The book of Job

G'morning!

When I woke up this morning, I had the sudden urge to read the entire book of Job. I have never read more than a verse here and there from this book but I thought that, seeing as I'm in the situation that I'm in, Job might have some consolation for me. I found some verses where Job speaks on how he feels and it's like he's speaking on my behalf. Then I found some verses that are spoken by Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar that also felt like they were giving me advice directly for my specific situation. I am loving how the bible is so timeless. Anyway, the way I'm going to post about it is I'll write the laments of Job and then the advice he is given. The difference between me and Job is though that I'm not ANGRY at God like he is, nor do I want to die (no need for depression/suicide interventions, people). Also, even though I'm not going to be quoting any of the Lord's speech section, I love that God is like (and I paraphrase) "Can you do this? I can. So stop saying you know more than me". Loves it. Okay, so here we go:

"For sighing comes more readily to me than food, and my groans well forth like water. For what I fear overtakes me, and what I shrink from comes upon me. I have no peace nor ease; I have no rest, for trouble comes" Job 3:24-26

"What strength have I that I should endure, and what is my limit that I should be patient?" Job 6:11

"If I say: I will forget my complaining, I will lay aside my sadness and be of good cheer, then I am in dread of all my pains; I know that you will not hold me innocent." Job 9:27-28

"Be silent, let me alone! that I may speak and give vent to my feelings." Job 13:13

"My days are passed away, my plans are at an end, the cherished purposes of my heart." Job 17:11

"Yet when I looked for good, then evil came; when I expected light, then came darkness. My soul ebbs away from me; days of affliction have overtaken me. My frame takes no rest by night; my inward parts seethe and will not be stilled." Job 22:21-25

And now the advice of his friends:

"Happy is the man whom God reproves! The Almighty's chastening do not reject. For he wounds, but he binds up; he smites but his hands give healing. Out of six troubles he will deliver you, and at the seventh no evil shall touch you." Job 5:17-19

"Behold, God will not cast away the upright; neither will he take the hand of the wicked. Once more will he fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with rejoicing" Job 8:20-21

"If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands toward him, if you remove all iniquity from your conduct, and let not injustice dwell in your tent, surely then you may lift up your face in innocence; you may stand firm and unafraid. For then you shall forget your misery, or recall it like waters that have ebbed away. Then your life shall be brighter than the noonday; its gloom shall become as the morning, and you shall be secure, because there is hope; you shall look round you and lie down in safety, and you shall take your rest with none to disturb." Job 11:13-19

"Come to terms with him to be at peace. In this shall good come to you: Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you put iniquity far from your tent, and treat raw gold like dust, and the fine gold of Ophir as pebbles from the brook, then the Almighty himself shall be your gold and your sparkling silver" Job 22:21-25

And at the very end of the book, it says "Thus the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones." Job 42:12. I think that last sentence was really all I needed to hear. It also helps to know that obviously this pain is not suffered by me alone (which, deep down, I knew already but it's nice knowing that someone in the bible felt the same toil that made his insides feel like they got scrambled by an egg beater).

All in all, I'm glad that this situation has gotten me to read the bible more. I've probably read more of the bible in the past week than I have in the past year or two. Sad, I know. Onward, ho!