Devotions - Tuesday, Sept 2

I had commented earlier that my lectionary has me reading through Job. It is a long book, so there will be readings from it for a while longer. That is okay, there is much to be learned, from this book.

This morning I was reading from the 13th chapter. Here, Job is speaking, and he says, "Will you speak falsely for God, and speak deceitfully for him? Will you show partiality toward him, and will you plead the case for God?"

Job is growing frustrated with those who are trying to convince him that he (Job) in some way deserves his suffering. Job is angry that those sitting with him are making assumptions, and not honestly looking at the situation.

The professor in my preaching class had these catchy little sentences to keep in mind when we write our sermons. One of them was, "Don't take God's side too quickly." Sometimes the faithful do have a leg to stand on when they lift their voices to God. The Psalmist cries out, "How long, O Lord, will you abandon us?"

We are not justified in demanding of God that every desire be granted. But, it is appropriate that we lift our voices to God, expressing the anguish of our hearts and the confusion of our minds. As we consider the plight of those for whom we pray, we should not "speak falsely for God, and speak deceitfully for him." We should never add contempt to suffering by insisting that it is God's will that hardship has come their way.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but Job's fortune will be restored. Job is right. He goes toe-to-toe with God and exposes the erroneous thinking of those who looked for easy answers to why all this was happening to him. From Job we can learn the importance of standing on the side of those who suffer, never assuming that it is some Godly punishment for some unrepented sin.