Ask for Help
Opening Prayer
Jesus, thank You that You have come to stand as a mediator and I can approach without fear.
Read Job 9:1-35
[1] Then Job replied: [2] “Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? [3] Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. [4] His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? [5] He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. [6] He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. [7] He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. [8] He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. [9] He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. [10] He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. [11] When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. [12] If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ [13] God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. [14] “How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? [15] Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. [16] Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. [17] He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. [18] He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. [19] If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? [20] Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. [21] “Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. [22] It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ [23] When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. [24] When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it? [25] “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. [26] They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey. [27] If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’ [28] I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent. [29] Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? [30] Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder, [31] you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. [32] “He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. [33] If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, [34] someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. [35] Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Who stands for you when you desire to come to God?There is no doubt that suffering, whatever its source, eats away at every aspect of our existence and our relationships with others. Often what is most disconcerting for Christians is the destructive impact it can have on our relationship with God. Long-held understandings about God seem meaningless and bring no comfort. We can feel helpless and abandoned by God.We glimpse elements of these things in what pours out from Job’s heart in this chapter (3,11,16-18,27-31). But his plea for an arbitrator (33) in the midst of his pain sheds a ray of hope and hints at another possibility. If ever there’s a need for a soul friend, a spiritual guide, a companion on the way, it’s when we’re suffering. They can help us see that what we think is a rod (34) may actually be a shepherd’s crook (the same word in Hebrew!) and remind us of God’s love when we’ve forgotten it.
Apply
Sit quietly and ask God to reveal himself to you. Trust that he will draw near as you draw near to him (James 4:8).
Closing prayer
Lord, You have drawn near, taking on human flesh and then taking on all my sin and suffering at the cross.
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