ListenDaily - 09 July 2009: He is worthy!
Job's First Test
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
Job 1:20-21 NIV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you can, please read chapter 2, which we'll cover over the next few days. I am beginning to see the book of Job as a study in preparation and response to hardships. Job may not have been planning on difficulty with intent, but he was "blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil" which is as good preparation as one can have. Now let us look at his response, including and going beyond his worship.
"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head." These were the signs of grieving; and Job was grieving. Now whether he did this as an emotional response, or because it was the societal norm, or both, we do not know. But we do know that he was truly grieving.
"Then he fell to the ground in worship..." We covered this last time, but it bears repeating that in the midst of what we can only imagine as the most intense grief, that Job fell to his knees and worshiped God. Now, I don't want to state that which I do not know, but I find it interesting that it does not say that Job 'knelt down to worship', or that he 'lay down to worship', but that he "fell to the ground". I believe that Job's preparation, his constant seeking after God before these disasters, left him teetering at the edge of the only place he could go for help. He was so ever in the presence of God before this, that he simply collapsed into God's arms -- into worship.
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
"...and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart." Whatever Job's theology or doctrine or understanding about eternity were, he understood this basic truth; we don't bring anything into this world, and whatever material possessions we gain, we cannot take them with us.
"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away..." One might argue that it was not God who 'took away' from Job, that it was Satan's doing. And one might counter that it was all done with God's permission. What is clearly evident, however, is that Job sees his place here, as steward, not owner..
"...may the name of the LORD be praised." This is a message we all need. God is to be praised regardless of our circumstances. God is worthy of worship, and worthy of praise...always. In the midst of good times and bad, He is to be praised. And it is not that God has some ego that He insists upon us stroking, no, the worthiness of God is the essential truth of the universe.
And...by praising Him and worshiping Him, we are more quickly brought into the place where we can be relieved, renewed, refreshed, and re-strengthened.
"May the name of the LORD be praised."
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Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on Job's responses as recorded here? 2. How do you respond to bad news? 3. How might that be different if your first response was worship, and your second to praise?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3NFhmxQxs
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
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