Job's Comforters

In the Old Testament there is a wonderful book full of poetry. It is the Book of Job. The story is about a staunch god fearing man who is the apple of God's eye. It isn't a true story but it is a powerful story.

At the beginning there are two chapters devoted to talks in the "Court of Heaven". God sits there with the others who have the right to attend and Satan is one of them. God says to Satan, "Where have you been?" His reply is, "Ranging over the earth, from end to end." God then asks him if he has seen his servant, Job, and starts to speak very fondly of him. Satan suggests that the reason Job is such a great and God fearing man is that God looks after him so well. He suggests Job would be a different man if all that God has given him were to be taken away.

Well, bit by bit all is stripped from Job and he is afflicted with a hideous skin disease and stinks very badly. Satan is convinced that Job will cave in and change into a lesser type of mortal. In this way Job is put to the test. No one wants to have anything to do with him. They don't want to go too near the smell, for one thing. However, there are three men who come to Job and counsel him.

Each, in turn, tries to convince Job that his change of fortune is because he has done something wrong. You see, people in those days thought that you were paid out for the sins you committed. If you became ill, it was believed you were suffering because of a wrong doing of some sort. As each of Job's, so called, comforters addresses him to convince him they are right Job sticks to his guns. "I have done nothing to merit this sort of treatment." "You must have!" they kept saying. Another person comes along and joins in the conversation and still Job denies having done wrong. He complains bitterly with eloquent words at being treated like this.

Then the time comes for God to jump in and have his say. Make no mistake about it, he does not mince his words! "Who is this who darkens counsel with words devoid of knowledge? Brace yourself and stand up like a man; I shall put questions to you, and you must answer!"

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?

Tell me, if you know and understand.

Who fixed its dimensions? Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring line over it?

On what do its supporting pillars rest?

Who set its cornerstone in place,

while the morning stars sang in chorus

and the sons of God all shouted for joy?"

The Lord goes on like this for a long time and the language in this tale is pure poetry. It is worth reading the book just for the poetry. I love this beautiful rhetorical language as God slaps down Job. It may not be a true story but what a picture it paints! And at the end we read this:

Job answered the Lord:

"I know that you can do all things

and that no purpose is beyond you.

You ask: Who is this obscuring counsel yet lacking knowledge?

But I have spoken of things

which I have not understood,

things too wonderful for me to know.

Listen, and let me speak. You said:

I shall put a question to you, and you must answer.

I knew of you then only by report,

but now I see you with my own eyes.

therefore I yield, repenting in dust and ashes."

For all people there is a great mystery surrounding God. There is an aspect of him that no one can fathom. This keeps us apart from him. To know what he knows would set us on a par with him and that is unthinkable. Yet, we are able to walk with him in a wonderful loving relationship, but still in awe of him. We therefore have to trust him. At the end of our days we shall then be able to say, "Now I see you with my own eyes!"