Job 25,26 and Psalm 73,74
Job had certainly experienced his share, actually more than his share, of trouble. Add to that the counsel of his wife and friends and you can’t help but wonder how he managed to survive, and to actually thrive in his relationship with the LORD. None of it was fair, but why would we expect life to be fair? If life was fair, I suppose we’d be zapped with judgment upon our first sin. Job seemed to have wisdom and understanding beyond most. Psalm 111:10 comes to mind, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him (the LORD) belongs eternal praise!” Job did his best to follow the LORD’S precepts, and he was consequently blessed with understanding. He was certainly a man of faith, with determined loyalty to the LORD, no matter what came his way. What an example for us as we see evil in our world, as we experience trouble, disappointment, pain, sorrow, frustration. It’s easy to wonder, where is God? Why doesn’t he send Jesus back? Isn’t it time to put an end to this broken and disobedient age in which we live?
Asaph, author of Psalm 73 and 74, may have had similar thoughts. He seemed to envy the arrogant, even thought the wicked had it better than he. Everything seemed to go well for them. They were carefree, yet their wealth increased. This bothered him to no end, until he remembered the rest of the picture. All may have appeared bright and shiny, but he was reminded the wicked are doomed to judgment and destruction.
Still, it bothered Asaph that things continued as they did. Notice Psalm 74:11, “Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!” Asaph felt, as probably most of us today, that God should get his hands out of his pockets and fix things. Deal with the evil! Get rid of those who persecute God’s people! Smack those who call evil good, and good evil! Bring your salvation! Have regard for your covenant, your promises! Defend your cause!
Doesn’t that sound like our thoughts and wishes? Send Jesus back now! I suspect things are going to get a whole lot worse than they are now, than we can even imagine. It’s okay that we would wish God would take his hands out of his pockets and fix everything, because that in itself shows that we do know he who can and will eventually fix things. At the same time, may we be patient, may we persevere, as did Job, and may we wait upon the LORD to take action when and how he sees fit!
-John Railton
Today’s Bible passages can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Job 25-26 and Psalm 73-74
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