Categories: uncategorized
Date: 30 January 2011 20:49:48
So today we go to Job 15:1 - 18:21 and Job and the do-gooders have another scarily contemporary "discussion".
Accusations thrown at Job include: he is undermining piety and hindering devotion to God by others and even the old people are saying he is wrong and if they're on our side we must be right.
Later in the passage he also gets told, "if you calm down and promise to be quiet we can talk" (paraphrased from Job 18 v 2) and people being convinced he can't really know God - (in current language read as be a proper Christian).
Great replies to be born in mind by depressed people with do gooders on their case include:
"miserable comforters are you all! Will your long-winded speeches never end?"
If you were in my place I could be like you but actually I'd help and encourage you.
Within all this it is clear Job is tired and emotional, he has had more than enough. He is physically and mentally broken but he still goes crying out to God.
As I say this story has an horribly contemporary ring to it. On one hand as somebody who has at various times faced "well meaning Christians", particularly when depressed - I can say I love the story. However, on another I have to be honest and say would I/ could I behave like Job really or in reality is there more of the do-gooder in me than I like to admit?
This book is both grabbing me and sort of challenging me than I could have ever imagined. I think it helps that I know this is a story and not real. Somehow that takes away any problematics with what God is doing in it. As I have said though I would love to see Job performed professionally, the dialouge is just as good as Shakespeare.
NT I hit Matt 20:20 -34 and an interferring mother causing problems by trying to get her boys a place of honour. Jesus is tactfully non-commital but then has to sort out the mess it causes. A short lesson in leadership qualities this one. Then another one of those great healings where "unclean" people (because of disability) are told to be quiet by the elite but Jesus ignores the fact they are not meant to be listened to and heals them.
Finally today Psalm 17:13-15. Nice couple of verses which end by saying, "when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness." Can't quite put my finger on it but just quite liked that bit.