Links for today’s readings:
Jan 5 Read: Job 5 Listen: (2:29) Read: John 5 Listen: (5:42)
Scripture Focus: Job 5.8-16
8 “But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
10 He provides rain for the earth;
he sends water on the countryside.
11 The lowly he sets on high,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14 Darkness comes upon them in the daytime;
at noon they grope as in the night.
15 He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth;
he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.
Photo Info: Today’s photo is of Texans on Mission doing disaster relief in Jamaica, following Hurricane Melissa. Donate to disaster relief of your choice, or donate here, to Texans on Mission.
Reflection: Hope’s Messengers and Means
By John Tillman
An important part of interpreting scripture is knowing who is speaking to whom.
A famous internet meme shows an inspirational “verse of the day” calendar with the following text: “If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” (Luke 4.7) The text is less inspirational when you realize it is Satan speaking. When reading Job, we must be careful. Not all speakers are reliable sources of wisdom.
Job’s friends start well. They are deeply empathetic and caring. They share Job’s grief, sitting silently with him in his suffering. But once the conversation starts, they lose patience, and empathy evaporates. Even so, not everything they say is foolishness.
Shakespeare loved to hide truths in the lines uttered by his clowns, buffoons, and fools. Thus, Polonius gives us, “To thine own self be true.” Similarly, golden proverbs are sometimes found in the mouths of Job’s foolish friends.
After Job, Eliphaz is the first to speak. Of all the friends’ speeches, this first one is the least problematic. However, as we read Job’s friends, we must keep in mind their errors. God condemns them for not having “spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42.7)
In what ways do the friends not tell the truth about God? 1) They assume suffering, including Job’s, is caused by sin. 2) They assume moral superiority over Job. 3) They assume God’s motives regarding Job.
Correcting for these errors, we can find truth and encouragement in what Eliphaz says. So what does Eliphaz get right?
When we are in trouble or suffering, we should appeal to God based on God’s nature. God is a wonder worker, a healer, a provider, and a restorer of lost things. God lifts the lowly, mourning, and needy. Call on him by these qualities.
When we witness those in trouble or suffering, rather than pass judgment as Eliphaz did, we should act based on God’s nature manifested in us. Being God’s image-bearers includes living out his nature as rescuers, healers, and helpers. To God’s self we must be true. Let us bring God’s hope and help by shining light to those in darkness, pulling the weak from the clutches of the powerful, and shutting the mouth of injustice, breaking its teeth.
We are not to be bystanders to suffering. Our calling includes intervention and prevention. We are not only to be hope’s messengers, but hope’s means.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. — Psalm 103.1-2
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: The Waiting Man
What pools have you been waiting around? Are you growing complacent or bitter? Are you ready to give up? Is your heart paralyzed instead of your legs?
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