary or background material for your study of the Book of Job. It is not a sin to question God, to demand answers from God. There is a time and a place for such things. It is written by a Canadian criminal defense lawyer, now a Crown prosecutor, and it explores the legal and moral dynamics of the Book of Job with particular emphasis on the distinction between causal responsibility and moral blameworthiness embedded in Job’s Oath of Innocence. It is highly praised by Job scholars (Clines, Janzen, Habel) and the Review of Biblical Literature, all of whose reviews are on the website. It is also taught in 262 US high schools in 40 states through Chapter 17 in The Bible and Its Influence. The author is an evangelical Christian, denominationally Anglican. He is also the Canadian Director for the Mortimer J. Adler Centre for the Study of the Great Ideas, a Chicago-based think tank.
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