Tuesday, November 14, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading
Job 19:23–27a

“O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” (NRSV)

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Reflection

If we’ve read the book of Job at all, we know that Job suffers a lot. We feel for Job. Our compassion, and maybe even a little angst, is awakened in us. He experiences extreme illness, pain, loss of love, loss of family, and loss of capacity. It’s not fair! We wish it wasn’t the case! We ask why, why, why is this man suffering? And sometimes we ask why, why, why am I (or my loved ones) going through such suffering, pain, and loss?

Our scripture reading today recounts how Job responded to a friend who tried to tell Job that somehow he deserved his suffering. The book of Job begins by acknowledging that Job did not deserve any of the terrible things that happened to him: “There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”

Job, who didn’t do anything wrong, even in his most difficult hour, defends himself against his friends. And in terms of God’s role in his life, he defends God and also argues and fights with God, as well. It's like he’s holding on to God with one hand and shaking the fist of his other hand at God, shouting accusations.

Job accuses God and also trusts God. Job believes his words so strongly that he wishes he could engrave them permanently into stone, so everyone, always, would be able to see them.

He trusts God to always be with him, even in his suffering and grief. He knows that God, his redeemer, his vindicator, lives now and will live at the end of time. Job believes that after his own death he will see God and be with God.

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Prayer
God of love and grace, help us to feel your presence and compassion even in our most challenging times. Comfort us in our times of sorrow and strengthen us in our times of weakness. We pray in the name of your Beloved One, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

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Written by Nanette Sawyer, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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