In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:22
We have heard of the names of God in the Old Testament. There was Jehovah Jireh, "the Lord will provide"; Jehovah Nissi, "The Lord is my banner"; Jehovah Shalom, "the Lord is my peace". There are more names of God scattered through out the Old Testament. We sing these names and rejoice in their meaning and what they reveal about the nature of God. I have been reading the Bible as long as I can remember, since childhood, and I have heard sermons on the names of God. I have sung songs about his Revelation in his names. But never in all my earthly years have I ever heard a song or a message that celebrated Jehovah Natan and Jehovah laqach.
Some asks, What are those names? Those are the names of God revealed to Job. "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. May the name of the LORD be praised." These names are twins. They can't be separated. In fact during Job's trials he says that very thing. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Blessed be the name of the LORD, who has revealed himself as the God that gives and takes away.
Do you think this is only an Old Testament Revelation of God? Have you not read Paul's letters? "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13
This is the real God. He is not some cosmic bubble gum machine pouring nothing but sweet candy. There is a side to God that appears to be almost cruel and very, very real. There is a God who gives us all things to enjoy and that same God is also willing to remove his blessings from for a period of time for his own purposes. He is God. He can do what he chooses.
Job knew this, and he did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. God is the owner of everything, he gives it and takes it according to his own wishes, for his own purposes and it is not up to us to accuse the owner of the universe of evil doing because we don't like what he happens to be doing at this moment.
The Lord gives and Lord takes away, blessed be his name. To say more than that or less than that is a sin.
"Job got up, tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship."
ReplyDeleteThis is in verse 20, before Job says blessed be the name of the Lord whether he gives or takes away.
Tearing your clothes is a sign of anger and frustration. Job did not take the news about the destruction of his family and fortune lightly. He expressed the normal, emmotional reaction to such tragedy.
But he did not sin.
Expression of grief during a trial is not a sin.
And another thing, before Job ever had the insight about the Lord that taketh away, he went through grief. He grieved (expressed his emmotions) he worshipped and then he got an insight - blessed be the name of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteNot only is expressing the emmotions that a trial brings ok, it preceedes the new intimacy with God.