Re:Verse passage – Job 13:15-16; 14:1-2, 14-17 (day six)
How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! Job 14:1
Suffering, or any of the hard things in life, have a way of making us really think about meaning and purpose. We can’t help but ask, “What is the meaning of all this?”
So, while suffering is a result of the Fall, if we allow him, God will use it to shape our thinking and understanding of the world and the purpose of life itself. That’s what Job has been doing in his painful musings and complaints, particularly in chapter 14. His reason drives him to an extraordinary and hopeful conclusion…almost (he lands more or less with his hopefulness in tatters).
And we are there with him all along the way.
I think there are two main reasons Job is in the Bible, one it reassures us that it is okay to be driven by suffering to feel deeply about life and to ask wonderful and terrible questions about its meaning and purpose. A faith-filled life is not void of these kind of deep and resonant contemplations, but full of them as we live and breath in the world this side of eternity. Two, we have a guide in Job in reasoning through suffering, leading us down a needed path towards a divine and eternal end-in awe of God and fellowship with him.
Job doesn’t allow us to take life for granted. Ponder it. Rejoice in it. And long for God.
Danny
You have such great insight into God’s word and I look forward each week to your wisdom and inspiration! Thank you for sharing your thoughts . You and Anna are such a blessing to me and our church and you are greatly loved.
BJ