Old Testament: Job 3 & 4
Poetry: Psalm 32
New Testament: John 12
The phrase ‘the patience of Job’ is really not accurate. Job persevered for sure, but not patiently. He suffered, but not silently. The book of Job is the story of a rebel.
After his suffering begins, his saintly friends take turns explaining his problems to him with good, logical, theological phrasing. I would call their monologues churchy. Job, on the other hand, goes to God with his irreverent appeal for an explanation. And that’s the real difference between Job and his friends… Job spoke to God about his suffering while his friends spoke about God to Job.
Chapter 3 begins with Job opening his mouth and cursing the day of his birth, saying, “Let the day perish on which I was born.” He goes on at length and in great detail describing that notion.
But this isn’t a typical poor me kind of complaint. His personal lament turns to a lament for all of those who suffer through life. The poorest of the poor, those who grow up with no advantages, despised, rejected, people who are just surviving.
Why is light given to him who is in misery,
and life to the bitter in soul,
who long for death, but it comes not,
and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
who rejoice exceedingly
and are glad when they find the grave?
Job invites us to ask the hard questions rather than to slip into the platitudes that can come too easily. Questions about the meaning of life and about God himself. And he models to us the way to find peace in our questioning…not by talking about God, but by talking to him.
Uncomfortable? Yup. Worth it? I think Job would say so.
-Susan Landry
Reflection Questions
- Do you spend more time talking to God or talking about God? Which comes easier to you?
- Do you have a little list of hard questions you have been avoiding asking God? Talk to Him about them – and see how He answers.
Seek Grow Love 