September 15: Job 25-31

(Posted on behalf of Jon Lanuza)
Job 25-31


Just when one thinks one has come to grips with the magnitude of Job's
suffering, he lets us in on a bit more. In today's reading, we read in
greater detail about the height of Job's seeming fall from grace, from the
esteem and respect he enjoyed from his fellow men, to the mocking he now
endures from young men whose fathers he would not have associated with his
sheep dogs; from being the source of counsel to the target of spittle of men
who "brayed among the bushes...a base and nameless brood...driven out of the
land". These days, when someone suffers a great loss, we have the decency
to mutter and gossip about it behind that person's back [SARCASM ALERT]...in
those days, it seems acceptable to kick a man when he was down. And, in
this instance, not just any man, but one who, even amidst his affliction,
was adamant in the certainty of his own righteousness before God. And in
his own mind, he certainly seemed to believe himself righteous. "I will
maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not
reproach me as long as I live."

This leads me along two paths of reflection. Along the first path, I am led
to note that, despite what would seem to be the great injustice of the
afflictions God had permitted him, Job lived in acknowledgement of God's
sovereignty..."He spreads out the northern skies over empty pace; he
suspends the earth over nothing...and these are but the outer fringe of His
works...who then can understand the thunder of His power?"...and in
obedience to Him..."The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil
is understanding." His faithfulness remains, despite God's seeming
silence..."I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer...yet when I hoped
for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness."

Along the second path, I am led to realize that relationship with, and
knowledge of God, provide no guarantee of a comfortable life on earth. Job
was a man who chose "not to look lustfully at a girl", whose foot has not
hurried after deceit, who has been faithful to his wife, has treated
menservants and maidservants fairly, who has donated to charity and not put
his trust in earthly wealth. He has not engaged in idolatry nor
hypocrisy...all in all, he has lived what could be deemed a righteous life.
And yet God, in His wisdom beyond understanding, which Job acknowledges, has
chosen to permit Job to suffer, the only reassurance for which is the belief
that the suffering is purposeful in God's infinite wisdom.

What to take away? The desire to get to know God thoroughly, intimately
enough to recognize and to trust in His wisdom and purposefulness when He
permits difficult, even painful things to happen. We don't have to be happy
about them, but it would probably help us pass through the test and trial
knowing we undergo them in God's wisdom. Perhaps today we might pray that
God grant us the grace to get to know Him a bit more each day, that we might
be able to face test and trial with the faithfulness of Job.